Commemorative Celebration for the Registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Today, Sunday, December 1, a celebratory gathering was held at the Ara-Odori Hall in the Sakamoto district to mark the registration of “Gokase Ara-odori” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in February of Reiwa 3 (2021).👏✨ Because the registration around Reiwa 3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding a celebration then was difficult, so today’s event was finally realized.🥹 After the opening, the ceremony proceeded smoothly with greetings from the Ara-Odori Preservation Society and congratulatory messages from guests, followed by kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening) accompanied by the powerful sounds of Ara-odori drums, bells, and matchlock gun volleys.🍶🔨 Later, Mr. Fujimoto, the lead dancer, gave the toast and the banquet began.👏 It was a wonderful gathering where members of the Ara-Odori Preservation Society, the dancers and their families all shared their various feelings about Ara-odori.😌 During the banquet, the host conducted interviews in which, somewhat shyly, everyone spoke passionately about Ara-odori.🤭✨ When people had enjoyed enough sake and conversation, the event concluded with three cheers of banzai.🙌🙌🙌 In Miyazaki, a land that preserves many traditional performing arts such as kagura, the registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage truly felt like a great achievement.😳 Going forward, we hope these traditional performing arts, preserved and passed down in each district, will continue to be treasured.✨

[TV Asahi "Shokusai no Oukoku" Isehara Yamatoimo] Broadcast date and time: Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:30–9:55 ◇ Program: "Shokusai no Oukoku" A show that stays close to the people who are passionately working to preserve "Japan's food" and unravels the rich world of ingredients. Yasuhito Nakamura of Yamatoimoya in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a yam producer who single-handedly hand-digs about 15,000 yam plants grown in his fields from autumn through winter! Program highlights: ▽ Left the corporate world to become a yam farmer! The secrets of stickiness and aroma ▽ Tips for yam cooking worth copying, learned from popular restaurants, and more Be sure to record it so you don’t miss the show! And experience Isehara—famous for its scenery, souvenirs, and gourmet food— see it with your eyes, hear it with your ears, feel it with your skin, taste it with your mouth, and enjoy visiting the filming locations!! Yamatoimoya TEL 0463-96-6333 At the Ekina Kururin House Yamatoimoya’s yam-filled Tanzawa-Ooyama soba and other items are on sale and well received! Midway on the stairs at the north exit of Odakyu Line Isehara Station Ekina Kururin House (Isehara Station Tourist Information) TEL/FAX 0463-95-5333 OPEN 9:00–17:00 (open year-round) * January 1–3, 2025: 10:00–15:00

It was snowing and we were having fun!

Hello, this is the Hokuryu Towns Himawari Tourist Association. The post in front of the Hokuryu Towns Town Hall was painted yellow, which is the color of sunflowers. Please stop by when you come to Hokuryu Towns.

Photographed on 12/1/24. It is a Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. It was a Sunday, so it was crowded. It is a gingerbread latte and a nut and caramel cheesecake.

Snowy Sapporo Station Sapporo Station is now lit up with colorful lights Together with the slowly falling snow

Hello everyone! This is the Shosenkyo Tourist Association. Today brought clear skies, and the Shosenkyo Houtou Festival was held in grand fashion! This year’s Houtou Festival was a collaborative event with Kofu Daiichi High School’s Research Course. The a cappella club, dance club, and folk-rock club delivered wonderful performances that really energized the crowd! In addition, the bingo tournament with luxurious prizes was a huge hit. The five varieties of houtou on offer each had their own distinctive flair, and every one was superb! Which houtou was your favorite?

Light up of Nagoya's Swans Garden I used white balance to create a refreshing blue photo.

Light up of Nagoya's Swans Garden Emphasized the brilliance of the lights.

Autumn leaves in Sorakuen Gardens

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. It is a Shichi-Go-San shooting spot. Today, we and the water of Precincts and the festival of Shimahime Shrine. It is a shrine related to water. If I have time, I will attend.

I like geometric patterns. Did the leaves of the Ginkgo fall and happen to get stuck in the fence? The Ginkgo leaves were beautifully addicted, and I had never seen them before, so I clicked the shutter without thinking.

I was able to take a walk in Showa Kinen Park. It was an area where only small children could enter, and there were children bouncing around and seemed to be having fun.

I like and am good at portraits in Autumn leaves, so I take them every year. I took this photo at my favorite place in Kamakura. I like to take pictures in a moist atmosphere in a shaded area where the light turns a little and comes in, rather than a place where the light comes in when the weather is clear and the light comes in.

Iron Towns Muro Araragi

Towns of autumn sky and smoke Beppu Hot springs are part of Japan's culture.

I took an aerial photo of Mt. Yoshino with a drone. Mt. Yoshino is famous for its thousand cherry blossoms. Autumn leaves are also beautiful in autumn. Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture "Mt. Yoshino" 2024/11

Minoh Waterfall Road to Minoh Oodaru

Anata Terasu: Tea, Healing, Fortune-telling, and Goods Today, Saturday, November 30, Anata Terasu took place at Miyazaki Sabo’s Barber House ☺️🍀 This event, which was also held in summer, is now at Volume 5 🖐️💡 A wood-burning stove warmed the shop, giving a gentle, happy warmth 😌💕 A wide range of fortune-telling and healing services were available 🫶 I asked Hikari Therapy for a guardian reading and a channeled message this time 🤗 I was surprised by some unexpected results 😳 but they might indeed be true 🤭 I felt encouraged to keep the messages in my heart and live joyfully 💪✨ While others waited for healing services, they relaxed, chatted, and enjoyed delicious tea, chiffon cake, and bread 🍵 Healing goods like warm items and other soothing accessories were on display, making for a lovely event where time flowed slowly ☺️✨ Actually, I’m typing this post while eating the hojicha chiffon cake I bought… and it’s unbelievably delicious 🥹💕 The rich hojicha flavor and moist chiffon texture are perfect… If you get the chance, please try it ✨ This was a rewarding event recommended for anyone who’s always busy and feeling a bit short on mental space 🥰

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of the Rustic Son of Nishikosenba Towns.

[🍁Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submission Showcase — Part 6—🍁] Here we introduce works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” contest held on the Instagram account of Gokase Tourism Association! @gokase_pan

【🍁Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024 Photo Contest Entries — Part 5🍁】 Here we showcase works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024” held on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. @thusandleavis様

🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Contest Entries — Part 4 🍁 Here we introduce works posted to the "#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" contest held on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account! @mitsu_yumi.0520 @naomin168 @niidome2110 (in no particular order)

🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submissions — Part 3 🍁 Here we showcase photos posted to the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account for the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” event! @donguri223103 @san.shimako.1105 @kaaazuuu1123 @kickcamp_with_jimny (in no particular order)

[🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submissions — Part 2 🍁] Here are works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” event on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account! @hiroko.gf1 @gokase_pan @miyazaki_212449 (in no particular order)

🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Contest — Featured Entries, Part 1 🍁 Here we introduce works posted to the Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 contest held on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account! @sakai_0808 @cycle_onlineshop (in no particular order)

⛩ Gion Shrine Niiname Festival and Final Kagura Performance 👹 On November 23rd, the Niiname Festival and the final kagura performance were held at Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka district.⛩ First a Shinto ceremony took place, followed by a kagura dedication at the kagura hall.👹 Today we welcomed visitors from overseas and guests who came from Tokyo.😮 The gingko trees at Gion Shrine had turned color, creating a carpet of yellow.😆✨ Gokase Town is getting colder, and it looks like winter is finally arriving.⛄

[Searching for Autumn in Gokase] November 19 A little late, but I went looking for autumn around Gokase and am sharing some photos📸✨ Photo 1 / Shirataki Falls Photo 2 / From the bridge on the way to Unoko Falls viewing point Photo 3 / From Yūhi no Sato Ohashi (Sunset Village Bridge) Photos 4 and 5 / Near the torii at Myoken Shrine

G Music Corps Regular Concert On Sunday, November 17th, the G Music Corps held a concert at Yumeyume Plaza TAC in Takachiho Town🎺🎶 The program was packed into four exciting parts😳💡 Under the baton of conductor Mitsutoshi Hasebe, the concert opened with a Disney medley. Familiar tunes arrived on a dynamic sound that made people move along before they knew it🤩👏 In the second part, dancers from Takachiho Town’s studio DACTCREW delivered an impressive performance to popular songs🪩💫 The third part recreated the original show’s format with a lively amateur singing stage😆🎤 Seven contestants from Gokase, Takachiho, and Kumamoto Prefecture sang joyfully to live wind ensemble accompaniment✨ A former real bell-ringer from the original program played the bell live, a trophy was presented to the winner, and the excitement peaked 🥳👏 The final fourth part featured guests trumpeter MAKOTO, drummer Kiyotaka Kuroda, and pianist Satsuki Imamura in a powerful, high-impact set😳✨ Audience members praised the event, saying things like "I’m glad I came; I never expected it to be this much fun" 🥹💕 G Music Corps, active both inside and outside the prefecture, delivered a wonderful performance that makes you want to cheer them on for the future. Great job to everyone involved❗

Sunset Village Exhibition✨ On Saturday and Sunday, November 16–17, the former Kuwanouchi Elementary School gym hosted the "Sunset Village Exhibition" and the "Small Sato Frost Month Festival," to much excitement 😆🎉 Creative works by local residents were on display, and visitors toured them with great interest 👀 On Saturday, November 16, food stalls and workshops drew lively crowds 😁 At the workshops, many people happily carried their finished pieces home, and seeing that made us happy too 😊