Today I attended the Tencho Festival at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The plum trees were beginning to bloom.

Notice: Local junior high students made POP displays and recycled bags ✨ Second-year students from Iwanai Daiichi Junior High School brought handmade POPs, posters, and recycled bags to the Roadside Station as part of their Integrated Studies project — “A Plan to Revitalize Iwanai-cho.” For the POPs and posters, they asked themselves, “What information do customers really want?” They researched popular products and created the materials accordingly ✨ The illustrations and English labels show lots of thoughtful touches, and everything is very easy to read! And here’s a highlight 🐟 The Tarumaru illustration on the recycled bags is a work by Idobata, who won the Kida Kinjiro Prize at the ongoing “Hometown Children’s Art Exhibition” held at the Kida Kinjiro Museum of Art ✨ These limited special-design bags are not to be missed! 🎉 If you visit the Roadside Station, please pick one up and take a look 😊

Kumamoto Prefecture ranks third in Japan for strawberry production. Original varieties such as yuubeni and hinoshizuku are well known. A strawberry experience event using strawberries will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2026, in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture. Using sweet, juicy freshly picked strawberries, you can create a one-of-a-kind original strawberry parfait. This experience offers a special time beyond just strawberry picking. ■ Strawberry picking (all-you-can-eat) First, enjoy all-you-can-eat strawberries at Shichiraku no Sato in Kikuchi City. There are about 11 varieties, including yuubeni, Koiminori, hinoshizuku, Benihoppe, and the white strawberry Angel Night. You can savor their sweetness, gentle tartness, and rich aroma. ■ Strawberry parfait making experience You will make a strawberry parfait using the strawberries you picked. Toride Farm, a popular shop that turns local Kikuchi-grown melons and strawberries into ice cream and soft serve, also offers a unique rice-based ice cream that is delicious and popular. The soft serve made with Kumamoto milk is prepared on the spot by adding ice cream and finishing each one by hand. The highlight of the strawberry parfait is that you can use the fresh strawberries you picked yourself. You can go into the shop kitchen to swirl the soft serve or scoop ice cream yourself with a disher. The combination of strawberries and ice cream is astonishingly delicious. Why not create your own one-of-a-kind original parfait? Date and time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 10:00–12:30 Location: Shichiraku no Sato (305 Okada, Shichijo-machi, Kikuchi-shi, Kumamoto-ken) Toride Farm For reservations and details, please check here. https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/featured/strawberry_parfait...

The Otaru Canal in winter’s magic hour. On the right bank, stone warehouses weigh down with snow in silence, while on the left bank the warm glow of gas lamps lights the snow white. Countless candles floating on the water trail long tails of light across the cold surface, gently swaying. People strolling along the promenade, captured in long exposures, become blurred light afterimages, visualizing the dense passage of time within the still scene. The cold air and the fires that seem to melt it coexist, etched together in vivid contrast.

Today I visited Tsukigase Plum Grove in Tsukigase, Nara City, Nara Prefecture. The plum trees were about three to five percent in bloom.

This is Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village in Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. The scene created by Ainokura’s gassho-style houses and the snow-covered fields is truly a timeless image of Japan. As evening fell and the houses’ lights began to glow, the steadily falling snow created a magical atmosphere. (୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷 ☃️❄️🏡🏔️

Today I went to KAWAGOE COFFEE SELECTION. I was there for LEC COFFEE. At the top is a cafe latte, bottom left shows a canelé and an espresso financier, and bottom right shows a top-down view. It was very busy. 😊

Yesterday we held the “Small Bamboo Light Market” in front of Ohanami Hiroba Mae at Sakuma Dam Lake. Many people came and purchased vegetables from Kyonan, miso soup, amazake, and rice balls. Thank you for coming out in the cold. We had many conversations with visitors who came to see the “Yoritomo Cherry and Bamboo Lights” illumination. Some were a couple who had just moved here, some commute to Kyonan, and others said, “I saw it online and was interested, so I came.” We hope you were satisfied. The bamboo light illumination at Sakuma Dam Lake runs through March 14, so please come and see it. The hours are 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM. #Kyonan Town #Boso Peninsula #Yoritomo Cherry and Bamboo Lights #Sakuma Dam Lake #Small Bamboo Light Market

Photographed on February 17, 2014. This is the lunch plate from Brasserie CATHERI near Kawagoeshi Station. They will be participating in today’s KAWAGOE COFFEE SELECTION.

Photographed on February 15, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s chocolate Basque cheesecake and a black latte. I’m looking forward to the Kawagoe Coffee Selection. 😊

Mount Kaikoma in winter The dawn atmosphere and the faint mist created a magical scene.

Photographed on February 15, 2014. This is a black latte from LECCOFFEE. The latte art is lovely. 😊🩷 LECCOFFEE will be exhibiting at KAWAGOE COFFEE SELECTION tomorrow, February 22.

Photographed on February 15, 2014. This is a chocolate Basque cheesecake with strawberries from LEC COFFEE.

Photographed on February 15, 2014. This is a quiche plate from LEC COFFEE. It includes a shrimp, spinach, and onion quiche, homemade ham with salad, a white vegetable potage, and homemade bread.

On Saturday, February 28, 2026, Reihoku Town will be exhibiting at the Amakusa Fair 2026 held at HiRaKu in Tenjin, Fukuoka City! Fukuoka and Amakusa are connected by Amakusa Airlines (AMX) via the Mizoka service. This is a rare chance to bring the charms of Reihoku, located right next to Amakusa Airport, directly to the people of Fukuoka. 🍊 Reihoku’s seasonal best gathers in Tenjin! We will offer many of Reihoku’s proud local specialties on the day. 🎁 Fun activities At the venue, customers who spend 1,000 yen or more will be entered into a prize drawing! 📅 Event details Date and time: Saturday, February 28, 2026, 11:00 – 18:00 Venue: HiRaKu, Cultural Exchange and Creative Hub (Tenjin 2-chome 8-227, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City) Program: Local specialty sales, tourism PR, public recording of AMX Radio “Mizoka Talk,” and more Organizer and planner: Amakusa Airlines A short 35-minute flight from Fukuoka Airport takes you to a different world of blue seas. We’ll bring you exciting information to make you think, “Maybe I’ll go to Amakusa on my next break,” and we look forward to seeing you in Tenjin! Please feel free to drop by and enjoy the event ✨

Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum Plum Blossoms ❚ Bloom status as of February 17, 2026 The Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum (Asakura Fumio Kinenkan) is located in Asaji Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture. The park contains many plum trees, including Bungo-ume and kobai (Japanese apricot). Around the Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum building, about 50–60% of the plum blossoms are blooming and it looks beautiful. [Location] Asakura Fumio Memorial Museum (1587-11 Ikeda, Asaji Town, Bungoono City) [Parking] Available (free) [Opening hours] 10:00–17:00 [Closed] Mondays (the following day if Monday is a national holiday) ■■ Access from Fukuoka Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture and other areas to central Bungoono 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, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture ■■■■■■■■■■■■ https://sato-no-tabi.jp/news/20260217spot-asaji/...

Hello, this is Ryūsuido 🌸 The birthstone for February, amethyst 💎, is one of the more powerful varieties of quartz, known for its mystical purple color. Known not only for bringing good luck and fortune, it also offers healing and protection from harm, and is celebrated as a guardian stone of love 😊 At Shosenkyo Gorge it has been mild the past few days, and you can begin to feel the first hints of spring. Clear skies, rugged rock faces, and sunlight spilling onto the water— that contrast is stunning and soothing to the soul ✨ One of Shosenkyo’s charms is the changing scenery each season brings ❗️ The Takinoue area offers many spots where you can forget everyday life and simply enjoy yourself 🌿 Please do visit when you can‼️ We truly look forward to the day we can see your wonderful smiles 😊✨

Isehara Market Celebrates Its 100th Edition! On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Isehara Market finally reaches its 100th event. This popular gathering, always bustling with food trucks, flea markets, and stage performances, draws a lively crowd each time. To mark this milestone, original novelty goods will be given away! Make the most of the three-day weekend and come with family and friends. Date and Time: Sunday, February 22, 2026, 10:00–15:00 Venue: Isehara City General Sports Park Access: From Isehara Station North Exit, Platform 3 (bound for Nanasawa), about 10 minutes

The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest were announced recently. From today we will start introducing the winning works little by little✨Please enjoy. — ⋆⋆✶ Grand Prize — ⋆⋆✶ Etsuko Yamamoto "Colors of the Earth" ※1 First post — ⋆⋆✶ Excellence Awards — ⋆⋆✶ Yasushi Shimmen "Listening to Ice Patterns" Yoshikazu Jimbo "Bare Mountains and the Galaxy" Daisuke Utsumi "The Cosmos of Lake Kussharo" ※2.3.4 Second, third, and fourth posts — ⋆⋆✶ Lake Mashu Tourism Association Chairperson’s Award — ⋆⋆✶ Isao Nagaya "Capturing Sheer Impact" ※5 Fifth post You can check other winners and winning works on Teshikaga Navi. Congratulations to all the prize winners‼︎ Thank you to everyone who participated‼︎ We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi🙇❣️ https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/photocon_r08/...

Notice of Reopening of the Ponpon Mountain Trail We would like to inform you about the reopening of the Ponpon Mountain Trail. The Ponpon Mountain Trail, which is currently closed, will reopen on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Please note that the Doba area connected to the trail will remain closed to private vehicle parking until December 30, 2026, because it will be used for forest maintenance work. Please check nearby public parking lots and use those facilities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Contact: Konsen Western Forest Management Office, Kawayu Forest Management Office Tel:015-482-2469

Notice on the reopening of the MtPonpon trail. The MtPonpon trail, which is currently closed, will reopen on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Please note that Doba, which connects to the trail, will remain closed to general vehicle parking until December 30, 2026, because it is being used for forest maintenance work. Please check nearby public parking and use those facilities. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Contact: Kushiro Western Forest Management Office, Kawayu Forest Office Tel:015-482-2469

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 15, Okuwa village Okuwa Village Sports Park

Photographed on February 11, 2014. A cafe latte from cafe andon and a carrot cake with figs and prunes. They will be setting up a stall at KAWAGOE COFFEE SELECTION this Sunday.

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 14, 2026 Nagisomachi Tsumago inn Tsumago-juku

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 11 — Nezame-no-Toko, Agematsu Town

Saijo Shibetsu Store 29th Anniversary Birthday Festival 🎉 Saijo Shibetsu Store celebrates its 29th birthday with a special festival! During the two days of the festival, we hosted a Nishiokoppe Village booth where children could play with wooden toys. Kids enjoyed wooden sandboxes, the Miracle Korokoro Tower, wooden cars, and many other playthings brought from the Forest Museum “Mokumu.” In a corner of the play area, we ran a Setoushi‑kun coloring activity and a castanet-making workshop! Children colored with the original Nishiokoppe Village crayons created as souvenirs for the village’s 100th anniversary—did everyone enjoy them? The castanets were simple in structure: two wooden boards smoothed by the village’s woodworking instructor are stacked and tied together with elastic cord to finish. After decorating their own castanets, participants took their finished instruments home as gifts. Some children played with their homemade castanets right at the booth, filling the air with pleasant wooden tones. Setoushi‑kun seemed delighted to mingle with many children and other local mascots. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! - From the 21st to the 23rd, the birthday festival offers even more exciting events. Check Saijo Shibetsu Store’s account for updates 👀 Come do your shopping at Saijo Shibetsu Store this weekend! #Saijo Shibetsu Store #Birthday Festival #Setoushi‑kun #Forest Museum Mokumu

／ Almost in full bloom✨ There are spots currently at 80% bloom😍 ＼ A small, delicate flower that heralds spring “Setsubunso”🌼💛 A native habitat in Soryo Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture!✨ Once considered extinct in Hiroshima Prefecture, a local elementary school teacher happened to spot it during an outdoor lesson, and in 1985 members of The Joge Nature Lovers Association and researchers from Hiroshima University confirmed its wild presence. After local people shared more information and a detailed survey began, they found it growing naturally in over 40 locations. Here is the blooming status as of Thursday, February 19🔽 https://shobara-info.com/special/4467... Come to Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture to seek out the wildflower “Setsubunso”📸✨

Photographed on February 11, 2014. This is cafe andon’s carrot cake with figs and prunes.