Photographed 11/1/25.
It is a one-year cheap sea bream lottery of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
It is yellow and vermilion.
Vermilion has a color close to orange.

Photo from my father.
2025.11.01

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival.
Shichi-Go-San.

Photographed 10/27/25.
This is Hanatetsu's Hanachozu.

Morning at Biwashima Shrine (Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Saturday, November 1, 10:00–15:00
◆Ishirouzaki Lighthouse Public Opening
The interior of Ishirouzaki Lighthouse will be open to visitors.
This is a rare opportunity that only happens a few times a year, if at all!
There will be various special features on the day.
The Japan Coast Guard’s character Umimaru and Minami Izu Town’s official mascot Irozaki Baron will also make appearances!

Saturday, November 1–Sunday, November 2
◆Minami Izu Taiko Festival
In October, the month known as Kannazuki, the gods gather at Izumo Taisha from across the country for a matchmaking council, leaving only the local guardian deities behind. When the gods return in November, the month is called Kamikizuki or Kamikuduki, and although many communities scaled down celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic, grand festivals praying for a bountiful harvest are held throughout Minami Izu Town.

[Notice]
From November our hours change to winter hours!

Thank you for always visiting Roadside Station Iwanai.
We appreciate your support.

Our facility will be open from November 1 through April 20 of the following year.
Opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00.
The facility is closed every Monday.
※If Monday is a public holiday, the following Tuesday will be closed.

Please note that the stamp rally stamps will follow the same hours and closed days stated above.

We look forward to welcoming you during the winter season 😊

Roadside Station Iwanai🐟

Photographed 10/27/25.
This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.
Hanachozu for Halloween. 🎃

Photographed 10/27/25.
This is LEC COFFEE's café latte.
Latte art is Halloween specification. 👻

Autumn sky.
A photo of my father's LINE confirmation of survival.

2025.10.30

November is almost here 🍂✨
This time, we introduce six autumn foliage spots in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture! 🍁
Be sure to dress warmly and come to Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 💛🎶

🍁🍁🍁Here are the highlights of the six autumn leaves spots🔽🍁🍁🍁

1. The Nursing-Rooting Giant Ginkgo of Mt. Kamitakano 🍁
[Address] Takano-cho, Shinichi, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] This giant ginkgo stands in the precincts of Tenman Shrine, with a trunk circumference at chest height of 9.6 meters, ranking first in the prefecture. It is said to have been planted as a sacred tree when Takemikazuchi-no-kami was enshrined here in the first year of Tenpyo (729). Aerial roots called "breasts" hang down from the main trunk, and it is designated as a prefectural natural monument. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About an 8-minute drive from Takano IC on the Onomichi–Matsue Expressway or from Roadside Station Takano
[Typical viewing period] Early to mid-November

2. Mt. Azuma 🍁
[Address] Moriwaki, Hiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] Mt. Azuma belongs to Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park and lies about 35 km north of Shobara City in northern Hiroshima Prefecture. The Azuma Lodge of Kyukamura closed in 2020. Restroom facilities are available at the former campsite public toilets. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

3. Hiba Mountain Range 🍁
[Address] Yuki, Saijo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Shimane Prefecture
[Highlights] A series of mountains around 1,200 meters high, with the area near Hiba-san Goryo covered by a nationally designated natural monument of pure beech forest. Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] To Hiroshima Prefectural Citizens’ Forest Park Center
About 40 minutes from Shobara IC
About 40 minutes from Tojo IC
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

4. Dogo Mountain Range 🍁
[Address] Misaka, Saijo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Tottori Prefecture
[Highlights] One of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains and featured in Sumie Tanaka’s New 100 Famous Flowers of the Mountains. Enjoy 360-degree views from the summit, stone embankments from former ranches, and the large pond built as a water source for tatara ironmaking. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 45-minute drive from Shobara IC to Tsukimigaoka
About a 30-minute drive from Tojo IC to Tsukimigaoka
[Typical viewing period] From early November

5. Taishakyo Gorge 🍁
[Address] Tojo-cho, Shobara City to Jinseki Kogen Town, Jinseki District, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] A gorge spanning Tojo-cho in Shobara City and Jinseki Kogen Town. Designated a National Scenic Spot in 1923 and listed among Japan’s Top 100 Landscapes. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 15-minute drive from Tojo IC on the Chugoku Expressway
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

6. The Iroha Maple Group of Kamichi 🍁
[Address] Inakusa, Soryo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] The Iroha maple group of Kamichi includes remarkably large trees, the largest having a trunk circumference at chest height of 3.25 m, and nine others exceeding 2 m in circumference—an unusually large cluster even on a national scale. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 15-minute drive from Shobara IC on the Chugoku Expressway
[Typical viewing period] Early to mid-November

For autumn foliage information for 2025, see🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/special/4758

For an article summarizing the highlights, see🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5312

Photographed 10/27/25.
It comes with LEC COFFEE's chai Basque cheesecake and jack-o-lantern cookies. 🎃
I like chai, so it's a nice menu. 😊

Photographed 10/27/25.
This is a hot sandwich set from LEC COFFEE.
Lettuce, bacon, hot sandwich with fried egg, salad, Butter nut pumpkin soup.

I will never forget the shock of seeing the scenery of Kamikochi live even now
It's a memory that will last a lifetime.

Photographed 10/18/25.
This is the Kawagoe Festival, Yoiyama.

Photographed 10/18/25.
This is the Kawagoe Festival, Yoiyama.
From the lion's head, a little bit appeared.

Photographed 10/18/25.
This is the Kawagoe Festival, Yoiyama.
The lion's head is dancing.

A long three-day weekend is coming soon✨
This time, we introduce autumn events and traditional festivals held in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture!✨

🔽🔽🔽We’ve picked five highlights to help you plan your three-day weekend outing!🔽🔽🔽

1⃣ The 32nd Bingi Tojo “Otoori” Parade
Date and Time: Until Sunday, November 2, 2025, starting at noon (12:00)
Location: Starting at Tojo Elementary School Ground
About: Known as the “Otoori,” this event has been organized by the Otoori Preservation and Promotion Association since 1993. The procession features a daimyo procession, warrior procession, and groups carrying horo and hanawarabe, presenting each year in early November a bold and splendid historical pageant.

Event details URL: https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5310
Highlights: https://www.shobara-info.com/report/4841

2⃣ The 18th Taishaku Autumn Leaves Festival
Date and Time: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 10:00–15:00
Location: Taishaku Community Promotion Center
About: A commemorative project for the 20th anniversary of Shobara City’s municipal merger!
Music Plaza
10:15 Niimi Wind Ensemble
11:15 Shobara City 20th Anniversary Stage Part 1 — Ryo Sasaki
12:15 Stage Part 2 — Issei Minami
13:30 Kendama performance
14:00 Singing contest
14:45 Lottery
*Performance times may vary slightly.

Food Plaza
Frankfurters, fried chicken, beef udon, sweet red-bean soup (zenzai), grilled chicken skewers, french fries, yakisoba, beef bowl, teppan-grilled game meat, vegetable tempura, deep-fried maple leaf-shaped cakes, croquettes, coffee, Yotsuba Kobo cookies, sale of locally fresh vegetables, local products, earthenware bells, and a shooting game stall.
Details URL: https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5322

3⃣ Autumn Beef Terrace | Taishakukyo Scola Plateau
Date and Time: Sunday, November 2, 2025, 10:00–15:00
Location: Spice Hall 2F Open Terrace
About: An event where you can enjoy the elusive Jinseki beef at reasonable prices.

Barbecue Set
Set Includes:
Jinseki beef, vegetables, and rice balls

Also happening:
Minna no Marche Hiroshima (market stalls)
Details URL: https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5317

4⃣ Tojo Whole-Town Festival
Date and Time: Monday, November 3, 2025 (National Holiday), 12:00–20:30
Location: Tojo Station and surrounding facilities and downtown areas
About: Besides a music event on the platform inside Tojo Station, the festival offers art and cultural programs that make use of the town’s historic streetscape, bringing together the charm of the Geibi Line and Tojo Town.

Details URL: https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5341

5⃣ The 22nd Children’s Festival
Date and Time: Monday, November 3, 2025 (National Holiday), 10:00–14:00
Location: National Bihoku Hillside Park North Entrance, Satoyama Station Shobara Furari
About: A children’s festival spreading smiles across the Bihoku Hills—everyone gather for the Children’s Festival!
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Shobara City’s merger, the stage will feature a Remick🎶 concert!
Enjoy hands-on experiences, crafts, and a stamp rally!

Details URL: https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5338

✨🎪 Five Autumn Traditions and Events in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 🎪✨
Enjoy the full bounty of autumn at cheerful events held again this year!

From gourmet treats and hands-on experiences to stage shows and markets,
there are plenty of autumn rewards for the whole family to enjoy all day.

Please come visit Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture!

1⃣ Hiba Mountain Sky Peak Hunt in Hiroshima Prefectural Forest 2025
[Date] Until Monday, November 3, 2025
[Location] Hiroshima Prefectural Forest (registration, start, and finish locations)
[Details]
Same-day registration available! ✨
A mountain event that visits 10 summit points across the Hiba mountain range!
Participants will hunt points by checking summit checkpoints themselves.

[Details URL 🔽]
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5176

2⃣ Tojo Stroll and Townscape Gallery
[Date] Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Wednesday, November 5, 2025
[Location] Kaido Tojo Road, a certified Yumekaido Renaissance district
[Details]
・Opening ceremony and events
・Townscape gallery
・Townscape marche
・Town sake festival
・Special exhibition at the nationally registered tangible cultural property Sanrakuso (held at Sanrakuso)
・The 32nd Bingo Tojo “Otoori” procession

[Details URL 🔽]
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5320

3⃣ Autumn Lunch Buffet 2025 | Kyukamura Taishakukyo
[Date] Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Sunday, November 9, 2025
[Location] Kyukamura Taishakukyo
[Details] Following the popular Obon period service, we will hold an autumn lunch buffet!
This event again features the oven-baked pancake beloved at the breakfast buffet, rice accompaniments, handmade sandwiches, and original dishes for guests of all ages.

Enjoy Taishakukyo in autumn alongside the fall foliage.

[Details URL 🔽]
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5324

4⃣ Winter Illumination 2025–2026 Bihoku Illumi | National Bihoku Hills Park
[Date] Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Monday, January 12, 2026 (national holiday) ※closed certain days during the period
[Location] National Bihoku Hills Park ※parking and admission fees apply
[Details] Spend a special night in a shimmering world of light! Following last year’s success, the Flower Plaza (special area) returns with the “Mirror Bola” dreamlike new world.

[Details URL 🔽]
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5326

5⃣ Sanchaya Festival | National Bihoku Hills Park
[Date] Saturday, November 1, 2025
[Location] Shobara — Sangenchaya
[Details] A festival celebrating the second anniversary of the regional family learning space will be held!

[Details URL 🔽]
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5321

Photographed 10/18/25.
This is the Kawagoe Festival, Yoiyama.
The lanterns on the festival float are lit and the song is performed.

Photographed 10/18/25.
This is Yoiyama of the Kawagoe Festival.
A raccoon was giving sweets to a child.

Photographed 10/18/25.
It is the Kawagoe Festival and the Shinko Festival.

🍁Autumn foliage updates for Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture are being posted from October!🍁
There are six maple-viewing spots in Shobara City in total!✨

In autumn, Shobara City fills with colorful leaves. The foliage in Hiroshima Prefecture starts changing early here, so you can enjoy the colors for a long time. This time, we introduce six autumn-leaf viewing spots within Shobara City.

1. The Great Ginkgo of Chichisagari on Mt. Kamitakano
2. Mt. Azuma
3. The Hiba Mountain Range
4. The Dogo Mountain Range
5. Taishaku Gorge
6. The Iroha Maple Cluster in Kamichi

Find features and highlights here 👇
https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5312

This year’s autumn foliage information is here 🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/4758

Taste Japan’s best ayu in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture!🐟

Wild ayu raised in the pristine Seijo River in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, offer a supreme flavor that delights ayu lovers across the country.
In fact, they won the Grand Prix at the “Ayu Tasting Contest” held in 2024 and were chosen as Japan’s top ayu!🥇

When you visit Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, be sure to try the wild ayu from the Seijo River.

A uniquely fragrant and delicate taste awaits you here✊

Find retailers here🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/5200

＼ Autumn flavors from Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture — a town of farming! 🍎

Crisp and delicious!
Want to grab freshly picked apples ✊

This time, we introduce seven apple farms with farm shops🍎

"I don’t have time for apple picking, but if I’m visiting Shobara I’d like to buy fresh apples to take home!" For those people, here are several apple farms with on-site farm shops to recommend!

Why not drive around and visit several distinctive apple farms 🚗🎶

Find out more here 🔽
https://shobara-info.com/report/5318

It's getting cooler, isn't it?
Photograph of 📸 my father's confirmation of his survival LINE
2025.10.27

Motoyama-juku (Motoyama-juku) Location: Shiojiri City, Soga Honzan

Motoyama prospered as the gateway to Kiso Road and the exit from the Matsumoto Plain. Two-story houses with latticework fronts line the streets, preserving a strong sense of the past. The town is also introduced as the birthplace of sobakiri (cut buckwheat noodles).

In Keicho 19 (1614), Shiojiri, Seba, and Motoyama were designated as new post towns on the Nakasendo. Unlike Shiojiri and Seba, which were formed by relocating people from neighboring villages, Motoyama developed from a medieval settlement.
It was the 32nd station counting from Edo, situated 30 cho from Seba Post Town and 2 ri from Niegawa Inn (Niegawa-juku).

The post town divided into Kamimachi to the south and Shimomachi to the north, with the honjin, wakimotonjin, and dispatch office at its center. South of the town stood Hachiman Shrine, Choukyuuji, and Joukouji; to the north was Suwa Shrine, and across the Narai River lay Ikeo Shrine, though some temples were later abandoned. Because Motoyama bordered the Owari Domain in Kiso, a checkpoint was located south of the town to inspect women and timber.
In Tenpo 14 (1843) the town had 117 households and 34 inns. Compared with Seba Post Town’s three-ken frontage, many houses in Motoyama had four- to five-ken facades.

The town suffered several great fires, but surviving buildings date from the late Edo to Meiji periods. Facing the street, they feature hirairi degekata construction and second-floor rooms with senbon-koshi lattices, retaining much of the post town atmosphere.

Notably, three residences built around the Meiji era—the Akiyama Family (Wakamatsuya), the Tanaka Family (Ikeda family), and the Kobayashi Family (Kawaguchi Family)—are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan.
The honjin, Kobayashi residence, hosted Princess Kazunomiya, daughter of Emperor Ninkō, when she married Tokugawa Iemochi in Bunkyū 1 (1861), and it later accommodated the Meiji Emperor during his tour in Meiji 13.
Each house still carries its traditional shop name, offering a glimpse into the past.

The town’s specialty is soba. A note by Unrin in Hōei 3 (1706) in the miscellany Fūzoku Bunsen records Motoyama as the birthplace of sobakiri.

Historic sites include the Motoyama Castle Ruins on a small hill behind the town, said to have been guarded by the Motoyama Minbu branch of the Kiso clan; Ike no Gongen (Ikeo Shrine), known for votive plaques for rain rituals, sericulture, and eye disease cures, whose shrine grove is a Shiojiri City natural monument; and the Shitamachi Stone Figure Group, featuring Dosojin, Koshin stone monuments, and inscribed tablets.

For articles on the Nakasendo and the city’s five post towns, click here↓

Photographed 10/18/25.
It is a festival float of a mirror lion greeting Mr. Yamada of Washi paper.

Gokase Town Fukushi Festival

This year’s Fukushi Festival was once again wrapped in warm energy! 🙌
The theme this year was “Spreading the Circle of Welfare to Tomorrow.”
True to its name, the welfare center venue was full of smiles and kindness pointing toward Gokase Town’s future 😊

The bazaar, which began at 10:00, was a huge hit 🔥
Many people gathered hunting for bargains, and lively circles of socializing spread throughout the venue 👚
We even saw lots of children carrying stuffed animals bigger than themselves 👀

A variety of stage performances were fantastic, offering entertainment for all ages and bringing the whole venue together in excitement 🔥

Through displays of welfare activities and the bazaar, this Fukushi Festival naturally fostered a spirit of mutual support 🥰
From the staff who helped run the event to local residents and student volunteers, people of all ages—from children to seniors—had a chance to shine 👏

The Fukushi Festival is a truly lovely event where you can feel Gokase’s circle of kindness spreading into tomorrow and beyond.
I already want to join this warm circle again next year ✨

Photographed 10/18/25.
Heading towards Hon-Kawagoe Station, it is a festival float of Shintomi Town 2-chome Kagami Lion.