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Photographed on May 19, 2014. These are the remaining cherry blossoms at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Create special memories with your family near Tokyo 🤿☀️ This time, we visited Usami in Higashi-Izu. It's a seaside area in Japan that you can access from Tokyo in a day. In the morning, we departed the city, heading towards Izu while enjoying the coastal scenery. The landscape gradually changes. Time flows slowly. Just that alone allows you to feel a different side of Japan compared to Tokyo. On this day, we participated in a PADI Open Water Diver course as a family. At first, they seemed a bit nervous, but once they entered the water, smiles began to appear. Seeing the same ocean, watching the same fish, and being moved by the same scenery. Diving offers such special moments. The waters of Higashi-Izu are a popular diving area for international guests as well. The scenery changes with the seasons, allowing you to enjoy schools of fish and the serene blue underwater world. "I can't believe there's such a sea near Tokyo." It's not uncommon to hear such remarks from first-time international visitors. Obtaining a diving license is not just about getting a qualification. It's about challenging yourself to enter a new world together. It's about spending the same time in Japan's waters. That experience itself will remain as a memory of the journey. It's another side of Japan that you won't encounter just by visiting tourist spots. That is the charm of "Dive Near Tokyo." At Hokule'a Shonan, we offer small-group beginner-friendly diving tours and license courses. We can accommodate English speakers, making it a great option for international travelers and foreigners living in Japan. Why not spend a slightly special day during your trip to Tokyo?

The sunset at Taga-cho, Shiga Prefecture, was perfect on this day!

A sunset captured from the road heading from Kitami to Bihoro.

Taken on May 19, 26. This is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine grounds and the Kawagoe City Gokoku Shrine. I sat on the bench in front and enjoyed the cool breeze.

Near the Amarube Trestle Bridge in Hyogo Prefecture, Heisei Suimei no Sato offers a stunning view of the Sea of Japan from its beautiful sandy beach. On a weekday afternoon just before the season, there are few visitors, allowing you to enjoy this scenery all to yourself.

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, May 24th, the 46th Hirocho Azalea Festival will be held at Daimaruyama Forest Park😊 Approximately 12,000 Ezo Yamazutsujis will beautifully decorate the venue🎵 On that day, Yasu from HBC Radio's "Car Navigation Radio Afternoon First!" will serve as the host, energizing the venue. A variety of programs will be available, including Tokachi Port's Soran Dance, a special balloon show by the clown Gucci, a BINGO tournament with luxurious prizes, and a quick-eating contest called "Shishamon Pick" featuring local specialties‼ In the gourmet corner "Full Belly Market," delicious offerings from various shops will be sold. You can also enjoy fresh seafood purchased on-site using the grilling station. Additionally, you can taste the "Hakkaku Oyakata's hometown Chanko Nabe" provided by the Women's Promotion Council of three organizations in Hirocho😍 Shuttle buses will operate from Hirocho Elementary School to the venue, ensuring that elderly guests and those with small children can attend comfortably🤗 Date: May 24, 2026 (Sunday) 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM Venue: Special Venue at Daimaruyama Forest Park https://www.town.hiroo.lg.jp/kankou/event/...

A carefully curated buffet featuring Hokkaido ingredients. Enjoy as much as you like, both morning and night. A limited-time fair filled with strawberries is also underway 🍓 Available from Saturday, April 25, 2026, to Sunday, May 31, 2026. Save this if you're interested 👇 Reservations can be made through the profile URL. 📍Kussharo Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

【Mt. Atosanupuri Trekking Tour】 This year, the Mt. Atosanupuri Trekking Tour has begun!❣️ In this tour, we will introduce the main points of interest. Reservations can be made through Teshikagacho Navi or via the link in our stories🔗. Please check Teshikagacho Navi and our social media, and enjoy this special trekking tour!⛰️✨ 〈Mt. Atosanupuri Trekking Tour〉
Mt. Atosanupuri, meaning "naked mountain" in Ainu language, features approximately 1,500 fumaroles and beautiful yellow sulfur crystals surrounding them. It has been designated as a "specific natural tourism resource" in Teshikagacho, and the mountain is classified as a restricted area under Article 19 of the Eco-Tourism Promotion Act.

If you are looking for a special and valuable trekking tour, please join us.
Advance reservations are required, so don't forget!

Limited climbing tours led by certified guides / Winner of the Minister of the Environment Award at the 18th Eco-Tourism Awards.

Announcement of the Lecture at Kawayu Visitor Center On Saturday, June 20th, we will host a lecture by Professor Emeritus Masashi Ohara from Hokkaido University, titled "The Life History of the Giant Ubayuri - A Unique Life History of the Giant Ubayuri." Additionally, from June 20th to July 20th, a special exhibition co-hosted by the Ministry of the Environment is planned at the Kawayu Visitor Center. Titled "A Journey at 3 km/h - Walking the Eastern Hokkaido Trail," it will explore the charm of the long trail that just opened in October 2024.🚶‍♂️💨✨ We hope you enjoy both the lecture and the special exhibition! 😊 For more details, please contact the Kawayu Visitor Center.

As my health has improved, I visited Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This is the shrine grounds around 7:30 in the morning. I prefer to visit alone and take my time.

There is a spring when window frames become paintings. The Kyoto Prefectural Office Former Main Building, located in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, is an important cultural property built in 1904. Compared to Gion and Arashiyama, it attracts fewer visitors, making it a hidden gem where you can quietly savor the true depth of Kyoto. Every spring, the Cherry Blossom Viewing Festival is held, where magnificent weeping cherry trees bloom in the courtyard surrounded by Meiji-era Western-style architecture. The view of the cherry blossoms and the courtyard through the old wooden windows creates a composition that resembles a painting, offering a special spring experience unique to this place. Despite being an active government building, it is free to visit, allowing you to enjoy the luxurious collaboration of historical architecture and cherry blossoms. This is a place that those tired of the usual Kyoto sightseeing spots should definitely visit. 85-3 Yabunouchi-cho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City.

Is there really such a different world in Nagoya? Yokisō, located in Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City, is a villa garden built by Jirozaemon Itō, the first president of Matsuzakaya, during the Taisho to Showa periods. Surprisingly little known even among locals, it is a hidden gem favored by connoisseurs. The vermilion bridge spanning the pond, the charming wooden corridor, and the autumn scenery with vibrant maple leaves reflecting on the water create a beauty reminiscent of Kyoto's famous gardens. The tranquil space enveloped in shades of green, yellow, and red allows you to forget the hustle and bustle of the city. Admission is free, making it easy to visit, and it remains uncrowded even during the autumn foliage season. Be sure to enjoy this hidden Japanese garden, the best in Nagoya. 2-5-17 Hōō-chō, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan.

Is this Nagoya? It’s a corridor from another world that makes you do a double take. The Nagoya City Archives, located in Higashi Ward, Nagoya City, is an important cultural property built in 1922 in the Neo-Baroque style. Compared to Nagoya Castle and Sakae, it has fewer tourists, making it a hidden architectural gem where you can take your time exploring. Upon entering the building, you are greeted by an elegant marble staircase, stained glass, and arched windows that create a majestic space, making you feel as if you've wandered into a European palace. Its overwhelming beauty has made it a popular filming location for dramas and movies. The fact that admission is free and you can easily drop by is another delightful point. You can discover a new side of Nagoya. 3-1 Shirakabe 1-chome, Higashi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken, Japan.