🚴 Exploring the mystery of how the bicycle industry began in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, famed as "the birthplace of many things," the bicycle industry took root and flourished 🚲 Join a guided tour led by a curator to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history 🕵️ 📢 “Untangling Sakai: Investigating Sakai’s Mysteries 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬 Registration: on-site, first-come, first-served 🎫 Participation fee: Free (museum admission not included) 📞 Inquiries: 072-221-3196

🚴 Delving into the mystery of how the bicycle industry was born in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, hailed as “the place where everything begins,” the bicycle industry flourished🚲 Join a curator-led guided tour to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history🕵️ 📢 “Untying the Threads: Uncovering Sakai’s Mysteries 2025”🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai tourism guide website. 📬 Registration: first-come, first-served on the day 🎫 Participation fee: free (museum admission not included) 📞 Contact: 072-221-3196

As part of the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater’s 40th anniversary projects, five videos were produced under the theme “A Moving Theater.” One of these, a collaboration video pairing Manda Pit with dance, has been released on YouTube. The performance set against the historic Manda Pit features professional dancer Yusuke Hayama as lead, choreographer, and scriptwriter. Art director Takashi Yoshida composed and directed an original piece for this project, and the film was produced by OP Films from Onigashima Productions. True to the phrase “Dance is Timeless,” the video offers a dance interpretation of Manda Pit’s history that transcends eras. https://arao-kankou.jp/info/11207/... Other videos created under the “A Moving Theater” theme are also available. Please take a look. ・Sakitsu Village × Double Bass ・Yatsushiro Myoken Festival × Tsugaru Shamisen and Japanese Drums ・Aso × String Quartet ・Misumi West Port × Marching Band

📢 The “Futari Demo Sakai” Campaign Is Here!💑✨ Starting Friday, March 14, Sakai City kicks off the “Futari Demo Sakai” campaign!🎯🚶‍♂️ Enjoy plenty of activities made for pairs, from journeys decided by dart throws to special Sakai-only experiences💛🎉 📅 Period: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, May 31 ✅ Free to participate 🆓 ✅ No reservation required 📆✖️ ✅ Chances to win prizes!🎁 🔍 For details, visit the Sakai tourism guide website and search “Futari Demo Sakai”! 💡 Campaign Highlights 1. Dart Trip Let fate choose your destination! Visit spots while taking on quizzes along the way🎯 Answer all questions at a spot correctly to earn a chance to play a prize-winning dart game✨ 2. Special Experiences Try Sakai cultural activities like wagashi (Japanese confection) making and tea ceremony experiences🍵 3. Digital Stamp Rally Visit any 4 of the 7 spots to enter a lottery for prizes🎁 4. Share Campaign Post photos or videos of your pair trip in Sakai on Instagram with both hashtags #futari_demo_sakai and #futari_tabi! 🏯💑💫 Five winners will be chosen by lottery from those who post to receive lovely prizes!🎁 Share your memories and join the campaign!📲✨ We have posted a reel video for this campaign on our official Instagram and Facebook. Please take a look👀

Announcement of the 57th Banei Kinen📣 On Sunday, March 16, the pinnacle race of Banei horse racing, the Norin-Suisan Daijin Shoten—the 57th Banei Kinen—will be held at Banei Tokachi Obihiro Racecourse to decide the strongest Banei horse!!😄 In this event, massive draft horses weighing about one ton pull one-ton sleds as they compete in speed and strength!! At Obihiro Racecourse, the Banei Kinen events will run from March 14 through March 16. Enjoy three days packed with a variety of activities🎵 This year, Tokachi Aozora Ladies will join the Banei Kinen events. Around 2:00 PM on March 14 they will make on-track predictions together with expert tipsters—please come by and join the fun!! Recently, Tokachi Aozora Ladies promoted the Banei Kinen in Sapporo together with Banei racing officials and Banei Tokachi’s mascot, Ricky. They appeared on FM North Wave, then were interviewed by Hokkaido Shimbun, Sports Nippon, and Sports Hochi. Thank you very much!! Come to Obihiro Racecourse and cheer as these giant horses take each powerful step right before your eyes🎵

🛕 Main Hall Guided Tour & Uncovering the Mystery of Sakai Prefecture In addition to a guided tour of the city’s largest wooden structure, the Main Hall, the temple’s sutra repository will be open for two days only😲 We will explore the mystery of “Sakai Prefecture,” which existed for 14 years in the past✨ 📢 "Untie the Strings: Exploring the Mystery of Sakai 2025"🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍 Honganji Sakai Betsuin, free admission! 🔍 For details, please check the Sakai Tourism Guide website news. 📬 How to apply: On the day, please speak to a nearby sightseeing volunteer guide. ※ During chanting, visitors cannot enter the Main Hall, so you may be asked to wait.

-Samurai Sword Trial Cutting You will learn how to use a sword and become aware of your self-respect and the responsibility of carrying a deadly weapon. At that time, you will be allowed to wear a serious sword. You will try your hand at sword cutting with a samurai sword. Experience the best cutting edge in the world. #samuraisword #bushido

The only souvenir that can make you feel "Japanese". Calligraphy has a delicate sense of beauty, and the subtle changes in fine lines, dots and shading enhance its beauty. There is also an aesthetic sense of stillness, and it is important to keep the mind quiet and focused when writing. It is also essentially about basic manners, such as sitting upright, keeping a straight back and holding the brush upright. The fan, which is still familiar to Japanese people as a tool that appears at milestones in life, and calligraphy on hanging scrolls, which are traditional Japanese works of art, are very popular among foreigners, as they are decorated in an appropriate manner and can be displayed in tokonoma (alcove) and other places. #kakejiku #kanji #wabisabi #snuvenir

🏯✨ Yurukyara of Izumi City "Tsuru no Shin" ✨🐦 Do you know Izumi City's official character "Tsuru no Shin"? 👀 The other day, he appeared on TV, became a hot topic in some circles, and became a little more well-known (?). I did ✨ A character born in Izumi City, the destination of No.1 in Japan! 🦢⚔️ Tsurunoshin plays a major role 💨 every day to convey the charm of Izumi City I appear at Events, promote Izumi City, and do my best 💪🔥 to let everyone know about Izumi If you see one, please call out 📢😊 "Tsuru no shin!" You are also welcome to take pictures with us 📸✨

Samurai Calligraphy Resignation is the last character to be written in this world in preparation for death. Calligraphy is a beautiful part of Japanese culture, but before you experience it, imagine it. Before you experience it, imagine that you are about to say goodbye to this world. You will be dressed in kimono or hakama like a samurai. #kanji #Calligraphy#performance

Nice to meet you all! This is the Chofu City Tourism Association Secretariat. Chofu City is located in the southeastern part of the Tama district, almost in the center of Tokyo, Located in 15 kilometers from the Shinjuku Vice Central Tokyo. It is a city full of charm where you can enjoy "movies", "Jindaiji Temple", "Ge no Kitaro", "fireworks", "Tama River", etc., where the charm of nature and the city are fused. ==Introduction to Chofu City== ■Jindaiji Temple The Jindaiji Temple area, blessed with abundant greenery and spring water, is loved as a place of relaxation. Jindaiji Temple is known as one of the one-of-the-best ancient temples in the Kanto region, and its Minamoto is said to have been founded by Manku Shoujin in the Nara period. Precious temple treasures such as the bronze Buddha Statue of Buddha (late Asuka period), which was designated as a national treasure in the 2017 (Heisei 29), are enshrinement. In front of the gate, there are tea houses where Worshippers can relax, and Specialties Jindaiji Temple Soba noodle stores. ■The city where Water Manga was born Chofu City is the "city where Water manga was born" where Shigeru Water, an honorary citizen of Chofu City, the creator of "Ge no Kitaro", lived for more than 50 years. Shigeru Water is loved and affectionately received by many citizens, so he was awarded the title of honorary citizen in 2008 (Heisei 20). You can meet Kitaro and his friends in various places in the city. ■ The City of Movies During the heyday of Japan films in the 1955 (Showa 30) era, in addition to Daiei and Nikkatsu, Chofu Film Studios Co., Ltd. (now around Tama River 2-chome), an independent production company, produced movies at three locations, and Chofu was likened to "Hollywood of the East." The film industry flourished in Chofu because of the Nature environment, which is suitable for both period and contemporary dramas, and because of the abundance of clean water, which is indispensable for film development. Chofu City, where about 40 film and video companies are still concentrated, has grown as a "movie town" and is used as a location for many movies and dramas. ■Chofu fireworks Chofu fireworks held in on the Tama River. In fact, it has a long history, and the first time it was held in was in Showa 8. After that, the history of the Chofu City Fireworks Festival began in Showa 57. Approximately 10,000 fireworks that are launched non-stop color the night sky of Chofu and are popular as Chofu Specialties Fun will Broadcast Tourist Information on Chofu City at COOL JAPAN VIDEOS!

Zen Etiquette and Manners Calligraphy has a delicate sense of beauty, and the subtle changes in fine lines, dots, and shading enhance its beauty. There is also an aesthetic sense of stillness, and it is important to keep one's mind quiet and focused when writing. In addition, it is essentially important to perform basic manners, such as sitting upright, keeping the back straight, and holding the brush upright. #Calligraphy #teaceremony #Zen

-Samurai Calligraphy Experience When a samurai foresees his death, he looks back on his life so far and writes his last characters in this world with a brush. Each kanji character has its own meaning, so please learn what meaning the last character left behind has. #Calligraphy #kanji #kimono

A coal mine trolley will run at Manda Pit! The coal mine trolley displayed at the Manda Pit coal preparation plant will run! Of the two displayed cars, No. 12 will run. The coal mine trolley used the Miike Coal Mine private railway to carry coal mined at Manda Pit for export from Miike Port. Be sure to see the trolley as it glides along in pleasant operation. Scheduled running times Every 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:30 15:30 Manda Pit Postal code 864-0001 200-2 Haramanda, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture ◆Closed: Mondays (the following day if Monday is a public holiday) and during the New Year holidays ◆Admission fees: Adults 410 yen, High school students 310 yen, Elementary and junior high students 210 yen, Infants free *Group rates available (20 people or more) ◆Opening hours: 9:30–17:00 (last entry 16:30) ◆Phone: 0968-57-9155

📜 Special Exhibition: Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence Opening 🎉 Holding “The World of Documents from the Inoue Sekuemon Family: Production, Sales, and Techniques of Sakai Firearms” To mark the first anniversary of the Teppō Blacksmith Residence, Sakai City Museum presents a special exhibition introducing Sakai’s firearms industry in the Edo period: “The World of Documents from the Inoue Sekuemon Family: Production, Sales, and Techniques of Sakai Firearms.” ✨ 🔍 This exhibition traces the history of the Inoue Sekuemon family through old documents to deepen understanding of Sakai as a town of craftsmanship, and introduces Edo-period Sakai firearms from the perspectives of production, sales, and technical skill. 📖 Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore the production, sales, and techniques of Sakai firearms!

Kahori-bukuro Making Experience “Exploring the Mysteries of Aromatic Woods and Kampo Medicine” 🙌 In Sakai, where incense was first made in Japan, you can blend several incense ingredients to create your favorite kahori-bukuro (scent sachet) 💕 We will delve into the mysteries of aromatic woods and Kampo (traditional Japanese herbal medicine) ✨ 📢 “Untie the Strings, Explore Sakai — Investigating Sakai’s Mysteries 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum, 2nd floor TAKUMI EXHIBITION — held only on Saturday the 22nd! 🔍For details, please check the notices on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬Registration: First-come, first-served on the day 🎫Participation fee: 500 yen (tax included) 💰Payment: Pay at the 1st-floor TAKUMI SHOP register on the day, and show the receipt at the venue. 📞Contact: 072-227-1001

【Trial Slashing】 Try your hand at sword cutting with a real Japanese sword! Experience the world's best cutting performance. This time, you will try cutting a rolled straw #samuraisword #katana #teaceremony

Manda Pit is also hugely popular as a cosplay photo spot! Arao City's symbol Manda Pit In 2015 (Heisei 27) it was registered as part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution World Heritage. The Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution—iron and steel, shipbuilding, and coal mining—represent the first successful spread of the Industrial Revolution from Europe to the non-Western world. Between the mid-19th century and the early 20th century, Japan achieved rapid industrialization in just over half a century. Now preserved as valuable industrial remains, Manda Pit has newly become extremely popular as a cosplay photo location!! Many cosplayers and photographers use the site. Visitors and staff alike find themselves captivated by the authentic costumes and makeup. Here are some precious off‑shot photos. When a shoot starts, the site feels different from the Manda Pit we usually see as staff, and that gives us a strange, wonderful feeling. Manda Pit is perfect for cosplay photography, offering everything from striking action shots to nostalgic scenes. You’re sure to get photos you’ll love—highly recommended. We look forward to your visit. Information Filming requires advance reservation and a photo shoot application form. Please download the application form from the Arao City website. For changing rooms and luggage storage please use the Manda Coal Mine Museum (paid). This also requires advance reservation. Please contact the Manda Coal Mine Museum for room availability. Manda Coal Mine Museum: Phone 0968-64-1300 If you have any questions, please contact Manda Pit Station. ◆ Manda Pit Station 〒864-0001 200-2 Haramanda, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture ◆ Phone: 0968-57-9155 ◆ FAX: 0968-57-9156 ◆ Closed: Mondays (the following day if Monday is a holiday), and during the New Year holidays ◆ Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.) ◆ Admission fees: Manda Pit ruins / Adults: ¥410, High school students: ¥310, Elementary and junior high students: ¥210, Preschool children: free ◆ Access: Bus / 8 minutes from JR Arao Station ◆ Parking: 5 large buses, 3 medium buses, 72 passenger cars #Kumamoto #World Heritage #World Cultural Heritage #Miike Coal Mine #Manda Pit #Manda Coal Mine Museum #cosplay #photo spot #Arao City website

Exploring Japan goes beyond just stunning landscapes; it’s a journey steeped in rich traditions. Experiencing traditional Japanese style tea ceremony and making Wagashi with friends in Kimono or Yukata is just a wonderful experience which I will remember my whole life. This is the other side of cool Japan beyond the Natural beauty and mouth watering food. We enjoyed it in Asakusa area of Tokyo.

Zoom in on Tokyo Station at night! Zoom in Tokyo Station !

What did the mine baths look like? At the Miike Coal Mine Manda Pit there is a newly opened Safety Lamp Room and Bathhouse that opened to the public in fiscal 2024. This bathhouse is the facility that was used from around 1951 (Showa 26), about 74 years after coal extraction stopped at Manda Pit, until 1997 (Heisei 9). Because this bathhouse served the small number of miners who performed maintenance work underground, it is different from the large bathhouses from Manda Pit’s heyday. Although smaller in scale, it served the same purpose of washing off the grime from underground work. Because coal dust that stuck to workers during work was hard to wash off, the washing area was separate from the tubs, and the tubs were divided into the "first bath" and an "up-bath (kakari-yu)" used after cleaning oneself thoroughly. (For details about the large bathhouse used by about 3,500 miners at Manda Pit’s peak, guided tours at Manda Pit offer more information, so please consider using a guide.) The Miike Coal Mine had abundant groundwater and required constant pumping. You might think that plentiful groundwater would be suitable for filling the tubs, but the water used for bathing was tap water. The reason was that water drawn from underground contained fine fragments of coal and other materials that posed a risk of injury, so it was not used at Manda Pit. On Hashima (Gunkanjima), water had to be brought in by supply ship from the mainland until a submarine water pipeline opened in 1953 (Showa 28). At that time, sea water was boiled for baths, and fresh water was reserved for the final "up-bath (kakari-yu)." A scene in the 2024 drama "Diamonds Sleeping in the Sea" also shows miners using the bathhouse after finishing underground work, so please pay attention to that when you watch.

Mr. Jizo in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City Many of them are simple paintings that look like eyes and noses in chaos

🔪Delving into the Mystery of Blade Shapes🔪 📚Join Eric Chevalier, a blacksmith-trained native of France who apprenticed in Sakai, as he explores the many mysteries behind blade shapes! Blades are indispensable in our daily lives, and this event digs into the unique appeal of Sakai cutlery.✨ 📢“Untying the Threads of Sakai: Exploring Sakai’s Mysteries 2025”🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍Sakai Hamono Museum “CUT” (inside Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum) 🔍For details, please check the notices on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬Registration: First-come, first-served on the day (Participation fee: free) ※If you wish to participate, please speak to staff at the TAKUMI SHOP on the first floor. 📞Contact: 072-227-1001

Kintsugi Workshop 🖌️ Bring your favorite cracked or chipped dish back to life with an easy kintsugi method using putty and brass powder! 👀 📢“Himo Tokeba Sakai: Exploring the Mysteries of Sakai 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍Sakai Risho no Mori; held only on Saturday, March 22. Reservations open from Saturday, March 1! 🔍For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai Tourism Guide website 📬Apply: Sakai Risho no Mori reservation site 📞Inquiries: 072-260-4386

Coal Mine Train Photo Exhibition 2025 Now Open! We are exhibiting photographs that capture the many faces of coal mine trains. Please come and visit! ◆Dates: Sunday, March 2, 2025 – Sunday, March 30, 2025 ◆Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM ※Closed: Every Monday (closed the following Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday) ◆Venue: Manda Coal Mine Museum, 213 Hara Manda, Arao City ◆Contact: Manda Pit Station, 200-2 Hara Manda, Arao City ☏0968-57-9155 Organizer: Manda Coal Mine Museum Co-organizer: NPO Coal Mine Train Preservation Society

\Echizen's Kiln Artist Exhibition, Held in! ／ There are many pottery makers in Fukui Prefecture, mainly in Echizen Town. Would you like to know more about the work, commitment, personality, etc. of such potters? At the Cultural Exchange Hall in Echizen Pottery Village, an exhibition of works "Echizen potters" is being held in, which exhibits the works of potters in the prefecture. Please take a look at the works that express "now" along with the thoughts and unknown profiles of more than 50 potters! If there is a timing on the weekend, the potter will actually guide you ~. The exhibition will run until Sunday, March 16, 2025. Admission is free. ==================== Fukui "Ceramics" Network Exhibition 2025 ~Echizen no Kilns~ Date: March 1 (Sat) ~ March 16 (Sun), 2025 Venue: Echizen Ceramics Village Cultural Exchange Center (https://www.town-echizen.jp/spot/spot01Detail.php?id=434)... Fee: Free admission Time: 9 a.m. ~ 5 p.m. ====================

◎ Duty-free shop in Echizen Town where you can buy Echizen pottery The number of foreign tourists is gradually increasing in Fukui Prefecture. Even in Echizen Town, the number of people seeking Echizen pottery and Echizen crab is increasing day by day. Therefore, when you come from far away and buy Souvenirs that you like, a nice service is the TAX FREE shop. Until now, there was not a single registered facility in Echizen Town, but finally the first registered facilities! Two facilities registered this time are Furai Kiln, the Echizen pottery kiln, and Fukui Prefectural Pottery Museum. I would like to Broadcasting the charm of Echizen Pottery to the world and Spread people who like Echizen Pottery to the world! ◎ Furai kiln https://www.instagram.com/furaigama/... With the theme of Nature and living creatures, we create vessels that look like the world of a warm Picture book.　 We value the simplicity and warmth of the soil of Echizen, and try to make the tableware moderately light and palatable so that it can be used in daily life. ◎ Fukui Prefectural Ceramics Museum https://www.instagram.com/tougeikan/... Fukui Prefectural Pottery Museum is a museum of Echizen pottery. We will introduce a documents museum where you can see and learn about Echizen pottery, a pottery class where you can make and enjoy it, a tea garden that you can use and taste, a museum shop, and nature in the Seasonal Nature.

'Mine Tram Preservation Sites Stamp Rally' Event Period Sunday, November 3, 2024–Sunday, March 30, 2025 Stamp and Card Pickup Locations Mine Tram Station Zero (shop reception) Manda Pit (Marugoto Arao Local Products Center reception) Mikawakou (shop register) Omuta Tourist Plaza (register reception) *Banners will mark the entrances where stamps and cards are available. How to Collect Stamps and Get Your Prize 1. Pick up a rally card at any of the four locations listed above. 2. Collect stamps at each location. 3. Receive your prize at the location where you stamp the fourth mark. The 'Mine Tram Preservation Sites Stamp Rally' runs from Sunday, November 3, 2024 through March 30, 2025. During the event, visit the four stamp and card pickup locations to receive an original tin badge produced by the NPO Mine Tram Preservation Society (two designs available). We look forward to many participants! Inquiries NPO Mine Tram Preservation Society Organizer: NPO Mine Tram Preservation Society Supported by: Omuta City, Arao City Cooperation: Shiraishi Motor Co., Ltd.; Omuta City Tourism Association; Arao City Tourism Association; NPO Miike Port Future Town Development Association

Nagawacho Wada Kyuin Shrine "After a heavy, continuous downpour, floods swept through and clusters of earthworms about one shaku long died. After that, an epidemic broke out in this area and caused a great uproar. People said, 'It's the curse of the earthworms,' so they built a small shrine and enshrined the earthworms." Kyuin (earthworm) may have transformed into a deity, and it is called 'Okin-sama.' The earthworm's form is... 😘

Nagawacho Wada along the Nakasendo A stone monument erected near the side path toward the Mimizu Shrine. Can you see that it says “mimizu”? It’s such an adorable Mimizu-sama (Okin-sama) 😊