Notice of closed days in March. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. - Notice of closed days in March. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. - Notice of closed days in March. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding. - Notice of closed days in March. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

Signs of Spring at Forest Museum “Mokumu” The temperature has risen suddenly and the sunlight already feels like spring’s warmth… It’s still midwinter, but there’s a place where you can feel spring even more. When you enter Forest Museum “Mokumu,” the first thing that catches your eye is the profusion of blooming cherry trees. All around the museum, various hina dolls smile at visitors. If you’re curious how many hina dolls there are in total, try counting them. A room with large flowers mounted on the wall is also well worth seeing. They’re stylish decorations made using scrap paper 🌸 - SASAKI Craft Exhibition Now On! - Forest Museum “Mokumu” Winter opening hours: 10:00–16:30 Last admission accepted until 16:10 Admission fees: 500 yen for high school students and older 300 yen for 4th–6th graders and junior high students 100 yen for ages 3 through 3rd grade elementary school Free for children under age 3 #Forest Museum Mokumu #Cherry blossoms #Hina Festival

Spring Star Concert A concert by Erhu and Song artist Rinko Announcement of the concert📢 Rinko visited Nishiokoppe Village last November. In addition to a mini concert, she spent time introducing the erhu to children at the elementary school and nursery. At this upcoming concert, enjoy the erhu accompanied by piano and violin. - Performance date: Saturday, March 21 Doors open: 18:00 / Start: 18:30 Venue: Nishiokoppe Village Community Center Plum Hall Performers: Erhu and vocals — Rinko Piano — Motoki Fukuda Violin — Shota Sakaji Tickets: Nishiokoppe Village residents: Free General (non-residents): 2,000 yen Junior high school students and younger: Free Reservations: Please fill out the form via the QR code or call the phone number below to apply. 090-8904-8798 (Takahashi) *Phone reservations are accepted only between 17:00 and 20:00.* - This concert is part of Nishiokoppe Village’s 100th anniversary celebrations and was planned at the suggestion of village residents. We would be delighted if many people could hear the sound of the erhu. We look forward to your attendance. #Concert #Erhu #Village 100th Anniversary

Good morning ☀ This morning in Tsukigase Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival Now on! In full bloom! February 14, 2026 – March 29, 2026 Photo: Yasuki Okamoto

Photographed on January 19, 2014. These are the hanachōzu (flower-filled hand-washing basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Have you ever visited Eastern Hokkaido in winter? Silence becomes sound. A winter scene in Hokkaido you must see at least once. A lake without a sound. Biting, icy air. And an unexpected encounter. In winter, Lake Kussharo feels like another world. 📍 Kussharo Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/... 📸 Recommended for scenic-photo lovers

Now accepting applications for the 32nd Tokachi Blue Sky Lady!! ☀️ Applications for Tokachi Blue Sky Lady have been extended!! There are only two days left until the deadline on Friday, February 27!! Would you like to apply to be Tokachi’s PR ladies, the Tokachi Blue Sky Ladies, who promote Tokachi’s tourism and local products by participating in events across Tokachi, taking part in product fairs inside and outside Hokkaido, and appearing in media? If you’re interested, please feel free to apply 🤗 We look forward to your application!! 📌 Eligibility 📍Women aged 20 or older living in Tokachi who are physically and mentally healthy, can agree to all the Tokachi Blue Sky Lady program rules and guidelines, and can take part in tourism events and product fairs both inside and outside the region (married or unmarried) 📍Holders of a regular driver’s license who have obtained permission from their workplace and family to participate in activities as a Lady 📌 How to Apply Please attach a photo to your resume, write your motivation for applying, and include information confirming you meet the eligibility requirements, then mail or deliver it to the Tokachi Tourism Federation Office by Friday, February 27. https://tokachibare.jp/20506/...

If you stay in Kushiro. A location with views of one of the world’s three greatest sunsets. A port town’s scenery seen from guest rooms. A front-row moment that stretches from dusk into night. A place where the stay itself becomes a travel memory. 📍Kushiro Prince Hotel Reservations available from the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

Daiichi Nagisa Park at Lake Biwa, where early-blooming rapeseed flowers blossom. The contrast between the white snow and the yellow flowers is striking.

Two patches of the native spring flower setsubunso, which signal the arrival of spring, are now in full bloom in Soryo Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture! 🌼 Other spots are progressing and are about 30% in bloom, too—so come and see! The Setsubunso Festival will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2025. We hope you can join us! ▶ Event details here https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5451... ▶ Setsubunso bloom updates (updated regularly) https://www.shobara-info.com/special/4467... ▶ Featured in our editorial report! Published 2025.03.06 “The Scent of First Love” Visiting Setsubunso: Exploring the wild colonies and nearby lunch spots https://www.shobara-info.com/report/4967... Access: About a 15-minute drive from Shobara IC on the Chugoku Expressway 🚗

Photographed on January 19, 2014. These are the floral hand-washing basin displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

February 21 Akanko early-morning walk tour at −14°C! Today we had no wind and could watch the sunrise clearly Rime ice and diamond dust formed, letting us forget the cold and enjoy the scenery♪ After the walk I had terrible chilblains (lol)

🔥 Kawayu Snow Park 2026 is now underway 🔥 We offer a wide range of activities, including cross-country skiing, campfire gatherings in tipis, Siberian fir (Akaezomatsu) distillation experiences, slide talks, snow candle making, and many more — ⋆⋆✶ There are delicious food and drinks, so it’s great for families to join! This is a one-day-only event, so please come and take part today‼︎ ☃️💕 Time: 10:00–21:00 Location: In front of Kawayu Visitor Center We look forward to welcoming you.

Photographed on January 19, 2014. These are the flower-filled handwashing basins at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Kawayu Snow Park 2026 is underway. We offer many activities, including cross-country skiing, campfires in tipis, Siberian fir distillation workshops, slide talks, snow candles… and much more— ⋆⋆✶ There are tasty food and drinks, so it’s great for families to join! This is a one-day-only event, so please come and take part today‼︎☃️💕 Time: 10:00–21:00 Location: In front of Kawayu Visitor Center We look forward to welcoming you.

■ A video posting feature has been released on COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, an social media specialized in inbound measures. It supports MP4, MOV, and WebM, and allows posting videos up to 60 seconds long. This feature is available to accounts that have applied for an official account. You can deliver the "atmosphere," "sense of presence," and "story" that photos alone cannot fully convey directly to the world. This feature is available exclusively to Official Accounts. ▼Details about Official Accounts are here https://cooljapan-videos.com/service... ■ Other features for Official Accounts are as follows. ・Bulk multilingual posting to Facebook, Instagram, X, and others using AI ・Schedule posts and manage simultaneous posting destinations all at once ・Embed Google Maps in post content 　※Please see this post for the Google Maps embed. ・Include external links in post content 　※Please see this post for the external link. ・AI automatically generates SNS post text (reducing the work required to write posts) ・AI automatically summarizes for X within 140 characters ■ Unique strengths of Cool Japan Video not found on other SNS ・Automatic generation of search engine–optimized pages in other languages ・Compatibility with AI search result displays ■ Latest news from Cool Japan Video ・Over 200 participating tourism associations and DMOs ・Access from over 220 countries and territories ・AI translation feature further improved (supports over 130 languages) Please try this new publishing experience.

Photographed on February 23, 2014. After visiting Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, we hold a naorai at Starbucks Kanetsuki‑dōri Store. It's a Sakura Bloom Latte and a sakura matcha doughnut.🌸🍵

Today is the final day of the three-day weekend. It felt unusually warm for February. Many guests came to visit, and we thank you very much. This is the view from the observation deck at Sakuma Dam Lake. The Kawazu cherry blossoms are starting to turn into leafy trees, but you can still see them. #Kyonan Town#Sakuma Dam Lake#Kawazu cherry blossoms#Final day of the three-day weekend

Today I joined the 11th “One-Day Hospitality Pilgrimage Walk” and walked a short section of the Shikoku pilgrimage route. The trip started at No. 75 temple Zentsuji, passed Nos. 76 and 77, and ended at No. 78 Tojo-ji Temple. For someone like me who has always lived in Kagawa, this was more than a hike; it felt like a journey to rediscover the land and its culture. Before departure, local residents served steaming udon and tea to encourage participants. This practice, called hospitality, is one of the most moving sights along the Shikoku pilgrimage. Locals believe that treating pilgrims kindly is like welcoming Kukai himself, so they give generously and let travelers feel the deep warmth of human kindness. Walking the old paths, we passed winter fields and quiet villages without the noise of the city—only footsteps and a light breeze. Zentsuji, as Kukai’s birthplace, stands with solemn grandeur; arriving at Tojo-ji Temple, the hilltop view opens to the Seto Inland Sea, broadening the outlook and calming the heart. Though only a little over ten kilometers, the route felt like crossing a thousand years, sharing the same path of faith with countless pilgrims. This experience made me realize that the pilgrimage is not just a religious tour but a way to connect with nature, history, and people’s hearts. Even walking a small section can leave a warm, lasting impression.

Drifting ice off the coast of Shiretoko (Rausucho) is home to drift ice and Steller's sea eagles. When dozens of Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles gather, their large size creates a truly dramatic sight.

Off the coast of Shiretoko (Rausucho) Here are the drift ice and a Steller's sea eagle. This weekend it was warm in Hokkaido and a southerly wind blew, so I was worried the drift ice might be pushed away, but the ice band remained. The drift ice will be gone next month, and from late April you can see orcas and whales.

Mount Fuji Day 2/23 Today's temperature in Minami-Alps City is an astonishing 22°C Springlike weather 🌸 Unfortunately, Mount Fuji is hidden during the daytime today… In honor of Mount Fuji Day, please enjoy photos of Mount Fuji taken in the past as seen from Minami-Alps City 🗻

Today I attended the Tencho Festival at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The plum trees were beginning to bloom.

Notice: Local junior high students made POP displays and recycled bags ✨ Second-year students from Iwanai Daiichi Junior High School brought handmade POPs, posters, and recycled bags to the Roadside Station as part of their Integrated Studies project — “A Plan to Revitalize Iwanai-cho.” For the POPs and posters, they asked themselves, “What information do customers really want?” They researched popular products and created the materials accordingly ✨ The illustrations and English labels show lots of thoughtful touches, and everything is very easy to read! And here’s a highlight 🐟 The Tarumaru illustration on the recycled bags is a work by Idobata, who won the Kida Kinjiro Prize at the ongoing “Hometown Children’s Art Exhibition” held at the Kida Kinjiro Museum of Art ✨ These limited special-design bags are not to be missed! 🎉 If you visit the Roadside Station, please pick one up and take a look 😊

Kumamoto Prefecture ranks third in Japan for strawberry production. Original varieties such as yuubeni and hinoshizuku are well known. A strawberry experience event using strawberries will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Using sweet, juicy freshly picked strawberries, you can create a one-of-a-kind original strawberry parfait. This experience offers a special time beyond just strawberry picking. ■ Strawberry picking (all-you-can-eat) First, enjoy all-you-can-eat strawberries at Shichiraku no Sato in Kikuchi City. There are about 11 varieties, including yuubeni, Koiminori, hinoshizuku, Benihoppe, and the white strawberry Angel Night. You can savor their sweetness, gentle tartness, and rich aroma. ■ Strawberry parfait making experience You will make a strawberry parfait using the strawberries you picked. Toride Farm, a popular shop that turns local Kikuchi-grown melons and strawberries into ice cream and soft serve, also offers a unique rice-based ice cream that is delicious and popular. The soft serve made with Kumamoto milk is prepared on the spot by adding ice cream and finishing each one by hand. The highlight of the strawberry parfait is that you can use the fresh strawberries you picked yourself. You can go into the shop kitchen to swirl the soft serve or scoop ice cream yourself with a disher. The combination of strawberries and ice cream is astonishingly delicious. Why not create your own one-of-a-kind original parfait? Date and time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 10:00–12:30 Location: Shichiraku no Sato (305 Okada, Shichijo-machi, Kikuchi-shi, Kumamoto-ken) Toride Farm For reservations and details, please check here. https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/featured/strawberry_parfait...

The Otaru Canal in winter’s magic hour. On the right bank, stone warehouses weigh down with snow in silence, while on the left bank the warm glow of gas lamps lights the snow white. Countless candles floating on the water trail long tails of light across the cold surface, gently swaying. People strolling along the promenade, captured in long exposures, become blurred light afterimages, visualizing the dense passage of time within the still scene. The cold air and the fires that seem to melt it coexist, etched together in vivid contrast.

Today I visited Tsukigase Plum Grove in Tsukigase, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. The plum trees were about three to five percent in bloom.

This is Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village in Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. The scene created by Ainokura’s gassho-style houses and the snow-covered fields is truly a timeless image of Japan. As evening fell and the houses’ lights began to glow, the steadily falling snow created a magical atmosphere. (୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷 ☃️❄️🏡🏔️