Untying the Threads of Sakai — A World Tour in Sakai!? 🌍 “SAKAI Gourmet EXPO” Confirmed! Gather hungry on the long weekend in March at Sakai Risho no Mori (@rishonomori)! ✨ A colorful lineup of international food trucks and tents will offer a global feast 🤤 From authentic flavors you rarely get to try to family favorites that kids and adults love, six food trucks and two tent vendors will serve up fresh, delicious dishes! 🚚💨 Enjoy the open-air setting and savor world cuisine while spending a lovely spring moment. 🌸 Tag friends and family and strategize what to eat! 👇 📅 Date: Friday, March 20 (national holiday) and Saturday, March 21 ⏰ Time: 10:00–16:00 📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori ※ Exhibit lineup is subject to change 🔍 Search “Untying the Threads of Sakai 2026” for details! 🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Himo Tokeba Sakai: Stunning Ink Art Live Painting Performance🖌️ “ICHIGO ICHIE” by Vít Kodoušek ( @squaremotionart ), an artist who served as the Ceremonial Director for the Czech Pavilion, will be held! Using ink, he captures the atmosphere of the moment on canvas in a dynamic performance. Experience the birth of art that can only happen “here and now” up close✨ 📅 Date: Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22 ⏰ Times: ① 11:00 / ② 14:30 (about 25 minutes per session) 📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori 💰 Admission: Free 🔍 For details, search “Himo Tokeba Sakai 2026”! 🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Himototakeba Sakai: Sakai Risho no Mori × Czech Pavilion <Main Hall Tea Room × Contemporary Art Tea Utensils> The masterpiece "La Traviata" turned into wagashi. A special tea gathering featuring contemporary art tea utensils 🍵✨ At the Main Hall Tea Room of Sakai Risho no Mori (@rishonomori), we will serve tea using original tea utensils created by contemporary artists that were also used at the Expo site ✨ The confection is an elegant limited fresh wagashi inspired by the Czech master Alphonse Mucha’s work "La Traviata" 👀 Enjoy a luxurious time in a serene space, savoring art with all your senses♪ "Main Hall Tea Room (each session about 60 minutes)" 📅 Dates: Friday, March 20 (national holiday) – Sunday, March 22 ※ Session times vary by day, please check carefully 📍 Location: Sakai Risho no Mori 🍵 Participation fee: ¥1,000 (includes "La Traviata" wagashi) ✅ How to apply: Reserve in advance on the Sakai Risho no Mori reservation site (each session limited to 20 people) (URL: https://reserva.be/sakairishonomori... ) ⚠️ The contemporary artists’ tea utensils are limited in number. 🎁 Special experiences available!※ See the reservation site for sessions and details. ・Tea whisking experience On designated sessions on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd, enjoy the chance to whisk your own tea 🍵 ・Shamisen performance On a designated session on Saturday the 21st, Tsuruya Musical Instruments (@tsuruya_music_instruments) will present a shamisen performance 🪕 🔍 For more details, search for "Himototakeba Sakai 2026"! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Kumanozakura, recognized as a newly identified cherry variety It blooms earlier than Someiyoshino and has deeper color than Yamazakura Photographed in the Mine District of Kozagawacho.

🪾 Tokachi Ranch white birch tree line on March 10th 🪾 The 1.3 km-long white birch avenue, designated as a beautiful forest in Otofuke Town, changes its look with the seasons. In early spring there are no leaves and only a little snow, so the scene feels a bit lonely, yet the clear, wide blue sky brings a calm, peaceful atmosphere. This white birch avenue reveals a different beauty each season—be sure to visit and enjoy it! 😊 - 🪾 Tokachi Ranch white birch avenue on March 10th 🪾 The 1.3 km-long white birch grove, designated as a beautiful forest in Otofuke Town, shows different faces as the seasons change. At this early-spring moment there are no leaves and little snow, which gives a slightly lonely feeling, but the clear blue sky and surrounding stillness are very peaceful. You can enjoy the beauty of all four seasons along the white birch avenue—please come and see it! 😊 - 🪾 Tokachi Ranch white birch tree line on March 10th 🪾 The 1.3 km-long line of white birch trees, designated as a beautiful forest in Otofuke Town, shifts its appearance with each season. In early spring there are no leaves and little snow, so the scene feels somewhat lonely, but the clear, expansive blue sky and quiet surroundings lend a tranquil air. Don’t miss the white birch avenue, where you can enjoy the distinct beauty of every season! 😊

Photographed on February 28, Heisei 26. These are the flower-filled handwashing basins (hanachozu) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

At the moment when a long winter was about to end, I felt spring within a rolling whirl of power. In that early spring, the resilience of nature gave me the energy to live.

Photographed on February 28, 2014. These are the flower-filled hand-washing basin displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Event Announcement 📣 Tokachi Craft Makers Night will take place on Thursday, March 19. 😊 This one-night event brings together three makers who craft beverages in Tokachi with their own philosophies and participants to discuss the future of Tokachi’s drinking culture. 🎵 Part One is a panel discussion (about 45 minutes) with the three makers leading “new beverage making in Tokachi”: beer, cider, and gin. Part Two is a social gathering (about 60 minutes) where you can enjoy drinks paired with food and freely chat with the three makers. 📍 Date and time: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 18:00–19:45 (reception starts at 17:30) 📍 Venue: LAND, 1st Floor, Tenkodo Building, 12-1, West 2 South 11, Obihiro 📍 Capacity: 40 people (reservation required, first-come, first-served) 📍 Eligibility: Ages 20 and over (alcohol will be served) 📍 Fee: 3,000 yen (drinks from three companies plus pairing dishes from Kobito no Daidokoro in Ashorocho) *Payment in cash on the day* 📍 Registration deadline: Saturday, March 14, 2026 — registration closes once capacity is reached. *Please apply via the QR code on the attached flyer.* 📞 Inquiries: Tokachi Plain Distillery TEL: 0155-65-0479 (We may not be able to answer depending on business conditions. Thank you for your understanding.) https://tokachibare.jp/sake-museum/...

Osaka Temmangu Shrine 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Osaka Temmangu Shrine enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of scholarship, and is especially revered for success in exams and academic achievement. It is also believed to grant blessings for prosperous business, fulfilled love, protection from misfortune, and various other benefits.

Today's Observatory This morning's lowest temperature in Nobeyama was -15.5°C, the second coldest in the country. The sky is clear, and Yatsugatake is showing its full blue. Last year, the NAOJ Nobeyama Observatory was bustling with pilgrimages, but it has now returned to quiet. I remember with fondness the time a year ago when we nervously debated various measures, wondering, “Will people really come in droves?” If you couldn't take a leisurely tour of the observatory back then, now is a good time to visit—it's still a bit chilly, though.

Dinner in Gokase 🍴 Today I’m sharing a dinner that a tourism association staff member recently enjoyed ✨ Starting with the dinner 🍴 Top photo: roasted venison 🥩 Look at that shine… 🤩 (Ah… this is very much the staff member’s personal impression) This was a shocking dish that made me think, I’ve never had venison this delicious before… 💡 After tasting this roasted venison, all my previous assumptions about game meat were turned upside down! The vegetables were mainly local, seasoned so you could eat them endlessly 😊 The wild boar stew left no trace in the pot—scooped up with bread— the chicken was tender and juicy, and the venison Bolognese was neatly finished off 😋 Even the dessert, a kettle-roasted tea brownie, made this a hugely satisfying dinner 👏 This time I had a non-alcoholic cocktail, and it was thoroughly satisfying ✨ …I’m really frustrated I couldn’t drink alcohol… 😭 (saying it out loud) This dinner was at: Guesthouse & Bar EL CAMPO 📍872-1 Kuraoka, Gokasecho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture Note: The venue normally opens Friday through Sunday, but will open on weekdays by reservation. Note: Course meals are available with a reservation at least one day in advance.

The tallest self-supporting broadcasting tower in the world, Tokyo Sky Tree, and Japan’s symbol of spring, the cherry blossoms. This photograph captures a moment where cutting-edge technology and nature cherished since ancient times show perfect harmony. In Japan, cherry blossoms are more than mere flowers. They symbolize new beginnings and the poignant beauty of a fleeting moment. In this composition, the tower’s urban, sharp steel frame is gently outlined by soft pink petals, reflecting both the energy of ever-changing Tokyo and the unchanging beauty of the four seasons. The clear blue sky contrasted with vivid cherry blossoms embodies Japan’s warm hospitality toward visitors. Through this single image, we hope you can feel the breath of tradition and innovation that Japan proudly offers.

Photographed on February 24, 2014. This is the hanachōzu (flower water basin) at Hara Florist.

Untie the Strings, Discover Sakai: Try Traditional Techniques! Make Wagashi Sweets 🍡 Learn authentic wagashi (nerikiri) making from Sakai’s craftsmen. Handcraft two sweets: a seasonal wagashi and one inspired by the Expo. Take your freshly made treats home with you. Why not create your own little work of art? Children are very welcome to join. 📅 Date: Friday, March 20 (national holiday), and Sunday, March 22 ⏰ Times: 1) 13:00– / 2) 14:30– (about 60 minutes per session) 👨‍🍳 Instructors: • March 20: Mr. Maeda from Sakai Hosen Kashisho • March 22: Mr. Takada from Hamasaki Souka-an Minoya 📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori Lecture Room 💰 Fee: 500 yen (cash only) ✅ No reservation required (10–15 participants per session, first come first served on the day) ※ Children under 3rd grade must be accompanied by a guardian 🔍 For details, search “Untie the Strings, Discover Sakai 2026”! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Photographed on February 22, 2014. This is Tomori Dining's honey lemon. 🍋🍯

I photographed this scene in the plum grove of Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s three most celebrated gardens. In this historic garden I sought to capture the passage of time played by the plums and the quiet vitality hidden within them, rendering both with a dreamlike interplay of light that blurs dream and reality. A single drooping branch holds a few delicate pink blossoms, and countless floating orbs of light—bokeh—wrap around them. Those many bokeh spheres symbolize layers of time linking past and future and the glitter of innumerable lives. I composed the shot to lead the eye to the central blossom, emphasizing its fleeting beauty and refined dignity.

🌸For a spring outing🌸 Take a leisurely tour of Sakai’s old highways and relax at Kokoan with views of the Mausoleum of Emperor Hanzei🍵 How about a stroll around Sakai’s old highways during cherry blossom season?🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶 A sightseeing volunteer guide accompanies the tour, so you’ll learn many new things✨ After the walk, unwind at Kokoan next to Hochigai Shrine⛩️ with sweets and tea🍡🍵 Enjoy a tranquil time in a lovely location overlooking the Mausoleum of Emperor Hanzei😌 Discover the charms of nearby Sakai you might not know, together with the cherry blossoms🌸 *Photo of the cherry blossoms at the Former Kosenji Temple Akai Site: taken on March 29, 2025* 📅 Date and time: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meet at 9:50 or 12:50. Reservations required at least three days in advance 💰 Fee: 4,000 yen (includes Kokoan voucher) 📍 Meeting place: Sakai City Hall 21st-floor observation lobby *On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays one person may join. From Monday to Thursday we accept requests for groups of two or more.* 🔍For details, search “Sakai old highway tour” https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/tourism/detail/201...

NHK 'Geo Japan: 100 Spectacular Views' aired an episode titled "Hokkaido — Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu." Teshikaga in Hokkaido unfolds a grand natural landscape. This episode focuses on Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. It shared many facts even locals might not know, from volcanic activity to rare creatures living on the Wakin Peninsula, making it both beautiful and educational. Here is a selection of highlights 💁‍♀️✨ _________________________________ NHK BS Geo Japan: 100 Spectacular Views Hokkaido — Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu Saturday, March 7 — 12:00 to 13:00 _________________________________ https://www.web.nhk/tv/pl/series-tep-ENV69LY378/ep/2Z169XL1MQ...

A pollen-free town. Kushiro. A place where you can take a deep breath even in spring. Would you like to try this air? Kushiro is a city that many people troubled by hay fever visit in spring as a pollen-avoidance destination. At Kushiro Prince Hotel, we offer special spring stays and a herbal sweets set so you can relax in air free from pollen. ▶ More details here https://www.princehotels.co.jp/kushiro/plan/kahun202602/...

White steam rising from Mt. Io, as if announcing the end of winter. The long winter is slowly thawing, and signs of spring are appearing around Lake Kussharo. Period: April 25, 2026 – June 30, 2026 🍸"Caldera Lake," inspired by Lake Kussharo, 🥂"Karimpani Mojito," featuring cherry blossoms and strawberries from Teshikaga, 🥛"Nishikuru," made with milk from Watanabe Experience Ranch's cows, We offer drinks that capture the spirit of spring in eastern Hokkaido. 📍Kussharo Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

Introduction to Our Sponsor Companies – The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and each winner has received a supplementary prize. This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of local businesses in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga-navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies that have supported us. (In no particular order) This time, we introduce Suzukifarm Co., Ltd., the company that runs Cream Fairy Tale, famous for its delicious gelato‼︎📝 More detailed information is available on Teshikaga-navi, so please take a look✨ Thank you very much to Suzukifarm Co., Ltd. for cooperating with this event🙇❣️ We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga-navi.

[Komaide Pond Campground Reservations Open] Komaide Pond Campground sits in a stunning stand of white birch often called the most beautiful in Japan, offering a superb location for camping 🏕️ Reservations for the 2026 season are now open! Season opens: Friday, April 24 Bookings open: Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 AM To reserve, search for "komaide pond campground" on the NAP site for campground reservations. Komaide Pond Campground official site https://yachiho-kogen.com/camp/...

#Himotokeba Sakai \/ Miyakumyaku Comes to Sakai🔵🔴 Himotokeba Sakai 2026 ~OSAKA SAKAI EXPO~ Miyakumyaku Photo Session in Sakai Confirmed! A chance to take photos and videos together🌟 Relive the excitement of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in Sakai once more! 🗓️Date & Location: Friday, March 20 @ Inside Daisen Park Saturday, March 21 @ Sakai Risho no Mori, Lecture Room, 2nd Floor ⏰Times: ①11:00 / ②13:30 / ③16:00 (30 minutes each) 💰Free ✅Advance lottery system; application period: Tuesday, March 10, 10:00 – Monday, March 16, 10:00 ※Winners will be notified by email on Wednesday, March 17. 🔍Search for "Himotokeba Sakai 2026" for details! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20260227145543...

Himeji Castle is justly famous and sees visitors from around the world. But for many, Himeji is a short trip from Osaka or elsewhere, and no sooner have they seen the castle than visitors head right back to the station. In a way, Himeji is a victim of its own success in designing around the castle, with it being directly in view the second visitors step out of the station, and the castle being so famous that it overshadows everything else the city has to offer. Well, that's fair. Koko-en garden and Engyo-j on Mt. Shosha are also well worth your time, but for someone who would only like to focus on the castle, there is one minor detour I would recommend, and that is the Senhime Trail. Directly running along the moat of Himeji Castle itself, it is surrounded on both sides by water, with excellent seasonal tree foliage at any time of year. The path is named after Princess Senhime, the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who lived at Himeji Castle in the early Edo period. Strangely, just a fraction of those who wish to see the castle go here and so it is not a very busy trail. It feels much more quiet and peaceful than the main castle approach, and shops and crowds give way to maple trees, waterfowl, and reflections of the castle in the water. Best of all, in light of Himeji Castle fees being newly raised for visitors, the trail is completely free! It is a hidden gem beautiful and well worth the time in any season, but especially spring or fall. For those with time to enjoy beauty, I highly recommend making a stroll of it before turning back to Himeji Station.

＼👧All children enter free👦／ From Wednesday, March 25 to Tuesday, March 31, for seven days, Noah Dolphin Dome celebrates its first anniversary by offering free admission for children (ages 4 through elementary school)🎊 We have many other special anniversary programs lined up just for the occasion📢 Of course, our regular animal-interaction programs will run as usual! Make wonderful spring memories at Noah Dolphin Dome…🌸 Admission fees ◯ Regular rates Adult (junior high school and older): ¥1210 Child (ages 4 through elementary school): ¥770 ◯ Night time (entry from 17:00) Adult (junior high school and older): ¥770 Child (ages 4 through elementary school): ¥550 *Children aged 3 and under are free all day* Opening hours 10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30) Parking None (please use nearby coin-operated parking; no partner parking available) 🔍 Search for "Noah Dolphin Dome" for details! 🔗 Website: https://www.dolphindome.jp//

Photographed on February 22, 2014. This is a meal set from tomori dining. It includes domestic chicken karaage, homemade ganmo (fried tofu fritter), simmered hijiki seaweed, miso soup, and pickles. It's quite a feast. 😊🍚

A plum grove in Katsuragicho, Wakayama Prefecture, is planted on the slope of a hill. Unlike the plum groves in the Kinan Region, nets are not set up to catch the fruit at harvest. I believe the mountain visible beyond the grove is Mount Izumi Katsuragi.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival Now ongoing! Thanks to the cold weather, the plum blossoms are likely to last longer✨ The area around Lakeside Village Tsukigase is at its best, too✨ Photo courtesy of yasunori okamoto

Photographed on February 22, 2014. This is the hanachozu at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.