Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Ichinen Andai fortune slip. Available only during the New Year season.

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine's Ichinen An-tai fortune slip. Available only during the New Year period.

A commemorative ema and goshuin designed by Kobukuro Kuroda-san of "Kugatsu Youka" have been created!✨ Heartwarming news has arrived from "Kugatsu Youka" in East Sakai!👀 ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～ Kugatsu Youka in East Sakai has, with the cooperation of the local Hochigai Shrine, prepared special ema and goshuin. As it happens, there is a story from a mother who used to visit Hochigai Shrine when she moved from Harumidai to Makizukadai in third grade, and we once again felt how deeply the shrine is rooted in Sakai. When we consulted with Hochigai Shrine, who share this connection, they said, “We have long known that Kugatsu Youka has been working hard to enliven the streets of Sakai. We are happy to cooperate.” With those warm words, this initiative became a reality. Visitors may write their wishes on the ema and dedicate them on the ema racks set up at Hochigai Shrine and at three locations within the Sakai Higashi Shopping Street. Please come by and receive these special ema and goshuin along with your heartfelt wishes. Details will be announced at Kugatsu Youka’s counter (@kugatsu.youka) and on their social media. Look forward to it. ～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～

The time has finally come!! Tsukigase’s major event that draws about 200,000 visitors over roughly three weeks!! The Tsukigase Plum Grove Plum Festival!! Tsukigase Plum Grove was designated as Japan’s first nationally recognized Place of Scenic Beauty!! We look forward to welcoming many visitors again this year!!

Today I attended the monthly ceremony at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This is the shrine precincts around 7:30 a.m.

Photographed on January 11, 2014. This is Chabudai-san’s morning. It has changed to carrot potage. 🥕 Hon-Kawagoe PePe closed yesterday. We are busy with the closing work now, and once things settle down, it’s likely to feel lonely. 🥹

✨The first wedding consultation event of the New Year!✨ Start the year by planning your ideal wedding together. On the day, enjoy plenty of free experiences, including a couple photo shoot📸, personal color analysis🎨, body type and face type assessments✨, and a nail tip trial💅. You’ll find lots of tips to help shape your wedding vision. Please feel free to join us💍 We warmly look forward to your visit. Advance reservations are required. Event date and times Sunday, January 18, 2026 ① 10:00 A.M. ② 11:30 A.M. ③ 1:00 P.M. ④ 2:30 P.M.

On Wednesday, January 14, 2026 and Thursday, January 15, 2026, we will hold an Iwanai Onsen PR event on the 2nd floor Center Plaza of New Chitose Airport. Experience onsen with a hand bath ♨ Taste craft beer from Iwanai-cho 🍺 Information about the onsen and town tour “DISCOVER IWANAI”, and a small gift for those who complete our survey♪ Iwanai Onsen sits right next to the Niseko area, a quiet port town onsen surrounded by sea and mountains ♨ Its waters are nationally praised for beautifying the skin. Rather than a bustling tourist spot, it is a place for those who want to spend quiet, unhurried time with the onsen. Meet us at the airport, and next, meet the town in person. Whether you live nearby or are between connections, please drop by casually!!! Local specialty products will also be on sale at the event booth. Take this opportunity to learn about Iwanai-cho!!

“2026 Rookie Kama-sta☆Unveiling Event” at Kama-sta! A presentation for the newly signed players will take place at Fighters Kamagaya Stadium! ⚾ Date and time: Sunday, January 18, 2:00 PM (doors open: 1:30 PM, scheduled) ⚾ Venue: Fighters Kamagaya Stadium indoor practice field On the day, we will accept notification of moving into Kamagaya City and hold a talk show, among other events ✨ At the city PR booth, ticket holders for the unveiling event (first 75 people per session: ①11:00 ②12:00) can enter a free lottery to win Kamagaya Furusato Products! Celebrate the rookies’ new start and join us in cheering from Kama-sta📣 Commerce and Tourism Division Fighters Farm Partnership Promotion Office https://www.city.kamagaya.chiba.jp/kanko-bunka-sports/sports/Fightersrenkei/ohiromekai2026.html...

A SUP Experience Tour Beyond Time and Space KUSHIRO It has finally begun (^O^)／ the Kushiro River winter-only SUP tour. Though strong winds delayed the start, today marks the START‼ The weather is fine, the waves have calmed, and it’s the perfect day for SUP✨ Most participants were beginners, so they trembled with fear at first😱 As they got used to it, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces...🥰 They were clearly having a great time‼ Kushiro River × SUP = a rare experience✨ Open for participation until Saturday, January 24th. We are accepting participants☺

Hon-Kawagoe PePe has closed. After I started working at Hon-Kawagoe PePe, I grew to love Kawagoe and began taking photos. I am grateful to Hon-Kawagoe PePe. 🥹

Use the Zenkoji Omotesando Walking Food Ticket to enjoy a budget-friendly cafe crawl✨ 1. "Cafe Latte" R-DEPOT Sip a fruity cafe latte brewed one cup at a time on an espresso machine, and relax inside the shop. Next to the cafe is an antique goods shop that sells tableware and household items collected from old houses and vacant homes, large furniture, boards, and fittings. Phone: 026-219-2280 Hours: 10:00–17:00 Closed: Monday 2. "Freshly Ground Blend" Cafe + Town Guide Engawa This glass-fronted coffee shop faces Zenkoji Omotesando. It welcomes a wide range of customers, from young people to the elderly. Their freshly ground coffee uses beans roasted by a local tea shop and features a clean, crisp bitterness. Phone: 026-232-4178 Hours: 10:00–17:00 Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday (open on public holidays) 3. "Strawberry Daifuku" N vintage coffee These additive-free, colorant-free fruit daifuku are handmade one by one by a longtime wagashi confectioner in Nagano. They pay special attention to the fruit inside, and in addition to the classic daifuku, you can buy seasonal fruit daifuku. Phone: 080-7065-5518 Hours: 11:00–19:00 (Monday–Saturday) 10:00–19:00 (Sunday and public holidays) Closed: None <Zenkoji Walking Food Ticket> This value ticket lets you choose and purchase favorite Nagano specialties and sweets from 19 participating shops! ✨How to use✨ 1. Purchase a ticket [¥700 each, tax included] 2. At participating shops listed in the brochure, exchange the stickers attached to the ticket (100-yen × 5, 50-yen × 4) for products 3. Turn in used tickets to redeem a prize (receive an original bag!) It’s cheaper than the regular price and perfect for a food walk, letting you sample a variety of shop flavors in small portions✨ #Cafe #Sweets #Food Walk #Nagano City #Nagano Prefecture #Nagano Sightseeing #Nagano Trip #nagano #naganocity

Direct buses too ✨ 📍Kushiro Shitsugen From Kushiro Station, less than a 10-minute walk from Kushiro Prince Hotel, buses also run toward the marshland. 🚗 There’s also Kushiro city’s largest parking lot, so staying by car is convenient. Finish your day in Kushiro after enjoying nature. You can’t miss Kushiro Soba or Kushiro ramen! Reservations are available from the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

📸✨ The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest — Deadline Approaching!! The annual Teshikaga Photo Contest is underway again this year. With the theme "Experience Teshikaga’s volcanoes, forests, and lakes through the four seasons," winners will be announced on the tourism portal site Teshikaga Navi. Please check the PDF below for contest entry details. We look forward to your participation. Call for entries: "15th Teshikaga Photo Contest" Entry period November 1, 2025 (Saturday) to January 20, 2026 (Tuesday) — postmarked by the deadline Categories Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Open Prizes Grand Prize: 1 winner — 30,000 yen plus additional prizes (accommodation vouchers, Mashu melon, etc.) Excellence Awards: 3 winners — 10,000 yen plus additional prizes / Honorable Mentions: 5 winners — additional prizes / Special Prize and Tourism Association Prize: several winners ■ Thanks to local businesses, many additional prizes such as accommodation vouchers, meal vouchers, and local products are available. Organizer: Mashu-ko Tourism Association (regional DMO) Supported by: Teshikagacho, Teshikagacho Board of Education, Lake Mashu Agricultural Cooperative, Teshikagacho Promotion Corporation, Teshikaga Chamber of Commerce, Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association, Mashu Onsen Ryokan Association, Mashu Melon Producers Association, Hokkaido Shimbun, Akan-Mashu National Park Management Office (Ministry of the Environment), Kushiro Shimbun

📣 The much-loved Candle Night from last year returns as “Chapter 2” 🕯️ Inside the dimmed restaurant, candlelight flickers gently. A night theater is projected across the entire wall 🎥 This year’s production steps up the staging to deliver an even more immersive, special evening experience 🍝 It’s perfect for dates and anniversaries, and also ideal for anyone who wants to make a weekday night a little more luxurious 💕 🕯️ Candle Night Chapter 2 📅 Event period: Tuesday, January 13 – Saturday, February 28 🗓 Available Monday through Thursday only (excluding public holidays) 📍 AOI NAPOLI UMISOBA We look forward to welcoming you.

Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura & Kotono Shrine Night Kagura From the evening of January 10 into the morning of January 11, the Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura and the Kotono Shrine Night Kagura were safely offered again this year 👹 I can still hear the drumbeat pounding in the back of my ears and the clear, high sound of the flute ringing in my mind 😆 You could hear the dancers’ breathing, see children watching intently, and feel the atmosphere of kagura as locals and returnees to Gokase gathered together ✨ We were treated to another wonderful performance this year 🥰 This beautiful night was made possible by the preservation society members who trained diligently, the local women’s association who served warm meals and drinks through the night, and the officers and staff who worked tirelessly to ensure smooth operations. The smiles of the visitors who return to this place each year exist because of the devoted support of these community members 👏 We would be happy to watch over this proud Gokase kagura tradition with you again next year and the year after 💕 Thank you very much to everyone who came from afar in the cold!

That green friend you see around town What is Marimo Pay?? A one-minute introduction! Master Marimo Pay to enjoy Akanko more conveniently and affordably Find out more via the link in the profile🔗 Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/akan_tourism_association/...

Four top spots to see frost flowers at Akanko! 1. Thin ice with no snow cover 2. Clear, early mornings when temperatures fall below −15°C 3. Completely calm, windless days 4. Consult a professional guide to enjoy the scenery with peace of mind Note: Frost flowers are extremely delicate natural phenomena. Even if these conditions are met, you may still be unable to view them.

The Hiruzen Highlands are an idyllic corner of Japan nestled in the north of Okayama prefecture. The highlands are a popular resort area locally but see comparatively little foreign tourism, meaning it remains one of the region's better-kept secrets! Those who feel tired of the usual throng of tourists are sure to be soothed by the pastureland and mountain vistas. Hiruzen boasts the largest Jersey Cow farm in Japan, and some of the best milk i've had in the country. Hiruzen is not all undulating vistas and bucolic pleasures, though- It has its own amusement park! "Joyful Park" feels somewhat nostalgic, and has fun rides that are sure to delight any children you bring along. I have been a few times, and seen both monkey and dog shows performed there. The attached restaurant makes excellent use of local sheep for really delicious jingisukan mutton at an affordable price! After the crowding of parks like USJ, it is very refreshing to be able to go on any ride you'd like at a reasonable timescale. Hiruzen is perhaps at its best in fall, but can be a bit chilly in winter, so fair warning!

January 11th MtJonen summit sending up plumes of drifting snow Around noon today a trough of low pressure began passing over Azumino, turning a calm morning into fierce winds… The ridgeline of the Northern Alps visible from Azumino also turned white as snow plumes rose.

Morgenrot over the Northern Alps Scenery to behold in Azumino during winter Azumino, a town that makes you love mornings—this view is the best!!

SUP experiences on the Kushiro River this winter!! They finally start tomorrow. Kushiro River winter-only tours! Lotus leaf ice SUP cruising and Sunset & Night SUP adventures, we bring you SUP experiences that transcend time and space. For details and reservations, follow the link in our profile. Instagram profile link https://www.instagram.com/kushiro.lakeakan/... SUPER FANTASTIC → Time‑and‑space‑transcending SUP experience tour banner

Good morning. Yesterday, Tomakomai hosted the Tomakomai City Coming-of-Age Celebration for 20-year-olds.✨ Congratulations to the honorees and their families! Tomakomai’s official mascot, Tomachop, also tried on a kimono.👘 If you’d like to see Tomachop in kimono, please visit the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center.

🦀 A luxurious, reservation-only winter delicacy to savor❄ From Natural Garden in Naka Ward, Sakai City comes the winter reservation-only Crab Extravaganza Bento🍱✨ This indulgent bento is packed with the season’s crab, concentrating savory and sweet flavors One bite delivers an unforgettable taste…!🤤 It’s a perfect treat for special occasions or a thoughtful gift for someone dear✨ At the shop, in addition to the Crab Extravaganza Bento, you’ll find many items made with trusted ingredients and great taste! Customers often say, “Natural Garden’s bentos offer a flavor you can’t buy elsewhere!” They are very popular🍱 Natural Garden also hosts a much-loved buffet restaurant featuring seasonal vegetables and tofu🥦🍲✨ Experience these winter-only flavors at Natural Garden! We look forward to your reservation✨ If you’re interested, check the details below👀 📅 Crab Extravaganza Bento sales period Sunday, January 4 – Saturday, February 28 💰 Price: 2,900 yen (tax included 3,132 yen) *Available for order from 5 boxes* *Please reserve at least 3 business days in advance* 🚩 Store information Natural Garden 🕒 Business hours Restaurant (90-minute seating) ▶︎ First seating: 11:00–12:30 ▶︎ Second seating: 12:45–14:15 🍴 Shop hours 10:00–19:00 ✖ Closed: Tuesdays (open on public holidays) 🚃 Access: 9-minute walk from Fukai Station on the Nankai Senboku Line; parking available 🔍 For details, search “Natural Food Restaurant Natural Garden” https://sakai-natural-garden.jp//

Photographed on January 11, 2014. After the New Year’s fire brigade ceremony at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, I visited Chabudai-san. It’s lemonade. When it’s cold, lemonade is the thing. 😊🍋🍯

Photographed on January 11, 2014. This is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Fortune Tai Omikuji for new adults only.

I went to Hatsumode at Inuyama Naritasan Temple in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture. These are a monkey chimaki from Nikko Saru Land and Arii.

On January 10th, we held a donto-yaki. Preparing for it was hard, but seeing the children so happy made it worthwhile.

Himeji Castle stands out against a clear, bitterly cold sky.

This is Mount Fuji as seen from an airplane.