#020 ~Happy New Year~ Happy New Year! In 2026 I plan to push forward even harder, and make it a year of great leaps forward! I sincerely pray that this year brings you many rewards and blessings. By the way, I am entering the year of minor bad luck (maeyaku)...

Enjoy the great winter outdoors! Here’s information on spots where you can play in the snow⛄ ① Togakushi Snowshoeing Stroll through the Forest Botanical Garden and the Okusha Approach wrapped in silence and snow while wearing snowshoes. There’s an addictive thrill to leaving your footprints on the pure white fields and forging your own path. Beginners can feel at ease on guided tours. Snowshoes and poles are available for rent at the Togakushi Tourist Information Center, so please inquire there. *Winter tours require different gear than during the snow-free season. Please check carefully and prepare accordingly.* *From January 7th onward, access beyond Zuishinmon toward the cedar avenue along the Okusha Approach is prohibited.* About snowshoe rentals Togakushi Tourist Information Center *Business hours: 9:00–17:00* Rental pickup: 9:00–14:00 ＊Last return by 16:00 Snowshoe and pole set 2,000 yen (tax included) per day Poles, snow boots, gaiters each 500 yen (tax included) per day Recommended for first-timers: guided tours “Seasonal Walk — Winter Edition” In winter, put on snowshoes and head out to meet spectacular views. Courses may change depending on weather and conditions. *For details, check the Togakushi Tourism Association website’s news updates.* ② Togakushi Ski Field This ski field offers high-quality groomed runs with famously light “magic powder” snow. The steep runs first thing in the morning after snowfall are especially popular. Season: December 13, 2025–March 31, 2026 (scheduled) Hours: 8:30–16:15 *For details, please see the official website.* ③ Iizuna Plateau Kotacamp At the nature experience resort Nagano Forest Village on Iizuna Plateau, relax in a kotatsu surrounded by snowy scenery and enjoy a warm, indulgent break that only the cold season can offer! Period: Early January–end of March (scheduled) Hours: Two sessions — 11:00–14:00 and 17:00–19:30 Fee: 5,500 yen (tax included) per person (includes Kotacamp special menu) *For details, please see the official website.* ④ Iizuna Plateau Zunacchi Hiroba Near the former Iizuna Kogen Ski Resort’s No.1 and No.2 lift areas, children can enjoy a free sledding and beginner ski slope. No staff are stationed on site, so please enjoy safely to avoid injury. *As of January 5, R8, the full opening is delayed due to insufficient snowfall, but some areas are usable.* *For details, please see the Iizuna Plateau Tourism Association website.* #Togakushi #Iizuna Plateau #Snowshoe #Winter camping #Nagano City #Nagano Prefecture #Nagano tourism #Nagano travel #nagano #naganocity

A luxurious gift campaign is starting🎁 Enjoy winter in the Kushiro region and win fantastic local specialties! Just share the winter charms of the Kushiro region on Instagram, and you’ll have a chance to win wonderful local products! The Kushiro region is full of winter-only vistas such as Lake Akan Onsen in Kushiro City, Hosooka Observatory in Kushiro Town, Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, and Tawahei Observatory in Shibecha—refresh your mind and body at hot springs and nature-rich spots! Check the details at the URL below▼ https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/22082/...

Happy New Year. I look forward to your continued support this year. Now for the first event of the year organized by the Kyonan Town Tourism Association. On Sunday, January 18, we will hold a Narcissus & Gibier Marche and a flea market at Kyonan Town Health and Welfare Center Sukoyaka Parking. You will find narcissus flowers, vegetables, rice balls made with local produce, fried gibier meat, nostalgic Showa-era hardware, and more. Food trucks will also be on site, so look forward to that. Also, from 11:00 a.m., we will offer free bowls of botan-jiru soup to the first 250 people. The date and time are as follows. Date and time: Sunday, January 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location: Kyonan Town Health and Welfare Center Sukoyaka Parking The event will be canceled in case of rain. Please come and join us. #Chiba Prefecture#Kyonan Town#Boso Peninsula#hoba station#Hota Coast#Narcissus no Sato#Ezuki Narcissus Road#Kyonan Town Health and Welfare General Center Sukoyaka#Narcissus Marche#Gibier Marche#Tateyama Gibier#Free botan-jiru distribution

A luxurious Instagram giveaway is starting 🎁 Enjoy winter in the Kushiro area and win premium local products! Just share the winter charms of the Kushiro area on Instagram for a chance to win wonderful local specialties! From Lake Akan Onsen in Kushiro City to Hoso-oka Observatory in Kushiro Town, Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, and Tawa-He Observatory in Shibecha, the Kushiro area is full of winter-only spectacular views. Relax your mind and body at hot spring resorts and nature-rich spots! Check the website for details! https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/22082/...

The Mt. Rokko Pasture can be reached by winding mountain paths that slowly ascend from Kobe! The scenery on the way is beautiful, but not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. Once you arrive, though, you are rewarded with a picturesque vista of rolling hills and sheep grazing peacefully. For those who want a more dynamic sheep activity, there are sheep races on Saturday, complete with a champion's stage for the lucky winner! Of course, visitors are welcome to touch the fluffy sheep, and you can hear their cute bleating now and again. I came just for the sheep, but I was surprised by the scale of the pasture's other activities. There are horses, goats, guinea pigs, and at least one giant cow. There were horseback riding experiences, as well as a fossil search activity for children where participants can find and take home real fossils. The pasture makes its own cheese, and also has locally made Kobe wines for sale. Outside of winter, fresh milk is also available. If you would like a relaxing experience with animals away from the city, Mt. Rokko is a great spot!

The kanji chosen as Kawagoe's hope for Reiwa 8 is "emi," meaning "smile." Although I will be transferring at the end of this month—still within Kawagoe—I will start fresh and do my best. 😊

Forest Museum Kimu From Sunday, January 4 the Forest Museum Kimu has opened. ※The museum will be closed on Tuesday, January 6. We look forward to your continued support this year. With the new year, the displays inside the museum have been refreshed. A large sun shines beyond the Red Fuji 🌞 The reddish branches in the foreground are mizuki that were grown at the Flower Park of Roadside Station Kamu. As a memento of your visit, please take a photo holding a hagoita (decorative wooden paddle) 📸 Also, starting today a special exhibition has opened. - SASAKI Craft Exhibition - Works by Sasaki Kogei, a wooden craft maker based in Nagayama, Asahikawa City, are displayed in the museum showcases. The exhibition runs through Friday, March 20. On the final day of the exhibition we plan to hold a woodworking workshop and a shooting gallery event. For details, please see the Mokumu HP. - Forest Museum Kimu Winter opening hours: 10:00–16:30 Last admission is accepted until 16:10 Admission fees: 500 yen for high school students and older 300 yen for 4th–6th grade elementary and junior high school students 100 yen for ages 3 through 3rd grade elementary Free for children under 3 Contact: 0158-87-2600 #Forest Museum Kimu#New Year #2026 #We look forward to your visit #Special Exhibition #Sasaki Kogei #Setoushi-kun #Mascot

[Held from Saturday, January 24, 2026 to Sunday, February 15, 2026] Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka💫 The ever-popular “Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka” returns this year 🎉 [Date] January 24 (Sat) ⇒ February 15 (Sun) [Lighting hours] 19:00–21:00 [Location] Otofuke Town Tokachigaoka Park Hanak Square [Parking] Available (approx. 200 cars, free) Sairinka is a fantasy show blending light and music ✨ Come and experience the power and emotion of this spectacular show! We look forward to welcoming many visitors 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ - [Held from Saturday, January 24, 2026 to Sunday, February 15, 2026] Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka💫 The very popular “Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka” is being held again this year 🎉 [Date] January 24 (Sat) ⇒ February 15 (Sun) [Lighting hours] 19:00–21:00 [Location] Otofuke Town Tokachigaoka Park Hanak Square [Parking] Available (approx. 200 cars, free) Sairinka combines light and music in a dreamlike show ✨ Please come to the site and feel the impact and emotion of the light-and-music pairing! - [Held from Saturday, January 24, 2026 to Sunday, February 15, 2026] Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka💫 “Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka,” which is very popular every year, will be held again this year 🎉 [Date] January 24 (Sat) ⇒ February 15 (Sun) [Light hours] 19:00–21:00 [Location] Otofuke Town Tokachigaoka Park Hanak Square [Parking] Available (approx. 200 cars, free) - [Held from Saturday, January 24, 2026 to Sunday, February 15, 2026] Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka💫 The annually popular “Otofuke Tokachigawa Swan Festival Sairinka” will be held again this year 🎉 [Event period] January 24 (Sat) – February 15 (Sun) [Lighting time] 19:00–21:00 [Venue] Otofuke Town Tokachigaoka Park Hanak Square [Parking] Available (approx. 200 cars, free)

Happy New Year! This is the first sunrise of 2026 as seen from Bansei Onsen. May many people visit Taiki Town again this year!

Photographed on December 29, 2025. This is the New Year–style hanachōzu (flower water basin) at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.🎍

From Kushiro, Happy New Year again for 2026! The long New Year holidays have ended. How has everyone been? In Kushiro City the red-crowned cranes have arrived for the season, and 100 to 200 birds are currently being observed at the feeding station 😊 Also, from Saturday, January 17, the SL Winter Marsh Train began operating, ushering in the best time to enjoy winter sightseeing! On cold mornings you might see lotus-leaf ice or ke-arashi (steam fog) over the Kushiro River⁈ Viewed from around Nusamai Bridge, the scene becomes even more magical. You can also enjoy winter canoeing on the Kushiro River as it flows through Kushiro Shitsugen! Thanks to the clear winter air, the sunset in Kushiro—hailed as one of the world’s three great sunsets—shines with even more vivid colors, and Kushiro offers many sights and experiences you can only encounter at this time of year. Please come visit us✨ The official Kushiro and Akan tourism site, super fantastic, is here https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com// Wishing everyone a great year again this year (^^)

Sun pillar and diamond dust at Kirigamine, Nagano Prefecture The 1/3 weather forecast predicted a temperature of −8°C and 80% humidity. Since snow had been forecast until 21:00 the night before, I thought it might appear and drove out. By the time I arrived at 21:00, the snow had already stopped, but a light dusting of powdery snow had settled. At 22:00 the car’s outside thermometer read −12°C, so I went to bed hoping the temperature would keep falling. I hiked 600 m along the snowy road from the parking lot to the shooting point just after 6:00 in the morning. The morning temperature was −12°C. Mount Fuji was clearly visible. There were clouds above Yatsugatake, but at 7:20 a sun pillar appeared above them. I silently wished for it to appear below as well, and from around 7:24 the diamond dust began to sparkle. The sun pillar lasted about 15 minutes, but the diamond dust continued to glitter afterward. I had visited several times last year without success, so I was delighted to see it this time.

Mount Fuji and morning mist This photo was taken at Lake Shojin at sunrise. I took it by chance on my first visit to see Mount Fuji! It looks like it will be a good year♪