Just in time for the first day of spring, fukujusō have bloomed in the garden again this year.

Reihoku Sunset Marche Announcement for February📣 Hello everyone! As we enter a season full of events like ehomaki and Setsubun, here is the announcement for the Reihoku Sunset Marche in February♪ 👀Highlights of this Sunset Marche👀 ❣Reihoku Sunset Marche will offer agricultural products, processed foods, and prepared dishes from Reihoku Town, and bagged mandarins will also be on sale🍊 This time, Ninoya Amakusa will bring an ikinari dango food truck, and there will be a pottery stall as well❣ We look forward to your visit😊 Don’t forget to bring your own bag🛍✨ Planned Produce for Sale ・Cauliflower ・Pumpkin🎃 ・Cabbage ・Cucumber🥒 ・Rice🌾 ・Taro ・Shiitake mushrooms (grown on logs) ・Potatoes🥔 ・New onions🧅 ・Tomatoes (Aiko, cherry) ・Broccoli🥦 ・Green peppers ・Beni Haruka sweet potato ・Ponkan ・Mandarins🍊 (bagged) ・Lettuce (Sunny) 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche Date: Sunday, February 8, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM Location: Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Products Hall facility, 4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)

Photographed on February 1, 2014. This is the quiche plate from LEC COFFEE. It features a spinach, chicken, and basil quiche, homemade pork ham with salad, a white vegetable potage, and homemade bread. The basil gives off a lovely aroma. 😊

Snowplow Dozer Arrives Around 4 a.m. on a winter morning. When I hear a loud "peep, peep!" I groggily think, so much snow has fallen. That loud sound is the warning signal a snowplow sounds when reversing. On days when snow piles up heavily, snowplows start working before dawn. By the time many people head to school or work, both the road and the sidewalks have been cleared and look tidy. The other day, during the daytime, a snowplow dozer came to the parking lot of the tourist information center the Rizumu. Because the parking spaces were smaller than usual, we asked them to trim down the snowbanks a bit, and they came the next day. Snow removal vehicles come in various sizes, but this snowplow dozer was very large! The bucket on the front was big enough for an adult to lie down in. The snowplow itself looked cool, (just being a large vehicle gets you excited) and the operator who handles such heavy machinery looks cool too. What would have taken half a day with shovels the snowplow handled smoothly in about an hour. With the parking area widened, parking and turning became easier and driving more comfortable. - In a post by Takinoe Biyori, an account that shares life with people from the neighboring Takinoue Town, their coverage of the town’s snow removal center explains the snow-clearing system in detail. It was interesting to read about how they use technology to check summer roads and how snow-removal contractors coordinate with each other. - Thank you to the snow-clearing crews who support a safe, comfortable life in winter. #snow removal #snowplow dozer

Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival 2026 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture The highlight of the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival is the dance offerings and bean-throwing performed by geiko and maiko from the hanamachi. At Yasaka Shrine’s Setsubun Festival, the bean-throwing is done with participants calling only “Fuku wa uchi” (good fortune in). This tradition stems from the belief that no oni (demons) reside within the shrine grounds, so there is no need to shout “Oni wa soto” (demons out). Dance offerings and bean-throwing: From four hanamachi—Pontocho Kabukai, Miyagawacho Kabukai, Gion Kobu Kabukai, and Gion Higashi Kabukai—beautiful geiko and maiko present gagaku and imayo performances, followed by bean-throwing. The fortune beans (offering fee 300 yen) distributed at Yasaka Shrine’s Setsubun Festival always include a raffle ticket that guarantees a prize, making them extremely popular each year. Offering fee: 300 yen No blanks in the raffle (everyone wins something) Raffle draws take place on the spot at the raffle venue Items distributed: fortune beans, skewered talismans, and other festival-limited offerings. Some fortune beans include a prize raffle ticket. After the dances end, geiko, maiko, and men and women born in the zodiac year corresponding to Setsubun toss beans from the Maiden stage. This moment offers the only chance to receive fortune beans handed directly to you. The area in front of the Maiden stage fills with excitement, and the shrine’s atmosphere transforms into the lively buzz of a true Setsubun festival.

Lake Tanuki in Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture Mount Fuji around 5:00 PM on January 31 Bathed in the setting sun, the lake’s surface was relatively calm and the reflections were beautiful. It’s the classic upside-down Mount Fuji scene that makes you want to take a photo.

Photographed on January 31, 2014. This is the hanatemizu (flower water basin) at the omikuji distribution booth of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Event Announcement 📣 On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Memuro Town’s big winter event, Ice Candle Night, welcomes visitors 😊 About 2,500 ice candles will light up Meimuro Park, creating a soft, glowing atmosphere 😍 The venue offers a variety of attractions, including Tokachi Pro Wrestling, a strike-out game, footbaths, and handheld fireworks. Fireworks will be launched from 7:30 PM to brighten the winter night sky ✨ Enjoy a space shaped by winter’s cold, where beautiful ice and warm light come together 🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1:30 PM–8:30 PM 📍Location: Meimuro Park 📞Contact: Memuro Town Roadside Station TEL: 0155-66-6522 https://town.tonxton.com/event/hyotoya2026/...

Teshikaga Town Public Hall Presents How to Enjoy Teshikaga’s Starry Sky 13th Session: “Learn About the Total Lunar Eclipse!” — Join us🔭🌕 A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3. To mark this event, we will learn about total lunar eclipses and, if the sky is clear, observe the phenomenon together! How to Enjoy Teshikaga’s Starry Sky consists of a lecture to deepen your knowledge of Teshikaga’s night sky plus a segment on current astronomy topics. Let’s enjoy the magnificent starry sky together🌌 For details, please check the February issue of Teshikaga Public Relations. We look forward to many people joining us🌟

📝♨️ Hot Spring Website "From the Information Dispatch Office" Updated📝🆙 Notice from the Tourism and Commerce Division, Kawayu Onsen District Improvement Office: We will hold an open-house style briefing on the reorganization and redevelopment of the Kawayu Onsen district. The event will take place at Kawayu Furusato Kan on March 1 and March 2. Please feel free to drop by!

In February, the spring-blooming bai-kaouren flowers reached their peak for viewing and photography.

The judging meeting for the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest was held ✨ The winners will be announced in mid-February. Stay tuned for the results 🏆📸

"Come to Miyoshi Town and stop by ‘Yorinsai♪’" Let us introduce Yorinsai, a diner on Miyoshi-machi Ishidatami Street. The name uses a dialect often heard in Miyoshi. It means "feel free to drop in." 😊 This cozy spot welcomes not only locals but also visitors touring the area.✨ It is run by members of the Miyoshi City Silver Human Resources Center. The menu features home-cooked set meals, noodles, and prepared dishes made largely with seasonal vegetables from Miyoshi. Daily side dishes offer a comforting, nostalgic home-cooked taste.😋 Child-friendly tableware is available, and on sunny days the outdoor tables are recommended. The signature "Spicy Udon" is a one-of-a-kind creation born from a collaboration with Egusa Store.✨ Its vivid red broth leaves a strong impression, with savory flavor and lingering heat. Orders are taken by hand and payment is cash only. 💰 "You may have to wait a little sometimes, but we do our best—relax and take your time." Warm, personal interactions between people are a special part of this place’s charm.😊 "Hearing customers say, ‘That was delicious! I’ll come again,’ is our greatest encouragement." This is a place where you can feel the warmth and spirit of the people of Miyoshi. When you visit Miyoshi Town, be sure to stop by Yorinsai! Yorinsai @yorinsai12_sc Address: 1550-2 Miyoshi-machi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture Open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday Hours: 10:00–14:00 Phone: 0824-63-8500 Other: Payment is cash only. *The dishes shown were available at the time of posting."

Spinning Yarn from Wool Ski classes have also started in Nishiokoppe Village and it has become an even more enjoyable season for outdoor play in the snow. (At the same time, the cold grows severe, and we also face a season of heavy snow.) How do you spend your time at home these days? Lately, I have been spinning yarn from wool. A local dairy farmer in Nishiokoppe Village raises sheep, and because there is so much fleece, they asked if I would join them in spinning. 🐑🐑🐑 First, I wash the fleece again and again to remove dirt like dung and straw clinging to it. At this stage the wool is fluffy and full of mats, so it is hard to pull out the fibers; I use a tool called a carder to loosen the wool and make it soft and airy. I am very grateful that an acquaintance does all these pre-spinning steps for me… The blue fleece in the photos was dyed by that acquaintance. They grew indigo leaves for dyeing and gave the wool a pale sky-blue tint. 🐑🐑🐑 Now, at last, I begin spinning the yarn. At my friend’s house there was a spinning wheel where you pedal to twist and wind the yarn. It pulls fibers from the fluffy mass thinner and thinner, twisting them as it winds. You control the winding speed with the pedal, but if drawing out the fibers lags, the yarn can become overtwisted and the process fails. So I decided to spin using a tool called a spindle. You hook the drawn-out thin fibers on the top hook and set the spindle on the floor like a top; just give it a spin and the wool fibers twist into yarn. When I have spun yarn as far as my arm can reach, I wind the twisted yarn onto the shaft and continue spinning from there. 🐑🐑🐑 Round and round, twist and twist. If I move my hands while watching dramas or anime, the time flies by. By the way, if you hang the spun yarn on the wall with a weight attached overnight, the twist won’t come undone. This is how the balls of yarn you see at craft shops are made. Today I shared one moment of my time at home. I’m thinking about what to knit with the yarn I spun… When the knitted item is finished, I’ll let you know again. #sheep #wool #indigo dye

【✨Spectacular View from Omachi Park 🏔️】 On February 4, the first day of spring in the traditional calendar, the Northern Alps were visible beautifully from many spots across the city area 🏔️ So we headed to Omachi Park, a small hilltop park on the city’s east side. Omachi Park is an easy-to-reach scenic spot by car ✨ With no obstructions, you can take in a sweeping view of the town and the snow-capped Northern Alps 😊 If you happen to be nearby, this is a view you should enjoy ✨ ⭐️For more details about Omachi Park, see below 🔽🔽🔽 https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/omachipark/...

[Isehara Setsubun Festival] Yesterday, February 3rd, Setsubun festivals were held at various locations throughout Isehara City. As a traditional event to drive away evil spirits (oni) associated with illness and disaster and to pray for health and safety, the festivals drew many worshippers and became a lively, energetic day.

#021 [Tourist Spot Feature Part 4 ✨] Introducing one of Tsunocho’s landmarks, Roadside Station Tsuno! Roadside Station Tsuno sits along Route 10 in Tsunocho and buzzes with visitors every day. Look around the parking lot and you’ll be surprised to see mostly out-of-prefecture license plates on the cars and trucks. Although it fills with travelers and drivers, the station is actually still relatively new. Roadside Station Tsuno opened on July 31, 2013, the day before Tsuno Shrine Summer Festival, the town’s signature celebration. From the moment it opened, it welcomed many guests and contributed greatly to Tsunocho’s growth. Its location on National Route 10 helps draw crowds, but there are other reasons too. Those reasons are its low prices and its facilities. Roadside Station Tsuno has even ranked third in past Miyazaki Prefecture roadside station listings, a sign of its strong reputation. First, about the low prices: items are noticeably cheaper than usual. That’s because products come straight from local producers. Skipping middlemen lets vendors sell at lower prices. By the way, I also buy vegetables and fruit at Roadside Station Tsuno. Next, the facilities. While they haven’t changed much since opening, the station offers a well-equipped product area, a food court, an information and rest corner, a nursing room, and restrooms with diaper-changing stations. Having diaper-changing tables is especially helpful for families with young children. The information and rest corner holds flyers and posters about Tsunocho and attractions across the prefecture. In the food court you’ll find Fukuura Cafeteria, famous for its seafood bowls; Osuzu‑an, serving jidori chicken soba; Ichido ramen; and a soft-serve ice cream stand. I love ramen, so I often eat here. The product area is naturally very popular, offering seasonal vegetables and fruit. At this time of year you’ll see many mandarins, strawberries, and cabbage on display. Isn’t having well-equipped facilities something very important for visitors? Whether you’ve never been to Roadside Station Tsuno or you’ve visited before, please come and see it for yourself.

Photographed on January 31, 2014. These are the floral water displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

February 4th A snow moon two days late and MtJonen This morning in Azumino the sky was perfectly clear The moon setting behind MtJonen

February 3rd In the morning, snowflakes drifted over Azumino The sky cleared and the Northern Alps stretched into the distance as far as Hakuba The OitoLine runs toward Hakuba

The Karasukawa flows through Nagano Prefecture's Karasugawa Valley Green Space It carries snowmelt from Mt. Jonen in the Northern Alps As it flows, it nourishes Azumino

Sen'en Ridge (仙塩尾根), Minami Alps National Park, Japan

Ariakeyama Shrine sits on the foothills of the Northern Alps, venerating Mt. Ariake as its sacred mountain and serving as a village shrine rooted in mountain worship. It is also famous as a power spot. The Yumeimon Gate, adorned with carvings of the twelve zodiac animals, is splendid and designated as a tangible cultural property.

🌊 A new guesthouse is opening on Shimaura Island 🌊 On Shimaura Island, Miyazaki Prefecture’s only inhabited remote island, the local community has launched a new initiative, and a new guesthouse, Island Base Shimami, is opening 👏🏻 A guesthouse that closed about 15 years ago has been renovated to make it easier for individuals and groups to stay. Future guests will be able to enjoy island specialties such as sea bream and greater amberjack, as well as ingredients from the newly started oyster farming, at this accommodation. To celebrate the opening, the following event will be held. 📅 Opening Commemoration Event Date and time: Saturday, February 7, 10:15–11:00 Venue: Guesthouse Island Base Shimami next to Island Park (616-1 Shimaura-cho) 🎉 Program ・Greeting by the Mayor of Miura ・Guesthouse tour and explanation of accommodation options ・Mochi-throwing and candy-throwing ・Distribution of original coffee drip bags Anyone may attend, so if you are interested, please come and join us 😊 Also, to cover part of the costs for refurbishing the guesthouse, a crowdfunding campaign is currently underway. Please check the following page for details. https://camp-fire.jp/projects/902085/view...

Photographed on January 31, 2014. This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

From February 7th to March 14th, Yoritomo Cherry Blossom and bamboo light displays will begin at Sakuma Dam Lake. The bamboo lights cast a magical glow over the Yoritomo Cherry Blossom. We hope many people will come to see it. On the opening day, February 7th, a sweet sake stall is scheduled to open around 3:00 PM.

Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival 2026 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture The highlight of the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival is the dance offerings and bean-throwing performed by geiko and maiko from the hanamachi. At the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival, beans are thrown with participants shouting only “Fuku wa uchi” (Good fortune in). This stems from the belief that no oni (demons) exist within the shrine grounds, so there is no need to chant “Oni wa soto” (Demons out). Dance offerings and bean-throwing: From the four hanamachi—Pontocho Kabukai Association, Miyagawacho Kabukai, Gion Kobu Kabukai, and Gion Higashi Kabukai—beautiful geiko and maiko present gagaku and imayo performances, followed by bean-throwing. The fukumame (lucky beans) distributed at the Yasaka Shrine Setsubun Festival (offering fee 300 yen) always come with a raffle ticket that guarantees a prize, making them very popular each year. Offering fee: 300 yen No blank tickets (every ticket wins something) You can draw your prize on the spot at the raffle venue Items distributed: Fukumame, skewer talismans, and other Setsubun festival–exclusive items. Some fukumame include raffle tickets for prizes. After the dances finish, geiko, maiko, and men and women born in the Year of the current zodiac will throw beans from the Maiden stage. The chance to be handed fukumame directly by hand occurs only at this moment. The front of the Maiden stage fills with excitement, and the shrine grounds take on the lively atmosphere typical of a Setsubun festival.

Event Announcement📣 The 7th Shimizu Shakkoi Festival will be held🎵 This year we plan to bring back the ever-popular Snow Treasure Hunt game and candy toss😊 There will also be festival stalls offering target shooting and raffle draws, plus food trucks😍 We promise a fun day and look forward to welcoming everyone🤗 🔶Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 🔶Time: 9:30 AM–3:00 PM (canceled in severe weather) 🔶Venue: Shimizu Central Park and Shimizu Town Cultural Center 📞Inquiries: 0156-62-2208 (Shimizu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry) https://www.town.shimizu.hokkaido.jp/section/08/details/post_75.html...

Junzo Pre-Event "PRE Junzo" ❚ Held on February 14, 2026 "PRE Junzo" will take place in front of JR Oita Station in Oita City, Oita Prefecture. This special event offers a chance to sample the renowned sake from Bungoono City’s breweries all at once in front of JR Oita Station, ahead of the main event, the 15th Bungo-Ono Junzo, held in Bungoono City. It’s a perfect opportunity to casually compare local sake you rarely encounter. It’s ideal for those who have never tried Bungoono’s sake or want to learn more. In addition to enjoying Bungoono’s sake and shochu, vendors will offer delicious snacks that pair well with the drinks. PRE Junzo lets you taste Bungoono’s delicious offerings a little earlier. We sincerely look forward to your attendance. Date and Time: Saturday, February 14, 2026, 2:00 PM–6:00 PM *Registration is open until 5:30 PM Location: JR Oita Station Plaza https://sato-no-tabi.jp/news/20260116event-bungoono/...