Photographed on December 23, 2025. This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) from Hara Florist. This is the last hanachozu of the year. Thank you for everything this year. 😊

Today I attended the Year-End Great Purification ceremony at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. I purified the spiritual and physical impurities of sin. Feeling refreshed, I look forward to welcoming the New Year.🎍🐎

Illumination Event Announcement📣 Roadside Station Nakasatsunai hosts the "Roadside Station Winter Night Garden" through February 28, 2026 😊 The lights come on from around 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the event ✨✨ Colorful illuminations sparkle across the snow, creating a vividly lit, dreamlike space for you to relax and enjoy😍 Please enjoy this together with Tokachi's snowy landscapes🤗 https://kankou-nakasatsunai.com/spot/spot-75/spot-3242/...

Great value and convenience! The Kikuchi Tourism Association has launched its official LINE account. We share tourist information about Kikuchi City and distribute valuable coupons you can use at local shops. Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, lies about 25 km northeast of Kumamoto City in the center of the prefecture. It is a region rich in nature where history and culture live on. The Kikuchi River runs through the city center, surrounded by mountains and pastoral scenery. Kikuchi also offers many hot springs and sightseeing spots, making it an ideal place to relax and refresh. The famous Kikuchi Gorge features beautiful ravines and clear streams, perfect for hiking and nature walks, and attracts many visitors. Kikuchi Onsen first sprang in 1954 (Showa 29). The springs use 100% natural water, boast abundant flow, and are colorless, transparent, and alkaline. The soft, skin-friendly waters consistently emerge at 45°C at the source and are reputed to help with beauty concerns, neuralgia, and rheumatism. Kikuchi Onsen is well known as a hot spring resort, having first surfaced in 1954. Using 100% natural spring water, the baths are plentiful, colorless, transparent, and alkaline, with a gentle, soft quality for the skin. Kikuchi Shrine is a historic shrine revered as the region’s guardian deity. Agriculture thrives here, producing specialty rice, vegetables, and fruit. Many local markets and restaurants sell fresh, local ingredients. Kikuchi City also preserves active traditional events and festivals where you can experience local culture. We share many attractions of Kikuchi and offer coupons through the official LINE account to help you enjoy the city even more. Participating stores will continue to increase. Please use the service when you visit Kikuchi. Be sure to add us as a friend and take advantage of the offers. For details, please see the Kikuchi Tourism Association website. https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/featured/kikuchikanko-line...

Shirahige Shrine sits a little off the main road of Imajo-shuku Post Town. It is affectionately known as the Lower Shrine in contrast to Shilla Shrine, which is called Kaminomiya or the Upper Shrine. This quiet, sacred place is lined with towering cedar trees around a slightly long flight of stone steps.

Notice about New Year opening hours for the Manda Pit area. Today is the last day of operations for 2025. Thank you to everyone who visited in 2025. We will reopen on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM. The winter light filtering through the brick scenery creates a quiet, photogenic moment. Don’t forget your camera. 🕘 Opening day Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM • Manda Pit Station • Manda Pit Site • Manda Coal Mine Museum • Marugoto Arao Bussankan Hours 11:00–16:30 Mornings, especially early hours, are often a peaceful time to explore, so we recommend them. All our staff look forward to welcoming you. Please add this to your plans #Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture https://arao-kankou.jp/oshirase/16514/...

Photographed on December 21, 2025. This is LEC COFFEE’s black latte and a sweet potato Basque cheesecake.

Hatsumode in Shimoda *The photo shows Shimoda Daruma Daishi. ● Izu Shirahama Shrine Known as the oldest shrine in Izu with a history of 2,400 years. The enshrined deities are Ikonahime no Mikoto, Mishima Daimyojin, Mimena, Wakamiya, and Tsurugi-no-miko—five honored gods. https://ikonahime.jp//　※駐車場あり ● Shimoda Daruma Daishi A Soto Zen temple founded over 400 years ago. Revered as the "Daruma Ambassador of Good Fortune," it is believed to grant wishes for prosperous business, family safety, traffic safety, academic success, warding off bad luck and inviting good fortune, and attracting financial blessings. It enjoys deep devotion from worshippers. Note: parking available. ● Shimoda Hachiman Shrine This shrine serves as the venue for the grand festival of Shimoda Hachiman Shrine. It bustles with worshippers from the festival community and local residents. The kinme omikuji is also recommended. Note: please use nearby coin parking.

Uenoshiba Station East Side Illumination When night falls, a glittering tree bathed in light welcomes you at JR Uenoshiba Station🎄✨ Enjoy the warm illumination created by local residents and volunteers❄ 📣Share your beautiful photos of the illumination in Nishi Ward on Instagram with #Nisshii-chan attached!💫 📅Event period: Until Saturday, January 31 🕐Lighting hours: 5:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. 📍Location: East side of JR Uenoshiba Station (3-1 Uenoshibacho, Nishi Ward, Sakai)

The narcissus in Kyonan is now approaching its peak bloom. Narcissus have been placed inside Hoba Station and Awakatsuyama Station on the JR Uchibo Line to welcome visitors to Kyonan. For updates on the narcissus blooming status, please check the Instagram account maintained by the Kyonan Town Office, Regional Promotion Division (@kyonan_life). The weather has turned cold all at once. Wishing everyone a happy New Year. #Chiba Prefecture #Kyonan Town #Boso Peninsula #Hoba Station #Hota Coast #Suisen-no-Sato #Ezuki Narcissus Road #Sakuma Dam #Okuzure Narcissus Village

Photographed on December 21, 2022. This is LEC COFFEE’s sweet potato Basque cheesecake. It comes with homemade candied sweet potato sticks. 🍠 Today I am doing my last walk around Kawagoe for the year.

This is an autumn scene at Roka Koshun-en Gardens in Setagayaku, Tokyo Metropolis. The park preserves the former home of novelist Tokutomi Roka and is beloved by the local community. From a corner of the park’s bamboo grove I framed a maple tree with autumn leaves. I think it captures a very Japanese landscape.

This autumn scene was taken at Showa Memorial Park in Tachikawa City, Tokyo Metropolis. Rows of ginkgo trees line both sides of the canal, and every year many people gather to enjoy their stunning fall colors.

This is an autumn scene at Takahata Fudoson in Hino City, Tokyo Metropolis. Though the temple is famous for its hydrangeas, its fall foliage is also worth seeing.

Camellias are blooming beautifully in the cold sky. Even when they bloom red, they remain winter flowers.

Photographed on December 21, 2025. This is a black latte from LEC COFFEE. What a lovely latte art. 😊

Late autumn on the Harima Sea. On windy days the waves grow high and the currents shape them into a variety of forms.

Winter at Lake Kussharo, the resort hotel on the Lake Kussharo shore The view from the guest room…a breathtaking panorama

Announcement for the illumination event📣 Now in its 24th year, the Obihiro Illumination Project lights up obihiro station’s landmark Harunire Tree, the street trees in Station Square, and a heart-shaped LED installation. This year we’ve added 2,000 bulbs with icicle-style lights to the tunnel illumination as well😊 The illumination runs through February 23, 2026. The gentle lights warm the heart in Obihiro’s crisp, clear winter✨✨ Please stop by and take a look when you’re nearby🤗 🔷The Obihiro Illumination Project is made possible by sponsorships from local businesses and by the Illumination Tentou Fund, which requests donations of 100 yen per bulb. https://www.city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp/tourism/kankouchi/1005842.html...

On the bridge at Tennoji Station. A November weekend morning with a clear sky that warms the heart just by watching. Autumn is drawing to a close, but there’s an exciting feeling that something new is about to begin. For some it may be just another ordinary day, but for others it becomes a beautiful scene—the start of a day. The beginning of encounters, the beginning of a journey.

In December, Uenokouen still holds the last traces of autumn. On the way back from a visit to Tokyo University of the Arts and viewing an exhibition, I was delighted to see the autumn leaves and took these photos. I hope I pass and can come back here to see the autumn foliage again next year.

A restaurant offering Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes side by side. The chef’s recommended roast beef is — “Yamakou grape salt” ✨ Made using Yamakou, a Hokkaido-grown grape cultivated for winemaking at the caldera winery right in front of the hotel, the grape is repurposed and finished into a wine-infused salt. It deepens the flavor not only on meat but also when served with tempura. 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

Shimoda Onsen Daffodil Festival now underway 😊 This year marks the 60th festival, and the flowers have been growing well; they are expected to reach full bloom around early January after the New Year holidays. The sweet scent carried on the sea breeze makes you want to take a deep breath. The familiar Ho-ei stall returns to the daffodil festival venue again this year! Their local fish dishes are plentiful and popular with both visitors and locals. This year’s new menu is a hand-rolled sushi set 🍣 Try rolling your own and enjoy the fun and flavor♪ [How to make hand-rolled sushi] https://youtu.be/rhaxqNB9pwE?si=0PobDLptvHwZziBM... Enjoy Shimoda cuisine along with the scent and scenery of the daffodils (^○^)

This photograph was taken at Nanjo Elementary School in Minami-Echizen Town. The light pink cherry blossoms stand out beautifully against the reddish-brown school building!

About a 10-minute walk from Izukyu Shimoda Station. A 1-minute walk from Roadside Station Kaikoku Shimoda Minato, The Black Ship coffee☕ Perfect for a break during sightseeing or as a companion for a stroll to the sea. On sunny days, enjoy wandering the streets of Shimoda with a coffee in hand 😊 There is an eat-in space on the 2nd floor. It’s a small shop, so be careful not to miss it.

Photographed on December 21, 2025. This is LEC COFFEE’s hot sandwich set. It includes a hot sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and egg, a salad with homemade ham, daikon radish potage, and homemade bread.

Suwanomori Station Building Illumination The old station building of Suwanomori Station, a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, charms visitors with its small Taisho-era waiting room and a stained-glass window depicting the Hamadera shoreline🧣 This winter, come and see the station building transformed into a magical scene wrapped in Christmas lights🎄✨ 📣 For beautiful illumination photos in Nishi Ward, post them on Instagram with "#Nisshii-chan"!💫 📅 Event period: Until Saturday, January 31 🕐 Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–12:00 AM 📍 Location: Suwanomori Station building (2-78 Suwanomori-nishimachi, Nishi Ward, Sakai City)

Notice of Year-end and New Year Business Hours Thank you for always visiting Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. Our year-end and New Year business hours are as shown in the attached image. Thank you for visiting us many times this year. We look forward to your continued support next year.

🌼Narcissus blooming update🌼 Overall, the flowers are just starting to bloom, and some slopes are already turning white❄️🤍 I summarized the flowering scene with photos on my blog! https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20251226...