Saiki Foods Co., Ltd.'s Saiki Plum Garden is holding a Plum Festival as follows. We warmly invite you to visit. Saiki Plum Garden 〒799-1108 Ehime Prefecture, Saijo City, Komatsu-cho, 18 Yasui Otsu Plum Viewing Period: February 2, 2026 (Monday) – February 27, 2026 (Friday) Hours: 9:30–16:00 【Events During the Plum Viewing Period】 Dates: February 14, 2026 (Saturday), February 15 (Sunday), February 21 (Saturday), February 22 (Sunday), February 23 (Monday, National Holiday) Hours: 9:30–16:00 Details: ・Sale of various plum products (including an alcoholic beverages corner) Plum udon, curry rice, waffles, pudding, ohagi (sweet rice cakes), fried chicken, French fries, burdock tempura, coffee, vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, honey sales, and more A karaoke corner will also be available ・Lucky draw raffle (every event day 10:00–16:00) ・Performances by amateur bands from Saijo City (February 15, 13:00–14:30) ・Dōzen Taiko (February 14, 11:00–12:00; February 22, 13:00–14:00) SAIKI PLUM GARDEN The Plum Festival is being held as follows. We warmly invite you to visit. Saiki plum garden Address: 18 Yasui Otsu, Komatsu-cho, Saijo City, Ehime 799-1108, Japan Plum Viewing Period: February 2 (Mon) – February 27 (Fri), 2026 Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 【Events During the Plum Viewing Period】 Dates: February 14 (Sat), 15 (Sun), 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 23 (Mon, National Holiday), 2026 Hours: 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Details: Sale of various plum products (including an alcoholic beverages corner) Plum udon, curry rice, waffles, pudding, ohagi (sweet rice cakes), fried chicken, French fries, burdock tempura, coffee, vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, honey, and more A karaoke corner will also be available Lucky draw raffle (every event day, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) Performance by amateur bands from Saijo City (February 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Dōzen Taiko drum performance (February 14, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. / February 22, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.) We hope you will come and enjoy the beautiful plum blossoms and festive atmosphere.

Enjoy an all-white snowy landscape! Introducing winter’s spectacular spots✨ You can still enjoy snow scenes around Nagano City, including Togakushi, Iizuna Highlands, and Kinasa! (Check the weather before you go.) ①nagano forest village @nagano_forest_village About a 30-minute drive from downtown Nagano. Surrounded by rich nature, nagano forest village becomes a wide snowy panorama in winter, offering a chance to escape everyday life. Inside the facility, Mori-no-Eki Daizahoushi features a market with local vegetables and specialties, a cafe-restaurant that uses those local ingredients generously, and an indoor activity area with a tree house and well-equipped supervised spaces. We recommend relaxing while gazing at the silver-white view outside the windows. Snow activities unique to this season are also plentiful. Enjoy snow play and winter nature experiences to fully discover the charm of Iizuna Highlands. Hours Indoor activities and market 9:00-17:00 Cafe-restaurant (hours below until Saturday, February 28, 2026) ◆Sunday–Thursday excluding holidays 9:00–17:00 (LO 16:30) ◆Friday, Saturday and holidays 9:00–21:00 (LO 20:00) Parking 180 spaces (free) *Please check the official website or SNS for details.* ②Daibo Pass (Daibō Tōge) [Kinasa] @kinasamomiji Enjoy the grand panorama from Daibo Pass on the way to Togakushi and from Ōdō Tōge toward Ogawamura, and the natural sculptural beauty formed by Okusozuhana Valley. Step off the main roads to find the winter vistas unique to Kinasa. Parking about 5 spaces (free) ③Zenkoji Temple The snow-covered Zenkoji Temple Main Hall has a different atmosphere from usual. For the best snowy view of Zenkoji, visit early the morning after a night of snowfall. ④Togakushi Snowshoe @togakushi.kanko Explore the Forest Botanical Garden and the Okusha Approach clad in silence and snow while wearing snowshoes. Leave your footprints on the pure white fields and enjoy the addictive thrill of going where there is no path. Beginner-friendly guided tours are available. Snowshoes and poles are available for rent at the Togakushi Tourist Information Center, so please inquire there. *Winter tours require different equipment than non-snow seasons. Please check carefully and prepare accordingly.* *From January 7 onward, entry beyond Zuishinmon toward the cedar avenue on the Okusha Approach is prohibited.* Snowshoe Rental Information ◆Togakushi Tourist Information Center *Open 9:00–17:00* Rental pickup 9:00–14:00 ＊Final return by 16:00 Snowshoe & pole set 2,000 yen (tax included) / day Pole, snow boots, gaiters each 500 yen (tax included) / day Recommended for first-timers: guided tours Shun Walk — Winter Edition Wear snowshoes this winter and go meet the spectacular views. Courses may change depending on weather and other conditions. *Private guides are available on request.* *For details, see the latest news on the Togakushi Tourism Association website.* ⑤Togakushi Ski Field @togakushiskifield_official A ski area with high-quality groomed runs and famously light “magic powder” snow. The steep runs first thing in the morning after fresh snowfall are popular. Season 2025/12/13–2026/03/31 (planned) Hours 8:30–16:15 *See the official site or official accounts for details.* #snowy scenery #scenic view #winter #Nagano City #Nagano Prefecture #Nagano tourism #Nagano travel #nagano #naganocity

A long-tailed rosefinch nibbling on seeds. This charming wild bird is slightly smaller than a sparrow and is notable for the reddish coloring on its head. The bird in the photo is male, since both its head and chest are red. (Females have a white chest and only a red head.) (Image provided by Roadside Station Utonai Lake)

The plum grove within Shimin-no-mori in Fukutake is about half in bloom overall (around 50%) as of February 13, 2026. Some trees are about 80% in bloom. Because the trees do not flower all at once and older trees are mixed in, the distant view is not yet at its best. Still, if you get closer you can enjoy the charming blossoms up close. Visit on a sunny day. Location: 50-9 Fukutake Otsu, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 793-0036, Japan

On Saturday, February 21, the Forest Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen will take place in front of the Kawayu Visitor Center. With the theme "Play in Kawayu's Winter," a variety of activities and events will be offered again this year. There are plenty of experiences for adults and children alike, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, campfires in tipis, Sakhalin fir (akaezomatsu) distillation workshops, wooden coaster making, and slide talks. Hot milk and homemade cookies prepared by students from Teshikaga High School will be available in the tents on site. Please come with friends and family. Forest Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen (Event Overview) Date and Time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00–21:00 Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center and surrounding area (Kawayu Onsen 2-2-6, Teshikaga) Admission: Free (All programs are free to enjoy.) ※ Food and drinks are sold separately. Activities <10:00–16:00> ● Cross-country skiing　● Ski-shoe experience　● Snowshoe experience <Ongoing> ● Snow play area　● Campfire in a tipi Events ● Forest stories and a forest walk　13:00–14:00 ● Sakhalin fir distillation experience　10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 ● Wooden coaster making　10:00 until supplies run out ● Slide talk "With Reverence for the Brown Bear"　15:30–17:00 ● Free talk session　17:30–19:00 ● Stargazing　18:45–19:30 ● Snow candles　17:00–21:00

😉Come hear presentations by high school students from Kyoto😉 Students from Ritsumeikan High School in Kyoto will visit Kushiro next month, March☺ They will present what they felt while touring and learning about Kushiro over several days! How does Kushiro look through the eyes of high school students from outside Hokkaido? These students, who study in a completely different environment, investigated Kushiro’s tourism and industries and will offer proposals for Kushiro’s future as the result of their findings. ✨ This is a very valuable opportunity, so please come and join us(^^)/ ● Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 ● Venue: Kushiro Lifelong Learning Center meeting room 705 and 706 ● Time: Registration 9:00, starts 9:15, ends 10:45 No prior registration required ・ Free admission

Everyone come! Teshikaga⭐️Hanabi Village is happening! On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Teshikaga⭐️Hanabi Village will take place on the Teshikaga Junior High School grounds. The event runs from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and features endless handheld sparklers, hot air balloons, food trucks and more. Some activities have limited capacity, so join early. On February 21 and 22, the town venue will host the Teshikaga Town Photo Gallery. Look for a Teshikaga High School × Miyazaki Flower Shop collaboration, food trucks and Teshikaga Marche stalls, plus a small snow slide. Check the flyer for details!! We look forward to seeing you. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/teshikagahanabimura/...

On Saturday, February 21, “Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen” will take place in front of Kawayu Visitor Center. With the concept “Play in Kawayu’s winter,” a variety of activities and events will be offered again this year. There will be plenty of experiences for both adults and children, including cross-country ski and ski-shoe trials, snowshoeing, campfires in tipis, Korean fir (Akaezomatsu) distillation workshops, wooden coaster making, and slide talks. Hot milk and handmade cookies from Teshikaga High School students will be available in tents at the venue. Please come together with friends and family. Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen (Event Overview) Date and time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00–21:00 Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center and surrounding area (2-2-6 Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga) Admission: Free (all programs are also free to enjoy.) ※ Food and drinks are sold separately. Activities <10:00–16:00> ● Cross-country ski ● Ski-shoe experience ● Snowshoe experience <Ongoing> ● Snow play area ● Campfire in tipis Events ● Forest stories and a forest walk 13:00–14:00 ● Korean fir distillation workshops 10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:00 ● Wooden coaster making 10:00 until supplies last ● Slide talk “With Reverence for the Brown Bear” 15:30–17:00 ● Free talk 17:30–19:00 ● Star gazing 18:45–19:30 ● Snow candles 17:00–21:00 Contact Teshikaga Ekoma-chi Promotion Council (Secretariat) Within Teshikaga Town Office, Tourism and Commerce Division 015-482-2940 (Tourism and Commerce Division direct line / Weekdays: 9:00–17:00) Day-of contact: 090-2075-9764 (Person in charge: Fujiwara) https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/snowpark2026/...

Discover Sakai as you visit and encounter its charms. “Himotoku Sakai 2026 ～OSAKA SAKAI EXPO～” is coming! An interactive event that unravels Sakai. This edition centers on the theme “OSAKA SAKAI EXPO”🔍 Enjoy tea service, hands-on experiences, and local gourmet treats to relive the Expo experience in Sakai! Take part in a stamp rally using the limited "Himotoku Sakai" stamp passport to collect official pavilion stamps and more while touring Sakai! Those who meet the conditions will receive a collaboration pin badge featuring Myakumyaku and Haniwa Bucho!✨ 📅 Event dates: Friday, March 20th (public holiday) to Sunday, March 22nd ※The stamp rally runs from Sunday, March 1st to Tuesday, March 31st 📍 Location: Various locations in Sakai City 🔍 For details, search for “Himotoku Sakai 2026”! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

The illumination event “Yoritomo Cherry Blossoms and Bamboo Lights” has begun at Sakuma Dam Hanami Hiroba. The glow of the bamboo lanterns is truly magical. The bamboo lanterns were handmade by the Hotagawa Yoritomo-zakura no Sato-zukuri Jikkou Iinkai (Hotagawa River Yoritomo Cherry Blossom Village Development Committee), a group of local volunteers, and we hope you will come see them. On the 21st, the committee and our association will jointly run a sweet sake stall from 3:30 PM after the lighting ceremony, so please drop by. It gets especially cold after dusk, so be sure to dress warmly. The illumination runs until March 14th, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Come and visit Ootadai this spring.

Photographed on February 7, 2014. This is the hanachōzu (flower basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Photographed on February 11, 2014. This is the hanachozu (flower basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine’s omikuji distribution counter.

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Makubetsu’s Churui will host the 43rd Nauman All-Hokkaido Sled Competition 😊 Alongside the general division—where participants race on homemade cardboard sleds and are judged on sled craftsmanship and finish time—there will be an elementary school speed division and a parent-and-child speed division 🎵 Other activities include a “Treasure Hunt” inspired by the buried-gold legend of Churui Maruyama and a photo-movie contest for sharing fun memories from the sled competition ✨ 📍Date and Time: Sunday, February 15, 2026 📍Venue: Churui Hakugindai Ski Area 📞Contact: Tournament Office 01558-8-2111 http://www.makubetsu.jp/kankobussankyokai/?p=8682...

A place you must visit at least once in your life. A view that makes you want to take a deep breath. Lake Kussharo in winter. At Kussharo Prince Hotel, you can enjoy Lake Kussharo from your room at any time. Reservations are available from the profile URL. 📍Kussharo Prince Hotel https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

The fisherman fell in love with one of the world’s three greatest sunsets. Enjoy a landscape that changes with the seasons at Kushiro Prince Hotel. Unwind and savor moments that melt your heart, again and again. Reservations are available from the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

I found a “little Shobara” in downtown Hiroshima! The vegetable-packed menu at Shobara Shokudo is exquisite 😋✨ Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture has clearly defined seasons—cherry blossoms in spring, high blue skies in summer, autumn leaves, and snowy winter scenes—which create an ideal environment for growing crops. Did you know that Shobara Shokudo, where you can enjoy plenty of vegetables grown in Shobara City, is located in AQ'A Hiroshima Center City in Naka Ward, Hiroshima? As an author who loves both vegetables and delicious food, I went to cover Shobara Shokudo! Read the article here 🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5479...

Hello. This is En'emon Folklore Museum 😃 After the recent snowfall ❄️, you can still see some snow lingering around Senga Falls ✨ Please watch your step on the stairs to the falls, as some sections are icy. Shosenkyo Gorge is also seeing more warm days during the daytime ☀️ On sunny days, we recommend a relaxed walk while soaking up the sunlight 😀🌿 This month's birthstone: Amethyst 💜 Known as a stone of purification and healing, it is also associated with 'true love.' At En'emon Folklore Museum, we offer high-quality amethyst pendants in beautiful colors, cuts, and sizes, as well as rare amethysts with clear quartz tips—each a must-see ✨ Please stop by during your walk 😃 All our staff look forward to greeting you with smiles 💓 When you visit, please take extra care with your vehicle and your footing 🚗✨

“Daionzan Seichō-ji Setsubun Ceremony” (Seichō-ji, Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture) On February 3, 2026, Seichō-ji lay wrapped in a hushed atmosphere. The annual Setsubun ceremony took place. From 8:00 a.m. a special prayer for fortunate men and women was held, and around 11:00 a.m. a ritual procession began followed by the Great Exorcism Service in the Main Hall, a bean-scattering ritual in the Soshidou (temple of the founder), and an entertaining performance by Mr. Naomasa Yamamura, drawing a large crowd.

26/02/11 Saijo Water Tour Students from Kochi Prefecture joined us. The water city has lacked moisture due to consecutive sunny days. *Photos 6 and 7 show it when it was more hydrated* Many people gather at various water-drawing spots seeking the artesian wells called "uchinuki" that spring from underground. "Saijo Water Tour with a Guide" can be found by searching "Imadoki Saijo"

Everyone, come on over! Teshikaga⭐️Fireworks Village On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Teshikaga⭐️Fireworks Village will take place on the grounds of Teshikaga Junior High School! The event runs from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and features endless handheld sparklers, hot-air balloons, food trucks, and more. Some activities have limited spots depending on the program, so please join early⌚️💦 At the same time, the downtown venue will host the Teshikaga Downtown Photo Gallery! Enjoy a collaboration between Teshikaga High School and Miyazaki Flower Shop, food trucks and Teshikaga Marche vendors, and a small snow slide! Come and join us☃️🎆✨ Check the flyer for details!! We look forward to seeing you☃️💕

●Lotus Leaf Ice on the Kushiro River● On the Kushiro River today, many lotus leaf ice floes were drifting. This phenomenon occurs when several conditions line up, so you might not see it at certain times of day, and finding it always brings a smile☺ It feels like I’ve seen more of it this year than usual. You’re more likely to spot it on cold mornings. You might see it around Nusamai Bridge, Kusuri Bridge, and Asahi Bridge. The beautiful scenery makes the cold disappear‼ Enjoy the magical winter of Kushiro in February to the fullest✨

Ice Fishing for Pond Smelt: This season has ended. To protect pond smelt resources, we closed the MemanbetsuKohan ice fishing for pond smelt on Wednesday, February 11. Although the season was shorter than usual, we sincerely thank everyone who visited this season. We look forward to your continued support next season!

A chilly 1°C yet unusually warm for Akanko in February in the early morning It was cloudy, but that very cloudiness made the scene—snow and the dark-looking conifer forest—resemble an ink-wash painting as I walked across the surface of Lake Akan Today was warmer than yesterday daytime, so the lake ice softened and water rose in places; for safety we altered part of the route and ended the tour 30 minutes early, but everyone enjoyed Akanko’s nature You can reserve the early-morning walking tour from the URL below 　　↓ https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/things_to_do/19977/... *Because this winter has been mild, please understand that, depending on lake ice conditions and for safety reasons, the tour route or tour end time may change.

NHK’s documentary "72 Hours" featured the Wada Area’s Kokuyo no Mizu Hiroba✨ What is Kokuyo no Mizu Hiroba…? The mountain range around Wada Pass underwent repeated volcanic activity between 800,000 and 1.4 million years ago. Highly fluid lava layered with andesite and rhyolite formed obsidian, it is said. Rain that falls on the surrounding forest is filtered through this obsidian bedrock and becomes spring water. This spring water, named "Kokuyo no Mizu," is drawn to the plaza. Because it is ultra-soft water with high purity, it is also characterized by being slow to spoil. About Kokuyo no Mizu [Nagawamachi Tourism Association website] https://www.nagawa.info/facility-spot/1962/... Address: Wadananokura, Wada, Nagawamachi, Chiisagata District, Nagano Prefecture

Photographed on February 11, 2014. After the Kigen Festival at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Kanetsuki‑dōri Store. I had a chocolate mousse latte and a chocolate babka. It was very cold yesterday. 🥶

[Bear Soap] The other day I went to Nishiokoppe Guesthouse GA.KOPPER for dinner. A friend had come to visit the village, so I joined them at the table. On the way out, something in the entrance showcase caught my eye. I had seen GA.KOPPER’s products many times before, but I had never bought the bear soap. In winter my skin gets dry, and I’ve been especially bothered by itchy backs of my hands and fingertips, so when I heard it helps prevent rough skin I decided to try the soap. - This soap is made by blending oil from brown bears living in Nishiokoppe Village with Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis) leaf oil from Shimokawacho and peppermint oil from Takinoue Town. The guesthouse owner Asano, who is a hunter, provided the bear oil from a bear he personally shot. Bears and deer are often labeled pests because they damage crops and forests, but seen another way, these animals are a resource for Nishiokoppe Village. Although processing is demanding (it takes a lot of time and effort), their pelts, meat, oil, antlers and other parts can be put to good use. Among these, bear oil has long been used by the Ainu people as a panacea. They say it soothes cracked fingertips, dry lips and burned skin when applied topically. Soap made from such oil leaves the skin feeling moist after washing and resists that tight, dry feeling. It’s recommended for handwashing and facial cleansing. A bear balm is also on sale, so if you’re curious visit GA.KOPPER or check their online shop. https://gakopper.base.shop// Note that staff may be absent during the day, so we recommend contacting GA.KOPPER before your visit. - By the way, the bear soap is manufactured by SORRYKOUBOU, a cosmetics maker in Shimokawacho. SORRYKOUBOU’s cosmetics are considerate of skin and body and are made from herbs they cultivate and wild plants that grow locally. - It’s truly heartening that, close to home, there are natural ingredients that care for your skin and people who make them. #GAKOPPER #Bear Soap #SORRYKOUBOU #Skincare

Winter haze over the Akashi Strait. In winter the Akashi Strait looks like an ink-wash painting, with Awaji Island and the great Akashi Kaikyo Bridge shrouded in mist.

Every February I go to Kushiro to see red-crowned cranes and the SL Winter Shitsugen train. The courtship dance of the red-crowned cranes, especially visible at the feeding grounds in Kushiro Shitsugen, reaches its peak in February. In the harsh winter snowfields I was able to see the males and females leap and spread their wings in a courtship dance that truly looks like dancing once again this year.

Layering feelings on a single plate. We engage with ingredients and finish each dish with care. The chef delivers each creation with heartfelt devotion. Reservations are available via the profile URL. https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...