Winter break travel to Akanko!
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Akanko dedicated booking site & Marimo Pay
As an opening commemorative campaign
While Marimo Pay normally offers up to 5% points back
we are offering an incredible 10% back for stays during the campaign period!!!!
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With Christmas, New Year and other events packed into winter break
why not spend it at Akanko??
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Book from the link in our profile!!
https://lake-akan.com/marimopay/

Akanko Winter Illumination Giveaway Campaign!!
Today between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Post a photo of the illumination on any social media and show your post to the tourism association counter staff to receive an immediate prize by lottery♪
We do not require any specific hashtag for social media posts, but if you would like to add one, please use
#Akanko Marimo Gate
.

Today, December 8, is "Rice Day" 🍚✨
Satoyama no Yume, a branded rice from Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, won first place in the "Osaka Residents’ Most Delicious Rice Contest" and is a carefully selected rice with a taste score of 80 or higher.

By creating a branded rice, Satoyama no Yume aims to build an environment where young people can take up farming with hope, contribute to agriculture and regional development, and bring dreams and aspirations to the community. This rice packs the dreams of satoyama farmers. To promote circular agriculture by reusing bamboo that damages farmland, farmers spent years experimenting to achieve this proud flavor. They cut bamboo into powder, ferment it for use as fertilizer, and use oyster shells—Hiroshima Prefecture’s specialty—to replenish soil minerals. These practices contribute not only to great taste but also to building a sustainable society that cares for the environment.

(Rice Day falls on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of every month.)

1) [Shobara Satoyama no Yume Farm]
New crop: Shobara branded rice Satoyama no Yume
Set of 3 × 1 kg 6,800 yen (shipping and tax included)

Product here 🔽
https://ec.satoyamaselect.jp/view/item/000000000034?category_page_id=ct45

2) [Shobara Satoyama no Yume Farm]
New crop: Shobara branded rice Satoyama no Yume Premium
Set of 3 × 1 kg 7,500 yen (shipping and tax included)

Product here 🔽
https://ec.satoyamaselect.jp/view/item/000000000005?category_page_id=ct45

December 7th
Azumino greeted a below-freezing morning
The sendangusa, known locally in Nagano as "baka", was frosted by the river mist that formed in the early morning
The frost will melt as the sun rises
In the distance, the landscape of the Northern Alps

December 6th
Azumino Cold Moon
The full moon sinks behind the Northern Alps
A December morning turned bitterly cold.

December 6th
Good morning
This morning in Azumino the sky is a crisply clear blue
The summit of Mount Nagamine is minus 5 degrees…
It’s a very cold morning, but the full moon, the alpenglow on the Northern Alps, and the sea of clouds together make an amazing sight!!

Photographed on December 3, Heisei 25.
This is the Tori-no-Ichi fair at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.
Here is a kumade decorated for the Year of the Horse, the zodiac sign for next year. 🐎

“Midwinter!” Yamabiko Falls Viewing Event—Applications open from Monday, December 8th!

Experience the winter form of Yamabiko Falls, a sight shaped by nature—see it for yourself.

Event dates: Sunday, January 18th, 2026 (Application deadline: January 8th)
Sunday, February 8th, 2026 (Application deadline: January 30th)

Eligibility: Elementary school students and older (Each day limited to 30 participants; minimum number to hold the event: 5)
*Elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian*

Participation fee: Adults 600 yen; elementary, junior high, and high school students 300 yen

How to apply: Use the QR code on the flyer
(Applications by email, fax, or phone are also accepted)

Inquiries: Engaru Town Board of Education Maruseppu Education Center

TEL 0158-47-2456
FAX 0158-47-3817
e-mail m-kyoui@engaru.jp

We hope you’ll join us♪

This is Mount Fuji in early winter. Silver grass sways in the wind.

The ginkgo tree-lined avenue in front of our Ekimae station is magnificent. It was a late-autumn day.

This photo was taken at Ritsurin Garden in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture when the autumn leaves were at their peak. The crimson maple branches spread over the water like a cloak, and I captured the moment a sightseeing boat slowly passed through. Seeing the autumn colors reflected on the calm surface and the peaceful expressions of the passengers, I felt the gentle passage of the changing season.

It was my second visit to Ritsurin Garden, and I was surprised to find that the scenery had changed dramatically since my first visit—two hours had passed before I knew it. I enjoyed seeing so many different scenes. Ritsurin Garden, where time drifts by in a tranquil space, felt so comfortable that I wanted to return.

Photographed on December 3, 2025.
This is the Tori-no-Ichi fair at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

The autumn leaves at Shinnyodo Temple in Kyoto were more beautiful than I expected, and I really enjoyed them.

Frost lingering in Obara Village

At minus 2 degrees, frost coated the plants, creating a scene I had never seen before. However, the autumn leaves were almost finished, and although I had heard the four-season cherry blossoms were about half in bloom, the recent snowfall seemed to have kept flowering from progressing. I’ll look forward to next year.

Date: 2025/12/6
Location: Obara Village, Toyota City
Shot on: DJI MAVIC 3

※Flight application approved by Toyota City Hall
※Unmanned aircraft flight permission obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
※Flight plan reported and flight log created

This is the great ginkgo at Choraku-ji Temple in the Agi District of Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture.

The great ginkgo at Choraku-ji is about 1,100 years old. From roughly 3 meters above ground the trunk splits into four sections, and the thickest part measures about 4 meters around. The tree exceeds 30 meters in height, its entire trunk measures about 9 meters in circumference, and it was designated a Natural Monument of Gifu Prefecture in 1967.
The trunk is divided partway into a large, old section and the sections that grew from it.
About 250 years ago, when a bridge over the Agi River was washed away, legend says a portion of the trunk was cut off and used for the bridge beams, and the cut surface was reportedly charred with embers to prevent rot.
Also, some 450 years ago when Takeda Katsuyori’s forces attacked Iwamura Castle and the Oda army, which had come out to meet them, were routed, Choraku-ji is said to have been burned; scorch marks from that fire still remain.

Over its long history, this tree has been carefully tended and protected by the local community.
It is so large that its branches spread beyond the temple grounds, making it visible from a distance with a strong presence.
The trunk is thick and, when seen up close, the ginkgo is impressively majestic.

Just after sunrise, I stood on Mt. Wagakuni as the city below disappeared beneath a quiet sea of clouds. From the soft white surface, hints of autumn gold and crimson treetops—peeked through like floating islands. As the sky shifted from deep blue to pale rose, the clouds began to glow and for a brief moment, everything felt perfectly still between night and morning.

Photographed on December 3, 2025.
I relaxed at Maestro in Risona Coedo Terrace, open every Wednesday.
I had a Winter Berry Mocha and a buckwheat and matcha financier. The Winter Berry Mocha blends strawberry and chocolate for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. The financier was freshly baked.

In late autumn, roses bloom in a nearby park. They are Mary Rose. They are unbearably beautiful.

Recently, part of Utonai-ko (Lake Utonai) froze over. A swan standing on the ice flaps its wings✨🦢
Roadside Station Utonai Lake, which posts many stunning photos on social media, is open in winter from 9:00 to 17:00.
It offers plenty of delicious local food and goods, so please stop by for a break during winter road trips.
(Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

Wakasho Market, a sightseeing spot you can reach in a 5-minute walk.
A popular place within walking distance of Kushiro Prince Hotel.
One of the joys of a trip is creating your own katte-don (original seafood bowl) with your favorite seafood.
Enjoy the distinctive flavors of this port town that bring a smile with every bite.
Finish your visit with a Hokkaido gacha to take home a little travel memory.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/kushiro/experience/
Reservations can be made from the profile.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Wakasho Market, one of Kushiro’s must-visit spots, is just a 5-minute walk from Kushiro Prince Hotel.
Here, you can enjoy the fun of creating your own Katte-don—a custom seafood bowl made with your favorite fresh toppings.
Savor the flavors of this charming port town, a taste that’s sure to bring a smile with every bite.
And don’t forget to finish your visit with a Hokkaido Gacha for a memorable little souvenir of your trip.
Reservations are available through the link in our profile.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Wakasho Market, a sightseeing spot reachable in a 5-minute walk.
You can easily visit this favorite attraction from Kushiro Oji Grand Hotel.
The most popular offering is katte-don—the original seafood bowl you assemble with the seafood you like.
In the fresh flavors unique to a port city, each bite makes you smile without thinking.
Finally, don’t forget to try the Hokkaido capsule toy for a cute memento of your trip.
Reservations can be made via the link in the profile.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Wakasho Market, a sightseeing spot 5 minutes on foot.
It’s a popular spot easily reached on foot from Kushiro Prince Hotel.
The custom seafood bowl made with your preferred seafood—Katte-don—is a major delight of the trip.
The fresh flavors unique to a port city spread a smile the moment you take a bite.
Finally, spin a Hokkaido gacha to leave a travel memory.
Reservations are available from the profile link.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/

Kyushu’s snowy mountain and winter vistas are here! ❄️ Gokase Highland Ski Resort

Japan’s southernmost spot for supreme powder snow, Gokase Highland Ski Resort, opens on Friday, December 19th!

As shown in the video, nothing beats the exhilaration of carving under a blue sky and the breathtaking sight of the frost-covered trees—snow monsters—that leave you speechless🏔️✨

With runs designed for everyone from beginners to experts and a sweeping panorama visible from the slopes, Gokase Highland offers a unique appeal!!

Warm up your chilled body with the cozy dishes at the lodge🍜!
This winter, enjoy the ultimate snowy mountain experience at Gokase Highland Ski Resort⛄

The winning entries from the 14th Teshikaga Photo Contest are now on display at Kushiro Prince Hotel—come together and enjoy them 📸✨

Period: Today through the end of February
Location: Kushiro Prince Hotel, 1st floor lobby

We are also actively seeking entries for the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest. We look forward to your participation‼︎ (For details, please see Teshikaga Navi)

Autumn leaves at Gifu Park 🍁

Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture
November 2025

An update from the “Information Dispatch Bureau” on the Kawayu Onsen website 📝🆙

The Lake Kussharo Trout Fishing Tournament, held on November 15 and 16, took place on the Wakin Peninsula. This report covers how 100 anglers gathered and competed, capturing the excitement of the event. A must-see for fishing enthusiasts! 🎣 Please take a look ✨

Photographed on December 2, 2025.
This is the hanachozu (flower water offering) by Hara Florist.

Start your special day from the morning at our top-floor restaurant.
Relax and unwind with a seafood bowl or a buffet while taking in the breathtaking views.
Please help yourself to your favorite seafood and create your perfect bowl.
https://www.princehotels.co.jp/kushiro/plan/top_kushiro/breakfast2025/

You can make reservations from the profile URL.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Start your special day with a morning at our top-floor restaurant.
Relax and unwind as you take in the breathtaking views, accompanied by a seafood bowl or a delightful buffet.
Create your own perfect dish by selecting and arranging your favorite seafood.
Reservations are available through the link in our profile.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Start a special day from the top-floor restaurant.
Enjoy a relaxing time as you savor a seafood donburi or the buffet while admiring the stunning scenery.
Feel free to mix and match your favorite marine flavors to craft your own delicious plate.
Reservations can be made via the link in our profile.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/


Start your special day in the morning at our top-floor restaurant.
Enjoy the overwhelming panoramic view with a seafood rice bowl or the buffet and let your mind unwind.
Fill your bowl freely with the seafood you want and complete your own unique meal.
Reservations are available via the profile link.
【Instagram】
https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/

https://www.princehotels.co.jp/kushiro/plan/top_kushiro/breakfast2025/

Nature Encounter Event This Weekend!
On Saturday, December 6th, Professor Nakagawa from Hokkaido University will give a lecture at Kawayu Visitor Center.
You can enjoy learning about how volcanic activity has shaped the landscapes and vegetation of Akan-Mashu National Park through engaging research.
We hope you will join us!

Toyama's Shimotsuki Festival
Yutate kagura performed in the lunar eleventh month (Shimotsuki).
Held around the winter solstice when daytime is shortest and life force wanes, it is considered a ritual that invites deities from across the country and offers them hot water to pray for the revival of the sun and life.

◆For the Shimotsuki Festival schedule and details, see below
Toyamago Tourism Association
☎: 0260-34-1071
※You can also check the information on the website.

[Announcement] Odakyu Family Fun Festa 2025
An event bringing memorable, fun times to children and families raising children
The Odakyu Family Fun Festa returns this year!

Enjoy a packed lineup for the whole family, including a railway staff job experience booth, workshops, and character stages!

Date and time: Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 10:00–16:00
Venue: Ebina Central Park (right next to ebina station)
For more details, please check the official website.
https://www.odakyu.jp/oyako/info/17837/