"Sawajiri's Terraced Rice Fields" in Marumori Towns, Miyagi Prefecture Masonry, which is rare in Tohoku, is a historic terraced rice field that was developed from the Edo period to the Showa period. It has been selected as one of the "100 Best Terraced Rice Fields in Japan" and was certified as a "Tsunagu Terraced Rice Heritage" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the 4th year of Reiwa. I hope that we will always be able to see the original scenery of Japan, which has such a long history.

Gyoi-kō (Gyoikō) is a plant in the genus Prunus of the Rosaceae family. It is a Japanese-origin cultivated variety of satoyama cherry (satozakura) that originated from the Oshima cherry. The name has been seen since the mid-Edo period and comes from a color close to the light green of aristocratic robes. It is apparently also called “Misogi (purification).” The Gyoi-kō shown in this photo is the one at Akiba Shrine in Shimizu-cho, Suwa City. This shrine features several large zelkova trees and three small shrines at their roots, creating a very otherworldly atmosphere that seems like it could appear in a Ghibli film. Entering Akiba Shrine and going to the left rear, you will find this Gyoi-kō. This cherry blooms about two weeks later than Somei Yoshino and generally flowers around Golden Week. The timing is similar to that of yaezakura (double-flowered cherry). When the flowers first open, the petals are pale green even inside, and as they near the end of blooming faint pink streaks appear toward the center. Although the tree’s vigor has declined compared with the past, the sign says the average tree age is about 20 years. If you look closely, it was planted on May 25, 1975 (Showa 50), so it is 49 years old this year. Amazing, isn’t it! Unlike the famous pink cherries, its pale yellow-green color gives off a lovely hue. Every year I enjoy seeing yaezakura and this Gyoi-kō after the Somei Yoshino finish blooming. Answer! The phrase “light green colored cherry blossom,” which I posted in English on Instagram on January 18 of this year, referred to this Gyoi-kō at Akiba Shrine. Please take a look at the English post as well. Also, as far as I know, there is a green cherry that appears to be Gyoi-kō on the grounds of the former Suwa City Cleaning Center, now a Suwa City facility for recycling pruned branches. Because this is a Suwa City facility, if you go to recycle pruned branches in early spring and have a chance, please take a look. If you miss the Somei Yoshino bloom around April in future years, please consider adding Gyoi-kō to your list of blossoms to see. In particular, if you know of any unusual cherry trees in Suwa City or the six neighboring municipalities, or if you have other local information to share, please leave a comment. I will visit as many as possible! Suwa Tourism Association Instagram → @suwa_nagano Please follow us!

“Hidden Spots of Shinano-Omachi” Photography Workshop — Learn Camera Techniques on Omachi Shopping Street Join a tour to learn camera techniques on Omachi Shopping Street. The event is finally approaching on June 8. We will walk and practice photography at historic locations: Matsubaya Ryokan (Matsubaya Guest House), built in the Taisho era; Takara Shokudo, built in the Meiji era; and Omachi Meitengai, built in the 1960s (Showa 40s). For this shooting tour, we have special permission to enter these buildings, and participants will have the chance to hear from an instructor who knows Omachi inside and out. The instructor is Kiyoshi Kashiwabara, a photo instructor certified by the Japan Association of Photography Instructors, a native of Omachi who shares the charm of Omachi’s landscapes and people through his photography.

Uji City, Kyoto Ujigawa cormorants are said to have already been practiced in the Heian period, and have a long history Impression when I saw it for the first time, it was 😌 a mysterious sight with a female cormorant being active I didn't know if flash photography was good for animals, so I dared to shoot without flash

A townscape that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to Edo Narai juku, Nagano There was also a large Kiso Bridge nearby, and it was a 😌 place where you could feel the history

Water wheel in Shinno, Kamikawa-cho, Hyogo Prefecture It is said that it has existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum algae baikamo, which only lives in clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter a rural landscape rich in rich in nature and a beautiful original landscape that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Water wheel in Shinno, Kamikawa-cho, Hyogo Prefecture It is said that it has existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum algae baikamo, which only lives in clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter a rural landscape rich in rich in nature and a beautiful original landscape that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Water turbine in Shinno, Kamikawa, Hyogo It is said to have existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum flower algae baikamo, which only live in Clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter Rich in nature rural scenery and beautiful original scenery that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Katakura-kan, nationally designated Important Cultural Property This day-use bathing facility lies about a seven-minute walk from Kamisuwa Station. One of Suwa’s most famous baths, it served as a filming location for the movie Thermae Romae II. The deep 1.1 m bath called the “Sen-nin-buro” (Thousand-Person Bath) is meant for standing while you soak, which often surprises visitors. Smooth river pebbles cover the floor of the large bath, pleasantly stimulating the soles of your feet. It’s an ideal bath for tired bodies and is refreshing even in the height of summer—recommended for visitors to Kamisuwa Onsen♨ Day-use bathing is available here, so please enjoy the historic architecture along with the bath! Search keywords → Katakura-kan Sen-nin-buro

Ondo, Kure, Hiroshima Recommended Spots in Hiroshima #Ondo 👈 One piece 📸 in the idyllic port town of Ondo One of my favorite points is the relaxing and healing scenery 😊 If you walk along the road ahead, you can 😊 interact with quaint alleys like Onomichi and stray cats 🐈 ⬛

Narai-juku, located on the old Nakasendo road, is the longest post town in Japan, stretching about 1 km along the Narai River. This historic site features the Chinjin Shrine at the top of Torii Pass on its Kyoto end. Once a bustling hub for travelers, Narai-juku was known as "Narai Senken" Narai's Thousand Houses and was the busiest stop on the Kisoji road. The town still preserves architectural marvels from the Edo period, such as the eaves lights of the inns and the thousand latticed windows, reflecting the timeless grandeur of the area.

It is a spectacle bridge on the former Shinetsu Main Line. From Karuizawa to Yokogawa, which is Famous for the Kamameshi of the mountain pass If you head there, you can see it. It is no longer used and has become a historical relic.

Today I attended the opening festival of Kirigamine. The weather was fine and surprisingly warm. In the second photo, majestic Mt. Fuji also peeked out to welcome us. Even so, just climbing up to the Kirishōtō bell tower made me sweat profusely.💦 For the first time in three years, the opening ceremony returned outdoors.🏔 Many people attended, and we were able to hold the festival. At the opening, members of the Kirigamine Glider Association launched a glider right at 9:00.🛩 It climbed to about 1,900 meters shortly after takeoff. Because it was a glider, it lifted off very quietly.🛫 If there were no weight limits, I would love to try it at least once!!! At the ceremony, the head priest of Tenaga Shrine prayed for the safety of visitors, everyone who passes through Kirigamine, and all those connected to Kirigamine. Please be sure to visit the Kirigamine Nagikama Shrine, one of Suwa’s hidden scenic spots I introduced before! When you come to Kirigamine or Suwa, please drive safely.🚙=3

Jizoin in Shiga, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture. Jizoin, the 16th temple of the Suwa 33 Kannon. Jizoin is famous for its katsura tree, a natural monument designated by Suwa City, and is also well known as a peony temple. Its large, vivid flowers are a sight to behold. *Karin-chan Community Bus Yamato–Shiga Line🚌 From Kami-suwa Station Kirigamine Exit, get off at Ichiritsuka, then walk 2 minutes.

This is higashichaya district. A chaya is basically “tea house “... during the edo period this place was crowded with rich people who came here for entertainment. Mainly geisha performance were the prime attraction. there are two more chaya districts popular in kanazawa. The other two are nishichaya and kazuemachi.. love that experienced and highly recommended place to visit in 2023.

Nagikama Shrine⛩ The other day I visited Nagikama Shrine on Kirigamine for the first time. Last year I heard about Nagikama Shrine, which had replaced its wooden torii with a stone monument, and I had planned to visit after the snow melted. A passing comment from my wife, who loves Kirigamine, finally prompted us to go. As someone who loves the Onbashira festival, I’ve grown fond of visiting shrines, and I had long wanted to see Nagikama Shrine, so I took my camera and headed for Kirigamine at last. We parked in the lot below the ski area and followed directions toward the Glider Museum, but unsure of the way and hesitating, I spotted a small sign in front of the museum reading Nagikama Shrine 0.5 km and followed it. It felt a bit farther than expected. Together with my wife and our two children, we walked for several minutes, enjoying Kirigamine’s nature, until we saw the stone monument marking Nagikama Shrine. As a shrine, a torii would feel more fitting, but the stone monument had its own charm. The approach was neatly covered with wood chips, making for a very pleasant walk. When we reached the small shrine, the view took my breath away. It was a scene that excited me like I hadn’t felt in a long time. The clear weather that day only amplified the spectacle. Below stretched the Suwa Basin, the serene Lake Suwa sat beautifully, the Central Alps rose ahead, the Northern Alps to the right, the Southern Alps to the left with sacred Mt. Fuji beside them, and Yatsugatake behind to the left. A shrine that offers a view of so many mountains at once may be rare in Japan, I thought.🏔 As a self‑declared Seeker of Suwa’s Best Views, this vista immediately made my list of top spots. Tateishi Park offers a sweeping view of the Suwa plain and is very scenic, but Nagikama sits at a higher elevation and has an indescribable beauty. I felt it would be a shame to keep this to myself, so I’m sharing it here. The shrine’s goshuin (stamp) is newly available, so anyone touring Suwa’s shrines or visiting Kirigamine should definitely stop by. If the weather is clear, you won’t regret it! ・Enshrined deities: Takeminakata no Okami, also known as Osuwa‑sama: god of martial valor and abundant harvests ・Oyamatsumi no Okami: god of industry and maritime affairs, and further revered as the ancestral deity of sake brewing ・Ashinazuchi no Okami and Tenazuchi no Okami ⇐ Kushinadahime: parents of Kushinadahime, wife of Susanoo no Mikoto A nagikama (a sacred implement shaped like a sickle) discovered at the ruins of the former Misayama is dedicated here. After the main pillars for the Onbashira are selected, the nagikama is hammered onto those pillars. Curiously, this practice occurs only on the Onbashira of Suwa Taisha Upper Shrine. The nagikama has a shape resembling a rooster’s head and is considered one of Suwa Taisha’s sacred treasures. The nagikama is enshrined inside the hokora, so please take a look along with the spectacular view. Suwa Taisha also offers nagikama amulets♪

I cut out the corner window of Unryu-in, a separate temple of Senchuku-ji Temple in the south of Kyoto. Senchung Temple is a prestigious and splendid temple, but perhaps because the transportation is a little inconvenient, tourists Surprisingly few, it is a hidden gem temple. You can see Unryuin Temple by going to the right hand side of the temple instead of heading to the main hall after entering the gate. Please visit it when you go to Kyoto.

I cut out the round window of Unryu-in, a separate temple of Senchuku-ji Temple in the south of Kyoto. Senchung Temple is a prestigious and splendid temple, but perhaps because the transportation is a little inconvenient, tourists Surprisingly few, it is a hidden gem temple. You can see Unryuin Temple by going to the right hand side of the temple instead of heading to the main hall after entering the gate. Please visit it when you go to Kyoto.

Lets discover the feudal lord era of Toyama. Toyama Castle situated in the center of Toyama City. It was actually built in 1543 by the local feudal lord Sassa Narimasa. Unfortunately, the castle keep was dismantled during the Meiji Restoration. Over the years, the castle underwent several renovations and reconstructions, the latest in 1954. Today, the castle is a top tourist attraction, offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about Japan’s feudal history.

During my visit to western Japan last autumn, my final stop was Hiroshima. Despite its tragic history, the city serves as a powerful symbol of resilience, much like the phoenix rising from the ashes. The Hiroshima Castle, which was reconstructed after being destroyed in World War II, stands as a testament to this resilience. The castle grounds provide a peaceful retreat with a variety of trees and flowers, creating a beautiful and tranquil setting for visitors. Inside the castle tower, the museum offers a chance to explore the rich history of the Hiroshima castle town and provides breathtaking views of the city from the observation platform at the top.

Funaya in Ine, Kyoto Whenever I look at it, I feel that it is amazing to be able to maintain this scenery even though it is close to the sea, and it seems that the reason why Ine Bay is less affected by disasters is because Qingdao, which becomes a bay, protects it.

The remaining snow disappeared and we were finally able to reach it. Taroji Waterfall in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture A waterfall streams vigorously through a green space of fresh greenery and moss The white strip was a very good contrast. There is a cave to the right of the Waterfall basin, creating a sense of seclusion.

【2024/05】Shinshu Suzaka Guided Tour with a Tourist Guide Date & Time: Date of Guided Tour Friday, May 3, 2024 and Saturday, May 4, 2024 Departure time 10 o'clock, 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock 3 times a day Departure Point: Kuranomachi Tourism Exchange Center Kuratto Course A mountain trail is "Kura Townscape mountain trail" B mountain trail is "Leave it to the guide mountain trail Advance reservation required however, it is possible to participate on the day if there is a vacancy Capacity: 10 people each day, each time Shinshu Suzaka Tourist Guide and "Suzaka Guided Tour" Participants Wanted! Why don't you go sightseeing in Suzaka City where you can spend a relaxing time during Golden Week? We have prepared a one-and-a-half-hour guided tour that you can participate in with one coin! Suzaka, which flourished in the Silk industry from the Meiji era to the early Showa period, still retains the old silk mill building built at that time and the townscape such as Mayukura. Study such a historic Suzaka with a guide, and introduce ♪ the shops recommended by the guide Please enjoy Suzaka in your spare time. We look forward to seeing you there. Guided tour dates May 3 and May 4 Departure time 3 times a day at 10, 11 and 12 o'clock Course A mountain trail is "Kura Townscape mountain trail" B mountain trail is "Leave it to the guide mountain trail Advance reservation required. However, if there is a vacancy, you can participate on the day. Participation Fee 500 yen per person Number of Applicants 10 people each day How to apply Please apply by Phone or on the Home page by selecting the date and time and mountain trail. Shinshu Suzaka Tourism Association ☎026-215-2225

Sumiyoshi Shrine This shrine is located in Kakuda City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is said to have been founded on March 29, 1326 in the first year of the Kareki calendar Kamakura period by soliciting the spirits of Sumiyoshi Shrine in Kitsu Province present-day Osaka City. The cherry blossoms in full bloom on the approach road of about 100 meters are very impressive, and it is a hidden gem spot for hidden cherry blossoms.

Kakogawa City, Hyogo I thought about giving up and going home, but I waited for them to disperse and wandered around the Precincts for more than an hour. It scattered 😌 brilliantly Impression when it looked like snow and became a cherry blossom blizzard, I couldn't stop being happy

A jizo that I happened to find at a temple in Hyogo Prefecture One 😌 Heart

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who lived through the Warring States period and unified the world, built Fushimi Castle in his later years. It is a collaboration between cherry blossoms 🌸 and castles 🏯 🗓️2024.4.7 📷Canon R10 🏞️Kyoto

Mountain cherry blossoms in Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture It was hazy and showed us some great moments 😊 🗓️2024.3.30 📷Canon R10 🏞️ Kochi

It's a pity that the leaves and cherry blossoms were in a very nice place in Hyogo Prefecture, but next year

Cherry blossom trees near my home in Kobe City, Hyogo PrefectureThis is a road that I always pass, but it is always beautiful, and when I look at it from a distance, it feels like 1.2.3, and the size is slightly different, and the cherry blossom trees are interesting, and the weather was cloudy after the rain, so it was a little tricky, but I went for a walk