Photographed on December 20, 2025. This is the TATSUMI special from Udon Tatsumi. I’m touring tasty spots. 😊

Would you like to eat lotus while admiring the lotus flowers? We recommend the local specialty “hasu udon,” a subtly green noodle made with lotus leaf. It has a faint lotus aroma, thin noodles, and a nice chew. Even if the heat has left you a bit drained this summer, you can slurp it down with ease!

#009 There are about 50 restaurants and confectionery shops in Tsunocho. This is the second installment of our gourmet series! Opened in May 2019, this udon shop has become popular even outside Tsunocho, and we would like to introduce it here. — Now firmly a "Tsuno specialty" — Hinoya Udon After exiting Tono IC on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, turn left at the first traffic light and go a short distance; you will see a sign reading "udon" on your left. That is Hinoya Udon, the shop featured this time. The parking lot is usually full at lunchtime. Here are Hinoya Udon’s recommended menu items, a lesser-known dessert, and advice on the best times to visit. ◆ Recommended menu (including my personal picks) 〇 Vegetable Tempura Bukkake Udon They source vegetables from Roadside Station Tsuno and directly from local farmers, so the vegetables are all from Tsunocho. The vegetables are sweet and the batter is crispy! It’s addictive!! 〇 Meat and Egg Bukkake Udon The simmered beef pairs perfectly with the broth and soft-boiled egg—really delicious!!! I recommend this to students and meat-udon lovers. By the way, it’s my personal favorite. (laughs) You can also enjoy seasonal choices like Ume Oroshi Bukkake Udon and cold Zaru Udon, as well as set menus combining udon and tempura. Now for a dessert that surprisingly many people don’t know about. It’s the homemade soy milk pudding. In fact, some customers come specifically for this pudding. I sometimes go just for it myself. But it tastes best after udon! Even the fact that it’s homemade makes it appealing. The pudding is topped with kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) and kinako (roasted soybean flour); its silky texture and gentle sweetness deliver a moving experience unlike any I have had before. I lived in Kagawa while at university, so I ate many firm, delicious udon dishes. However, Hinoya Udon’s noodles have good bite, and you can sense their dedication to the broth and ingredients. For me, Hinoya Udon is uniquely superb and the most delicious. I was impressed by the owner’s attention to detail and delicacy. If you stop by Tsunocho, be sure to come and try these exquisite udon. Finally, when is the best time to go? On weekdays, come right at opening or after 1:30 PM. Depending on the day, these times work best! On holidays, the shop is generally full! ◆ Shop information Hours 11:00 AM–2:30 PM Closed Tuesday (occasional irregular closures) ☎ 0983-32-8311 Instagram ⇒ @hinoyaudon

#007 [Tourist Spot Feature Part 1 ✨] Introducing Tsuno’s signature attraction, Tsuno Shrine, the primary shrine of Hyūga Province! We’ll do our best to make you want to visit! Beloved by townspeople as “Ichinomiya Shrine,” Tsuno Shrine plays an essential role in telling Miyazaki’s myths. I touched on Tsuno Shrine in #001, but there was still much I couldn’t cover and some parts I glossed over. Here I’ll offer a clear, inviting explanation to make you want to come. ◆Origin of the shrine’s name The name Hyūga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine comes from the tradition that Emperor Jimmu, six years before his enthronement, prayed here for peace across the land during his eastward journey and enshrined the deity. Hence it became an ichinomiya, the highest-ranked shrine of the province. Because the area now called Tsuno was once part of Hyūga Province, the shrine is revered as the province’s ichinomiya. This shrine is known as the most prestigious shrine in Hyūga Province. It thus became known specifically as Hyūga Province’s Ichinomiya, Tsuno Shrine, located in Tsuno Town. ◆Emperor Jimmu’s eastward journey Six years before becoming the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu is said to have stopped here during his eastward journey to pray for peace on land, calm seas, and continued military fortune. He reportedly sharpened arrows at Yatogi Falls on Mt. Osuzu before moving east. As mentioned in #003, the name Yatogi Falls comes from that episode. ◆Founding history According to old records, this shrine once stood as the foremost grand shrine of Hyūga Province, but during the Sengoku conflicts between the Shimazu and Otomo clans in the Tensho era, Otomo forces burned the shrine buildings, treasures, and ancient documents to ashes. The sacred object was spared after being evacuated to the foot of Mt. Osuzu. For many years after the conflict, no major rebuilding occurred and only a small shrine remained. In Genroku 5, Akizuki Tane-masa restored the shrine, and in Ansei 6 benefactors donated a new main hall. Later, as the buildings aged, the Gozouei Housankai (Shrine Reconstruction Support Association) was established in Heisei 14, and the current main shrine was completed on July 7, Heisei 19. ◆Divine virtues (goshintoku) The shrine enshrines Ōnamuchi no Mikoto. Ōnamuchi took many wives and fathered many children, and from this tradition he became revered as a deity of matchmaking and fertility. Because he established medical practices and helped many people, he is also venerated as a deity of medicine and recovery from illness. Together with Sukuna Hikona no Mikoto, he cooperated in nation-building, and so he is also worshipped as a patron of enterprise development and commercial prosperity. ◆How to properly tour Tsuno Shrine When visiting tourist spots and public facilities, please observe proper manners. - Tsuno Shrine has torii gates facing east and south. Most visitors enter through the south gate near Roadside Station Tsuno, but be sure to bow once before passing under any torii. - The center of the approach is the path for the kami; walk along the sides. - At the temizuya (purification fountain), cleanse your hands and mouth. Some may wonder why this is done, but it is preparation for entering a sacred space—a simplified form of the ancient rite of misogi. - Next, at the haiden (worship hall), perform two bows, two claps, and one bow. After that, it’s common to draw a fortune slip (omikuji) or buy an amulet and enjoy exploring. - In recent years, many visitors collect goshuin (red ink shrine stamps). I keep my goshuincho in the car. Tsuno Shrine is known for monthly limited goshuin designs. For example, March may feature illustrations for the Doll Festival, showing the imperial couple, and there are even designs limited to the first three days of the year. When the illustration changes each month, you’ll want to collect them all! - On the shrine grounds, there are objects to touch that are believed to grant blessings: statues connected to matchmaking and child blessings, Daikoku representing business success and child blessings, and a rabbit symbol for health and recovery. When you visit, be sure to give them a gentle rub. - In the parking area at Tsuno Shrine you’ll find Ichinomiya Shokudo, famous for udon and soba. After worshipping, eating udon before heading to the next sightseeing spot is a common choice. Even on weekdays, the restaurant can fill up. ◆Major festivals and events at Tsuno Shrine - Tsuno Shrine Summer Grand Festival (August 1–2) - Winter Reitaisai (early December) - Saitan-sai (New Year’s Day ceremony) (January 1) - Setsubun Tsuina ceremony (February 3) - Musubi Festival (early February) Tsuno Town offers many attractions, from well-known sights to spots only locals know. This time we introduced Hyūga Province’s ichinomiya, Tsuno Shrine. Next up is Tsuno Winery—stay tuned for the next post.

EVERYONE WHO WATCHES COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! How do you do! It is a Sakaki Town Tourist Association. Nagano Prefecture Hanishina District Sakaki Town is located Oyster Northern part Nagano Prefecture and is a Rich in nature area that stretches along the Chikuma River. With a population of about 14,000 people (as of 2024), it is There is a between Nagano City and Ueda City, and is known as an easy town to live in due to its convenient transportation. We will Broadcasting Tourist Information full of charm of Sakaki Town in Hanishina District, Nagano Prefecture on COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, so thank you! ■What is Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture? Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture, where history and tradition are alive, is dotted with sightseeing spots such as the famous castle "Katsurao Castle Ruins" of the Sengoku period and the "Sakaki Chikuma River Roses Park" where beautiful roses bloom, and you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. In addition, Gourmet unique to Sakaki Town such as the famous "Nezumi daikon radish" and "Oshibori udon" are also attractive. In addition, there is also the "Iron Exhibition Hall", which is also known as the "town of swordsmiths" and is the only permanent exhibition hall of Japan swords in the prefecture. ■Access to Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture Access to Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture is good, and you can get there smoothly from Tokyo Central Tokyo. Use the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Ueda Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, or transfer to the Shinano Railway and arrive at Sakaki Station in about 15 minutes. Use by Car will take the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Joshinetsu Expressway from Tokyo in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. ■Historical background of Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture is known as the site of Katsurao Castle, where Takeda Shingen and Yoshikiyo Murakami fought fierce battles during the Sengoku period. In addition, in the Edo period, it developed as an important place for transportation, and agriculture utilizing the Chikuma River basin was also actively carried out. Even now, it is popular with many history buffs as a town with many historical sites where you can feel the history. ■Popular Sightseeing spots in Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture ・Sakaki Chikuma River Roses Park Sakaki Chikuma River Roses Park is a beautiful park with 2,300 roses of about 330 species. Located along the Chikuma River, you can enjoy colorful roses from Spring to autumn. Best time to visit around May ~ June, and many tourists visit. Promenade surrounded by roses is maintained in the park, and you can enjoy the Aroma while taking a leisurely stroll. Held in the Rose Festival from late May to early June every year, where rose saplings are sold and Local Specialty products are Stalls. ・Katsurao Castle Ruins Katsurao Castle Ruins, which was the residence of Yoshikiyo Murakami during the Warring States period, is located on a mountain 800m Elevation and has a superb view overlooking Ueda City and Chikuma River Spot. There are traces of stone walls and Earthen mound on the Ruins of the Castle, and you can feel the history. Mountain trails are maintained, and you can experience history while enjoying Hiking. ・Bingushiyu-san It is a One Day Hot Spring with various indoor baths, various open-air baths, exercise baths, large halls, etc. Spring quality is widely applied to neuralgia, muscle pain, Relief from fatigue, etc. From the open-air bath overlooking Sakaki Town, there is a superb panorama! There is also a Shokudo and a shop, and it is popular as a hot spring facility where you can spend a relaxing time. ・Sakashiro Shrine In the 1350 years since its founding, Izumo Taisha has held a festival to the god of the great country lord, and has received many prayers as the god of Marriage. As one of the largest Izumo Taisha shrines in eastern Japan, the shrine Precincts boast a majestic sanctuary and are popular with prayer visitors as a power spot. ・Manzenji Temple Manzenji Temple is a historic temple located in Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture, and is also known as the ruins of the ancestral residence of the Village Kami clan known for the warring states Warlord Yoshikiyo Murakami, making it an interesting Spot for history buffs. ・Sakaki Town Iron Exhibition Hall Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture is known as the "Town of Sword Makers", and the "Sakaki Town Iron Exhibition Hall" is a facility where the works of the human national treasure Miyairi Ikihei swordsmith born in Sakaki Town and the works of Miyairi Ichimon who inherited the tradition are exhibited. There are plenty of Japanese swords and armor on display, and you can see the art of Swordsmithing up close. Elaborate special exhibitions are held throughout the year, and gallery talks and Japan sword care experiences are also held. ■ Gourmet specialty products of Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture ・Nezumi daikon radish The Specialty products of the Sakaki Town, "nezumi daikon radish", has a shape of a lower bulge and a thin, long root like a mouse Traditional Japanese straw raincoat tail, and its taste is characterized by a faint sweetness after spiciness. "oshibori udon", which is made with grated radish Squeezed Juice, is popular as a Local cuisine of Local. ・Oshibori udon noodles Oshibori udon is a local cuisine in which Udon noodles are eaten by dissolving miso paste in the Squeezed Juice of Nezumi Daikon Radish to make a Dipping Sauce. It is characterized by its spiciness and sweetness that you can feel faintly afterwards, and it is a delicious taste that you will become addicted to once you eat it. ■Traditional crafts of Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture ・Shinshu Kumiko Woodcraft Certified as a traditional craft in Nagano Prefecture in 2019, "Shinshu Kumiko Woodcraft" is a traditional craft that combines wood to create delicate patterns. In Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture, this technique is still passed down to this day, and exquisitely crafted works are made. ■Events and Festivals in Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture ・Sakaki Hina Dolls The Sakaki Hina Dolls, which is Held in in February and March every year, is a Events where traditional Hina Dolls are exhibited. Hina dolls from the Edo period to the present day gather in one place. The venue is the Iron Exhibition Hall and the Sakaki-juku Furusato History Museum. ・Rose Festival Held in every year from late May to early June at Sakaki Chikuma River Roses Park, the Rose Festival sells rose seedlings and specialty products, Stalls at restaurants, and events.  ■Enjoy Enjoy sightseeing in Sakaki Town, Nagano Prefecture! Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture is a fascinating town full of history, nature, and traditional culture. Access is also good, and you can fully enjoy sightseeing, gourmet food, and events. Please come to Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture and experience the charm of Sakaki Town in Nagano Prefecture!

Photographed on January 3, 25. This is Udon noodles Tatsumi's COEDO bukkake. When it's cold, you want to eat Udon noodles.

Yesterday, when I was taking a walk in Kawagoe, I went to Tatsumi Udon noodles. I put hot Jade on the toriten bukkake. The ginger works and it's delicious.

Photographed 12/21/24. This is Udon noodles Tatsumi's COEDO bukkake. It is a soy sauce broth with pork and potato heaven. The kake Udon noodles were also delicious, but the bukkake Udon noodles were not too thick and tasted just right. Imo Heaven is also delicious. 😊🍠

Photographed 12/3/24. After the Tori no Ichi market at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine, we visited Tatsumi of Udon noodles. Kitsune Udon noodles and Toriten. It's refreshing and delicious.

Photographed 11/9/24. This is Tatsumi Udon noodles's TATSUMI Special Pole. It contains toriten and pork, and it is gorgeous. The noodles are also firm and and very tasty. 😊 The noodles, dashi, and tempura are all prepared in the store.

Visited 10/24/24. Near Hon-Kawagoe Station, we visited the Pre-opening of Tatsumi Udon noodles. It is Udon noodles + toriten. Both Udon noodles and toriten are very delicious. 😊

At the beginning of June the wheat fields that were still green turn golden, and harvest is about to begin. Otofuke, Japan’s top wheat-producing town. After the harvest, straw rolls rise up in the fields to become beds for cows. The harvested wheat is reborn as delicious bread and udon. Tokachi is full of excellent bakeries and pastry shops. Prices are very reasonable, with bread in the 100-yen range and cakes in the 200-yen range. Seeing the crops being grown like this naturally brings a feeling of gratitude for the food we eat.

Udon noodles in Yamadaya.

On the final day of our trip we were a bit tired but still wanted to see a few things and just casually enjoy our time. We ended up going to Marugame Castle as our first destination. It was really cool as it's one of the 12 castles in Japan that still has an original castle keep. The castle itself isn't very large, but the area surrounding it is. From the bottom of the castle the keep is quite small so it's hard to get a good photo of it, but we got a photo of it with one of the turrets along the moat wall which was cool. We reserved a rickshaw ride the previous night as well so when we got to the castle we did a little exploring and then we went on a guided tour around the lower area of the castle. The rickshaw guide was a really nice guy and quite funny as well. Apparently he was a comedian but he enjoyed doing this job as well. He told us a bunch of different things about the castle and it's construction while also telling some jokes occasionally. After the rickshaw tour we climbed our way up to the top of the castle and there were saw really amazing views waiting for us at the top. You could see the entire city almost. We also entered the castle keep, but it was relatively small. It was still nice to see the architecture on the inside but the stairs were a bit scary. They were incredibly steep and I was holding the handrails the entire time going up or down them. After checking out the castle we were pretty hungry and so we decided to get some lunch. Being Kagawa is the udon prefecture we went to an udon specialty restaurant. I haven't been to many udon restaurants so it was kind of a new experience for me. They had it set up kind of like a cafeteria and you go through and choose what you want and other toppings to go with your udon. I didn't see the trays for the extra toppings so I just ended up putting the karaage on top of my udon lol. I got niku udon and it tasted really good. The karaage was a nice touch as well. Not the usual tempura most people get but it went surprisingly well with the soup. After eating we headed towards Nakazu Banshoen, a garden with art exhibits as well. Before getting there we decided to stop by a Lupin-themed cafe though. It was a really tiny shop but we were able to cool off for a bit and relax which was nice since we were walking quite a bit. The garden was quite large and had a lot of different points of interest within it. The stepping stones were fun to cross and the row of torii gates was pretty cool as well. You can definitely take some nice photos with them. And that concludes our trip to Takamatsu! Overall it was a really fun trip and I definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn't been to Shikoku or Kagawa before. We didn't even get to do everything we were looking at but we still had a blast!

Was nice weather over the weekend so I did a little exploring. Found this nice little temple near the Sumida River called Hozoin Temple 寳蔵院 in Arakawa. I wasn't sure where exactly I was allowed to go inside the temple, and I didn't have much time anyways, so I just took a peak through the gates and snapped a photo. It was a really quaint place and apparently it has some landscape paintings and itabi tablets. From what I saw, it looked like there was a garden across the ground. Maybe a rock garden or something of the sort, I wasn't able to get a good look at it though. The area around the temple was the hunting grounds of the Tokugawa Shogunate as well it seems. Pretty amazing to imagine there was enough greenery in the area to hunt in the past. Also managed to stop by a nice udon/soba restaurant for lunch. It was called Sunaba 砂場 I believe. I ordered the kamo duck nanban udon and it tasted great. Haven't had duck in a while, but it's always a treat. The lady taking orders was really nice as well. Overall a great place!

Went to Hanaya Yohei, a restaurant near Oku Station and ordered the Miso-Nikomi Udon. It tasted pretty good and cost less than ¥1000 yen. I'd like to go back as the atmosphere of the restaurant was quite nice and it seemed like there was a lot of different menu items to try. I'd walked past the restaurant so many times in the past, and just never had the opportunity to go in until now. Overall it was a pretty good place and even though it seemed like there was a lot of people we got seated instantly which was nice.

Location: Udon restaurant in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. Sanuki udon with anmochi. Especially in the eastern part of Kagawa Prefecture, there is a custom of eating white miso zoni with bean cake on New Year's Day. You can also enjoy Sanuki udon with anmochi as a New Year's udon.

Tried a new tsuyu again lol. A spicy flavor this time. It’s not as spicy as it looks actually, just the right level of spicy. The tsuyu was 赤から apparently from Nagoya. Goes great with udon too. Tasted really good

Japanese dining table. It's hard to go out to eat in Coronavirus pandemic, so I'm immersed in the feeling of eating out with my own food. Bukkake udon noodles today. Since it's my home, I can do as many toppings as I want.

The so-called Musashino udon. Udon has been eaten since ancient times in the Musashino Plateau area that stretches from the Tama area in northwestern Tokyo to the western part of Saitama Prefecture. The texture is strong and lumpy.

Mimiu's udon hot ball was the best 🤤 with udon ❤️ noodles and soup stock.

When it comes to Shikoku, it's Sanuki udon! I went to Kagawa prefecture to eat Sanuki udon. When driving around Kagawa Prefecture, you can really see only udon restaurants. This time I went to the Yamada house in Yaguri. It appears in Hiroshi Oizumi's representative work "How about Wednesday" and is an udon restaurant that is said to be a sacred place. I ordered bukkake udon 350 yen, but the authentic Sanuki udon and thin transparent soup stock are the best 😃. When visiting Sanuki udon in Kagawa, it is convenient to go by car or rental car.