Mount Fujiwara and Sangi Railway (Hokusei Line) Inabe City, Mie Prefecture January 24, 2026

When you come to Kagawa, if you have the chance to visit Higashikagawa City, don’t miss this venerable shop that has continued since the Edo period and is one of the few still insisting on making wasanbon sugar in-house — Mitani Sugar Manufacturing. People know wasanbon for its delicate, elegant sweetness, but what drew me most this time was its predecessor, shimoshita sugar. Shimoshita is made by pressing and boiling sugarcane until the sugar naturally crystallizes; its color is a deep brownish hue similar to unrefined brown sugar, and it has a rich, full-bodied flavor that never feels cloying. Skilled artisans repeatedly knead it by hand, press out the molasses, and work it on wooden trays called "bon," layer by layer, slowly transforming it into wasanbon that is snow-white and melts on the tongue. In an age that prizes speed and efficiency, Mitani Sugar Manufacturing still keeps to a slow, careful rhythm, and that makes it especially moving. When you let a piece of wasanbon dissolve in your mouth, the first impression is the mellow depth left by the shimoshita, followed by a gentle, unfolding sweetness. This sweetness, carrying two centuries of history, makes you fall in love with it before you know it.

Event Announcement 📣 The 63rd Obihiro Ice Festival runs from January 30 to February 1. 😊 With the theme of bringing warmth and joy to the northern winter, the festival offers a wide variety of attractions. 🎵 The venue features ice-focused works: ice carvings, ice and snow sculptures, and ice masks made by elementary school students. Families can also enjoy popular attractions like rotating sleds, tube sliders, ice slides, and snow rafting. 😍 Workshops for building snowmen and creating sparkling snow domes let visitors fully experience snow and ice over these three days. 🤗 📍Date and Time: Friday, January 30, 2026 – Sunday, February 1, 2026, 10:00–20:00 (Final day closes at 5:00 PM) 📍Location: Midorigaoka Park 📞Contact: Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee TEL: 0155-22-8600 https://obihiro-icefes.com//

Kushiro winter park! KKS Convention Center (Kushiro Tourism and International Relations Center) forecourt Friday, Saturday and Sunday from January 17, 2026 to February 8, 2026 Fridays 5:00 PM–8:00 PM / Saturdays and Sundays 4:00 PM–8:00 PM Saturday, January 24 — human curling 🧑🏻🥌 drew a lively crowd! Skating ⛸️ among the illuminations is simply wonderful ✨ Now happily underway 😊

Watching the dusk over Kushiro, enjoy a quietly flowing tea time. Savor a moment that melts the heart along with dessert. Reservations are available from the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

●A Huge Hit! Sarurun Kamuy — A Trip to Meet the Red-Crowned Cranes● Recruiting participants for Sunday, February 15 Special early-morning entry to Akan International Crane Center GRUS! Under the guidance of Director Kawase, we will observe the cranes’ arrival. February is peak season. Come and watch the cranes dance in the sky. The crane tour is highly popular every year. The application deadline is Thursday, January 29, so please apply soon (^^)/ *If the minimum number of participants is not met, the tour will be canceled (10 people).* Sunday, February 15 Meeting time 6:55 AM Meet and dismiss at Kushiro Tourism and International Relations Center (KKS Convention Center) 7:00 AM Depart KKS Convention Center 7:50 AM Arrive at Akan International Crane Center GRUS 　　　　Observe the cranes’ arrival 9:30 AM Depart Akan International Crane Center GRUS 10:20 AM Arrive at Kushiro Station (you may disembark) 10:25 AM Dismiss at KKS Convention Center For details and to apply, follow the link below🔗 https://www.kushiro-lakeakan.com//

[Sky and Frost-Covered Trees] Last Friday (January 23) I went to Gokase Highland Ski Resort. The sky was clear that day, making it not only perfect for skiing but also ideal for photography. I warmed my freezing hands as best I could and protected my camera from the cold while shooting. I plan to share these images unedited. The Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram photo contest “Winter in Gokase 2026” is still accepting entries, so please consider submitting your work!

Ice Land Akan is now open. We look forward to welcoming you.

🚂 SL Winter Marsh Train on Friday, January 23rd 🚂 Steam from the SL billows up into the sky above the station. Excited. My heart races. Is it almost here? It’s here—😆 Both the riders and the photographers share the same feeling✨ They wave to each other thinking, “SLs are wonderful!”👋

January 26th Azumino the day after it snowed The western foothills of the Northern Alps had accumulated snow, but the eastern side was only lightly dusted I looked out over Azumino from the summit of Mount Nagamine The summit had less snow than I had expected

Local History Museum ――― Kamagaya City Museum of Local History is a place where you can easily enjoy the history and culture of Kamagaya. Through valuable artifacts and photographs discovered or passed down in the city from the Jomon period to modern times, the museum introduces Kamagaya’s journey. It’s a perfect stop while strolling around the city, so whether you love history or want to learn more about Kamagaya’s charms, please come and visit. <Location> 1-8-31 Chuo, Kamagaya City <Opening Hours> 9:00–17:00 <Closed> Every Monday and national holidays (if a national holiday falls on a Monday, the museum is also closed the following day), and during the New Year holidays. The museum may also close temporarily for internal organization and other reasons. [Culture and Sports Division]

🌼We updated the daffodil bloom report🌼 They are still in full bloom! We include detailed photos and descriptions from around the garden🌿✨ We look forward to your impressions and comments like “I went!”😌💭 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260126...

There was a Statue of Liberty in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture. Its purpose is unclear, but similar statues seem to be found in many places across Japan. If you are interested, please look it up.

[Kochi Prefecture Shimanto City] Flowers That Color the Shimanto River Basin 1. Climate of Shimanto City Shimanto City enjoys abundant forests, the clear Shimanto River, and the pacific ocean to its southeast, offering a rich natural environment. From 1991 through 2020, the average temperature was 16.5°C and the average annual precipitation was 2,877.9 mm, giving the area a warm, Pacific-type climate. 2. Flowers Nurtured by the Mild Climate [Spring] 〇 Around late February, when the spring sun begins to warm the days, the Iruta Yanagi Grove in the Shimanto River lower basin turns a tender yellow-green as new buds swell, and some 10 million rapeseed flowers bloom across the willow groves like a yellow carpet. This is an iconic scene that announces spring in the Shimanto River watershed. 〇 By late March, the cherry trees at the hilltop viewing spot Tamesho Park come into full bloom. Lanterns are lit during the cherry blossom season, letting visitors enjoy the night blossoms as well. The Shimanto City Local Museum sits nearby, so while learning about local history you can also take in the views from its observation floor. (Shimanto City Local Museum opening hours/9:00–17:00, closed/Wednesdays) At Shimanto River Sakura Zutsumi Park, neatly planted cherry trees and well-kept lawns invite visitors to sit and enjoy hanami while admiring the spring-bright Shimanto River. In the Shimanto River lower basin, plowing of rice fields begins around this time and the frogs start to call. 〇 When the cherry blossoms fall and the trees turn to leaf, look toward Kōzan-ji Temple to see the city flower, wisteria, paint the slopes purple. Kōzan-ji is also popular for hiking and birdwatching, and a park with play equipment makes it a favorite spot for families on holidays. 〇 In breezy May, roses and lilies cultivated by local residents brighten the pastoral inland landscapes in the Nishitosa area. Omiya Rose Garden welcomes visitors with about 500 rose bushes, while Nishitosa Yabukachi greets them with roughly 12,000 lilies. 〇 At this time of year, Shimanto Dragonfly Park shows dragonflies dancing above waters edged with water lilies and irises. Established in 1985 as the world’s first dragonfly reserve, the park has recorded 81 species of dragonfly. The Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio, attached to the park, exhibits insect specimens from around the world including dragonflies, alongside fish that inhabit the Shimanto River. (Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio opening hours/9:00–17:00, closed/Mondays) [Early summer] 〇 Under rainy, cloudy skies in June, Yasunami Waterwheel Village delights visitors with the rhythmic clack of turning waterwheels while hydrangeas along the waterways blaze with color. Sheltered pavilions near the channels make it pleasant to sit and watch the hydrangeas and the rural scenery. In the inland parts of Shimanto City, summer heat can be intense; when northwesterly winds blow, the foehn effect can raise temperatures and sea breezes from the pacific ocean have difficulty reaching inland, causing high heat. On August 12, 2013, Egawazaki recorded Japan’s highest temperature that year at 41.0°C. [Autumn] 〇 In late September, when the sky seems a little higher, the Iruta Yanagi Grove is enlivened by clusters of red spider lilies (manjushage) that dye the area bright red, and autumn insects begin to call from the grasses. Around this time the severe summer heat gradually eases. 〇 In early November, when autumn deepens, beautiful fall colors appear along the ravines of the Kurozon River, a tributary of the Shimanto River. [Winter] Although Shimanto City benefits from a mild climate, snow does fall some winters in the mountain valleys and on plains opening toward the Bungo Channel, and mornings and evenings often dip below freezing. Daytime, however, tends to be mild with many pleasant, sunny winter days. 3. Events to Celebrate the Arrival of Spring The Iruta Yanagi Grove, introduced above, hosts the Nanohana Festival. At the Nanohana Festival, the rapeseed flower groves spread like a yellow carpet and a variety of events are planned, including sales of local specialty products and wind band performances by junior and senior high school students. Please come and enjoy Shimanto River sightseeing when the rapeseed flowers are in bloom.

Attention moms and dads! 🌸 Why not make spring memories by running the Sakai City Marathon? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ The event takes place beside the World Heritage Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, in the verdant Daisen Park. 🌳 The popular Family Category is a short 2.5 km course, ideal for those returning to exercise or for little ones making their race debut. ✨ The sense of achievement from “I finished!” becomes a lifelong treasure that boosts your child’s confidence. 🏆 Hold hands with your child and aim for the finish line with your best smiles. 🤝💕 Seeing your child run with all their heart might just move moms and dads to tears… 🥺💖 After the race, enjoy a picnic in the park or stroll through Sakai—both are wonderful. 🍱🍡 This spring, let the whole family aim for a joyful finish line! 🏁✨ We look forward to your entries! 🤗🌈 Check the website for detailed rules and how to enter. 🔍✨ 📅 Date and time: Wednesday, April 29 (national holiday) 📍 Location: Daisen Park, near Nintoku-tenno-ryo-mae — loop course Search “Sakai City Marathon” for more details! 🔗 https://sakaicitymarathon.com//

Photographed on January 22, 2014. This is the New Year “Musubi no Kirameki” flower water basin at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. It is on display for a limited time until Tuesday, January 27. I start work at my new workplace today. With a fresh start, I will do my best. 😊

"Gyugyutto, a compact roundup of tourist information" At the recent Okhotsk Fair held at Chi-Ka-Ho we distributed an A4 double-sided summary of Nishiokoppe Village tourist information. Eat, stay, play, shop… I thought about what first-time visitors to Nishiokoppe Village would want to know and carefully selected information, so I decided to post it on social media too! 〇 Access Since the event venue was sapporo station I looked into travel options from sapporo station to Nishiokoppe Village. It takes about four to six hours by car 🚙 It’s a bit of a short road trip. There are gas stations in the village, so you can feel reassured if you come by car 🙌 〇 Eat, stay, play… Some facilities are open only in summer. In addition to the images, there are events and outdoor activities you can enjoy in nature. 〇 Souvenirs You can buy souvenirs not only at Roadside Station Kamu and Hotel Rimu but also at local shops. Some items are offered as hometown tax return gifts (furusato nozei) and some are available from online shops ✨ Hometown tax sites >> Satofull, Rakuten Furusato Nozei, Furusato Choice > Milk Design, which handles grass-fed milk > Seto Beef Farm, which grows and sells vegetables - Last year, Nishiokoppe Village released a new tourism pamphlet that provides more detailed introductions to each facility’s appeal and basic information. For general tourism inquiries, please feel free to contact the Nishiokoppe Village Tourist Information Center the Rizumu. 📞 0158-85-7125 📩 ni.kankouannai at mark gmail.com #Okhotsk #Access #Stay #Eat #Drink #Shop"

Photographed on January 24, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s lemonade and a kumquat Basque cheesecake. On cold days, citrus-flavored treats taste especially good. 😊🍊🍋

Photographed on January 24, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s kumquat Basque cheesecake. It contains kumquats and is delicious. 😊🍊

Announcement: Eastern Hokkaido Three Cycle Routes Traveling Panel Exhibition in Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho)📣 Sharing the charms of cycle routes in the eastern Hokkaido region To introduce the attractions of the eastern Hokkaido cycle routes—Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route; Tokachi 400; and the Okhotsk Cycling Route—we will hold a panel exhibition at the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) so that many people can learn about them 😊 The exhibition will feature panels introducing the attractions of the Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route, Tokapuchi 400, and the Okhotsk Cycling Route; displays of various rental bicycles; event information; and distribution of cycle route maps. Please stop by 🚵‍♀️🚵🚵‍♂️ Location and times: Friday, January 30, 2026, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Venue: Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway, Kita 1-jo Event Space (near Exit 12) Co-hosts: Hokkaido TOKACHI Cycle Tourism Route Promotion Council, Kushiro Cycle Tourism Promotion Council, Okhotsk Route Council, Obihiro Development and Construction Department, Kushiro Development and Construction Department, Abashiri Development and Construction Department Support: Hokkaido For detailed route information, please refer to the website below. https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/...

On a clear, cold winter day, our family enjoyed flying kites in a park with a great view of Mount Fuji.

Photographed on January 24, Heisei 26. This is a hot sandwich set from LEC COFFEE. The hot sandwich has egg, lettuce, and bacon, served with a white vegetable potage and a salad with homemade ham. It also contains satoimo (taro). I ate something delicious, so I feel like I can do my best starting tomorrow. 😊