Happy New Year from Gen at Shosenkyo Gorge. I look forward to your continued support this year. The 8th year of Reiwa has begun, and a week has already passed. The weather in Yamanashi’s Shosenkyo has been fine every day, with no snow, making for very pleasant days. Kanazakura Shrine, famous as the birthplace of crystal, has been welcoming visitors for New Year’s prayers from all over the country every day, creating a lively atmosphere. Kanazakura Shrine is also well known as a place to improve your financial luck. Why not pay a visit sometime? Gen has been open without a break since New Year’s Day on January 1st. We have also received a steady arrival of new power stones. If you have time, please feel free to drop by. All of our staff are sincerely looking forward to your visit.

Reihoku Sunset Marche — January Announcement📣 Happy New Year🎊 Our first announcement of the year is the Reihoku Sunset Marche in January♪ 👀 Highlights of this Sunset Marche 👀 ❣ At the Reihoku Sunset Marche, where agricultural products, processed goods, and prepared foods from Reihoku are sold, freshly shipped bagged mikan (tangerines) will be available this time 🍊 Please enjoy these seasonal farm products❣ We look forward to seeing you 😊 Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag🛍✨ Scheduled produce for sale: ・Aspara greens ・Cauliflower ・Turnips🫜 ・Pumpkin🎃 ・Cabbage ・Cucumbers🥒 ・Kale ・Rice🌾 ・Coral leaf feather ・Taro ・Sweet potatoes🍠 ・Potatoes🥔 ・Garland chrysanthemum (shungiku) ・Daikon radish ・Tomatoes (Aiko, cherry) ・Chinese cabbage ・Green peppers🫑 ・Broccoli🥦 ・Ponkan ・Mikan🍊 (bagged, boxed, bag-hung) ・Mizuna (Beni-hoshi variety) ・Lettuce (sunny, leaf) ・Welsh onion (single stalk) 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche Date: Sunday, January 11, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM Location: Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Local Products Center, 4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)

Yesterday it dropped to minus 26 degrees, so the water vapor in the air froze on the tree branches, creating beautiful hoarfrost. Hokkaido, Sarabetsumura.

Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Hokkaido It is a famous spot for photographing the red-crowned cranes.

A runway-like single road leading to MtJonen With its pyramidal shape, this beautiful peak is Azumino’s symbol!! A Northern Alps mountain that is unmistakable when viewed from Azumino

January 6th This morning in Azumino is clear and sharply cold Last night’s snowfall lightly dusted the countryside white The Northern Alps, lit by the morning sun, look magnificent!!

[About the operation of tourist and bathing facilities] Information on the New Year operating status of tourist and bathing facilities is available at the linked "Teshikaga Navi". Please note that hours and days of operation may differ from the usual schedule. Some bathing facilities may be temporarily closed, so we recommend contacting each facility directly before you go. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/20251226/...

At a quiet temple in Kawagoe, piles of weathered Daruma rest in one place, their wishes fulfilled. Each New Year, people return their old Daruma here, a ritual of gratitude and release. In the frame, an elderly woman gently places hers atop the others, bowing slightly—an act she learned as a child. Once, her parents brought her; later, she brought her children. The Daruma come and go, but the tradition remains, passed patiently from old to young, year after year. Location: Kitain temple, Kawagoe, Saitama.

Sun pillar and diamond dust at Kirigamine, Nagano Prefecture The 1/3 weather forecast predicted a temperature of −8°C and 80% humidity. Since snow had been forecast until 21:00 the night before, I thought it might appear and drove out. By the time I arrived at 21:00, the snow had already stopped, but a light dusting of powdery snow had settled. At 22:00 the car’s outside thermometer read −12°C, so I went to bed hoping the temperature would keep falling. I hiked 600 m along the snowy road from the parking lot to the shooting point just after 6:00 in the morning. The morning temperature was −12°C. Mount Fuji was clearly visible. There were clouds above Yatsugatake, but at 7:20 a sun pillar appeared above them. I silently wished for it to appear below as well, and from around 7:24 the diamond dust began to sparkle. The sun pillar lasted about 15 minutes, but the diamond dust continued to glitter afterward. I had visited several times last year without success, so I was delighted to see it this time.

Mount Fuji and morning mist This photo was taken at Lake Shojin at sunrise. I took it by chance on my first visit to see Mount Fuji! It looks like it will be a good year♪

Witnessing the first supermoon of 2026, I was unexpectedly lucky to see a plane crossing the radiant moon. it was a surreal moment that reminded me of how tiny our existence is in this vast galaxy, yet also how far we've come and how much further we'll go. happy new year! Location: Wakoshi, Saitama

Happy New Year. For Hokulea Shonan, this year is a year of “brush up.” We believe the future lies in steadily building careful work. We will further hone our skills and thinking, and bravely take on new challenges. We will not forget our gratitude to everyone who supports us, and we will continue to grow while honoring the sea and nature. We look forward to your continued support this year. Hokulea Shonan Representative Terushige Koike --- 🌈Hokulea Shonan is a diving shop in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Under the theme “Let’s set out for an unseen world!”, we offer experiences that let you discover the wonder and joy of nature through diving. We hold courses and tours year-round in Izu, Okinawa, and overseas. With small group sizes, beginners can join with confidence. We also respond flexibly to requests tailored to each person. Now, let’s set off together for a new world.

Melted Gouda cheese served right before your eyes 🧀 Thanks to the open kitchen, you can enjoy it freshly made. You may find yourself reaching for another plate… You might feel that way. Of course we offer Hokkaido’s signature soup curry. Kussharo Prince Hotel makes food as much a star as its natural setting. 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/kussharo_ph/...

New Year Greetings Happy New Year. We sincerely thank you for your warm support and cooperation in promoting the charms of Tsukigase over the past year. Tsukigase, which has grown alongside its plum trees, reveals a new face with each season and has nurtured itself as a countryside that quietly soothes the hearts of its visitors. This year as well, we hope it remains a place where nature and people live side by side and calm exchanges flourish. The annual Tsukigase Baikei Plum Festival, which heralds the arrival of spring, will be held again this year. Some 13,000 plum trees paint the mountainside, and with river mist rising in the valleys, a scene like a page from a picture scroll unfolds. During the festival, you can stroll the walking trails and enjoy locally made specialties for sale, savoring peaceful moments close to nature. The gentle scent of plum blossoms swaying in the breeze will quietly restore energy to bodies and minds that have passed through a long winter. This year, the Tsukigase Tourism Association will continue to cherish warm connections with visitors while protecting the region’s attractions. We ask for your continued support, and we sincerely pray that the coming year will be peaceful and fruitful for everyone. With that, we offer our New Year greetings. Chairman: Toshiaki Nishioka Photo credit: Kuraya eto Shuji

Snow Trees Rime ice covering the trees at Gozaisho Ropeway Summit. One of the few places in Mie Prefecture where you can see rime ice on trees. Gozaisho Ropeway, Komonocho, Mie Prefecture

Happy New Year! This year I again photographed the first sunrise from the waterfront park. There was no wind and it was not as cold as in past years, but a warm layer of clouds on the horizon kept the sky dull and dim even after the scheduled sunrise time of 6:51. Around 7:05 the edges of the clouds began to glow, and just after 7:20 the sun finally appeared! As every year, many residents and tourists gathered early at the waterfront park to watch the first sunrise of Reiwa 8. May Reiwa 8 bring you a year full of happiness. We appreciate your continued support of Atami Onsen this year as well.

A photo taken during a trip to Shikoku. Taken on November 26 at Ritsurin Park in Kagawa. It was peak autumn foliage, and the contrast of red, yellow, and green looked wonderful. The weather was calm with no wind, and the trees reflected beautifully on the water. Once December arrives, it gets colder, and viewing night scenes becomes an experience of shivering in the cold. At the end of November, the temperature was pleasantly mild, so I enjoyed the autumn colors and took photos before the real winter set in.

New Year shrine-visit guide 🎍 This time we introduce Kikuchi Shrine, Hokumiya Aso Shrine, Hachidai Ryuo Shrine, and Mt. Kuradake. Kikuchi Shrine The shrine approach glows with warm lights at night, making for great photos. The "New Year Fortune Fukumikji" features luck-bringing prizes, including a Kikuchi Shrine award of an ever-growing half-sho of sacred sake and a grand prize of a zodiac ornament. Amazake is also available on the grounds, offering a relaxing warm break. Hokumiya Aso Shrine Hokumiya Aso Shrine sits right beside the gentle flow of the Kikuchi River. "Free Amazake Distribution" ・From New Year’s Eve, amazake will be distributed for free (while supplies last). "New Year Limited Goshuin" ・A limited goshuin stamp will be offered for the New Year. If you plan to watch the first sunrise, consider the views from Mt. Kuradake 🌄 Mt. Kuradake has a route that starts from the ninth station, so why not try a sunrise ascent to greet the first sun of the year? #Kikuchi Shrine #Mt. Kuradake hike #Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/22620... https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/archives/22679...

Kushiro, famed as one of the world’s top three sunset cities, actually offers unmissable sunrises as well. At Kushiro Prince Hotel, you can enjoy a luxurious sunrise and a sumptuous morning meal at the top-floor restaurant. Using kombu from the Nemuro Strait, the light soy-flavored Kushiro ramen and the fresh seafood rice bowl come with unlimited servings. Even Kushiro’s indulgent gourmet offerings include plenty of lighter options for morning diners who prefer a milder start. 【Instagram】 https://www.instagram.com/kushiroprincehotel/...

Toyama Prefecture Tateyamamachi Shomyo Falls Snow fell late at night, letting the autumn leaves and snow perform together Standing close to Shomyo Falls, Japan’s tallest waterfall by drop, the roar of the water is overwhelming

Tateyamamachi, Toyama Prefecture Akashiro no Kabe Snow fell late at night, and around Shomyo Falls I saw a duet of autumn leaves and snow I arrived early in the morning, and some forest roads were frozen I photographed Akashiro no Kabe with a fisheye lens

Kamiichimachi, Toyama Prefecture – Mount Sengokujōyama This spot is reachable by car via a forest road Photographed from the forest road up Mount Sengokujōyama The beautiful autumn leaves and the snow-capped Tsurugi-dake made a stunning sight

Kamiichimachi, Toyama Prefecture – Seseragi no Komichi I walked from Seseragi no Komichi to near the check dam Mt. Tsurugi was nearby, but clouds got in the way so I couldn’t see it clearly; I’ll get a better shot next time

Kurikara Fudoji Temple Nishinobo Hououden (Phoenix Hall), Tsubatamachi, Ishikawa Prefecture Photographed the sunset from a hill during the autumn foliage It was a beautiful view

Kurikara Fudoji Nishinobo Hououden, Tsubatamachi, Ishikawa Prefecture I photographed the autumn leaves from a hilltop. Around sunset, a blanket of altocumulus clouds spread across the sky, creating a beautiful scene.

Please visit Izu Shimoda Onsen in 2026 (^○^) 🌼 Shimoda Onsen Narcissus Festival The flowers are expected to be at their best around mid-January ♬ After the narcissus, 🌸 Minamiizucho "Minami no Sakura and Rapeseed Blossom Festival" 🌸 Kawazu Town "Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival" Both are about a 30-minute drive from Shimoda City. Stay at Shimoda Onsen and enjoy the early spring flower relay ✨ Right now, JTB’s website is offering "discount coupons usable at Shimoda Onsen accommodations" (＼(^o^)／) Right now, JTB’s website is distributing great discount coupons usable at Shimoda Onsen accommodations (＼(^o^)／) No minimum fare required: 10% OFF ✨ (maximum discount 5,000 yen) Limited quantity! Take this chance to visit Shimoda Onsen ♨️ https://www.jtb.co.jp/kokunai-hotel/list/22219/?multiarea=22219&suggestkeyword=%E4%B8%8B%E7%94%B0%E5%B8%82&godate=&checkindate=&staynight=1&dateunspecified=1&roomassign=m2&room=1...