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I went to Busan, South Korea.

Taken on June 1, 2014. This is the windmill in the shrine plaza at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

The pinnacle of soccer, the FIFA World Cup 2026, is finally set to kick off on June 11! With the number of participating countries expanded to 48, the tournament promises to be even more exciting. Jumbo Tomachopp at the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center will be cheering with all its might!

The snow shape of Mt. Chogatake can be seen from Azumino.😀 On the left shoulder of Mt. Chogatake, the snow shape resembling a butterfly, which inspired its name, is visible. Due to the recent heat, the snow is melting quickly, and before I knew it, it has become quite different from its original butterfly shape…💦

Rokuzan Hall, located in the Rokuzan Art Museum in Azumino, is an iconic presence in Azumino. You can encounter works by Moriye Ogihara (Rokuzan) and Kotaro Takamura, who opened the door to modern Japanese sculpture. 😄

Jōnen Dōsojin under the cherry tree It feels like the village shrine of Mt. Jonen 😆

Meeting after the sea, a special day spent at the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri 🎋 About an hour by train from Tokyo. In Hiratsuka, located in Kanagawa Prefecture's Shonan area, the entire town is adorned with colorful Tanabata decorations every summer. "Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri." Known as one of Japan's three major Tanabata festivals, it is a summer tradition. Gigantic Tanabata decorations fill the streets. People in yukata. The summer town transitions from dusk to night. A nostalgic atmosphere flows, reminiscent of a scene from a movie. However, the charm of Hiratsuka is not just the festival. Close by, there is a beautiful sea. The crystal-clear blue sea, unlike anything you'd expect near Tokyo. Colorful fish swim around. Soft corals sway gently. In the morning, dive into the sea world. And in the evening, immerse yourself in a Japanese summer festival. This is the allure of the Shonan area, where you can spend such a special day. Diving is not just about entering the sea. It's about feeling the local atmosphere, walking through the town, meeting people, and experiencing Japan's seasons. The time that follows the sea becomes an important memory of the journey. This year's "Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri" is scheduled to be held from July 3rd to 5th. Discover another Japan that you won't find just by sightseeing in Tokyo. Experience the summer of Japan that unfolds beyond the sea. 🌈At Hokule'a Shonan, we offer small-group diving tours in the seas near Tokyo. Beginners and solo participants are also welcome. English support is available. We hope you enjoy not only the sea but also a special day spent in Japan. 【Related Keywords】 Diving near Tokyo / Kanagawa Diving / Shonan Diving / Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri / Tokyo Day Trip / Hidden Japan / Dive Near Tokyo / Japan Summer Festival / Japanese Ocean Experience / Tokyo Day Trip Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri Photo provided by the Hiratsuka City Tourism Association.

The ears of wheat illuminated by the setting sun create a beautiful landscape of golden-colored wheat fields as the sun sets behind the Northern Alps.

June is a rare month for Japan in that it has no national holidays. After "Golden Week", it is a difficult time for some, as the days without a day off continue and the days get more and more humid, culminating in the rainy season that covers most of the country in regular rainfall. After the cherry blossoms, before the delights of autumn, and just in time for rain and humidity, it is not exactly the most popular season for travel. But rain in Japan has a culture all of its own! Did you know Japan spends more on umbrellas than anywhere else in the world? There are designer umbrellas, cute and distinctive umbrellas, and umbrellas decorated with subculture characters, but the real workhorse of the Japanese umbrella world is the see-through vinyl umbrella. They are available in any convenience store for a few hundred yen, and this cheap cheerfulness leads them to being left behind. (Or taken- charitably, we may say that as they all look indistinguishable, someone may have mistaken your vinyl umbrella for another.) They also can break in a strong wind. But the disposable, readily-replaceable nature of this umbrella is at the core of its charm. In a country with so much foot traffic, the transparency comes in handy for navigating crowded streets. In a crowd a majority of people can often be seen holding these exact same umbrellas in the rain, giving off a distinct atmosphere you can't find in another time or place. If you find yourself in the country in this drizzly time of year, why not bring yourself a cheap and iconic umbrella souvenir?

The rural landscape of Azumino and Mt. Jonen This is the Horigane District The rice fields are planted with rice, creating a lush green scenery. 😀

The winding room is an important facility for understanding the history of Manda Pit. In the coal mine, large machinery and precise operations were necessary to safely connect the underground and above ground. The appearance of the building and the remaining spaces evoke the advanced technology that supported the coal mine. When visiting Manda Pit, be sure to pay attention to its role as well. [Visiting Information] 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM) / Closed: Mondays (the following weekday if a holiday) and during the New Year holidays / Admission: Adults and university students 410 yen, high school students 310 yen, elementary and junior high school students 210 yen / Manda Pit Station (free exhibition room and ticket sales) #Winding Room #Arao City Tourism #Miike Coal Mine #History of Coal Mining #Industrial Heritage #Historical Architecture #Modernization of Japan #History of Technology #Educational Travel #Manda Coal Mine #Industrial Heritage #Japanese History #Kumamoto Travel #Arao City #World Heritage #Travel Japan #Visit Japan

🚢 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Special Boat "Hashidate" Open to the Public 🚢 "Hashidate" is a rare vessel, the only one of its kind in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force 👀✨ This will be the first entry of a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship into Shimoda Port in two years, aside from the Black Ship Festival. 📅 June 20th (Saturday) and 21st (Sunday) ⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Last entry 30 minutes before each session) 📍 Shimoda Port, Sotogaoka Quay 💰 Free admission 📝 No reservation required Please take this opportunity to come and see it 😌⚓

When it comes to Atami, besides the hot springs, there's now another must-visit reason — to buy the "Mataichian's special Atami red bean paste." This shop's signature item is a round and plump red bean cream bread, with a thin and fluffy crust. When you take a bite, you’ll find homemade red bean filling paired with a layer of creamy frosting. The bread is light and elastic, and the most surprising part is the cream — it’s not overly sweet and has a slight savory flavor, adding depth to the overall experience. Speaking of red bean filling, Japanese sweets sometimes have a sweetness that can be overwhelming, but here, the sweetness of the red bean filling is quite restrained, and you can even taste the texture of the beans. This made me, who usually isn’t particularly fond of red bean filling, completely unable to resist this bread. At the checkout, I thought one or two would be enough, but after taking a bite, my only reaction was: why didn’t I buy a few more? Next time I go to Atami, the first thing I’ll probably do is rush here to stock up.

From Ohisama Road (Sunshine Road), you can see Mt. Jonen. Head straight west from Daio Wasabi Farm to find this view. 😄