A bustling trip to Osaka led me to choose a solitary escape. After an hour and a half, I arrived at the sparsely populated Hayashisaki-Matsue Coast. The autumn breeze was cool, and the waves gently lapped at the shore. Standing alone in the vastness of nature, I listened to the sound of the sea and watched the sunset paint the surface of the water in endless shades of gold and red. In that moment, loneliness transformed from a sense of isolation into a gentle dialogue with my own soul, bringing immense comfort.

The Kawayu Marche has successfully concluded! 🥔♨️ Here is a photo report of the "6th Kawayu Marche" held in front of EZO HOUSE at Kawayu Onsen on Saturday, October 10, 2026! The event featured gourmet food, drinks, Kawayu Bayashi (local festival music), game tournaments, and handheld fireworks, providing fun for both children and adults. It was a great success! 🪅 See you again next year! Stay tuned.

Taken on October 10, 2014. This is the hanatemari (flower ball) at the chozuya (water basin) of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on October 10, 2014. This is the flower water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

This is a poppy flower I received from my senior, as they are moving to Kyoto. It's wonderfully beautiful and delicate. I've heard it's a handmade artificial flower made by their wife. Just looking at it soothes my heart.

October 11, 2026, Hitachi Seaside Park Red kochia and yellow cosmos against a blue sky. Colorful flower seedlings were planted along the pathways, making the scenery very beautiful.

Taken on October 3, 2026. This is the flower water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

"Journey to Read the Land of Saijo" Participants Wanted Saijo City is actually a "treasure trove of terrain." In this walking tour, we will explore the areas of Furuta, Kusunokigawa, and Teizui with a professional guide. Before us lies a landscape of mountains, rivers, rice fields, and villages. When we focus on the terrain and geology, we start to wonder, "Why did a village form here?" and "How did this landscape come to be?" This leads to new discoveries. Using the terrain as a clue, we will unpack the history of the land, the lives of the people who have lived there, and the culture rooted in the region. When you "walk with knowledge," the scenery of the town becomes much more interesting. Why not come and walk, see, and feel the hidden charms of Saijo? The familiar scenery will start to look a little different. "Journey to Read the Land of Saijo" ◯ Travel Fee 5,000 yen (tax included) per person *Monitor price. We kindly ask for your cooperation in answering a survey after the tour. Includes professional guide, chartered bus, and Setouchi meal for lunch. ◯ Date Wednesday, November 4, 2026 ◯ Time 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM *Gathering and registration at Saijo City Tourism Exchange Center at 8:35 AM. ◯ Capacity 40 people, first come first served. ◯ Itinerary Saijo City Tourism Exchange Center (9:00 AM) = Furuta District = (View of Saijo's townscape and fault line cliff from Konsen-ji) Qkamura Setouchi Toyo Seaside Campsite (granite sandy beach and coastal vegetation) = Qkamura Setouchi = (Setouchi meal for lunch) Daimyojin River = (a river with overhead railway tracks) Kusunokigawa District = (spring water from Usui Daishi-dō associated with Kōbō Daishi legend) Teizui District = (Uchinuki from Meisui Hyakusen, Shikoku's Largest Estuarine Tidal Flat, and tidal flat creatures) Saijo City Tourism Exchange Center (4:00 PM) ◯ Inquiries and Reservations General Incorporated Association Saijo City Tourism and Products Association Ehime Prefecture Registered Travel Agency No. 3-201 Registration Number: 1500005007749 798-1 Omachi, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, 793-0030 TEL 0897-56-2605 FAX 0897-47-3733

On October 8th, we held a flower watching tour at Kamegamori. Under clear skies ☀️, everyone was able to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Ishizuchi Mountain Range in autumn. This year's final schedule is the 21st, and we are fully booked. Thank you very much. We plan to hold this event again next year. We look forward to your applications.

This is a photo I selected from my photo album, inspired by the theme of a photo contest titled "Autumn in Japan." The photo has not been edited. It is a beautiful picture of autumn flowers that I took at Jindaiji in Chofu City, Tokyo Metropolis. Jindaiji is a wonderful place rich in nature, known for its delicious soba, and it even offers pottery experiences (painting, bisque firing, and items can be taken home the same day). Soba manju and dumplings are also delicious. For someone like me who loves nature, art, and food culture, it is a place full of memories.

【Reihoku Sunset Marche】Announcement for October📣 Hello everyone! Here is the announcement for the "Reihoku Sunset Marche" happening in October!♪ 👀Highlights of this Sunset Marche👀 ❣The "Reihoku Sunset Marche" will feature local agricultural products, processed goods, and side dishes from Reihokumachi. This time, we will have rice, mandarins, and seasonal delicacies like sweet potatoes available! We look forward to seeing you all😊 Don't forget to bring your own bag🛍✨ 【Items for Sale】 ・Asparagus ・Asparagus Chiffon ・Okra ・Rice🌾 ・Side Dishes ・Oregano ・Water Spinach ・Chestnut Chiffon ・Sweet Potatoes🍠 ・Shishito Peppers ・Zucchini ・Climbing Spinach ・Flowers ・Bread ・Shiso Leaves ・Bell Peppers🫑 ・Bagged Mandarins ・Purple Chili Peppers ・Molokhia ・Boiled Peanuts🥜 ・Lettuce🥬 ・Roselle ・Late Rice (5kg), (10kg) 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche 【Date】Sunday, October 11th, from 1 PM to 3 PM 【Location】Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Tourist Information Center) (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihokumachi)

Photographed on October 3, 26. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on October 3, 2026. This is the flower handwashing at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

The higanbana of the tranquil forest. I felt the autumn as I was drawn to his passionate nature.

Taken on October 19, 25. It's the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. This is the float of Konohanasakuya-hime from Kishimachi 2-chōme visiting Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. The little photographer is adorable. I'm looking forward to this year's Kawagoe Festival.

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, the Bungo Inukai Fireworks Festival 2026 was held at Ono River Riverside Park in Inukai Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture. The venue was lively with food stalls, creating a festive atmosphere as everyone awaited the fireworks. At 7:20 PM, approximately 3,000 fireworks lit up the night sky of Inukai, known as the birthplace of Bungo fireworks. Cheers erupted from the audience as they watched the fireworks up close. ■■Access to the center of Bungoono City from Fukuoka Prefecture and Kumamoto Prefecture■■■ About 3 hours by car from JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture. About 2 hours by car from JR Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto Prefecture. About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture. About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station in Oita Prefecture. ■■■■■■■■■■■■ Introducing recommended spots for tourism in Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. ■■■■■■■■■■■■

Standing in the middle of the breathtaking red carpet of Hitachi Seaside Park, this scene felt almost unreal to me. Thousands of vibrant red Kochia bushes stretch across the landscape like a vast crimson ocean, with little touches of green and golden brown creating a beautiful natural texture. What caught my eye most was the single girl walking quietly among the red bushes. Surrounded by such an enormous sea of color, she looked so small and peaceful, almost as if she were part of the landscape itself. Her solitary presence gave the photograph a sense of calm, loneliness, and poetry. I took this photograph myself, and capturing this moment was deeply emotional for me. I remember being completely absorbed by the beauty in front of me—the endless red, the gentle pathways, and that one solitary figure moving through the flowers. For a moment, everything felt still, and I felt incredibly lucky to witness and preserve such a beautiful scene.

Red spider lilies in Yasuragi no Hayashi Yasuragi no Hayashi, Motosu City, Gifu Prefecture September 2026

The name "Sui Fuyou" comes from the flower's colors resembling a person who is drunk from alcohol. It blooms white in the morning and gradually changes to a pale pink, then to a deeper pink and a color close to red as time passes. It is characterized by the way a single flower changes and withers within a day.

At the National Alps Azumino Park, 130,000 cosmos flowers are in full bloom in the Rural Culture Zone of Horigane and Hotaka District 🌸 Cosmos, a symbol of autumn, can be enjoyed here with popular varieties like "Double Click" and "Seashell" in a 3,300 m² flower bed 😄 ◇Location: Rural Culture Zone, Terraced Fields Flower Bed ◇Scale: 11 varieties, 130,000 flowers, 3,300 m² ◇Best Viewing Period: Late September to Late October

The flower fields blooming at Alps Azumino National Government Park Horigane-Hotaka District😀 The 2026 Autumn Flower Garden is currently being held🌸 Featuring five varieties of flowers, including salvia and gomphrena, in the autumn flower bed❗️ ◇Location: Den'en Bunka Zone Hotaka-guchi Flower Bed ◇Planting scale: 30,000 plants, 2,000㎡ ◇Planting varieties: Salvia, Blue Salvia, Gomphrena, Kochia, Lemon Bright ◇Best viewing period: Late September to mid-October We hope you visit!

This afternoon, the sunlight is gentle as I stroll along the rice paddies, only to realize that autumn has quietly arrived. The rice in the fields hangs low with plump ears, a sea of gold undulating in the wind, rustling softly as if whispering the labor and harvest of this season. The red spider lilies by the field are in full bloom, their vibrant petals curling outward, and the slender stamens resembling flames. It is said that these flowers bloom just in time around the autumn equinox, like a reminder of the season, signaling that harvest time has come. On the way home, the pomegranate tree in the neighbor's yard is laden with fruit, some already split open, revealing translucent red seeds that look like little gems. Further ahead, the branches of the olive trees are also heavy with green fruits, some already showing a hint of purple. These crops and flowers deeply evoke the rhythm of nature. Behind every fruit lies the patience and waiting of time. Life is similar; as long as you cultivate with care, your own autumn harvest will surely come.

A little early Halloween shoot 🎃 I took photos at the Setagaya Tamagawa Fireworks Festival yesterday 📷 I wanted to cherish the world and atmosphere of the photos, so I bought various props, haha A stained glass-like umbrella, lanterns, and pumpkin lights. Combined with fireworks, it creates a slightly mysterious Halloween atmosphere. Choosing props and thinking about how to capture them is also part of the fun of shooting ☺️

Photographed on October 19, 2025. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The floats from Wakitamachi featuring Ieyasu, the float from Otemachi featuring Uzume, and the float from Kishimachi 2-chome featuring Konohanasakuya-hime are being pulled together.

【Delicious Autumn Marche】 How was your Silver Week? I enjoyed some delicious food at the Nishiokoppe Marche held at the Roadside Station "Kamu"! For two days, on September 20th and 21st, there were various food stalls and a children's festival, featuring locally grown vegetables from Nishiokoppe Village and used books for sale. The first thing I tried was tempura of yamabe and udon. The udon already had vegetable tempura on top, but adding the yamabe tempura made it even more satisfying. Then, I shared some Ezo deer balls with an acquaintance🤤 This dish contains stewed deer meat instead of octopus in takoyaki. It's a must-try for those who love flour-based foods. Next to that tent, I got souvenirs from the super ball scooping and candy fishing. At the vegetable sales booth, there were pumpkins, leeks, and many types of potatoes for sale. It was fun to imagine what they would taste like once cooked while choosing them. On the second day of the marche, the Meguru Honya Nekoze made its debut with used book sales, making it a lively autumn marche📖 Although there were times when it rained heavily, thank you to everyone who came out. We look forward to seeing you at next year's spring marche! #Nishiokoppe Village #Marche #Kamu #Roadside Station #Stalls

Introducing recommended autumn foliage spots for 2026🍁 〈Don't forget to tap the "save mark" if you want to revisit later!〉 1. Kagami Pond (Togakushi) 【Best Viewing Period】Mid-October to Late October 【Entrance Fee】Free 【Parking】50 cars *Traffic regulations may be enforced during the autumn foliage season. *For details, please check the Togakushi Tourism Association website. 2. Kiyomizudera (Wakaho) 【Best Viewing Period】Early November to Late November 【Entrance Fee】Free for the precinct 【Parking】30 cars Many maple trees are planted along the approach, creating a vibrant display of colorful foliage. 3. Zenkoji Temple East Garden 【Best Viewing Period】Late October to Mid-November 【Entrance Fee】Free for the East Garden 【Parking】Paid parking available around Zenkoji Temple 4. Okususobana Nature Garden (Kinasa) 【Best Viewing Period】Late October to Early November 【Entrance Fee】200 yen for middle school students and older 【Parking】Available (300 cars, 25 large buses) Walking paths are also well-maintained. <Example Walking Course> ●Tourist Center ~ Rest House ~ Benten Island ~ Kichi Pond ~ Komihira Wetlands / About 2 hours *For details, please visit the Kinasa Tourism Promotion Association website. 5. Obo Pass (Kinasa) 【Best Viewing Period】Mid-October to Mid-November 【Entrance Fee】Free 【Parking】About 5 cars You can enjoy views of the Northern Alps and the legendary foliage of Ichiya Mountain, said to have been created by demons in a single night, along with the natural beauty of the hidden gem, Kinasa. 6. Lake Iizuna (Iizuna Highlands) 【Best Viewing Period】Mid-October to Early November 【Entrance Fee】Free You can enjoy the reflection of the autumn foliage of Mt. Iizuna on the water's surface. 7. Kumeji Gorge (Shinshu Shinmachi) 【Best Viewing Period】Late October to Early November 【Entrance Fee】Free 【Parking】About 5 cars The beautiful red colors of the foliage reflect on the water's surface, creating a picturesque scene. 8. Jozan Yamadera Historic Residence (Matsushiro) 【Best Viewing Period】Late October to Mid-November 【Entrance Fee】Free 【Parking】Zozan East Parking Lot (5-minute walk to Jozan Yamadera) 7 passenger cars and 7 large buses The foliage visible through the round window is very beautiful. The Nagano Tourism Convention Bureau website summarizes the autumn foliage conditions in Nagano City.

Taken on September 30, 2014. This is the Hanatemari at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine Office.

I took this photo at Kinchakuda Manjushage Park in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture. I visited to see the fields of Manjushage in full bloom. The shoot took place in the rain, creating a serene and rich autumn landscape with the red flowers, the wet ground, and the dark background of the trees, quite different from a sunny day. Not only did I capture the fully bloomed Manjushage, but I also intentionally included the fallen trees at my feet and the rain-soaked ground, encapsulating the quiet atmosphere I felt while standing there. I hope you can appreciate not just the splendor of the Manjushage, which represents autumn in Japan, but also its other, more subtle aspects.

Photographed on September 26, 2026. This is the flower water at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

It's autumn, isn't it? Plants must know the change of seasons. The three-colored spider lilies have bloomed.