Continuing with Part One, here’s some other story about “Minpaku”, similar to Airbnb lodging.

Hi how are you? 　 So, today’s topic Part2 (No.2 shown in the map attached) is Minpaku where the same Nagano prefecture (Nagano ken in Japanese) as Part1 (No.1) I already blogged and in terms of location, it is northern part of Nagano prefecture.

“Minpaku” is originally a Japanese word, private residence temporarily taking lodgers and vacation rentals/private lodging have been becoming increasingly popular across the country.

Here’s one that is located at Tōmi-shi(city), close to Nagano city, Prefectural office and which has been managed by a female　manager in her early 30s, who is from Tokyo area a couple of years ago.

Her name is Ms Fukuda who was an office lady in Tokyo and she loved climbing the winter mountain in the Northern Alps, and became the janitor/caretaker of the vacation rentals/private lodging while she often visited here on vacation.

Her day starts with preparing breakfast, cleaning, bed-making, washing, growing and harvesting vegetables, and guide the vacationer.

Besides these routine work, as she has a license to hunt, she traps to capture deer.

She is very good at cooking game, venison in particular as follows;

With local wines produced in Tomi region, where they have started wine producing since 1991, popularity of Tomi wine has been increasing rapidly although its history is not long.

Why Tomi wine has so gained the recognition by wine-lovers?

That’s because it is thanks to “terroir” which means the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.

Located in the Chikumagawa Wine Valley in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, Tomi city has good quality wine grapes due to the length of sunshine, good water draining.

In addition, temperature differences, and dry climate, which are cold and airy, from the river terraces and south-facing fans in the Chikuma River basin.

Therefore,they have produced world-quality wines.

The difference in geology between the right bank and the left bank at the border of Chikuma River also produces wines with different personalities, reminiscent of authentic French Bordeaux.

In recent years, there have been awards at Japanese wine competitions and occasions for international exchange, and not only quality but also its reputation has been increasing.

TOMI Wine Festa

There is festivals of wine produced in Tōmi around fall every year called “TOMI Wine Festa”.

But this year of 2020, the Fest was held in Tokyo in February 23, for which I missed the chance.

Ms Fukuda is taking a toast with vacationers, Cheers!

Finally, here’s a video of Tomi Wine Tourism 2018 with which you would enjoy, thanks