The famed hot spring Kawayu Onsen draws its waters from MtAtosanupuri, a name that means “naked mountain” in the Ainu language. True to its name, the mountain’s slopes lack trees, and steam billows from vents with a thunderous roar, creating a dramatic sight. Getting as close as possible to view the fumaroles adds to the sense of occasion.


Here we introduce Mt. Io (Atosanupuri), a designated natural sightseeing feature of Teshikagacho.

For more details, see Teshikaga Navi 👀⭐️
https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/iouzan/

June is almost here! In Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, blessed with great nature, you can see fireflies.

At Hotaru-mi Park in Kuchiwa Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, many visitors gather every year. The fireflies fly from around 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with a peak 30-minute period from about 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

About 300 meters downstream from Hotaru-mi Park there is a spot where Genji fireflies appear. This year’s best viewing time is expected to be later than usual because cherry blossoms bloomed late.

Hotaru-mi Park has a campsite, and around July you can see Hime fireflies. Hime fireflies glow more quietly than Genji fireflies, and people who have gone camping at Hotaru-mi Park report the rare experience of seeing many fireflies gather in front of their tents.

Hotaru-mi Park has few lights, making it an excellent place for firefly watching.

At the “Firefly Viewing Gathering” held on Saturday, June 21, all lights in the management building and campsite will be turned off for one minute starting at 9:00 p.m., so you can enjoy only the fireflies’ glow. You just have to go…!
Food trucks and stalls are also planned for the day.

Please come visit Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture—see you by car!

● Basic information for Hotaru-mi Park
Address: 2-1 Otsuki, Kuchiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Phone: 0824-87-2513
*The manager is on duty from 8:00 to 17:00*
*If no one answers, the manager will call you back*
Parking: Available, about 30 spaces

● Event information for the Firefly Viewing Gathering
Venue: Hotaru-mi Park, Moomoo Local Products Hall, Shingetsu Marche (former Mikami residence)
Address: 2-1 Otsuki, Kuchiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Date and time: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 6:00 p.m.
(Firefly viewing hours: 6:00 p.m. onward)

There are many other spots and events where you can see fireflies.
For details, please see the Shobara tourist information site, Shobara Tourist Navi.

Finally, the long-awaited opening!

The new community exchange center Tuktuk opens next to JR Shintoku Station.
・Date: Sunday, June 15
・Time: 10:00–16:00
・Venue: Tuktuk Community Exchange Center, next to JR Shintoku Station
@tuktuk_shintoku

For the opening event
there will be food trucks,
a flea market, a rock–paper–scissors tournament,
a communal ribbon-cutting and many other activities.

And the highlight is…
the “Cherry Pit Spitting Contest in Shintoku Town” hosted by Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture 🍒

・Date: Sunday, June 15
・Time: 12:00–14:00
(Registration opens at 11:30)
・Venue: Station Front Event Plaza
・Participants: 200 people (same-day registration, first come, first served)
・Participation prize: 50 g of Sato Nishiki cherries
※ Prizes will be awarded for exceeding a set distance

Eat delicious cherries and give your best shot at spitting the pit as far as you can!
We look forward to your challenge 💪

At the station front event plaza, cherries and local specialties will also be sold, so look forward to that.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Also, the Shintoku Town Tourism Association, currently located in Shintoku Town Hall, will relocate to the second floor (station side) of Tuktuk.

If you visit Shintoku for sightseeing,
stop by for work,
or have a little time while waiting for a train or bus,
please drop in.
We look forward to meeting you and sharing the charms of Shintoku Town.

We’ll be waiting on Sunday, June 15 💁‍♀️

#Hokkaido
#Yamagata Prefecture
#Tokachi
#Higashine City
#Higashine cherries
#Sato Nishiki #Sato Nishiki cherries
#Cherries
#Pit Spitting Contest
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Town Tourism Association
#JR Shintoku Station
#Tuktuk station-front complex
#tuktuk
#Tuktuk
#Opening
#Opening Event
#hokkaido
#hokkaidotrip
#hokkaidotourism
#tourism
#tokachi
#shintoku
#cherry
#welcomeshintoku
#discovershintoku

Good morning, everyone.

Event announcement!!

On June 1, 2025, the “Town of Photography” will celebrate its 40th anniversary.

On this milestone 40th birthday, we will hold a variety of events so townspeople and everyone who supports us can enjoy the Town of Photography.

At the Higashikawa Town Cultural Gallery, there will be a photo exhibition and talk by local photographer Minoru Okuda, an answer reveal for the crossword published in the May public relations issue, and a talk event tied to the publication of the Town of Photography 40th Anniversary Magazine.

At the Higashikawa Town multipurpose exchange facility Sento Pure, there will be hot air balloon flight experiences, food trucks, a concert by Tokiko Kato, and te-tetsu hand-held fireworks by the Higashikawa Tetotetsu Fireworks Entomo-kai.

The main event will be a birthday celebration with everyone gathered, singing “Happy Birthday” together with Tokiko Kato to mark the town’s 40th birthday!

We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the Town of Photography’s 40th birthday, and we hope many of you will come.

On the day of the event, the parking lot on the Sento Pure grounds will be unavailable because of the hot air balloon and te-tetsu fireworks events, so please use nearby public parking such as the JA Higashikawa lot or the Higashikawa Town Office parking.

For details, please see the attached flyer.

Contact:
Higashikawa Town, Town of Photography Division
TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 590)

Roses are coming into season in Kanagawa Prefecture!


https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/theme_list/rose

Chowa Town Sasayaki Shrine
Sasayaki Shrine at Marmelo Station Nagato. It was dressed up stylishly 😍!

They say that if you whisper to the "ear stone" visible in the back from both sides, a bond will be formed… 🤭🌟

#Chowa Town #Marmelo Station Nagato #Sasayaki Shrine #wagasa (Japanese oil-paper umbrella) #Nagano Prefecture

The town flower of Otofuke: 'Lily of the Valley'

It was blooming behind the tourism association!
A quintessential spring flower that heralds the season🌼
The bell-like flowers look so charming together💓
Note: Lily of the Valley is poisonous, so please be careful.

Direct flights between Obihiro and Cheongju operated by Aero K Airlines have been running since May 21! 🛫
You can reach South Korea in about three hours😮✨
Please consider using this service!!
*The photo shows the scene from May 21.*

Operation period
May 21, 2025–October 24, 2025
Three round trips weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)🛬
*For more details, please refer to the official Tokachi-Obihiro Airport website.*

We present the official tourism association website that packs together the charms of Sakuhomachi in Nagano Prefecture—tourist information, access details, dining spots and more♩

It's convenient for checking before your trip!
Be sure to take a look☺

▶Visit the Sakuhomachi Tourism Association website here
https://yachiho-kogen.jp/

In Sakuhomachi, Nagano Prefecture, the noble prince azalea (Tougoku mitsuba azalea) is reaching its peak bloom.
Against the soft fresh greenery, the vivid pink stands out, and just walking through it lifts your spirits in this season.
Come see this fleeting scenery while it lasts ☺

At the ‘‘Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park’’ in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture—situated almost in the exact center of the Chugoku region—the rose garden has reached peak bloom starting Wednesday, May 21, 2025!
Colorful roses are in full bloom, and each one is beautiful.

This rose garden was newly established in 2020 on roughly 400 square meters and features 118 varieties and 206 repeat-blooming rose shrubs. To enliven the north area and enhance the garden’s appeal, we began collaborating with rose enthusiasts from Shobara City in July 2024 to improve fertilization, perform detailed pruning, and train plants on arches and fences as part of ongoing cultivation and maintenance.
We have added varieties such as Michelangelo and Christian Dior to further enrich the rose garden. The garden is expected to be at its best from mid-May through late July and again from mid-October through late November.

Blooming information (as of May 21)
Name: Roses
Varieties currently in bloom: Peace, Queen Elizabeth, and many others
Bloom condition: Peak bloom
Blooming period: Mid-May to late July; early October to late November

Basic facility information
Location: Inside Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park, Satoyama Station Shobara Furari
Address: 4-10 Mikkaichicho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 727-0021
Contact: Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park TEL 0824-72-7000
Website: For details, check the official Kokuei Bihoku Hillside Park website!

🌸"Gokase Hanami 2025" Voting Now Open🌸【Until Friday, June 6, 2025!】

Thank you all for entering "Gokase Hanami 2025"!
We held a strict first-round screening by the tourism association staff and selected 12 entries from all submissions🙏✨

From these 12 entries, we would like you to vote to decide the final winners🤩👏

Among those who vote, 10 people will be chosen by lottery to receive local specialties from Gokasecho as a gift🎁💫 We appreciate your participation🙇‍♀️

Here is how to vote💡

【Voting period: Until Friday, June 6, 2025】
⚠️You may vote by only one of the methods below, one time per account or one time per person.

<If voting via Google Form>
・Go to the "voting form" using the URL below
https://forms.gle/uBpw7C7xFDsDKBo2A
・Enter your email address (required). You may optionally provide your name.
・Choose one of the 12 entries, check the box for that entry, and submit your response.
⚠️No login is required, but an email address is mandatory, so please note this in advance.

<If voting via Instagram>
・Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/
・From the post with the hashtag #Gokase Hanami 2025 Voting, choose one of the 12 featured entries and send the photo number by direct message or comment✍
⚠️If you do not follow our account, message exchange may be unreliable and you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please be aware.

<If voting at a polling location>
・Vote at polling stations set up at Gokasecho Town Hall, Gokase Onsen Mori no Yado Kijiya, or the mobile vendor "Gokase Marche" truck.
・Choose one of the 12 entries, write the entry number, your name, and your email address on the voting slip, and place it in the voting envelope.

Additionally, a polling station will be set up at Gokase Secondary Education School in collaboration with the Gokase Sakura Project, and students will also be participating in voting💪✨

⚠️If your email address is missing or illegible due to poor handwriting, you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please understand.

Please be sure to view the original posts by the entrants before you vote🤗

1 @sokoatari.urouro (photo 1)
2 @fowafuwarin5 (photo 2)
3 @ 920cherry71 (photo 3)
4 @_yuta610 (photo 4)
5 @1230fuukeinoturishi (photo 5)
6 @8215dr72 (photo 6)
7 @code_name_cross_fire (photo 7)
8 @sakai_0808 (photo 8)
9 @reoron001219 (photo 9)
10 @hisabou1958 (photo 10)
11 @landscape133_22 (photo 11)
12 @omilove.1203 (photo 12)

We look forward to receiving many votes from everyone🥰

Hello, this is the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association🌻

The moss phlox at Kompira Park Campground has reached its peak bloom!
At Kompira Park, perched on a gentle hill, moss phlox spreads across the slope in the spring sunshine, creating a carpet of flowers that unfolds into a breathtaking view✨

These moss phlox plants were first planted in 1979 and have been lovingly tended by the local community. Over the years they continue to bring joy to many people🌸

It’s a perfect spot for a relaxed camping trip or picnic while enjoying the blossoms🎶

On sunny days, be sure to visit Kompira Park!

✳︎Event Information✳︎

~ Hirakawa Co., Ltd. Thanksgiving Festival ~

◆Date
Saturday, May 24th, 10:00–17:00
Sunday, May 25th, 10:00–15:00

◆Location
@cafeandbar.lazo

This weekend, Hirakawa Co., Ltd. will hold a Thanksgiving Festival at cafe&bar LAZO.

There will be displays of gas stoves and gas dryers from Rinnai and Noritz, and since they are offering festival special prices, feel free to stop by if you are considering replacing or upgrading appliances.

If you rarely get to visit the bar at night, why not take this chance to peek inside the venue?
From the morning you can enjoy the drinks usually served at the bar, plus the owner’s special closing parfait🍨 and various cream sodas,
and you can also try sandwiches from @get_new_sand🥪.

Why not visit Shintoku Town this weekend?

#Hokkaido
#Tokachi
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Town Tourism Association
#Shintoku Station
#Event Information
#Tuktuk Complex in Front of the Station
#tuktuk
#tokutoku
#hokkaido
#hokkaidotrip
#hokkaidotourism
#tourism
#tokachi
#shintoku
#welcomeshintoku
#discovershintoku

NEW OPEN on May 23! A new general store is opening in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture☕🌳
Its name is bonheur poche (bonheur poche). In French it means "pocket of happiness." The owner, Mr. Motoyoshi, is from Osaka and has worked mainly as an interior coordinator, contributing to the creation of over 1,000 homes.

Driven by a long-held wish to run a café, Mr. Motoyoshi opened Satoyama Cafe An in October 2024. Families, café lovers, and visitors from afar keep returning to Satoyama Cafe An. The café, renovated from a 100-year-old traditional house, feels stylish and refined while holding a hint of nostalgia. He places particular care on creating a comfortable atmosphere. He sources everyday goods that blend into daily life and add a little richness to living. Bonheur poche will also host workshops in the future. Both Satoyama Cafe An and bonheur poche will continue to develop as places that visitors can enjoy.

For details, see the Editorial Report on the Shobara Tourist Navi site, Shobara Tourist Navi.

Basic information for bonheur poche
Opening date: Friday, May 23, 2025
Address: 89 Kamihara-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Hours: 11:00–17:00
Closed: Monday and Tuesday; Sundays irregularly closed
Parking: Available (shared with Satoyama Cafe An)
Contact: 0824-74-6994 (shared with Satoyama Cafe An)

"Introducing Sakura Spots Around Hokuryu Town vol. FINAL"
Hello, this is the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association 🌻
The cherry blossom scenes we've shared since early May come to an end with this final installment
To conclude, we present a roundup of all the spots we've introduced so far.

Please enjoy once more the beautiful cherry blossoms of Hokuryu that we encountered at each location!

May beautiful sakura bloom again next year 🙏

Thank you for staying with us until the end 🌸

The JTB special train “Tabimonogatari” has arrived!

The JTB “Tabimonogatari” has made a stop here for three consecutive years since Reiwa 5.
This year too, we welcomed guests on the station platform with about 34 minutes of hospitality. 🚃

About 60 guests enjoyed Shintoku soba tea, two kinds of soba-yu (rich soba-yu and dashi-infused soba-yu), and soba karinto, and we sold a limited assortment set.
Afterward, guests took photos on the platform and in front of the station’s photo frame, and enjoyed shopping at the station shop.

More than ten groups posed at the “Soba Red Photo Frame” installed immediately to the left after exiting JR Shintoku Station.
At the station shop, the soba karinto offered for tasting proved so popular that it sold out.
When we spoke with guests returning to the platform, we heard happy remarks like “It was very delicious” and “It goes well with tea,” with people holding soba karinto.

We bade them farewell, hoping they will stop by again next year.

A short announcement.
The “Soba Red Photo Frame” in front of the station is not a face-in panel, but you can pose as if you are eating soba noodles.
If you’re interested, please come visit JR Shintoku Station.💡

#Hokkaido
#Hokkaido tourism
#Tokachi
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Town Tourism Association
#JR Shintoku Station
#JR
#Stella Station
#JTB #Tabimonogatari train
#hospitality
#Station-front complex Tokutoku
#tuktuk
#Tokutoku
#hokkaido
#hokkaidotrip
#hokkaidotourism
#tourism
#Tokachi
#Shintoku
#omotenashi
#welcomeshintoku
#discovershintoku

🌸[Hokuryu Town Cherry Blossom Spot Introduction vol.6]🌸
Hello, this is the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association🌻
This time, we again introduce cherry blossom spots that color spring in Hokuryu Town!

🌟The sixth installment is――
“A Tour of Wild Cherry Trees along the Etaibetsu River”!

The Etaibetsu River flows through Hokuryu Town.
Along this river, we present simple, beautiful wild cherry trees that bloom in their natural state!

There are no signboards or information boards here, and no paved promenades or benches.
It isn’t a so‑called “maintained scenic spot,” but precisely for that reason you can feel the unvarnished beauty of nature.
The wild cherries, blooming as if leaning into the land, quietly announce the arrival of spring right next to everyday life.

Especially striking are lone cherry trees standing against the backdrop of farmland and the trees that bloom beside rivers where snowmelt rushes dramatically—scenes beyond words.
Even on the paths locals pass casually, such beautiful spring scenes unfold.

These nameless cherry trees weave a simple, gentle landscape—
We look forward to meeting again next year the cherry trees that will bloom, once more, nestled in this town’s nature 😊

Taishaku Gorge, one of Japan’s leading gorges, spans Tojo Town in Shobara City and Jinseki Kogen Town in Jinseki District, Hiroshima Prefecture. Located in the heart of the Chugoku Mountains, it is a principal scenic spot of Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park and is designated a nationally recognized place of scenic beauty.

Here are two highlights of the Taishaku Gorge area: Onbashi and Shinryu Lake.

Onbashi is a colossal natural bridge representing Japan, measuring 90 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 40 meters high. It is a limestone bridge spanning the Taishaku Gorge valley and, because of its grandeur, is also known as Kono Bridge.

Shinryu Lake is an artificial lake completed in the Taisho era within a limestone gorge, with a 24-kilometer shoreline and an 8-kilometer length. In the coming season the area will be lush with fresh green leaves, and in autumn you can admire fiery foliage from sightseeing boats on the lake.

A karst plateau formed by deep erosion of limestone extends across the area, preserving a landscape that remains in harmony with nature.

Within this quasi-national park’s expansive natural setting, you can rent bicycles and enjoy activities such as kayaking and open-boat rides. Aim to visit now while the fresh green season is at its most beautiful!

A water‑welcoming ritual took place on the Saigawa River flowing through Azumino.

At the confluence of the Saigawa, Takasegawa, and Hotakagawa rivers, a Shinto ceremony was held to pray for a bountiful harvest for the year, the prevention of water disasters, and the development of tourism.

We give thanks for the blessings of water that flow down from the Northern Alps.

Toyooka Iris Garden is still in full bloom.
Over 200 varieties of iris set against the scenic Ina Valley.
Please enjoy your visit.

For more details about the Iris Garden, see below:
https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/tourism/tourist-spot/hana/3280/

Introducing the kiosk inside Shintoku Station, Stella Station

We sell souvenirs from Shintoku Town, drinks, snacks, and more, and we also offer something called a “Children’s Ticket” at the register.

With the tickets we bought, children can exchange them for dagashi (cheap snacks) or drinks.
They are for students up to high school and are handy as a snack before school or outings, or for when mom or dad won’t buy snacks (laughs).

Here’s how the children use it:
First they draw a ticket fortune (omikuji),
then exchange it for a ticket,
choose dagashi and drinks up to the amount shown on the ticket,
and have the staff at the kiosk confirm the total is within the limit.
Finally, the children write a thank-you message.
These messages are displayed densely under the Stella Station sign, so please take a look.

Watching this, I noticed some kids giving a piece of candy to friends with smaller amounts or pooling tickets with friends to get snacks together, and I was impressed by their friendship and thoughtfulness.

Seeing the children, I bought a ticket with the coins in my wallet.
I felt like I’d done a small good deed (laughs).

This lovely initiative is happening inside Shintoku Station,
so if you’re interested in it,
if you’re looking for souvenirs in Shintoku,
or even if you just want to kill time while waiting for a train,
come and drop by—any reason is fine.



#Hokkaido
#Hokkaido tourism
#Tokachi
#Tokachi tourism
#Shintoku Town
#Shintoku Town Tourism Association
#Shintoku Station
#kiosk
#Stella Station
#children’s fortune tickets
#children’s omikuji
#omikuji
#children’s tickets
#Toku-Toku station-front complex
#tuktuk
#TokuToku
#hokkaido
#hokkaidotrip
#hokkaidotourism
#tourism
#tokachi
#shintoku
#welcomeshintoku
#discovershintoku

A roundup of dog-friendly dining and dog runs where you can eat with your pet in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, is now featured in the Editorial Report on the Shobara Tourist Navi website! For details, please check the homepage.✨

Basic information on shops that offer menu items for dogs 🐶
Be sure to visit the spots that catch your eye!

1. Dog Cafe Pacem (Pacem)
[Address] 634-2 Heiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Phone] (0824) 74-1201
[Hours] 9:00–19:00
[Closed] Wednesday, Thursday
[Parking] About 10 spaces
[Recommended dog meal menu]
Chicken and tofu dog burger 260 yen (tax included)
The carrot paw print is adorable, and all dog menu items list ingredients, so you can feel secure about allergies!

2. National Hibakokuryo Hill Park Satoyama Station Shobara Furari
[Address] 4-10 Mikkaichi-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Phone] 080-8242-4173
[Hours] 9:30–17:00 (varies by season)
*Both park admission and dog run reception close one hour before closing*
*Operates according to the opening hours of the National Hibaku Plateau Hills Park*
[Closed] Monday, New Year holidays (12/31, 1/1)
*Operates according to the opening hours of the National Hibaku Plateau Hills Park*
[Parking] Lot 5 is open free of charge
*During busy periods (about five days a year) it becomes a paid parking lot*

3. Hiroshima Prefectural Forest for Citizens
[Address] 156-14 Yuki, Saijo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Phone] 0824-84-2020
[Hours] 8:00–17:00
[Closed] Closed for the winter season
*Dogs are allowed to run freely in the snow*
[Parking] Available

4. Nanatsukahara Service Area (downbound)
[Address] 560-4 Yamauchi-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Hours] Open 24 hours
[Closed] None
[Parking] Available

5. Roadside Station Takano
[Address] 49 Shimomonda, Takano-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Phone] 0824-86-3131
[Hours] 9:00–18:00
[Closed] 2nd and 4th Wednesday
[Parking] Available

Harsh cold has come to an end, and Ashoro is gradually entering a more comfortable season.

As it warms up, the number of hikers on MtMeakan seems to be increasing, so we would like to remind you once more of precautions for climbing MtMeakan.

With the recent rise in hikers, accidents on the trails have increased. Many reports involve hikers experiencing leg pain during descent. Prepare carefully according to your fitness, strength, skills, and experience, and do not push yourself beyond your limits.

MtMeakan is relatively accessible even for beginners, but it is a 1,500-meter-class mountain in Hokkaido. Even in summer (around July) temperatures can fall close to 0°C depending on the weather, or rise above 35°C in extreme heat. There are many cases where MtMeakan experiences bad weather while Ashoro town is clear. Weather can change quickly. Because it is an isolated peak, strong winds near the summit can fling small stones. Local people avoid climbing when the trees at the trailhead are already howling in the wind. As an active volcano, check volcanic alerts and be fully aware of its volcanic status before deciding to climb.

• Do not climb in light clothing.

Proper hiking boots are recommended. Many trail sections have tree roots forming a mesh, which become especially slippery when wet. Near the summit there are no trees and the terrain is stone and sand, making descents particularly slippery. Some people have fallen, hit their heads, and required helicopter evacuation. Given sudden weather and temperature changes and the exposed winds near the treeless summit, rain gear such as a mountaineering rain jacket is essential. When we climb around June, we always bring at least one fleece for warmth. Even in July–August, a day that exceeds 30°C can be followed by a day below 10°C. Insulate against cold and make sure to bring adequate food and drink. Don’t forget a map and compass.

• Stay on the trail and do not collect plants or animals.

We maintain the trail each year and mark it with pink tape and rock markers so hikers don’t get lost (maintenance for fiscal 2025 is scheduled for May 22). For the protection of plants and animals, do not leave the trail. As this area lies within a national park, collecting plants or animals is strictly prohibited.

For other precautions and information, please check the website below.
https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/spot/spot-9.html

The Tomuraushi Onsen Line bus is running again this year 🚌

Hop on the bus and enjoy the Kuttari area.
@tac_hokkaido
@tokachi_outdoormates
#Rafting
#Park golf
#Farm experience
#Berry picking

Hop on the bus and wash away your sweat at Kuttari Onsen.
@lake_inn2141
@avanto37
#Sauna
#Cliffs (ganke)

Hop on the bus and ride the release from Iwamatsu Dam or watch the rafting.
#Tokachi River
#Iwamatsu Dam
#Rafting

Hop on the bus and relax at the café in Yama no Koryukan Tomura in the Tomuraushi area.
@kamuimintara2000
#Café

Hop on the bus and refresh your whole body at Tomuraushi Onsen.
@higashitaisetsusou
#Tomuraushi Onsen
#Hidden hot spring
#Hot spring

Hop on the bus and use it as a base for mountain climbing.
@higashitaisetsusou
#Campsite

Whether you come from far away or bring your own car, traveling without a car will be a charming experience and make great memories.
Why not hop on the bus without plans and let the passing time and scenery carry you away?

I was interviewed!

I would be happy if I could share the warmth of Higashikawa-cho—the natural beauty and its welcoming people—with many people ☺️

Please have a read if you like~ 🥰

https://jcation.com/satoapp/1042/

There’s a ranch in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where you can meet cows and enjoy the great outdoors, and even try your hand at cheesemaking 🧀!🐮✨

Fukufuku Ranch sits in Kuwacho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Although it’s called a ranch, it’s essentially a mountain.

You can watch cows stride confidently across steep slopes and through thickets, and the wide natural landscape—full of insects and thick branches that make you want to pick them up—invites curious children to romp and run with delight.

There are about five to ten cows on the ranch. From spring through autumn they graze on fresh grass in the pastures, and in winter they eat hay. All the animals are Jersey cattle.

Of course you can interact with the cows.
Remarkably, the ranch also offers a variety of hands-on programs!

Here are five experiences available.
(For details, please see the official Fukufuku Ranch website.)

1. A walking course right beside the cows
2. Ranch trekking and cottage cheese making
3. Milking
4. Butter making
5. A slightly indulgent ranch tour guided by ranch staff

These programs were created out of a desire for visitors to learn about the milk that becomes cheese and about the cows that live in the mountains.

Whether with family, a group, friends, or alone, please make a reservation and give it a try 👀✨

Facility name: Fukufuku Ranch
Address: 1390 Yuki, Kuwacho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Phone: 0824-87-2195

🌿New Tea Season🌿

The tea fields in Gokasecho are turning a vivid green😌🍵

The first and second photos show the house in Kuwanochi, in front of which the weeping cherry trees that we introduced in spring looked so beautiful📸✨

Against the fresh green of the remaining cherry leaves, the two-tone tea fields made an incredibly beautiful scene🥺👏

Fresh tea is arriving one after another at the Gokase Specialty Center, and the scent of new tea fills the shop🥰

Enjoy the fragrant, new tea leaves that make you feel as if you are standing right in the tea fields🍵✨

Shiraiwa Mountain Opening 🌸

Today (May 11), the Shiraiwa Mountain Opening was held at the Gokasecho Highland Ski Area Parking Center😊

A Shinto ceremony took place on the mountain, with organizers and other attendees praying for safety while enjoying the crisp mountain air👏

After the ceremony, those who wished began climbing toward the rhododendron colony💪

Azaleas, Okamenoki, yama-shakuyaku (mountain peony), and rhododendrons appeared to be in full bloom💡

⚠ Notice ⚠
From May 12, Reiwa 7, the town road Hon-yashiki/Hagi Line and the Hagi Forest Road, which provide access to the Goboubatake trailhead (Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe), will be closed to all traffic until further notice due to road disaster recovery work.
To reach Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe, please use the Ogawadake: Tenyabo trailhead (road subsidence, many falling rocks, rough road).

【🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 12 — 🌸】

The submission period finally ends today, Sunday, May 11. We’re showcasing entries to “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025,” currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.💪❤️‍🔥

@hanpenpen2022
@goto0619
(in no particular order)

This time’s photos show the Akebono azaleas on Mt. Futagami and the white flowers in Kuraoka…what kind of flowers are those, I wonder?🤔 Everyone clearly knows well when and where different flowers bloom, and many have personal memories and attachments to these blooms. Those feelings seem to shine through in the photos — they’re truly lovely.✨

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“#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” also ends today, Sunday, May 11!👏 If you meant to enter but haven’t yet, don’t miss the chance — submit before you forget!💡❗

≪#How to Enter #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post a photo of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of photography (example: #March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥

Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/

【Period】From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025

⚠️Other terms and conditions appear on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering.
https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html
⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.