[Notice of Winter Night Scenery Operation on MtOoyama Cable Car] MtOoyama Cable Car will operate a “Winter Night Scenery” service during the following period. During the event, the first 200 passengers using the cable car each day will receive a cup of amazake. Additionally, a greeting event with a popular character will be held! Enjoy the crisp winter air and the night views at MtOoyama. ■Event Period 2026 Saturday, January 10; Sunday, January 11 Monday, January 12 (national holiday) Saturday, January 17; Sunday, January 18 Saturday, January 24; Sunday, January 25 ■Cable Car Operating Hours Service runs until 7:00 p.m. each day For details, please see the official website. https://www.ooyama-cable.co.jp/winteryakei2026.html...

Photographed on January 1, 2014. Around 6:00 a.m. at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, this is the temizuya (water pavilion). The unusual atmosphere compared with usual is lovely.

[Now Open] MemanbetsuKohan Ice Fishing for Smelt Every day, many people from inside and outside the town join us! Set against vast natural scenery, this activity is only possible while the lake is frozen. We offer gear rental and sales, so first-timers can take part with confidence 😊 We warmly look forward to welcoming you! ■Period: Monday, January 5th – Wednesday, February 11th (public holiday) ■Fishing hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM ■Fishing fee: Adults ¥900 per day, Elementary school students ¥450 per day

Nagawacho is taking on a government crowdfunding campaign!🔥 [Support Project for the Nagawacho Youth Obsidian Ambassadors: Sharing a Jomon Message with the World from the “Home of Obsidian”] ★Donation period: Until February 26, 2026 Nagawacho is known as the largest source of obsidian on Honshu, with remains of Jomon-period obsidian mines still present. In this project, local junior high and high school students will become Nagawacho Youth Obsidian Ambassadors and visit Thetford in the United Kingdom. While working alongside a youth group learning history and culture at a local museum, they will promote Nagawacho’s historical assets: obsidian and Jomon culture. We are supporting these outreach activities! Please support the children who will lead the next generation! Details below👇 https://www.furusato-tax.jp/gcf/4926...

Photographed on January 3, 2014. This is the New Year floral temizu basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

These sparrows were photographed near Asahi Station when I went to Nagano to photograph the Nagano Electric Railway. They played together in a flock on the fluffy snow, their soft bodies so charming that I nearly forgot the cold.

Happy New Year from Gen at Shosenkyo Gorge. I look forward to your continued support this year. The 8th year of Reiwa has begun, and a week has already passed. The weather in Yamanashi’s Shosenkyo has been fine every day, with no snow, making for very pleasant days. Kanazakura Shrine, famous as the birthplace of crystal, has been welcoming visitors for New Year’s prayers from all over the country every day, creating a lively atmosphere. Kanazakura Shrine is also well known as a place to improve your financial luck. Why not pay a visit sometime? Gen has been open without a break since New Year’s Day on January 1st. We have also received a steady arrival of new power stones. If you have time, please feel free to drop by. All of our staff are sincerely looking forward to your visit.

Woody Winter School - Now Accepting Participants - Combine wooden parts and try making a fire truck 🚒 This is a woodworking class hosted by the Forest Museum “Mokumu”. You may come to Komu, The Museum of the Forest, and work at your own pace over about one month. Estimated work time is about 15 hours. If you work about four hours a day, you can expect to finish in four days. Duration: Thursday, February 5th – Sunday, March 1st Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays each week 10:00–16:00 ※Lunch break is from 12:00 to 13:00 Location: Woodworking Room, Komu, The Museum of the Forest, Nishiokoppe Village Participation Fee: 10,000 yen Residents: 5,000 yen ※Accommodation and meals are not included How to Apply: Please contact us by Sunday, February 1st. Forest Museum “Mokumu” 📞 0158-87-2600 Capacity is limited to five groups, so please apply early. - Forest Museum “Mokumu” - SASAKI Craft Exhibition Now On! - Winter opening hours: 10:00–16:30 Last admission accepted until 16:10 Admission Fee: High school and older: 500 yen 4th grade elementary to junior high: 300 yen Ages 3 to 3rd grade elementary: 100 yen Under 3 years old: Free #Forest Museum Mokumu #Woodworking Class #Woody School #Participants Wanted #Wooden Toys #Woodworking

📣 A chocolate seminar at Sakai Risho no Mori💕🍫 Presented by HIPPO to MOCA, a chocolate specialty shop in Sakai Ward, this seminar invites you to taste and compare chocolates while hearing stories—“A Chocolate Tasting and Talk: Learn to Tell the Differences.” You will enjoy both learning and tasting as the program includes accounts from a cacao farm, hands-on encounters with specialty beans, and a sampling of bonbon chocolates made with ingredients tied to Sakai. We look forward to your participation✨ 🔍 For details, search “A Chocolate Tasting and Talk.” https://sakai-rishounomori.com...

Photographed on January 3, 2014. This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. It looks festive and bright for the New Year.🎍✨

[TESHIKAGA 2025] I put together some footage of Teshikaga shot in 2025📸 Looking at it like this, Teshikaga’s four seasons are truly beautiful, aren’t they? To everyone spending 2026 in Teshikagacho and to all who continue to take an interest, we will keep sharing information, so thank you for your support🙇🩵

Reihoku Sunset Marche — January Announcement📣 Happy New Year🎊 Our first announcement of the year is the Reihoku Sunset Marche in January♪ 👀 Highlights of this Sunset Marche 👀 ❣ At the Reihoku Sunset Marche, where agricultural products, processed goods, and prepared foods from Reihoku are sold, freshly shipped bagged mikan (tangerines) will be available this time 🍊 Please enjoy these seasonal farm products❣ We look forward to seeing you 😊 Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag🛍✨ Scheduled produce for sale: ・Aspara greens ・Cauliflower ・Turnips🫜 ・Pumpkin🎃 ・Cabbage ・Cucumbers🥒 ・Kale ・Rice🌾 ・Coral leaf feather ・Taro ・Sweet potatoes🍠 ・Potatoes🥔 ・Garland chrysanthemum (shungiku) ・Daikon radish ・Tomatoes (Aiko, cherry) ・Chinese cabbage ・Green peppers🫑 ・Broccoli🥦 ・Ponkan ・Mikan🍊 (bagged, boxed, bag-hung) ・Mizuna (Beni-hoshi variety) ・Lettuce (sunny, leaf) ・Welsh onion (single stalk) 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche Date: Sunday, January 11, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM Location: Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Local Products Center, 4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)

Yesterday it dropped to minus 26 degrees, so the water vapor in the air froze on the tree branches, creating beautiful hoarfrost. Hokkaido, Sarabetsumura.

Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Hokkaido It is a famous spot for photographing the red-crowned cranes.

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu’s Christmas Everyone was making snowmen and enjoying snowball fights.

Photographed on January 3, 2014. These are the hanachōzu (flower water basins) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.