The 27th Minami Sakura and Nanohana Festival Period: Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 About the event ◆Opening ceremony on Saturday, February 1 ◎Location: Hinona nanohana flower field ◎10:00 – A Shinto ritual to pray for the festival’s success and safety ◆Lobster miso soup service on Sunday, February 16 and Sunday, February 23 ◎Location: Shimogamo shopping street “Miro” parking lot ◎A generous serving of miso soup made with Minami Izu Town’s specialty, spiny lobster (ise ebi) ※Served twice a day (about 200 bowls per service) ※First service: 11:00 – Second service: 13:00 ※Ends when supplies run out ※May be canceled due to rain or other conditions ◆Night hanami SUP on Saturday, February 15 – Sunday, February 16 ◎Details will be posted here once they are finalized ◆Nighttime cherry blossom illumination on Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 ◎Location: Around Maebara Bridge to Kujo Bridge ◎18:00–21:00 every night ※The illumination runs every night, even in rain ◆Minami night cherry blossoms and bamboo lanterns on Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 ◎Location: 1) Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana 2) Around Gin no Yu Bridge ◎18:00–21:00 every night ◆Gachapon lottery on Saturday, February 1 – Monday, February 24 ◎Location: Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana (in front of the tourist information desk) ◎10:00–15:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays ◎Participation: If one person in a group completes the questionnaire, the whole group may draw the number of times equal to the group size. ※Prizes are currently under consideration ※Prize contents may change ◆Hanami rickshaw service on Wednesday, February 5 – Friday, February 28 ※May end earlier than scheduled depending on blooming conditions Time: 9:30–16:00 Fee: 20-minute course 3,000 yen per person Notes ・The period may change due to weather or blooming conditions. ・Each boat/rickshaw (unit) accommodates up to two people. ・Events may be canceled due to bad weather (rain, strong wind, etc.). ・Due to rickshaw operation, you may be asked to ride alone in one unit. ・The above fee is for single-person use; there is no separate pricing for children. ◆Nanohana Door & Nanohana Maze from Tuesday, February 2 – around Saturday, March 15 ※The pamphlet lists February 1–March 10, but the correct period is the one above Announcements & notes ・Although the pamphlet states the Nanohana Door and Nanohana Maze run from Saturday, February 1 to Monday, March 10, the correct period is Sunday, February 2 to around Saturday, March 15. ・The night cherry blossom marathon will not be held. Thank you for your understanding. ・Minami Izu Town Hall (3rd floor observation deck) will be open during the cherry blossom festival. It can be accessed via the outside stairs. ・Some people step on the nanohana (rapeseed flowers) blooming on the riverbank slopes near Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana, but there are light-up cables and other hazards, so please refrain from entering those areas for safety. ◆Parking — Parking is limited, so please use public transportation where possible. Hours: 8:30–15:30 ・Standard car (500 yen per vehicle) ※Please cooperate with the environmental preservation fee (contribution) at the Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana parking lot only. ※On weekends and holidays, including substitute holidays, the Minami Izu Town Hall parking lot is open free of charge. ・Bus (2,500 yen per vehicle) ※Includes medium-sized buses (including microbuses) and large buses ・Motorcycle (200 yen per vehicle) ※If staff are not present due to rain or other conditions, parking may be free. ※During February 1–March 10, the Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana parking lot requests cooperation with the environmental preservation fee (contribution). ※Total parking capacity, including all lots, is approximately 200 vehicles. ※Because the number of parking spaces is limited, please use public transportation whenever possible.

【Diamond Fuji from Fujikawa Town Toya】 At exactly 7 o'clock, I took a picture of Diamond Fuji with a sea of clouds. You can see it one month earlier than Diamond Fuji in the lower heights.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of the Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Metasequoia trees in Makino Highlands, Shiga Prefecture 2023.12.02 It was raining, but the sun shone just a little.

Prayer at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine before work. A pigeon was eating rice on top of Isehikari. 🕊️🌾

[Oyama & Isehara City General Sports Park Autumn Foliage Update] 2024 🍁 The Oyama autumn foliage light-up and OyamaCableCar nighttime service (until 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays) run through Sunday, December 1, 2024! Enjoy a magical atmosphere unlike daytime, with Shonan night views blending with beautiful autumn colors. Here are Oyama Temple on the morning of Sunday, November 24, and the illuminated lower shrine of Oyama Afuri Shrine on Monday, November 25. Oyama attracts many visitors and is almost at peak color now! ※It becomes very crowded on weekends. If you come by car, you may wait 2–3 hours for parking. Please use public transportation whenever possible. ※Sunset comes early, so if you plan to head for the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 4 Take the bus bound for Oyama Cable (about 30 minutes) Get off at the last stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station. 🍂 These are the magnificent ginkgo rows inside Isehara City General Sports Park from last weekend. A leisurely walk! The sports park offers many playgrounds such as a long and wide slide and a tarzan rope. Situated on a hill, it also provides panoramic views of the mountains and town surrounding Isehara, making it well worth a visit! Isehara City General Sports Park Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 3 Kanagawa Chuo Bus No. I-34 bound for Nanasawa Get off at the ‘‘General Sports Park’’ stop and walk 5 minutes.

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

— Bunka-Bunsei Procession ① — On Saturday, November 23, the 57th Bunka-Bunsei Procession took place, hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Association That Loves Tsumago. Under clear skies, residents and visitors recreated the people who likely walked this Nakasendo during the Bunka-Bunsei era and the atmosphere of the post town, bringing lively activity to Nakasendo and Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku).✨ Thank you to everyone who attended and for cooperating with photography etiquette and other manners. We hope the event is held safely again next year.

Photographed 11/22/24. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Shop: Christmas items🎄 Wreaths, patchwork pieces, postcards and more We have an expanding selection of cute items♪ About one month until Christmas🎄 Children are surely waiting for Santa Claus with excited hearts and eager anticipation🎅✨ At Roadside Station Iwanai, Taramaru and Beniko are dressed as Santa! Please take your time browsing the shop when you stop by

✨ The Northern Alps are dusted with snow 🏔 Today, November 25th, just after noon, Omachi City cleared to bright sunshine ☀️ and the snow-dusted Northern Alps appeared 🏔 I took photos from Omachi Park to the east of Omachi City and from the observation deck at the summit of Mt. Takagari ✨ Visitors from Japan and abroad were enjoying the view. For more details, we posted on the staff blog. Please see the official Omachi City Tourism Association website 😌

Photographed 11/23/24. I went to the 7th Koedo Kawagoe Imo Festival. Adult cocoa potato topping here in Wayama. On cold days, it's cocoa. ☕️🍠

Autumn leaves of Lake Shoji 2024.11.23 Normally, Mt. Fuji is the main character, but this time he played a supporting role. Autumn leaves were at the end of the season.

Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) Japanese Sweets Making Experience Learn about Japanese food culture Wagashi plays an important role in learning about Japanese food culture. Beautiful appearance By making them beautifully, such as in the shape of seasonal flowers, you can enjoy not only the taste but also the appearance. As a samurai, I must strengthen my character from the experience of making traditional cultural wagashi. I must continue to perfect my spirit.

This is the Scene of Lake Onneto today (11/25). The road entering Lake Onneto from the national highway is a compacted snow ice burn. Please be careful when passing. The surface of Lake Onneto is only thin ice at the water's edge. It will take some time for the ice to form firmly. On the Lake Onneto Line, which leads to the lake, the gate from Nonaka Hot Spring will close at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 6, and both cars will be closed during the winter season (until April 11 next year). Please note that the road from the national highway to the Hot Spring will not be blocked, but you will not be able to go beyond it to the lake by Car.

The sword is the soul of the samurai; it cannot be sold even if it starves to death. Bushido made the sword a symbol of his power and valor. From an early age, one is taught how to use a sword. He started with a wooden sword, and when he reached the age of 15, he was allowed to carry a serious weapon. At that time, he became aware of his self-respect and sense of responsibility for carrying a dangerous weapon in the street.

Introducing the Letter Set A letter set featuring illustrations of Setoushi-kun. This new Setoushi-kun product was created by Komatsu, a former member of the regional revitalization squad. Envelopes come in two colors: deep green and pale orange. The set includes three envelopes large enough to hold L-size photos and six A5 sheets of writing paper. One set 680 yen Available at Komu Museum of Art, Roadside Station Kam, and Hotel Rimu. We hope not only visitors but also village residents will enjoy using them! #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Setoushi-kun #Setoushi-kun goods #Letter set #Two colors #Travel memories #Promoting the village's charm #Regional revitalization squad #Alumnus #Using subsidy funds

Photographed 11/23/24. Near Hon-Kawagoe Station, the second Shanghai liquor store has opened. The lunch menu is extensive, and this time, it is fried chicken. I'm also curious about the shrimp fried rice. 😊

Photographed 11/23/24. I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. Mary Berry Strawberry Milk and Cookie Sandwich Strawberry & Chocolate. 🍓

[Autumn leaves are in full bloom! ] 11/19 Minami-Alps City This morning, the temperature is Traditional Japanese straw raincoat nationwide, and winter has arrived in the Minami-Alps City! It was so cold that it reminded me of. The Autumn leaves in Minami-Alps City today (11/19) also seem to be progressing at once due to this cold. Mt. Mt. Kushigata is covered with a carpet of warm colors, and Inagako and other places in the city are in full bloom.

Samurai fought fair and square in one-on-one battles, which was the samurai way of fighting. During this time, it was not acceptable for the adversary to initiate a fight. If they did, they were considered "cowards.

The reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "The beauty of the Japanese language. I often hear that the reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "the beauty of the Japanese language. Using the calligraphy skills learned through the calligraphy experience, students write their favorite kanji characters on fans and hanging scrolls of their choice. The master calligrapher will then take the kanji back to your bag with his expert brush strokes. Since each kanji character has multiple meanings, it is important to know what other meanings they have. Knowing the meaning will make the bag shine. #brush #kanji #shodo #travelmemories #calligraphy

Photographed 11/23/24. Yesterday, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinji Festival. It is a Shichi-Go-San shooting spot.

Autumn leaves reflection Autumn leaves were beautifully reflected in the pond. Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture "Takadoya Wetland" 2024/11

On November 8th, I went to the red brick in Sapporo. The Ginkgo was buried in the snow and I felt "between autumn and winter". The next day, it was completely melted. It's almost snowy season.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A wild festival float has just turned around.

Ryujin Falls It is a waterfall in Yumori Park in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture. In front of the waterfall, there are and bridges and stairs, and you can take pictures from various angles. The park is a scenic Spot where you can enjoy more than 15,000 Autumn leaves trees in autumn.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A festival float is greeting the Sumiyoshi Pavilion.

Autumn Oyama Foliage Update 2024🍁 Oyama, bustling with the low-mountain hiking boom⛰ The Oyama foliage light-up and OyamaCableCar night service continue Open until 19:00 on weekdays and until 20:00 on weekends and holidays! As of today, Friday, November 22, Oyama and Oyama Temple look about 60% colored, as you can see. Peak color is expected around Wednesday the 27th, and it may remain good for about another week after that. Near the Oyama Cable station, a ‘‘October cherry’’ (10-gatsu-zakura) was in bloom. Concurrent Events November 23 (Sat), November 24 (Sun), November 30 (Sat), December 1 (Sun) 10:00–16:00 *Shukubo Stamp & Quiz Rally* Visit temple lodgings to collect stamps, answer quizzes, and you might win a lovely prize!? *Old Sando Marche* Along the old sando road in front of the Afuri Shrine office, various food trucks and local shops will set up stalls. 🍁We look forward to seeing you🍁 ※Weekends get very crowded. Days end early, so if you plan to head to the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Bus Stop No. 4 Take the ‘for Oyama Cable’ bus for about 30 minutes Get off at the terminus and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station