At the ‘‘Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park’’ in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture—situated almost in the exact center of the Chugoku region—the rose garden has reached peak bloom starting Wednesday, May 21, 2025!
Colorful roses are in full bloom, and each one is beautiful.

This rose garden was newly established in 2020 on roughly 400 square meters and features 118 varieties and 206 repeat-blooming rose shrubs. To enliven the north area and enhance the garden’s appeal, we began collaborating with rose enthusiasts from Shobara City in July 2024 to improve fertilization, perform detailed pruning, and train plants on arches and fences as part of ongoing cultivation and maintenance.
We have added varieties such as Michelangelo and Christian Dior to further enrich the rose garden. The garden is expected to be at its best from mid-May through late July and again from mid-October through late November.

Blooming information (as of May 21)
Name: Roses
Varieties currently in bloom: Peace, Queen Elizabeth, and many others
Bloom condition: Peak bloom
Blooming period: Mid-May to late July; early October to late November

Basic facility information
Location: Inside Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park, Satoyama Station Shobara Furari
Address: 4-10 Mikkaichicho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 727-0021
Contact: Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park TEL 0824-72-7000
Website: For details, check the official Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park website!

Fukoji Hydrangeas

❚ Bloom Report as of May 22, 2025

Fukoji Temple stands in Asaji Town, Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture.
It is also famous as a hydrangea sightseeing spot.
At present, most hydrangeas are still buds.
We will update the bloom status as it progresses.

[Location] Kamiozuka, Asaji Town, Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture
[Access] About a 10-minute drive from JR Asaji Station
[Parking] Available (free)
[Restrooms] Available

❚ Fukoji Temple
The rock-carved Buddha on the temple grounds, including its base, stands approximately 11 meters tall and ranks among Japan’s largest rock-carved Buddhas. The central giant figure represents Fudo Myoo. Fudo Myoo traditionally appears with an angry expression, but years of wind and rain have softened this carving into a rounded, gentle face. Although it is a large Fudo Myoo, it has a very approachable presence.
Fukoji is also called Hydrangea Temple for good reason, with many hydrangeas planted across the grounds. During the rainy season you can see abundant hydrangea blooms alongside the rock-carved Buddha.
The hydrangeas planted here are cared for by the temple and local community.

■■■ Access to central Bungo-Ono City ■■■
About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture
About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture

■■■■■■■■■■■■
Introducing sightseeing and recommended spots in Kyushu, Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture
■■■■■■■■■■■■

【✨The irises along Nogu River are at their best🏔】
As the moss phlox at Nogu River Riverside Park finishes, the irises lining Nogu River have come into full bloom😊 Bright azaleas are blooming alongside them🌺 and the snow-capped Northern Alps are visible upstream🏔
🌺Flower update 2025🌼 is below🔽🔽🔽
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/88859/

Photographed 5/22/25.
I went to Omotesando bread and espresso at approach to the temple.
It's a moo toast set.
They are moo toast, salad, deli, fried eggs, bacon and yogurt. 🍞🥗🍳🥓
The word "mou" means "soft" in French. Moo toast is tender and delicious. 😊

🌸 "Gokase Hanami 2025" Voting Now Open 🌸【Until Friday, June 6, 2025!】

Thank you all for entering "Gokase Hanami 2025."
We have conducted a strict first-round selection by the tourism association staff and have chosen 12 entries from all submissions. 🙏✨

From these 12 entries, we will let everyone vote to decide the final winners. 🤩👏

Ten people who vote will be selected by lottery to receive specialty products from Gokasecho. 🎁💫 We appreciate your participation. 🙇‍♀️

How to vote is explained below. 💡

【Voting Period: Until Friday, June 6, 2025】
⚠️ Voting is limited to one method per account and one vote per person.

<If voting via Google Form>
・Go to the “voting form” at the URL below.
https://forms.gle/uBpw7C7xFDsDKBo2A
・Enter your email address (required). You may optionally provide your name.
・Choose one of the 12 entries, check that entry, and submit your response.
⚠️ No login is required, but an email address is mandatory. Please note this in advance.

<If voting via Instagram>
・Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/
・From the posts tagged with the hashtag "#Gokase Hanami 2025 Vote," pick one of the 12 entries shown and send the photo number by direct message or comment. ✍
⚠️ If you do not follow our account, message exchanges may be unreliable and you will be excluded from the prize lottery. Please be aware.

<If voting at a ballot location>
・Vote at ballot sites set up at Gokase Town Hall, Gokase Onsen Mori no Yado Kijiya, or the mobile sales vehicle "Gokase Marche-go."
・Select one of the 12 entries and write the entry number, your name, and email address on the ballot paper, then place it in the ballot envelope.

We have also set up a ballot site at Gokase Secondary Education School in collaboration with the Gokase Sakura Project, and students will help vote. 💪✨

⚠️ If an email address is left blank or is unreadable due to poor handwriting, you will be excluded from the prize lottery. Please understand.

Please view the original posts by the entrants before voting. 🤗

① @sokoatari.urouro (photo 1)
② @fowafuwarin5 (photo 2)
③ @920cherry71 (photo 3)
④ @_yuta610 (photo 4)
⑤ @1230fuukeinoturishi (photo 5)
⑥ @8215dr72 (photo 6)
⑦ @code_name_cross_fire (photo 7)
⑧ @sakai_0808 (photo 8)
⑨ @reoron001219 (photo 9)
⑩ @hisabou1958 (photo 10)
⑪ @landscape133_22 (photo 11)
⑫ @omilove.1203 (photo 12)

We look forward to receiving many votes from everyone. 🥰

Hello, this is 🌻 the Hokuryu Town Himawari Tourism Association

The moss phlox at Kinbira Park Campground is in Best time to visit!
At Kinbira Park, located on a Gently Sloping Hill, moss phlox blossoms bloom all over the place in the Spring sun, creating a ✨ spectacular view like a carpet of flowers

This moss phlox was planted in Showa 54 (Showa 54) and has been carefully nurtured by the local people. After so many years, it still entertains 🌸 many people

It is a 🎶 Spot where you can enjoy leisurely camping and picnics while viewing the cherry blossoms

If the weather is nice, be sure to visit Kimbi Luo Park!

✳︎Events Information︎ ✳

〜 Hirakawa Thanksgiving Day 〜

◆ Date
Saturday, May 24 10:00 - 17:00
Sunday, May 25 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

◆ Location
@cafeandbar.lazo

This weekend, café & bar LAZO will hold a Thanksgiving Day for Hirakawa Co., Ltd.

There are also exhibits of Rinnai and Noritsu gas stoves and gas dryers.
Also, if you are thinking of buying a new one or a new one because it seems to be a special price for Thanksgiving, please feel free to stop by.

Also, if you can't come to the store at night! Why don't you take this opportunity to visit just to take a look inside the store?
On the day of the event, you can enjoy drinks offered at the bar from the morning, as well as the owner's special 〆 Parfait 🍨 and various Cream Soda.
You can also eat @get_new_sand sandwiches 🥪.

Why don't you come to Shintoku Town on the weekend?

#Hokkaido
#Tokachi
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Tourism Association
#Shintoku Station
#Events Information
#Station front Complex facility
#tuktuk
##hokkaido
#hokkaidotrip
#hokkaidotourism
#tourism
#tokachi
#shintoku
#welcomeshintoku
#discovershintoku

Today, I had a morning activity.
It is milk tea with bread and espresso.

[Spain Pavilion]
The symbols of the Spanish Pavilion are the sea and the sun. The pavilion is divided into two parts.

The first part is the sea 🌊
He introduced how Spain, the "Kuroshio" that created rich exchanges between East and West, and Japan have been connected by this "Kuroshio" for centuries, and how the two countries have been connected by a powerful invisible thread. The exhibit has the atmosphere of suddenly diving into the deep sea. There was also a simple explanation of the sentence with furigana in a low position so that children could read it.

The next part is the sun ☀
In the bright orange space where music streamed, the exhibition contrasted postcards (= analog) and digital communication.

Thereare shops and cafes selling wine, olive oil, goods, etc. I drank sangria at the café and went home 😅 tipsy

#Osaka Expo
#Osaka-Kansai Expo
#EXPO2025
#spain
#Spanish Pavilion
#Kuroshio
#Osaka
#osaka

🎨 Tea service using contemporary artists' tea ware at Shin-an 🍵

📢 A tea gathering that used contemporary artists' tea ware from the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo has been held! 🎉

To let people enjoy the Expo experience within the city as well, a standing-style tea service using contemporary artists' tea ware is available for a limited time at Sakai City tea room Shin-an until Wednesday, May 28. ✨
Take this chance to enjoy a standing-style tea service using the tea ware that was used at the Expo♪

Carp streamers dancing in the Taisho River
2-11-2 Gakuen-cho, Settsu-shi, Osaka Municipal No. 24 Meeting Hall

Carp streamers swimming leisurely over the Taisho River, which has become a tradition of Settsu City announcing the arrival of Spring. This year (2025), about 900 Carp streamers are coloring the blue sky.

This Carp streamers is Implementation every year by the Citizens volunteer "Dream Opening Citizens Association".

Carp streamers about 2 meters long are suspended on poles and ropes erected on both banks and flutter in unison in the Spring breeze is a sight to behold.

It will swim over the Taisho River until Sunday, June 8th. (2025)

Taga Taisha
604 Taga, Taga-cho, Inugami-gun, Shiga
Taga Taisha is related to Kobo Temple, and last year a "Ne Minamoto Shrine" was built at the entrance of Kobo Temple (to enshrine the spirit of Taga Taisha). According to the Kojiki, the God of worship of Taga Taisha is the parent god of life who gave birth to eight million gods, including Amaterasu, who first began the path of husband and wife in the age of the gods, and who gave birth to the land of Japan and then Amaterasu.

Itogiri Mochi Original Ancestor Mojudo Honpo
After leaving Taga Taisha, there is a thread-cut mochi in front of the gate.

Kyoto Gion Festival
The festival is held for one month. The Gion Festival is a festival rituals at Yasaka Shrine, and the festival lasts for about one month, starting with the "Yoshi Shrine" on July 1 and ending with the "Epidemic Shrine Summer Eve Festival" on July 31.

Temple Matsuo
532 Matsuo, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture

Matsuo Temple, located in the middle of Mt. Aoba from the center of Maizuru City, Kyoto, is the 29th pilgrimage shrine of the 33 places in the West Country. Nature was good and I visited quietly.

Gorogatake Park Observation Tower
237 Kuretani, Maizuru City, Kyoto

It is Located in on a small hill on the sea side of Maizuru City. Therefore, you can overlook Maizuru Bay, not only Maizuru City, but also the neighboring city Town/Village. In Maizuru City, there is also a base of the Ocean Self-Defense Force, so I could see aircraft carriers. There is a fee to climb the tower, but since it was a Weekdays, there were few people and I was able to spend a relaxing time.
It is said that you can see the sea of clouds in the morning.

Navy-related harbor tour boat

Maizuru Red Brick Park, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture

It is the Ocean Self-Defense Force, and of course there are cool ships parked in the sea.
Children are delighted just by looking at them. I recommend it.

Maizuru Red Brick Park　　
1039-2 Kitasuki, Maizuru City, Kyoto

The buildings in the Red Brick Park were constructed one after another in 1900 (Meiji 33) (1900) as a storage warehouse for munitions and other items for the Maizuru Town Guard, and were built one after another by 1921 (Taisho 10) (1921).
It is also used as a Maizuru Red Brick Park and a shooting Spot for many movie shoots. The atmosphere is good, so it's no surprise that it's used for filming.

North Suction Tunnel
740 Kitasuki, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture

Built in Meiji 37. The tunnel's gates and side walls are made of English stacking, in which the long and short sides of the bricks are stacked alternately. At that time, railroads were running, and they were used to transport Supplies for naval facilities. Currently, it is used as a Car and pedestrian road. Passing through the beautiful arched tunnels, you can get a taste of the nostalgic world of that time.

The "Kitasuku Tunnel" is registered as a national registered tangible cultural property.

Takarazuka City, Hyogo

In addition to being known as the "town of opera and Hot spring", there are There are many several shrines and temples with a long history in the city, such as Nakayama Temple, which prays for safe birth, and Kiyosumi Temple, which is Famous as the god of furnaces. In addition, there are many sightseeing and leisure spots such as Hanshin Racecourse and golf courses.

Osamu Tezuka Memorial Hall
Hyogo, Takarazuka, Mukogawa-cho, 7-65

If you are a manga fan, I definitely recommend it. The nostalgic Astro Boy, Jungle Emperor, Firebird, etc. are on display in the Inside the Facility.

Iwashizu Shrine
Hyogo, Takarazuka-shi, 伊孑志1丁目4-3

It is a shrine located in the moderately large Precincts, about 7~8 minutes on foot from Hankyu Reverse Segawa Station.
Even the worship hall is cleansed and cleansed, and the Worshippers is welcomed comfortably.
A blackjack ema was hung.
Takarazuka City is where Osamu Tezuka spent his childhood until he was 24 years old.

NEW OPEN on May 23! A new general store is opening in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture☕🌳
Its name is bonheur poche (bonheur poche). In French it means "pocket of happiness." The owner, Mr. Motoyoshi, is from Osaka and has worked mainly as an interior coordinator, contributing to the creation of over 1,000 homes.

Driven by a long-held wish to run a café, Mr. Motoyoshi opened Satoyama Cafe An in October 2024. Families, café lovers, and visitors from afar keep returning to Satoyama Cafe An. The café, renovated from a 100-year-old traditional house, feels stylish and refined while holding a hint of nostalgia. He places particular care on creating a comfortable atmosphere. He sources everyday goods that blend into daily life and add a little richness to living. Bonheur poche will also host workshops in the future. Both Satoyama Cafe An and bonheur poche will continue to develop as places that visitors can enjoy.

For details, see the Editorial Report on the Shobara Tourist Navi site, Shobara Tourist Navi.

Basic information for bonheur poche
Opening date: Friday, May 23, 2025
Address: 89 Kamihara-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hours: 11:00–17:00
Closed: Monday and Tuesday; Sundays irregularly closed
Parking: Available (shared with Satoyama Cafe An)
Contact: 0824-74-6994 (shared with Satoyama Cafe An)

Shrine Paddy field
〒669-1355 Hyogo Prefecture Mita Nagasaka 291-2
TEL 079-560-0382 Closed on Mondays

The northbound cars of National Route 176 running near Minami-Yashiro Station on the JR Fukuchiyama Line in Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture.

Dolls installed along the National Route in Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture have become a hot topic. Created by an art installations company, it consists of cans stacked on top of each other, with a doll dressed as a police officer in uniform sitting behind it, and even a car painted to look like a police car.

Wind chime Temple

149 Kawakami, Ujitawara-cho, Tsurugi-gun, Kyoto

A Buddhist temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism in the Tea town of Ujitawara.
The 160 ceiling paintings on the theme of flowers in the guest hall and the scenery of Japan are stunning,
From the heart-shaped window called the Inome window, you can enjoy the scenery of the Four Seasons

Aomori Kinsei Inari Shrine

"A small prayer, a sparkling stream"
Aomori Kinsei Inari Shrine.
The sound of the water streaming quietly and the foxes wishing for good luck soothe my heart.

I like Daruma ❤️

《Dancing in the Spring Breeze, Wishing Dharma》
Under the cherry blossoms, there was a row of small darumas.
As if entrusting a wish that has not yet been fulfilled to the Spring breeze.

Winter in Jozankei, Hokkaido

"Prayer of the North Country, Illuminated in Silence"
Winter in Jozankei, Hokkaido.
The countless lights floating in the snow make you feel the warmth of people even in the cold.
The small light that illuminated my feet gently warmed my heart.