On Friday, October 18, 2024, the first batch of cranes, a winter tradition in Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture, arrived! At 3:45 p.m. on Friday, October 18, the Kagoshima Prefecture Crane Conservation Association confirmed that nine cranes landed on the East Reclamation. The breakdown was 7 Crowned Cranes, 1 Black-crowned Crane, and 1 Canadian Crane. The first crane feather count survey was canceled due to bad weather, but after that, the second crane feather count survey of the season was implementation in the early morning of Saturday, November 30, 2024, and as a result of the survey, a total of 12,992 cranes were confirmed: 12,036 cranes, 948 cranes, 4 black-crowned cranes, 3 Canadian cranes, and 1 black-crowned crane. As a result, for 28 consecutive seasons since 1997, we have achieved the arrival of more than 10,000 cranes! In the latest bird count survey on Saturday, December 21, 2024, the number of cranes decreased from the second survey, but a total of 10,928 cranes were confirmed: 8,998 cranes, 1,917 cranes, 8 black-crowned cranes, 3 Canadian cranes, and 2 black-crowned cranes. The next bird count survey of the season will be on Sunday, January 12, 2025. We are looking forward to seeing more cranes coming to the country and seeing rare cranes that have not yet been confirmed this season.

Nobeyama Highlands Today This morning the temperature at Nobeyama Highlands was −13.4°C🌡️It felt colder than the number suggested🥶 The observatory’s 45 m antenna was unusually pointing toward the Yatsugatake Mountains📡🏔️ Snow has mostly melted from main roads, but shaded stretches like Ichibazaka remain damp on the surface even during the day❄️ Please take extra care when driving🚙🎅

There are two Gun Dam Manholes in Izumi City that were donated by the Gun Dam Manhole Project planned by the Bandai Namco groups' Gun Dam Project. Izumi City is the first municipality in Kagoshima Prefecture to donate this "Gun Dam Manhole". The first is the RX-78-2 Gun Dam manhole. This is installed in "Izumi City Tsuru Museum Crane Park Izumi". "Izumi City Crane Museum Crane Park Izumi" is a Museum about "cranes" that come to Izumi City every year for wintering. Throughout the year, it is a "multifunctional facilities" that provides a place for citizens and Izumi, from children to Adult, to learn about and become familiar with the rich Nature of the plains, including cranes Izumi which migrate to the Izumi region Subject Visitors, as well as lifelong learning and research. In addition, at this facilities, one "manhole card" of "RX-78-2 Gun Dam" is distributed to each person who visits the museum directly and answers the questionnaire. (* We do not distribute by phone or mail, make reservations, set aside, or distribute after hours.) ） Next is the manhole of "MSM-04 Aggai". This is located in the "Izumi Foothills History Museum" in the "Samurai residences at the foot of Izumi", which is one of the largest samurai residences in Japan. This facility opened in May of the first year of Reiwa, and exhibits on the history of the foothills of Izumi. At the entrance, a diorama of the foothills of Izumi is on display, and the Reproduction of the foothills of Izumi around the end of the Edo period is reproduced. In addition, there is a VR in the lobby where you can see the scenery of the Izumi foothills in the Edo period. Gun Dam fans, manhole fans, and manhole card fans, please come to Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture for "Push Activity"!

Flower charcoal born from plants in Ubuyama villages. I know it's an unfamiliar word, but it's made from Ingredients made from pine cones, Nanten, and the grasslands and mountains of Ubuyama villages. Speaking of charcoal, various effective for There are such as deodorizing and deodorizing effects have been packaged a little coolly as an interior decoration and as a gift for loved ones. Just by dripping your favorite aroma on this charcoal, you can also make your own original duffuser. We can't make many because the staff belonging to the Tourist Association are creating them in detail, but if you are interested parties, please comment. In addition, this charcoal is brittle and fragile, so we do not currently send it by mail. In order to let many people know about Ubuyama Ingredients, we are currently creating them and selling them at markets in the neighboring area. Prices will also fluctuate. The photo is for illustrative purposes only.

About a 3-minute walk from JR Oito Line Hotaka Station Snow has begun to fall at Hotaka Shrine, bringing a true winter feeling Come visit for New Year’s Eve shrine visits or Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) Visit Hotaka Shrine’s official website here https://www.hotakajinja.com// Visit Hotaka Shrine’s Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/hotakajinja/...

Oike Park in Fukushima Prefecture 2024.12.21 Swans seemed to be singing in the morning glow.

Photographed 12/16/24. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop. 🎄

Calligraphy is an aesthetic expression of Japanese culture. Before experiencing calligraphy, we will ask you to change into Japanese traditional clothes. Men should wear Hakama (traditional Japanese male dress) and Doogi (traditional Japanese robe) and become a Samurai. Women will wear kimono and become a Yamato Nadeshiko. #calligraphy #kanji #kimono #samuraihonor

This is a Christmas exhibition at the Kawagoe Prince Hotel. 🎄

A special piece of Ubuyama. We are in the middle of a cold winter, but in Spring you can enjoy the green grasslands. It's fun in the cold winter, Squid must be early in Spring ~.

Everyone eats around the table, so it's delicious ♪ A small village with a population of about 1,400 people. Together with the mothers living in this Ubuyama village, we held in a lunch party for "soup" in Aso. Thereare different cooking methods and seasonings for each household, This time, we asked one mother to be a teacher and Implementation a food education Events with a total of 20 people. Fresh vegetables received from farmers in the Village, which cannot be tasted in the city, and handmade miso made by everyone at the beginning of this year, were used to enjoy delicious soup that can only be tasted here. I really enjoyed chatting with everyone and having casual conversations. Implementation of this food education event that gives you a sense of Satoyama life changes the content depending on the season. Not only people in the Village but also people from outside the Village are allowed to participate, and several people participate each time. In the future, we would be happy if not only domestic but also overseas people who are interested in living in Japan could participate. Protect and inherit the Satoyama lifestyle, while enjoying it. Through such activities, it would be great if the people of the Village could enjoy interacting with people from outside.

A piece of Spring in Ubuyama Village. Ubuyama is in the middle of winter, and the cold winter is fun, but I can't Can't wait for the warm Spring.

On Tuesday, December 17, we held in the "Ubuyama Village Winter Lunch Party". Village, about 20 participants from outside the Village were able to enjoy cooking and eating deliciously while learning about the master's commitment. Speaking of Kumamoto and Aso, "soup" soup is also eaten in Oita Prefecture, but the taste and shape of the soup are different depending on the region and each family. This time, we asked a mother from Ubuyama Village to be a teacher and teach us how to cook. We used vegetables that were painstakingly made by farmers in the Village, and we enjoyed the soup with new Rice and Akitaka cabbage. It is a small Village with about 1,400 Village residents, but the people who live there are very powerful. Ubuyama Village is located in the hinterland of Aso. There are many roads that are difficult to pass with a large car, and you can feel a different charm from popular sightseeing spots. I would be happy if you could learn about Satoyama life in the Ubuyama village where the deep part of Aso remains strongly through this article.

The annual New Year's Events "New Spring Dogashima Mochi Throwing Tournament" will be held in from 10 a.m. on January 2, 2025. About 8,000 rice cakes fly in the sky. A congratulatory gift will be given 🎁 to those who get a mochi with a winning ticket for "Daikichi Beni" and "Daikichi White" We look ☺️ forward to seeing you there

The practice of swordsmanship was intended above all to nurture the mind. The samurai, through diligent practice and extreme concentration, desired to attain a state of unthoughtfulness, free of attachment or preoccupation, and thus able to respond instantly. A warrior is prepared to die each morning. In the quiet moments of the morning, he imagines himself being struck by lightning, doused by fire, or cut to pieces with a sword or spear. It is hard to remember that one step outside the doorway is the world of death. #Honor #Bushido #samuraisord #katana

Photographed 12/23/24. LEC COFFEE's strawberry latte and kumquat Basque cheesecake. The latte art is a Christmas tree, which is very nice. 🎄 Kumquat Basque cheesecake has kumquats inside and is delicious. 🍊

📍Yokawa District Photos 1 and 2 show Yokawa this morning (12.24) ☀ Last night’s snow left a light dusting on the roads and the Yokawa trail! If you plan to walk, please wear winter gear. Photos 3–5 are from Tsumago in the morning yesterday ❄ There is no snow on Route 19. This morning it was −1°C ❄ If you are coming from or heading to the Achi or Iida areas, watch for snow and ice on the Seinaiji Pass 🚗⚠ It looks like we’ll have good weather today and tomorrow ✨

New Year in Kanagawa! Hatsumode Welcome the start of the new year at a shrine in Kanagawa? https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/theme_list/hatsumode...

Today, we interviewed LEC COFFEE. It's a gingerman cookie. It's very, very pretty, isn't it? I also bought it, but it's a waste to eat it. ☺️

Kyoto Prefecture Miyama Karabuki no Sato Snow Festival It was a pity that there was no snow, but I wanted to take a panoramic view of the village of Miyama, so I climbed the snowy mountain alone Next time, I would like to see snow on the roof, but if that happens, there will be even more snow on the mountain side. Is it dangerous to climb snow? 🤔

Miyama Karabuki no Sato Snow Festival It was a pity that there was no snow, but I wanted to take a picture of the whole view of the village of Miyama, so I managed to climb the snowy mountain alone and took a hard picture. Of course, since it was a snowy mountain, there was no road, and it was almost a cliff climb, but 😅 on the way back, it was pitch dark and I managed to descend the mountain while getting lost on the way. 😌

Japan Garden at Kinosaki Onsen Yutoya Ryokan A magnificent pine tree in the garden is covered with 😯 snow

Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo No matter how many times you come here, you will be healed 😌♨️

Japan Garden of Kinosaki Onsen Yutoya Ryokan A magnificent pine tree in the garden is covered with 😯 snow

Here is tourist information for Nagiso town! Momosuke Bridge [Important Cultural Property of Japan] Momosuke Bridge (Momosukebashi) is one of Japan’s largest wooden suspension bridges spanning the Kiso River, with a total length of 247 meters and a width of 2.7 meters, and you can still walk across it. In Taisho 11 (1922), Momosuke Fukuzawa (the son‑in‑law of Yukichi Fukuzawa), known as a power magnate, built the bridge as a transport route for materials during the Kiso River hydroelectric development 🌲🚃 From Showa 25 (1950) the bridge served as a village road, greatly helping local transportation between the communities on both banks and the commuting of high school and middle school students. However, by around Showa 53 (1978) deterioration advanced and full repairs were not possible, leaving the bridge close to being lost. Because many people advocated for its preservation and use, it was restored as a modern heritage asset (a tangible cultural property of Nagiso town) together with the development of the surrounding Tenpaku Park. In Heisei 6 (1994) it was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Highlights✅ - A thrilling suspension bridge built at the widest part of the Kiso River! - At the time, rails for a trolley used to transport materials ran along the center of the bridge; the restoration preserves traces of those rails so you can see them. Be sure to take a look ✨ - In spring you can also enjoy the cherry trees (Somei Yoshino) that bloom on the Nagiso Station side. On the hill of Tenpaku Park, where Momosuke Bridge stands, there is a azalea garden. Around early April about 400 azalea shrubs of six varieties, including the town flower mitsuba azalea, burst into bloom! - From the observation deck opposite the azalea garden you can view Momosuke Bridge from above. - You can go down from around the middle of Momosuke Bridge to the riverside park. - The bridge is recommended in every season. Especially in spring, cherry blossoms, mitsuba azalea, and flowering peach trees bloom together 🌸 - The bridge is lit up, so you can walk it at night. It’s also a good spot for photographing with the stars. Please take care around your feet. Access - By car: Just off Route 19, free parking in Tenpaku Park (30 spaces); 3‑minute walk from the parking lot - By JR: About a 5‑minute walk from JR Nagiso Station Note: The carp streamer (koinobori) display shown in spring photos is not currently being held.

Notice of extended hours for the town-run hot spring, “Waraku no Yu.” For a limited period from January 4, 2025 to March 30, 2025, weekday hours will be extended by three hours! ・Before change: 10:00 AM–3:30 PM ・After change: 10:00 AM–6:30 PM (Same hours as weekends and public holidays) ※Closed every Monday (If Monday is a public holiday, closed the following day) The season of beautiful narcissus and cherry blossoms is almost here. Please stop by on your way back from your trip! Residents of the town (Adults 300 yen, Children 150 yen) Non-residents (Adults 500 yen, Children 250 yen) ※Free for children under elementary school age Private bath (2,500 yen per hour) For inquiries: Senior Welfare Center Waraku no Yu ☎0470-55-8830

The Way of the Brush Along with the martial arts, many other arts flourished, including calligraphy, tea ceremony, tea bowls, poetry, incense, and Noh drama, and a samurai needed to have knowledge of both the sword and the brush in order to be seen as a cultured gentleman. For those of us living in today's busy world, learning about the samurai spirit can give us insight into our attitude, attention, and focus, and foster the determination needed to achieve our goals to the fullest. #kangi #calligraphy #kimono #osakacastle

Photographed 12/21/24. This is Udon noodles Tatsumi's COEDO bukkake. It is a soy sauce broth with pork and potato heaven. The kake Udon noodles were also delicious, but the bukkake Udon noodles were not too thick and tasted just right. Imo Heaven is also delicious. 😊🍠

Come to 🎄 Cocoon for Christmas the day after tomorrow This is Saitama New Central Tokyo in Saitama City, Saitama prefecture. Held in Christmas market until December 25th, the day after tomorrow. Be sure to 🥹 visit

SAMURAI Armor 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. #osakacastle #samurai #calligraphy #katana