Introducing Our Sponsors: The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest
The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and we presented prizes to each winner.

This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of businesses located in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga Navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies that have supported us. (Order varies)

This time we feature Teshikaga Ramen Sohonten‼︎📝Teshikaga Navi carries a wide range of information, so please take a look✨Thank you very much to Teshikaga Ramen Sohonten for supporting this event🙇❣️

We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and for Teshikaga Navi.

https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/photocon_r08/

Ongoing events through Golden Week‼

① Ongoing until supplies last
Ihama margaret picking
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=91181&cat=18736&type=event

② Ongoing until around May 5
Strawberry picking
https://www.instagram.com/babyberry_farm/

③ March 28–April 5
Yuigahama cherry blossom tour
http://www.the-surface.com/event.html#sakura

④ April 1–May 5
Bamboo shoot picking and the takeno‑ko eatery opens
http://takenokomura.com/

⑤ April 3
Irozaki Gongen Festival
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=3725&cat=18736&type=event

⑥ April 18 and 19
Va'a Japan 4th Japan Cup in Minami‑Izu
https://www.vaajapan.com/2026-japan-nationals

⑦ April 29
Lead-horse riding experience day
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=7746&cat=18736&type=event

Spring in Minami‑Izu features both Somei-yoshino and mountain cherry blossoms, and it also offers abundant sea- and mountain-based nature experiences, so it’s surprisingly hot (exciting) just for that‼

Events across Minami-Izu Town!
https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-eventlist&eventlist=18736

Event Announcement📣

On Sunday, March 22, “One-Ton Weight! Deciding the Strongest Banei Horse!” The 58th Banei Memorial takes place 😊
This is the ultimate Banei showdown, with Banei weights run at the maximum of 1 ton!
Among the BG1 races, the most prestigious class in Banei racing, this event sits at the very top 🎵

Also, from Friday, March 20 (national holiday) through Sunday, March 22, the “Banei Memorial” event offers a packed schedule of attractions and activities 😍
🔶 A corner exhibiting four-panel manga by the very popular Mayu Sawada, featured on the official Banei Tokachi LINE
🔶 Gourmet stalls gathering winners from past Banei Kitchen Car Grand Prix and other tasty vendors
🔶 On-site predictions and talk shows by comedians and notable personalities, and more

Come for all three days to enjoy the events and cheer on the powerful draft horses up close 🤗

https://www.banei-keiba.or.jp/ed_detail.php?id=1580

Dinner in Gokase 🍴

Today I’m sharing a dinner that a tourism association staff member recently enjoyed ✨

Starting with the dinner 🍴
Top photo: roasted venison 🥩
Look at that shine… 🤩
(Ah… this is very much the staff member’s personal impression)
This was a shocking dish that made me think, I’ve never had venison this delicious before… 💡
After tasting this roasted venison, all my previous assumptions about game meat were turned upside down!

The vegetables were mainly local, seasoned so you could eat them endlessly 😊

The wild boar stew left no trace in the pot—scooped up with bread— the chicken was tender and juicy, and the venison Bolognese was neatly finished off 😋

Even the dessert, a kettle-roasted tea brownie, made this a hugely satisfying dinner 👏

This time I had a non-alcoholic cocktail, and it was thoroughly satisfying ✨
…I’m really frustrated I couldn’t drink alcohol… 😭 (saying it out loud)

This dinner was at:
Guesthouse & Bar EL CAMPO
📍872-1 Kuraoka, Gokasecho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture

Note: The venue normally opens Friday through Sunday, but will open on weekdays by reservation.
Note: Course meals are available with a reservation at least one day in advance.

Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival
Now ongoing!
Thanks to the cold weather, the plum blossoms are likely to last longer✨
The area around Lakeside Village Tsukigase is at its best, too✨

Photo courtesy of yasunori okamoto

Introducing Our Sponsors: The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest
The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and we have presented prizes to each winner.

This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of businesses located in Teshikagacho. On the official Teshikaga Navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies that have supported us. (Order is random)


Today we are pleased to introduce Kawayu Kanko Hotel, a long-established inn in Kawayu Onsen‼︎📝 For more detailed information about the facilities, please check Teshikaga Navi✨ Thank you very much to Kawayu Kanko Hotel for supporting this event🙇❣️


We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi.

https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/kawayukankou/

Introducing Our Sponsors — The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest
The award-winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and we have presented prizes to each winner.

This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of businesses located in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga Navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies that helped make this possible. (In no particular order)


Today we introduce Poppotei Co., Ltd. / Cafe Poppotei, located in front of Mashu Station!📝 Detailed information is available on Teshikaga Navi, so please check it out.✨ Thank you very much to Poppotei Co., Ltd. / Cafe Poppotei for their cooperation with this event.🙇❣️


We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi.


https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/poppotei/

Introducing Our Sponsors: The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest
The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and we presented prizes to each winner.

This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of businesses located in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga Navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies who have supported us. (In no particular order)


Today, we are pleased to introduce Deshigakashiinko Co., Ltd., the operator of Lake Mashu Kamuy Terrace and Iozan MOKMOK Base! For more detailed facility information, please check Teshikaga Navi. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Deshigakashiinko Co., Ltd. for their cooperation with this event.


We hope you will continue to support the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi.

https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/masyuresthouse/

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

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

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

📢Program Broadcast Notice📢
Teshikaga will be featured on STV Sapporo Television Broadcasting’s Dosanko Weekend on Saturday, March 7, starting at 9:25 AM👀✨

The crew filmed on location around the town and will introduce many aspects of Teshikaga from various perspectives. Look forward to it❣️

Please be sure to watch‼︎

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

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

Photo credit: Yasunori Okamoto

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

Photo credit::Mr. Yasuki Okamoto

Open-house-style presentations on the redevelopment of the Kawayu Onsen district will be held.

Notice from the Tourism and Commerce Division, Kawayu Onsen District Redevelopment Office
In Teshikaga Town, as we promote tourism—the town’s core industry—we have been advancing the redevelopment of the Kawayu area. In October 2023, we adopted the Kawayu Onsen District Town Development Master Plan to guide the revitalization of the Kawayu Onsen district.


At the times below, panels and other displays will be available, and staff will be on hand to explain the progress of the Kawayu Onsen district redevelopment whenever you visit.
No specialized knowledge is required. Please feel free to drop by!


Venue
Kawayu Furusato Hall
2-3-40 Kawayu Onsen

Dates and times
Sunday, March 1, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Monday, March 2, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM
No advance registration is required; if you wish to attend, please come directly to the venue.
The program will be the same on both days.


Organizer
Teshikaga Town
Contact
015-482-2940
https://www.kawayu-onsen.com/news/1034/

Good morning ☀
This morning in Tsukigase
Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
Now on! In full bloom!
February 14, 2026 – March 29, 2026
Photo: Yasuki Okamoto

Good morning ☀
#This morning in Tsukigase
#Satoyama landscape
#Blooming is progressing
#A village of flowers, greenery, and water
#I want to connect with people who like photography
#Nara Prefecture #Nara City #Nara tourism
#tsukigase baikei plum festival
February 14, 2026 to March 29, 2026
Photograph by Yasuki Okamoto

Good morning ☀
This morning in Tsukigase
Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival
Now on
February 14, 2026 – March 29, 2026
Photo: Yasunori Okamoto

On Saturday, February 21, “Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen” will take place in front of Kawayu Visitor Center.
With the concept “Play in Kawayu’s winter,” a variety of activities and events will be offered again this year.
There will be plenty of experiences for both adults and children, including cross-country ski and ski-shoe trials, snowshoeing, campfires in tipis, Korean fir (Akaezomatsu) distillation workshops, wooden coaster making, and slide talks.
Hot milk and handmade cookies from Teshikaga High School students will be available in tents at the venue.
Please come together with friends and family.


Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen (Event Overview)

Date and time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00–21:00
Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center and surrounding area (2-2-6 Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga)
Admission: Free (all programs are also free to enjoy.)
※ Food and drinks are sold separately.

Activities
<10:00–16:00>
● Cross-country ski ● Ski-shoe experience ● Snowshoe experience
<Ongoing>
● Snow play area ● Campfire in tipis

Events
● Forest stories and a forest walk 13:00–14:00
● Korean fir distillation workshops 10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:00
● Wooden coaster making 10:00 until supplies last
● Slide talk “With Reverence for the Brown Bear” 15:30–17:00
● Free talk 17:30–19:00
● Star gazing 18:45–19:30
● Snow candles 17:00–21:00

Contact

Teshikaga Ekoma-chi Promotion Council (Secretariat)
Within Teshikaga Town Office, Tourism and Commerce Division
015-482-2940 (Tourism and Commerce Division direct line / Weekdays: 9:00–17:00)
Day-of contact: 090-2075-9764 (Person in charge: Fujiwara)
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/snowpark2026/

Discover Sakai as you visit and encounter its charms. “Himotoku Sakai 2026 ～OSAKA SAKAI EXPO～” is coming!

An interactive event that unravels Sakai.
This edition centers on the theme “OSAKA SAKAI EXPO”🔍
Enjoy tea service, hands-on experiences, and local gourmet treats to relive the Expo experience in Sakai!
Take part in a stamp rally using the limited "Himotoku Sakai" stamp passport to collect official pavilion stamps and more while touring Sakai!
Those who meet the conditions will receive a collaboration pin badge featuring Myakumyaku and Haniwa Bucho!✨

📅 Event dates: Friday, March 20th (public holiday) to Sunday, March 22nd
※The stamp rally runs from Sunday, March 1st to Tuesday, March 31st
📍 Location: Various locations in Sakai City

🔍 For details, search for “Himotoku Sakai 2026”!
🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435

Event Announcement📣

On Saturday, February 14th, Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21 hosts "Wood Candle Night 2026" 😊

The day features wood education workshops such as ogacolor and deer-hide leather craft, plus a wooden toy corner where visitors can touch, play with, and make wooden items 🎵
You can also enjoy a food area, chocolate fondue with toasted marshmallows and strawberries, a collaboration café by Coffee Zamaya and an antique shop, and a mini concert by the duo Liricamente 😍
On this sacred night—Valentine’s Day—come to Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall lit by ice candles and illuminations 🤗

❤️ At the Youth Section booth of the Town Employees’ Labor Union, donors will receive a complimentary cocoa.

https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/news/2026/wood2026.html

Good morning ☀
#This morning in Tsukigase
Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival
February 14, 2026 to March 29, 2026

Hello! This is Waraji, a Koshu local cuisine restaurant. Although February marks the arrival of spring on the calendar, Shosenkyo Gorge is wrapped in crisp, cold air and offers the clear winter scenery unique to the season❄️🌿
After a walk taking in the majestic nature formed by rocky cliffs and evergreen trees, why not rest with us for a while😊

Our recommendation is a piping-hot freshly fried tendon (tempura rice bowl)🍤
We generously use three large prawns; their crispy, fragrant batter pairs perfectly with the fluffy rice. Its impressive appearance makes it a dish you’ll want to photograph📸✨

The interior offers a calm space warmed by wood accents.
You can warm up your chilled body and enjoy a leisurely time with us over tea🍵

Shosenkyo Gorge is still quite cold, so please make sure to dress warmly before you come🧣
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you😊

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/

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

Event Announcement📣

From February 7 to February 8, Japan’s coldest town, Rikubetsucho, will host the 42nd Shibare Festival😊

Over two days, the festival will feature stage shows, local idol live performances, comedy acts, a children’s raffle, gaming tournaments and many other attractions🎵

The “Human Cold Endurance Test,” where you can experience Japan’s coldest conditions, draws participants from across and beyond Hokkaido every year.
Participants stay overnight in a balloon mansion (an ice kamakura) and endure a brutally cold night in this extreme challenge! (Registration for this year is closed)
There are no stoves; the only permitted source of warmth for challengers is the festival’s symbol, the giant fire storm, which helps warm participants🔥

The venue also hosts numerous food stalls where you can enjoy local cuisine😍
You can try venison dishes made from Ezo deer raised in Rikubetsu’s great outdoors, stylish cafe menus, and festival classics like yakitori and curry🤗

📍Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Sunday, February 8, 2026, 9:30 AM–2:00 PM

📍Location: Event Square (Uenbetsu, Rikubetsu Town)

📍Contact: Shibare Festival Executive Committee Office
(Rikubetsu Town Office, Industry Promotion Division, Commerce and Industry Promotion Section TEL:0156-27-2141)

https://www.rikubetsu.jp/kanko/event/shibare/

Kawayu Onsen website article updated 📝🆙
An article about "Kawayu Onsen's Enkiri Hot Spring Tour" has been posted ♨️❄️ Please take a look ✨

Kawayu Onsen's Enkiri Hot Spring Tour
Stroll through intensely acidic springs that can even dissolve nails to wash away everyday worries, fatigue, and bad ties—refresh yourself by "melting" them away. Would you like to try Kawayu Onsen's new project, the "Enkiri Hot Spring Tour"?

https://www.kawayu-onsen.com/activity/990/

🔴Special Exhibition: “Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Discovery! Sakai”🔵


🔷〈Encounter the active arm movement in Sakai today—people, things, and happenings〉🌈

■Dates: Tuesday, February 3, 2026–Thursday, February 19, 2026
■Hours: 9:00 AM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM)
*Final day only: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
*Closed: Monday, February 16
■Admission: Free
■Venue: 📍Fenice Sakai (@fenice_sacay)
Exchange and Creation Galleria (2-1-1 Okinabashicho, Sakai Ward, Sakai City)

*******************************************************

1. Nostalgic Record Jacket Exhibition💽
From the owner of jazz cafe cafe RVC (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), we present over 30 record jackets that colored the era, centered on jazz, drawn from a collection of more than 3,000 records.


2. My Bookcase📚
From the share-style bookstore HONBAKO (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), lively personalities of “box owners” bring a one-box bookstore—"bookcase"—to the event♪ (Sales on weekends only)
Experience building your own "bookcase," enjoy storytelling sessions, and visit the book exchange corner!


3. Visual Artist Yusen Yoneda and the Mansion Midori Renovation Project🎈
Showcasing woodblock prints by Yusen Yoneda, registered with the Sakai City Emerging Artists Bank, and the exchanges between young creators and local residents fostered through activities at Mansion Midori.
On February 15, Yusen Yoneda will hold a woodblock print workshop. (Advance registration required; details on the website)


4. Special Exhibit: Large Sheet Metal Roof Ring✨
A large-scale craft art piece—2 m in diameter and weighing 130 kg—previously exhibited at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, comes to Sakai.
Manufactured by Modern Industrial Co., Ltd., supervised by architect Sou Fujimoto.


5. Special Exhibit: Oceano⛓️
An artwork created in Sakai reusing the distinctive exterior ship ropes from the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, expressing the sea that connects Portugal and Japan.
(By Vanessa Barragan / Owned by Sakai City)


*****************************************************
🔷Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Collaboration Event
This year again, about 80 eateries and shops in the Sakai Higashi area participate in the food and drink festival🍴☕️
Collaborating with the 18th Gashibaru (February 17–20)!
・Gashibaru
🔗https://e-sacai.com/gashi-bar
*****************************************************


💁For more details
🔗https://www.fenice-sacay.jp/event/33048/
Search “Gashibaru × Fenice Sakai”
https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/event/detail/850

👹✨February 3 is Setsubun✨👹

When you think of Setsubun, you think of ehomaki! The lucky direction for 2026 is south-southeast. Face that direction, hold a wish in your mind, and silently take a big bite of the whole thick roll—this is the tradition of eating an ehomaki.
This year, why not make your very own ehomaki at the sushi counter?🍣

Using delicious, naturally sweet rice from Kikuchi and guided directly by a sushi chef, enjoy a rare rolled-sushi-making experience. It’s designed so even young children can join in, making it perfect for creating family memories.

Bring your family and friends and make special Setsubun memories together✨

📌Details and reservations here
https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/taikenplan