◆Origin of the Otegata Suwa Shrine and the Otegata Stone◆ The origin of the Otegata Stone lies in the large handprint found on a huge rock enshrined at Suwa Shrine. Long ago, a messenger came from Takamagahara, the heavenly plain where the eight million gods gather, to Izumo to urge Okuninushi to submit. Okuninushi immediately agreed and surrendered, but his young son, Takeminakata, refused, breaking off negotiations and eventually fighting with Takemikazuchi from Takamagahara. Takeminakata was defeated and fled, but Takemikazuchi pursued him relentlessly and finally caught up with him in the area of Sahara. Takeminakata surrendered, pressed his hand onto a nearby stone as a pledge of submission, and peace was made between the two deities. This place came to be called "Ooinokubo" (the Chase Hollow). The stone is said to have been formed because Takemikazuchi chased Takeminakata here.

Today's UHB Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting's evening program "Mintele" will introduce the vine hydrangeas of Karikachi Kogen Park around 17:15 and 18:30. Vine hydrangeas are still in Best time to visit. See the flowers in full bloom on TV and, on weekends, on-site.

Gorinkan - Yasuragi no guesthouse ryokan It is an inn where you can enjoy natural hot springs and seafood dishes. Located a 1-minute walk to the Strange Rock Sea, you can enjoy Bathing in the sea and fishing throughout the season in summer. ■Address 2203-3 Nishina, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-53-0223

TOMAKOMAI MIRAI FEST 2024 Local Discount Tickets on Sale! Local discount tickets are available exclusively at the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center. Sales start today! We hope you can join us. For details, please see the image♪

The Summer Solstice is Cub, The Summer Solstice Cub The summer solstice has passed. Before we knew it, the year has already reached its halfway point… At Guesthouse GA.KOPPER an event welcoming Cub riders took place on the day before and on the day of the solstice! This Solstice Cub event was held for the third time this year. Around 20 participants gathered from inside and outside Hokkaido, including the owner’s Cub friends. Contests to decide who could ride a Cub the latest into the night and a game where riders fitted helmets with buckets of water to see how far they could go without spilling much were met with great excitement. After lively Cub conversations and a delicious dinner, we had not a campfire but a Cub fire! Surrounded by rows of participants’ Cubs riders gathered around the fire, drinks in hand, and chatted animatedly. Then, on the morning of the solstice, with sunrise at 3:44 a.m., the Cubs all took off together toward Mt. Wenshiri. No encounters with bears or rain occurred, and we were relieved that everyone returned safely. We thank the teru teru bozu. Whether it’s one year or several years from now, we look forward to meeting again on some future solstice! #GA.KOPPER #Summer Solstice #Cub #Solstice Cub #hokkaider #Kopper-san #chopper #Cub Fire #Geshibashiri

Shinshu Kankōchi Suwa!!! Around Suwa lies the Kirigamine Highlands, where gentle rolling terrain stretches from Kurumayama to Washigamine. In late June, alpine plants such as azaleas (Renge tsutsuji), daylilies (Nikkō kisuge), and scabious (Matsumushi-sō) paint the green meadows in vibrant colors. You can also enjoy sweeping views of Japan’s famous peaks, including Mt. Fuji, the Japanese Alps, and the Yatsugatake Range. The area generates strong updrafts favorable for glider flight, and Kirigamine is known as the birthplace of gliding in Japan. Kirigamine contains the “Three Great Kirigamine Wetlands.” Together, Kurumayama, Yashimagahara Wetland, and Ikeno Kurumi Odoriba Wetland host more than 400 subalpine plant species year-round. They are designated a National Natural Monument and are wetlands rare even on a global scale. In early summer you can see the renge azaleas in bloom, their vivid orange flowers at their most beautiful. In summer, as in the photo, the Nikkō kisuge daylilies come into full bloom 🌼. Most of the photos were kindly provided by staff at our Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center. This year the blossoms may appear a little earlier than usual. Thanks to local Kirigamine caretakers, deer damage seems reduced, so this could be an exceptional season. Why not breathe in the clear, nature-filled highland air of Suwa and visit to refresh your body and mind? ※ The photos are from 2023.

Otaru Music Box Hall 🎵 Use a Meiji-era building specializing in music boxes. In the store with a retro atmosphere, there are ✨ music boxes collected from all over the world It's 😆 fun just to watch

A cave shrine called Cheonangawara. As shown in the photo, the custom of piling up stones began many years ago, and the stones on one side give you a sense of history.

Aoshima Shrine in Miyazaki Prefecture. It has a history of about 1200 years. In ancient times, the entire island was considered a sacred area, and the general public could not enter the island until the middle of the Edo period. It is a beautiful place with both the sky and the sea.

Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine in Omiya in Saitama Jade. It is customary to make the First Pilgrimage to the Shrine here every year. There is a long line for fortune telling and prayer. Fortune tellers who were unlucky will improve their luck by tying them.

Abashiri Prison. It was interesting to see a lot of things!

Abashiri Prison. There is a jailbreak on top!! 😱 It was interesting to see the inside of the In Room!

Izuichi - Sashimi and Natural hot spring inn An inn where you can enjoy sashimi and natural hot springs. Fresh embroidery that the inn is proud of, and it is a platter that you can enjoy looking at and eating. In addition, calcium sulfate springs, which have many effective for, are also attractive. ■Address 671-1 Ukusu, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-55-0306

[Nakasendo Narai-juku] Located beneath Torii Pass — one of the Nakasendo’s most notorious difficult stretches — Narai was known as 'Narai Senken' ('a thousand houses of Narai') and was the most prosperous post town among the eleven post towns of Kiso. The townscape has been designated by the national government as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and it still strongly retains the atmosphere of the past. The roughly 1‑km stretch of buildings along the Narai River forms the longest post‑town streetscape in Japan. More than a preserved site, Narai‑juku’s charm lies in the fact that people still live there today. This award‑winning post town was also used as the setting for the 2011 NHK morning drama 'Ohisama'. As a place where visitors can experience Japan's unspoiled beauty, it attracts many people from Japan and abroad every year, who are captivated by this historic post town. ◇Basic Information ・ Parking: Please use the nearest Roadside Station 'Kiso-no-Ohashi' parking lot (free), or the Gonbei Parking Lot (paid). ・Inquiries: Narai-juku Tourist Information Center TEL 0264-34-3160

The central guard of Abashiri Prison. From here, you can see in all directions. Visiting the site inside the building was also very interesting.

Abashiri Prison. Using a former prison, this is a history museum. There are a lot of places to see outside, and Mr./Ms. is interesting! The weather was fine on this day, and it was just right to go around.

Matsumae Castle 🏯🌸 The weather wasn't so good, but the cherry blossoms were blooming! Recommended for a walk!

Hydrangea field illuminated by the morning sun This can be taken in Jade prefecture It is × sea of clouds ×sunrise the rising sun. At this Period, a rare sea of clouds appeared 🤤

Photographed on June 8, 24. This is Hanachozu of Chuin.

no season is offseason for Japan. In summer there are so many thing to see and do here in Kawagoe. Kawagoe is a historical town known as coedo or little edo. It is a edo period warehouse district. Tokinokane or the bell tower which is the landmark of Kawagoe can be seen nicely. This couple was enjoying the traditional and historical city in a traditional fashion. The old style house and bell tower in the background makes the atmosphere more beautiful.

Photographed on June 8, 24. café andon Mr./Ms.'s iced café latte and Juneberry crumble cake. Since it is a Limited Time cake, it is currently End of sale. It has just the right amount of sweetness and is very tasty.

Nachi Taisha Triple Pagoda and Nachi Waterfall 2021.12.25 It is this "Nachi Falls" where a number of stream overlap in the main stream that stream from the Mt. Undori in the depths of Mt. Nachi, and finally fall as if cutting through the virgin forest. The water column is 133 meters high, the Choshi mouth is 13 meters wide, and the depth of the Waterfall basin is 10 meters, making it one of the three famous waterfalls in Japan. There are three cuts in the bedrock of Choshiguchi, and it is also called the "Three Streaks Falls" because it begins to fall in three streaks.

Nachi Falls 2021.12.25 It is this "Nachi Falls" where a number of stream overlap in the main stream that stream from the Mt. Undori in the depths of Mt. Nachi, and finally fall as if cutting through the virgin forest. The water column is 133 meters high, the Choshi mouth is 13 meters wide, and the depth of the Waterfall basin is 10 meters, making it one of the three famous waterfalls in Japan. There are three cuts in the bedrock of Choshiguchi, and it is also called the "Three Streaks Falls" because it begins to fall in three streaks.

TDS/Fantasy Springs Rapunzel's area, lanterns are beautiful 😊 at night I want to see it in the daytime next time.

A 1 km stretch of Edo-period streets! A feature on the charms of Narai-juku Let me introduce Narai-juku, located at the northernmost edge of the Kiso Road! Narai-juku was designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1978, and in 2016 the Kiso Road including Narai-juku was registered as a Japan Heritage site, making it a place of great historical value. Narai-juku preserves about 1 km of Edo-period streets. Just strolling along the streetscape is an enjoyable way to sightsee. With completely different looks in each season, you can visit several times a year without ever getting bored! In Narai-juku you can enjoy Nagano Prefecture specialties such as soba noodles, gohei-mochi rice cakes, oyaki stuffed dumplings, and local sake. You can also buy regional crafts unique to the area, such as Kiso lacquerware and bentwoodware, as souvenirs! By the way, the production center for Kiso lacquerware is right next door in Kisohirasawa, and Kisohirasawa is also designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings! It’s fun to drop by Kisohirasawa while you’re visiting Narai-juku!! Some shops offer kimono and yukata dressing services, so you can dress up and walk the Edo streets for a true time‑slip experience! In the past, Narai-juku was used as a filming location for the morning drama Ohisama, and it is cherished as a pilgrimage site by fans. Please come and visit Narai-juku!

The weather is not very good, but it is 🏯🌸 Matsumae Castle during the cherry blossom Period It was quite large, so I 🚶 ♀️🚶 enjoyed taking a walk

Nishi-Izu Crystal View Hotel - Japanese and Western Plus Alpha Hot Spring Sanmai A resort-full crystal bath that combines a Japanese cypress bath with a stylish sensibility and the warmth of a hot spring. Standing in the lobby, you can hear live piano music while being surrounded by the splendid spirit of southern Europe. And the smiles of all the employees who serve customers are wonderful. We also accept day trips. ■Address 2102-1 Ukusu, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0570-048-780

Seaside Dogashima - Relaxing inn It is the only inn where you can overlook the entrance of the famous "Tensodo Cave" of Nishi-Izu Dogashima from the guest rooms and observation bath. Your eyes will be satisfied with the superb view, and your tongue will be satisfied with seasonal local fish dishes. And your heart will be satisfied with the warm homely service and the Natural hot spring made of Izu stone! There are a boat-filling service for two or more people. Enjoy a moment of peace to your heart's content at this inn where you feel nostalgic. ■Address 2121-3 Nishina, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-52-0117

Dogashima Hot Spring Hotel - Dogashima's only private fountainhead inn Nagisa's white building is built in a villa-style daisy style, and the rooms offer views of Suruga Bay, Sehama Coast and Sanshiro Island. The Private fountainhead that we are proud of is the only alkaline simple Hot Spring in Dogashima with spring quality, and is also known as "makeup hot spring for beautiful skin". Gari can relax and refresh yourself by soaking in the "Nagisa Open-Air Bath" where you can hear the noise of the sea and the large public bath "Aurora no Yu", and enjoy dishes using plenty of Fresh Izu seafood. We also accept day trips. ■Address 2960 Nishina, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-52-0275

Hidden hot spring by the seaside Clear streams-Built on the most seaside in Nishi-Izu, tongue drums with Hot Spring and beach cuisine while enjoying the spectacular view The Onsen Ryokan stands on the seaside Cove in front of the Sanshiro Island, which can be said to be the symbol of Dogashima. In addition to the open-air bath by the waves, you can enjoy the Sunset and sea scenery from each room and the large public bath, and the inn also boasts iso kaiseki meals. Boasting a superb view of Sanshiro Island and the sea seen from the Hot Spring, the bath is also available for day trips. Use the large public bath facing Suruga Bay and the open-air bath of Nagisa. For female customers, special bathing clothes are available. ■Address 2941 Nishishina, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-52-1118