For  our 3rd episode of the "Ryokans of Nagano" podcast, we meet Nakamura-san of Goryukan in Hakuba Village, one of Nagano Prefecture's premier ski resort towns.  Nakamura-san's inn has grown from a humble mountain climbers' lodge to a full-service contemporary onsen inn, while Hakuba Valley has grown from a rural farming village to a global ski destination.  We get to hear his inspirational story and find out how he balances his role as an innkeeper with his International Ski Federation responsibilities.

Goryukan  https://goryukan.jp/

Hakuba Valley  https://www.hakubavalley.com/en/

For the 2nd episode of the "Ryokans of Nagano" podcast, Miyuki-san of Tsuji Ryokan in Togakushi above central Nagano City gives us a tour of her elegant inn famous for the multi-course dinner featuring Togakushi-grown buckwheat ("soba kaiseki").  She also explains the unique spiritual aspect of hers and the other inns in Togakushi.  Find out what it is like to be a ryokan proprietress in Togakushi and why the area is renowned for mysticism, soba and ... ???

Tsuji Ryokan https://oumeitei.net/

Togakushi https://togakushi-21.jp/en/

For our inaugural episode of the Ryokans of Nagano podcast, Akira Mori and his wife Yuki tell us about their gorgeous ryokan, Sakaya, famous for its classical onsen bath with all-wooden architecture.  They also describe their many activities to support their town, as well as explain the secret of what it means for Nozawa Onsen to be a traditional onsen village.

Sakaya Ryokan http://www.ryokan-sakaya.co.jp

Nozawa Onsen Village https://en.nozawaski.com/the-village/