Photographed on February 21, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 17, 2014.
This is the hanachouzui (decorative flower water basin) at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

Photographed on February 15, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, located at the omikuji distribution area.

Photographed on February 18, 2014.
The red plum blossoms line the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Photographed on February 20, 2014.
These are the red plum blossoms along the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Ihama Margaret Flower Picking Garden
https://x.gd/kljYT
Period: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 – until supplies last
Hours: 9:00–15:00
Fee: Free (up to 10 stems per person)
Scissors available for loan
Venue: Ihama Coast

Ichijo Takenoko Village
https://x.gd/1iKvL
- Bamboo Shoot Picking Experience
April 1 (Wednesday) – May 5 (Tuesday)
Admission: Adults ¥650, Children ¥300
May end early when supplies run out
Harvested bamboo shoots must be purchased
Rubber boot rental ¥50, work gloves ¥50 available for purchase
Bamboo shoot picking or the dining area may close or have reduced hours depending on shoot growth
- Bamboo Shoot Cafeteria (limited season)
April 1 (Wednesday) – May 5 (Tuesday)
Open daily (about 10:30–14:30)
Takeout of bamboo shoot dishes available
Kusamochi making (reservation required) is offered only on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
Bamboo craft workshops (reservation required)
Bamboo shoot picking may be suspended once shoots run out

Photographed on February 18, 2014.
These are the red plum blossoms along the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
Now underway!
At its peak♪
Please come and visit!
This Sunday looks like it will be busy again.
Saturday, which we worried about weather-wise, looks fine✨

Photo courtesy of Yasunori Okamoto

Photographed on February 22, 2014.
This is Chabudai-san’s morning set.
It includes carrot potage, a salad, a fried egg, homemade bread, and natsu mikan jam.
The natsu mikan jam and homemade bread go very well together. 😊🍊

Delicious and fun! Sneaking into the Shobara Fan Festa!
Fans from Shobara City in the nature-rich Hiroshima Prefecture gathered at Hirogin Holdings, Inc. "Tomorrow Square" in Naka Ward, Hiroshima City!

We report on tastings of Hiba Beef and Yukiko (cheese), plus local sake sampling ✨

Read the article here🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5555

Setsubunso in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture is now in full bloom! 🌼💛

Setsubunso, a wildflower that heralds spring in Soryo town, Shobara City.
It is said to be named because it begins to bloom around Setsubun, which corresponds to the lunar calendar’s New Year’s Eve.✨

Its small white blooms look charming, and it gives off a citrus-like fragrance.
That sweet, refreshing scent is even called the "scent of first love"!

📌The public viewing period for the natural habitat runs until Sunday, March 8.

For more details, see below🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5451

Please come and visit Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture✨
(Fukujusou, seribaouren and other flowers are also in bloom)

[Reihoku Sunset Marche] March Event Announcement📣 [Reihoku Sunset Marche] March Event Announcement📣
Hello everyone! Reihoku Town is preparing for the Hatsu-uma Grand Festival next week, and we’re pleased to announce the Reihoku Sunset Marche taking place in March♪

👀Highlights of this Sunset Marche👀
❣At the Reihoku Sunset Marche, where Reihoku’s farm produce, processed goods, and prepared dishes are sold, asparagus shipments will begin this time!
Seasonal citrus like Shiranui and dekopon will also be on sale🍊
We’ll also offer a fill-your-own bag of out-of-spec onions, the limited-season hanahajiki, and outdoors there will be a flea market and a grilled gyoza stall❣
We look forward to seeing you 😊 Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag🛍✨

[Produce Planned for Sale]
・Asparagus (green, white, purple)
・Turnips🫜
・Sun-dried winter daikon
・Cabbage
・Rice🌾
・Taro
・Snap peas
・Daikon
・Onions🧅
・Tomatoes (Aiko, mini)
・Broccoli🥦
・Bell peppers
・Mandarin oranges🍊 (Hinoho, Shiranui)
・Lettuce (sunny)

🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔
Reihoku Sunset Marche
[Date] Sunday, March 8, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM
[Location] Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Tourist Information Center, Kamitsufue, Reihoku Town 4535-1)

Photographed on February 22, 2014.
I visited Chabudai in front of KAWAGOE COFFEE SELECTION.
This is a HOT natsumikan. 🍊
By chance I ran into a follower, and it was fun. 😊

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
Now underway!
At its peak♪
Please come during a quiet weekday moment!
It looks like this Sunday will be crowded again.
The weather is a concern, but visitors who come on Saturday will likely be able to enjoy it more leisurely✨

Photo credit: Yasunori Okamoto

Photographed on March 1, 2014.
This is the “Kai-awase and Hina Doll Tour” exhibition held at nakamachi sightseeing information center.

Photographed on March 1, 2014.
This is a kai-awase shell-matching game from the "Kai-awase and Hina Doll Tour" held at nakamachi sightseeing information center.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
Now on!
At peak bloom♪
Please come during a calm weekday time!
On the hill opposite the Plum Museum stands a splendid weeping plum tree✨

Photo courtesy: Yasuki Okamoto

Photographed on March 1, 2014.
This is a kai-awase (shell-matching game) held as part of the “Kai-awase and Hina Doll Tour” at Nakacho Tourist Information Center.

Photographed on March 1, 2014.
I went to see the Nakamachi Tourist Information Center exhibition “Kai-awase and Hina Doll Tour.”
Today is the Doll Festival. 🎎

Photographed on February 15, 2014.
This is Hanatetsu's hanachōzu (flower hand-washing basin).

On Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, we from Reihoku will also exhibit at the “Kikuchi City and Reihoku Joint Product Fair in Fukuoka (Budoubatake),” held at the agricultural products direct sales shop Budoubatake in Minami Ward, Fukuoka City.

The seasonal best of Reihoku’s sea and mountains comes together in Fukuoka!
On the day, we will offer many of Reihoku’s proud specialty products.

🎁Fun Feature
At the venue, customers spending 1,000 yen or more can enter a prize drawing!

📅Event Details
Date and Time: Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7, 2026, 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Agricultural products direct sales shop Budoubatake (2-1-1 Nakao, Minami Ward, Fukuoka City)
Program: Specialty product sales, tourism PR, prize drawing, support from Kumamon, and more.

Please feel free to come and visit us ✨

National Museum of Ethnology

Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, senri banpaku park
The National Museum of Ethnology (commonly known as Minpaku) was established in 1974 as a joint university research institute for cultural anthropology and ethnology, and it opened in 1977 on the site of Expo Memorial Park in Senri, Osaka. As one of the world’s largest ethnology museums, it integrates research in cultural anthropology and ethnology with museum activities.

The National Museum of Ethnology holds some 345,000 items—everyday tools, traditional clothing, and more—collected by researchers from around the world. Its exhibitions are organized into nine regional displays covering the globe, alongside cross-cultural exhibits on music and language.

This is a spring scene viewed from Motohakone in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The combination of Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, fresh green foliage, and a torii (shrine gate) looks like a painting.

Photographed on March 1, 2014.
After the monthly ceremony at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at Starbucks Kanetsuki‑dōri Store.
I had an Earl Grey bouquet and a tea latte, and an Earl Grey Basque cheesecake.

Today I attended the monthly ceremony at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
In keeping with the Hinamatsuri on March 3, I received amazake and a doll and had a ritual to ward off bad luck.🎎
Because Hinamatsuri is also called the Peach Festival, I took a photo of a pink aidaimeshi omikuji (love-shaped sea bream fortune).

Photographed on February 15, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower-filled water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival Finale

Town’s 70th Anniversary Commemoration “Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars”
Period: Friday, February 27, 2026; Saturday, February 28, 2026; Sunday, March 1, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PM
Release section: a 400 m stretch from Harumachi Bridge to around Kinomiya Bridge
※The event may be canceled due to rain or other conditions.
※The Inoriboshi® will be released a little upstream from the Roadside Station.
※This event is expected to be very crowded.

↓If you want to avoid crowds, please join the tour below.↓
・Tour organized by Minamiizu Town Tourism Association: Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars Tour (until 2/28)
Reserve/Apply here → https://x.gd/EGMCM

・Vendors will be located behind the Tourist Information Center and Yunohana Chokubaijo (Yunohana Farm Stand).
There will be special vendor stalls during the Night Cherry Blossoms ☆ Shooting Stars event from 2/27 to 3/1.

※The posted images are from 2015.
※The Milky Way Project🄬 is a registered trademark, so unauthorized use is prohibited. Commercial use by entities other than individuals is also prohibited.

【The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival】
Held from February 1 to March 10

🌸About “The 28th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival”
https://x.gd/8BXol

🌸Bloom status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/iyca6

🌸Parking status (updated regularly)
https://x.gd/zbToA

🌸Live camera
https://x.gd/smGtI

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
Now underway!
More areas are coming into full bloom♪
Please come and visit!

Photo credit: Yasunori Okamoto

Photographed on February 15, 2014.
This is the hanachōzu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 14, 2014.
These are the hana-temizu flower water displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.