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...

The 51st Narcissus Festival "Aranami Festa" will be held. Aranami Festa will take place over two days on Saturday, January 31, 2026 and Sunday, February 1, 2026. Please note that this time the venue has changed to the Former Kono Junior High School Gymnasium. There is no parking at the venue, so attendees will travel by shuttle bus from the temporary parking area at Kono Seaside Park to the venue. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/%E8%8D%92%E6%B3%A2%E3%83%95%E3%82%A7%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E4%BC%9A%E5%A0%B4/@35.8368208,136.0546225,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5fff55916a6f56f9:0x62d7367efde4c5d2!8m2!3d35.8368208!4d136.0571974!16s%2Fg%2F11sf30vhbb?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D...

I want to end the year at my favorite spot on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Route, Hosshinmon Oji Shrine in the rain. If you have the chance someday, please visit. Why not walk the Kumano Kodo and let your mind wander to the ancient past? You will find magical landscapes and encounters with the people who live there.

Photographed on December 20, 2025. This is HK Tea’s grapefruit tea and Egg Waffle’s coffee chocolate. I love their citrus menu. 😊🍊🍋

Event Announcement 📣 “An Evening of Earth’s Bounty,” a one-night event bringing together five wineries and sake breweries from Tokachi, will be held at Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro 😊 Enjoy pairings of a buffet featuring Tokachi ingredients, cheeses, and live cooking by the hotel’s chefs 🍷🍶 You can also listen to stories from the producers and take part in a raffle for a warm and delightful evening 🤗 📍Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM (doors open at 5:20 PM) 📍Venue: 2nd-floor banquet hall, Northland Hall 📍Price: 12,000 yen per person (tax and service charge included) 🔶Reservations and Inquiries Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro direct line TEL 0155-24-1301 (9:00 AM–6:00 PM) https://www.jrhotels.co.jp/obihiro/news/67618...

A quiet moment spent in the lobby. At Kussharo Prince Hotel, surrounded by nature, you might encounter Ezo squirrels, long-tailed titmice, and owls. Downstairs you will find a convenience shop and merchandise featuring Kusshy, a symbol of Kussharo. On the third floor we offer the Kussharo Onsen Large Public Bath, which is also available for day-use bathing. 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

Kushiro Prince Hotel, offering a panoramic view of one of the world’s three great sunsets. Indonesia, the Philippines, and the only place chosen in Japan was "Kushiro." Travelers and sailors from around the world have praised its beauty, and since around 1965 Kushiro has become known as a city of sunset viewing spots. You must see it at least once in your life. All year round, you can enjoy sunsets showing many different faces. Reservations are possible from the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

Year-end and New Year Holiday Notice We sincerely appreciate your continued understanding and cooperation. Please be advised that we will be closed for the year-end and New Year holidays on the dates below, and we ask for your kind understanding. We pray that the coming year, 2026, will be a wonderful year for everyone, and we offer this as our year-end greeting. Thank you very much. Minami-Echizen Town Kono Tourism Association <Year-end and New Year Holiday Period> December 29, 2025 – January 3, 2026

[Tokutoku Coupon 2026] Save with coupons at Kawayu Onsen! We’re launching the special Tokutoku Coupon campaign for guests staying in the Kawayu Onsen district! Guests who stay at Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Annex Suikazura, or KKR Kawayu will receive discount coupons worth a total of ¥2,000 usable at participating Kawayu Restaurants and Bars Association members!! Pick up your coupon at your hotel front desk and present it at participating shops marked on the MAP when dining to receive the discount. The campaign runs from January 15, 2026 through the end of March 2026, while supplies last. This is a great deal, so please take advantage of it as one of the pleasures of visiting Kawayu Onsen. [Coupon Distribution Period] Thursday, January 15, 2026 – through the end of March 2026 *Coupons will stop being distributed once supplies run out.

Did you know that some areas in Hiroshima Prefecture get heavy snowfall? ⛄ Shobara City, located in the heart of the Chugoku region at the northernmost part of Hiroshima Prefecture, is known as one of the prefecture’s major heavy-snow zones. You can ski and snowboard at three ski areas in Shobara—Hiroshima Kenmin-no-Mori Ski Area, Dogoyama Kogen Ski Resort, and Ringo Kyowakoku Ski Area—and some campers enjoy winter camping at local campgrounds, so you can get active and enjoy various snow activities. At the National Bihoku Hillside Park, the winter illumination event “Bihoku Illumi” is taking place. The display runs through Monday, January 12, 2026 (a public holiday). Enjoy a magical time with your loved ones as snow, light, and sound come together. ⛄ Also, on Sunday, February 1, a snowball fight tournament will be held. Spectators are welcome even if you don’t participate. Winter is the time to visit Shobara! Please come and see us…! ✨ For winter event details, see below🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/event/133... Visit the “Shobara Tourism Navi” website🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com//

Special coupon offer available at Kawayu Onsen! Tokutoku Coupon 2026 A new savings campaign, the Tokutoku Coupon, has begun for guests staying at hotels affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association! Guests who stay at any of the three participating hotels—Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, or KKR Kawayu—will receive discount coupons worth a total of ¥2,000 to use at participating businesses. Pick up the coupons at your hotel front desk and present them at the shops listed on the MAP to receive the discount. The campaign runs from January 15, 2026, through the end of March 2026, but will end once coupons run out. Take advantage of this great deal to enjoy hot springs and local dining in the Kawayu Onsen area! [Coupon distribution period] Thursday, January 15, 2026 – through the end of March 2026 *Distribution ends when coupons are gone* [Coupon details] Discount coupons totaling ¥2,000 − A ¥1,000 discount coupon valid for payments at snacks and bars (MAP NO 2, 3, 8) − A ¥1,000 discount coupon valid for payments at izakayas, cafes, and other listed establishments (excluding MAP NO 2, 3, 8) [Shops where coupons can be used] 1) Cafe Noble 2) Snack COCO 3) Zakku & Baran 4) Miraku Sushi 5) Inakaya Genpei 6) Izakaya Matsurigura 7) Robata Maruhachi 8) Unite 9) Hokkaido Kitchen 9 Shiro 10) Orchard grass 11) Cream Fairy Tale Chup [Hotels distributing the coupons] Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, KKR Kawayu (hotels affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association) *Only guests currently staying at or who have stayed at the above participating accommodations are eligible* *Guests wishing to use the coupons should request them at the front desk.* [Other information] • Depending on the day of the week and time, shops may be busy. • We recommend contacting each shop in advance for reservations or inquiries. • Shops will tear off the coupon when used, so please bring it as issued. (Coupons that have already been torn will be invalid. Please take care.) [Organizer and coupon issuer] Kawayu Restaurants and Bars Association https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/tokutoku2026/...

Here is an introduction to Temari, a sweets shop located in Imajo-shuku Post Town. This time I chose kuromitsu matcha. The shiratama rice dumplings on this plate look like flowers and are so cute ♡ They mix tofu into the dumplings, which makes them soft and very delicious! ★Shop Information★ Shop name: Kanamidokoro Temari Hours: 11:00–17:00 Address: 76-31 Imajo, Minami-Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture Phone: 0778-45-1112 Closed: Monday and Tuesday (subject to change in winter) Parking: Available (free parking near the shop)

Chinda Falls Waterfall Resumes Flow Chinda Falls had been dry since late October 2025 due to construction, but the work finished ahead of schedule and the waterfall has resumed flowing from December 24, 2025. Location: Yada, Oonocho, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture

From Sakai: A refreshing scent of green yuzu fills the air at the “Yuzukaralin Cafe” — A collaboration cafe between SAKAINOMA and Yuzukaralin — SAKAINOMA cafe and hotel Kuma (Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture) will host a special event, Yuzukaralin Cafe, in collaboration with the Kochi Prefecture yuzu-based seasoning brand Yuzukaralin for five days only, from Saturday, January 10 to Wednesday, January 14, 2026. We will offer lunch menus, sweets, and drinks that make the most of the green yuzu’s fragrance, gentle acidity, and the faint spiciness unique to Yuzukaralin. 🔍For more details, search “SAKAINOMA and Yuzukaralin collaboration cafe”! https://sakainoma.jp//

Oagata Shrine "ooagata jinja" Miyayama 3, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture This shrine enshrines Oagata no Okami, the ancestral deity of Owari land reclamation. The present shrine buildings were rebuilt in Kanbun 1 (1661) by Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain, and they faithfully convey the architectural style known as Owari-zukuri. In particular, the main sanctuary—composed of three connected structures and called Oagata-zukuri—features a distinctive design and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. On the shrine grounds, Hime no Miya enshrines Tamayorihime and is revered as a guardian for safe childbirth and for women.

【🎍2025→2026 Year‑End and New Year Edition🎍】 Here is information about the year‑end and New Year holiday opening days and hours for Miyoshi City’s tourist spots and major facilities. Check them out! ◼︎Miyoshi Tourist Information Center Address: Tokaichiminami 1‑chome 2‑23, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: December 29 (Mon)–January 3 (Sat) Hours: 8:45–17:15 ◼︎Genso Okuda · Sayume Art Museum Address: 10453‑6 Higashi Sakaya Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: December 26 (Fri)–January 1 (Thu) Hours: 9:30–17:00 (last admission 16:30) ◼︎Yumoto Koichi Memorial Museum of Japanese Yokai (Miyoshi Mononoke Museum) Address: 1691‑4 Miyoshi Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: December 26 (Fri)–January 1 (Thu) Hours: 9:30–17:00 (last admission 16:30) ◼︎Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery Address: 10445‑3 Higashi Sakaya Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: December 29 (Mon)–January 1 (Thu) Hours: 9:30–17:30 ◼︎Torette Miyoshi Address: 10438 Higashi Sakaya Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: January 1 (Thu)–January 4 (Sun) Hours: 9:00–17:00 — check notes! Note: The buffet restaurant is closed on December 30 (Tue) and December 31 (Wed) ◼︎Miyoshi Mori no Pokke Address: 456‑2 Higashi Sakaya Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: December 29 (Mon)–January 3 (Sat) Hours: 9:30–16:00 (weekends and holidays 9:30–16:10) ◼︎Roadside Station Yumeland Funo Address: 661‑1 Shimofuno, Funo Town, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: January 1 (Thu)–January 3 (Sat) Hours: 9:00–16:00 — check notes! Note: The farmers’ market (vegetable market) is open until the morning of December 30 (Tue) The shop is open until the morning of December 31 (Wed) Regular hours resume from January 4 (Sun) ◼︎Kumita Onsen Mori no Izumi Address: 311‑3 Izumiyoshida, Kimitamachi, Miyoshi City Hours: 10:00–20:30 (last admission 20:00) Closed for the holidays: December 30 (Tue) ◼︎Foleo Miyoshi Plaza Address: 1‑1‑10 Tokaichi Naka, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture Closed for the holidays: January 1 (Thu)–January 2 (Fri) Hours: 9:00–22:00 Holiday hours: December 31 (Wed) 9:00–20:00 January 1 (Thu) and January 2 (Fri) closed January 3 (Sat) 10:00–20:00 Regular hours resume from January 4 (Sun) ◼︎Sangreen Miyoshi Address: 4‑1‑30 Tokaichi Higashi, Miyoshi City Closed for the holidays: January 1 (Wed) Holiday hours: December 31 (Wed) 9:30–18:00 January 1 (Thu) closed January 2 (Fri) and January 3 (Sat) 10:00–18:00 Regular hours resume from January 4 (Sun) Note: Dakko Room Miyoshi (Miyoshi City Childcare Support Center) is open until noon on December 28 (Sun) for year‑end and reopens from 10:00 on January 4 (Sat) for the New Year Enjoy Miyoshi City during the year‑end and New Year holidays♪

Tagata Shrine 152 Tagatacho, Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture Located in Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, this shrine is believed to bring blessings for a bountiful harvest and prosperous descendants. The annual Hounen Festival, held on March 15 each year, is known as the "spectacular festival of the nation." During this festival, a mikoshi carries a large phallic-shaped object called the oowasegata to pray for abundant harvests and the prosperity of future generations.

Photographed on December 20, 2025. This is the TATSUMI special from Udon Tatsumi. I’m touring tasty spots. 😊

138 Winter Illumination - 138 Tower Park | National Kiso San-river Park Komyoji Aza Urasaki 21-3, Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture Saturday, November 15, 2025 – Wednesday, December 25, 2025 Friday, January 2, 2026 – Sunday, January 4, 2026 Lighting hours 17:00–21:00 The illumination at 138 Tower Park, set within the spacious National Kiso San-river Park along the scenic Kiso River, is enchanting and beautiful. The park during the day is also perfect for family outings, and it’s great that admission is free.