Onsen Kung Fu #002 Tsukino Shizuka (Matsumoto, Nagano)

• Rating —— ★★★ (3/5)
• Fee —— ? (included in Shinshu Monomiyusan Tegata)
• Open —— 10:30AM - 8:00PM Every day (for Higaeri Onsen)
• Map and Official Web Page (in Japanese)
• Drinkable —— no
• Color —— transparent
• Smell —— none

It is a tranditionary Ryokan (Japanese-style Hotel). Clean and tidy, and you can enjoy Japanese atmosphere.

I felt nothing special for the water or the Onsen rooms. It is not bad at all, though I found cobweb in the Roten Buro (external bath).

Shinshu Monomiyusan Tegata

I visited this hotel because it is listed in Shinshu Monomiyusan Tegata, which costs only 1300 Yen, and you can experience 12 Onsen places in Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture).

Usually, it costs 500 Yen or so to get into one Higaeri Onsen (no bed, just bathing Onsen place), so if you visit three or four, it pays off. If you visit Shinshu and would like to visit as many Higaeri Onsens as possible, it is a must-buy.

Onsen Kung Fu #001 Reisenji Onsen (霊泉寺温泉; Ueda, Nagano)

• Rating —— ★★★★★ (5/5)
• Fee —— 200 Yen (Cheep!)
• Open —— 7:00AM - 9:00PM Every day
• Map and Official Web Page (in Japanese)
• Drinkable —— YES (4 persons I asked said "YES", including the receptionist, who is often absent.... And I have had several times and experienced no problem, though I do not find it tasty)
• Color —— transparent
• Smell —— none

Be prepared. It is DIRTY. It is not like fancy onsen places everywhere in Japan now.

But it is comfortable, and it seems very good for our health. My wife and son really loves this onsen.

Poor Carp

I go for a walk almost every morning. Recently, I go to nearby pond almost every day, since the lotus flowers have been blooming beautifully.
I has not rained for nearly two weeks or so, and it has been VERY HOT in Tokyo area, sometimes over 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit）. And the water of the pond has been drying rapidly.
I have been worrying for one thing. I had saw a carp in the pond almost every morning, but it had not been seen for some time.
I hoped that someone had rescued him/her and moved him/her to a safer place.
It is raining hard now.
But, alas! Only if he could have lived 24 hours more.
I saw him/her floating upside-down this morning.