How many snow patterns can you see from Shinano-Omachi? Today's quiz! We had an enormous amount of snow this winter. On mornings when I have to dig my car out before commuting, I feel completely drained from the start of the day. This morning the snow glittered, each flake shining like a crystal. The temperature dropped sharply and the air itself seemed to sparkle. When spring comes and the mountain snow begins to melt, snow patterns appear on the slopes. In Hakuba, where I grew up, there are patterns like the rice-transplanting horse and the Takeda crest on Goryu, but I learned that Azumino has many other snow patterns too! How many do you know? How many snow patterns can be seen from Omachi City? As always, find the answer on our blog! Please come visit us. We also introduce station-to-hike courses that start in April. https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/blog/90844/... The Omachi City Tourism Association's Instagram logo has been refreshed! We mainly introduce activities in Shinano-Omachi. Please follow and like our page! Likes make us very happy and encourage us a lot. https://www.instagram.com/omachi_activitybook/... Thank you for always reading!

A cold snap hits the Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival! The plum blossoms haven’t opened yet, but a spectacular bloom of snow flowers has appeared ❄️ Photo: Yasuki Okamoto

Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival is now underway! At Romantopia Tsukigase, Yumekko Cafeteria is open♪ At Romantopia Tsukigase, enjoy the proud "irori set" cooked over a sunken hearth: you grill Tsukigase-grown log shiitake mushrooms, homemade konnyaku, and yomogi rice dumplings over charcoal yourself! Cover them generously with our special yuzu miso and enjoy♪ We also recommend our udon dishes, made with carefully prepared dashi broth!! The meat udon features Iga beef plus shiitake, spinach, and thinly sliced mochi for a luxurious bowl! We carry many souvenirs not only from Tsukigase but from neighboring areas as well! A cold snap has arrived, so the plum blossoms still haven't opened much yet... For now, food beats flowers♪ When the blossoms are at their peak, every teahouse gets extremely crowded! Come now for the food while you can♪

Spring has finally arrived in the southern part of Wakayama Prefecture. The flowers in the plum grove in Tanabe City also bloomed for 5~6 minutes, and bees were flying around. I took a picture of one of the seven herbs of Spring, Hotokenoza, in the foreground.

This is a guide to the Events of Held in on Saturday, March 1st! ・9:00~15:00 "Cool Town Festival" At the Nishina Fishing Port "Hanbata Market", which is located 3 minutes by car from Dogashima, free distribution of ara soup using local fish and Yosakoi performances will be held! In addition, Stalls such as "Forest Cafe Little Heart", which has the same Traditional Japanese straw raincoat for delicious coffee, are scheduled to ☕️ open ・18:00~ "Dogashima Sunset Illumination Lighting ceremony" One of the largest illuminations in the Nishi-Izu area begins! Countdown with all the visitors! Sweets and novelty gifts are also available, so please ☺️ come to the venue, Dogashima Park

Prayer at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine today. Ume Plum is in Best time to visit. 🌸

🌺 The 10th Nobeoka Flower Story 🌺 [Period] Saturday, February 1, 2025 – Sunday, April 6, 2025 The annual spring event “Nobeoka Flower Story” runs from Saturday, February 1 to Sunday, April 6, 2025! This event succeeds the former Tenkaichi Himuka Cherry and Rapeseed Blossom Festival. It was renamed “Nobeoka Flower Story” in 2014 and, though some years were canceled due to the coronavirus, we are grateful to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. Local residents who wanted to beautify the Gokase River embankment, the event site, began planting Kawazu cherry trees and rapeseed flowers. Their efforts have created a spectacular display of blooms for everyone to enjoy. After a gourmet TV show featured the Kawazu cherry trees at the venue last year, we received many inquiries asking where that magical spot in Nobeoka City is located. [Main Events] 🌿 Hontoji Ei Nichiume (Eini-ume) The weeping plum known as “Eini-ume,” with a trunk older than 240 years, blooms splendidly each year. Fifty white plum trees and five red plum trees color the temple grounds this season.🌺 As of February 20, 2025, they are in full bloom and at their best! 🌸 Konohana Walk 📅 Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23 Three hundred Tenkaichi Himuka cherry trees along the Gokase River embankment and one million rapeseed flowers will spread a carpet of spring color.✨ A special stage will showcase local performing arts and song acts, and the riverbed will host the Nobeoka Delicious Food Market.🌿 Local seafood and mountain produce from Nobeoka City will be on offer, and proud specialty vendors from Kumamoto and Oita prefectures will also attend. The popular annual Mini Sasuke Course Challenge will feature Sasuke Legend led by Makoto Nagano, a native of Nobeoka City. We will give a case of flowers used for the “flower lettering” to the first 200 visitors as a gift.🎁 There will also be seed-dumpling giveaways that kids and adults can enjoy! 💡 WaiWai Flower Story 2025 📅 Thursday, March 20 (national holiday) – Sunday, April 6 At Nobeoka Castle Hill and Shiroyama Park, enjoy Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms and one of Japan’s three great wild camellia groves. Highlights include the WaiWai Gourmet Expo on Saturday, March 22, and the enchanting WaiWai Hanayoi Story, which features beautiful illuminated cherry blossoms—this series of events brings the Nobeoka Flower Story to a close. Enjoy the magical atmosphere created by the night-lit cherry blossoms and the stone walls of Nobeoka Castle.✨ 📍 For bloom updates and event details, please see the “Nobeoka Flower Story 2025 Official Website.” *Images are from last year.* Inquiries ▷▶ 0982-29-2155 (Nobeoka Flower Story Executive Committee)

Squid Oren and Kumano Kodo are also approaching Spring.

The 27th Minami no Sakura and Nanohana Festival Period: Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 About the event ◆Saturday, February 1 Opening ritual ◎Location: Hinona rapeseed flower field ◎10:00 — A Shinto ritual praying for the festival’s success and safety ◆Sunday, February 16 & Sunday, February 23 Spiny lobster miso soup service ◎Location: Shimogamo shopping street “Miro” parking lot ◎A generous serving of the local Minamiizu specialty, spiny lobster miso soup! ※Served twice per day (about 200 bowls per serving) ※First serving: 11:00 — Second serving: 13:00 ※Ends when supplies run out ※May be canceled due to rain or other conditions ◆Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 Night cherry blossom illumination ◎Location: Around Maehara Bridge to Kujo Bridge ◎18:00–21:00 daily! ※This event runs daily even in rain ◆Saturday, February 1 – Monday, March 10 Minami night cherry blossoms and bamboo lanterns ◎Location: 1) Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana 2) Near Gin-no-yu Bridge ◎18:00–21:00 daily! ◆Saturday, February 1 – Monday, February 24 Lottery gachapon draw ◎Location: Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana (in front of the tourist information center) ◎10:00–15:00 on weekends and holidays! ◎Participation: If a group completes one questionnaire, the group may draw once per group member. ※Prizes are currently being decided ※Prize contents may change ◆Wednesday, February 5 – Friday, February 28 Cherry blossom rickshaw rides ※May end earlier than scheduled depending on bloom conditions. Time: 9:30–16:00 Fee: 20-minute course 3,000 yen per person Notes ・The schedule may change due to weather or bloom conditions. ・Each rickshaw seats up to two people. ・The event may be canceled due to severe weather (rain, strong winds, etc.). ・Due to rickshaw operation, a single rider may be required to ride alone in one rickshaw. ・The above fee is per person for single use; there is no separate pricing for children. ◆Sunday, February 2 – Around Saturday, March 15 Rapeseed flower door and rapeseed flower maze ※Although the pamphlet lists February 1–March 10, the correct period is the one above Announcements & notes ・The pamphlet states February 1–March 10 for the Rapeseed Flower Door and Rapeseed Flower Maze, but the correct period is Sunday, February 2 – around Saturday, March 15. ・The Night Sakura Marathon will not be held. Thank you for your understanding. ・The Minamiizu Town Hall (3rd-floor observation deck) is open during the festival. You can access it via the outside stairs. ・Some visitors step on the rapeseed flowers blooming on the riverbank slopes around Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana. Because illumination wiring and other hazards are present, please refrain from entering these areas for safety. Parking — Please use public transportation where possible, as parking is limited. Hours: 8:30–15:30 ・Passenger cars (500 yen per vehicle) ※Please cooperate with the environmental conservation contribution at the Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana parking lot. ※On weekends and holidays, including substitute holidays, the Minamiizu Town Hall parking lot is open free of charge. ・Buses (2,500 yen per vehicle) ※Includes medium-sized buses (including microbuses) and large buses ・Motorcycles (200 yen per vehicle) ※If staff are not present due to rain or other reasons, parking may be free. ※During the period February 1–March 10, the Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana parking lot requests cooperation with an environmental conservation contribution. ※Total parking capacity across locations is approximately 200 vehicles. ※Because parking is limited, please use public transportation whenever possible.

Wednesday, February 19 — Minami no Sakura (Kawazu cherry) blooming status 🌸The reference tree near the town hall (upper reaches of the Aono River) is in bud. 🌸The area near Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana (middle reaches of the Aono River) is from bud to 20% bloom. ❁Rapeseed flowers are at their best. Overall, the trees are mostly in bud, but blossoms have begun and some trees have reached about 20% bloom!! ⁡ 🌸The 27th Minami no Sakura and Rapeseed Flower Festival 🗓️Held February 1, 2025 (Saturday) to March 10, 2025 (Monday) 📍Along the Aono River, Minamiizu Town O-hanami rickshaw rides available Food trucks will be on site. ※Operations may be suspended in strong winds or severe weather.

Photographed 2/18/25. It is the red Ume plum of Kawagoe Hachimangu. Spring is approaching, isn't it? 🌸

Photographed 2/17/25. It is Hanachozu of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin. It is a Hanachozu that seems to be Spring. 🌸

The atmospheric "land of the back alley" You'll be lucky if you meet a wandering boatman. Go back in time. Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture

Plum blossoms at Atami Plum Garden Early- and mid-blooming varieties are opening, and the whole garden has reached its peak viewing period! https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/355...

When I was in high school, I used to go to Hachimanbori for photography practice. Specialties of Spring in Hachimanbori. Light up of cherry blossoms at night. There was a night atmosphere unique to Hachimanbori.

One of the largest in the Nishi-Izu area! "Dogashima Sunset Illumination 2025" will be held in! During the Held in period from 3/1~5/6, about 100,000 illumination bulbs will glitter on Dogashima after sunset For details, please see 🔍 the Events page on our website Flower fields and cherry blossom trees using Dogashima sightseeing boats and rice fields in Matsuzaki during the day, and illuminations on Dogashima at night! Please enjoy Nishi-Izu 🌸 in Spring We look forward to seeing you there! 【Dogashima Sunset Illumination】 ・Held in period Saturday, March 1, 2025 ~ Tuesday, May 6, 2025 ・Lighting time 18:00～21:00 ・Held in 2910-2 Nishina, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Dogashima Park (near the sightseeing boat terminal) ・Admission is free

I went to Zen Rinji Temple (Eikando) in Kyoto. This is one of the pictures I took because I thought that the spiral staircase called Uryu Corridor, the trees growing next to it, and the shadows reflected on the stairs would be a picture.

Introducing the stay-and-sightseeing facility Mount Io MOKMOK Base, which opened in September 2023. The complex features MOKMOK Terrace, a refined space that blends rock walls reminiscent of Mount Io’s geology with warm, natural wood; MOKMOK Theater, where you can enjoy the mountain’s dramatic steam through large glass panes like a theater screen; Mount Io Museum, which explores the mountain’s past and present; and MOKMOK Marche & Café, offering local foods and souvenirs — among many other attractions. Please come and visit us!!

The 27th Minami Sakura and Nanohana Festival is now running through March 10th! February 9 (Sun) — Minami Sakura blooming status The buds are currently in a “bud” stage. However, today is warm, and the buds are swelling so that the petals look ready to open at any moment. Rain is forecast around February 12, with temperatures rising to 16–18°C, so there is a possibility the flowers will begin to bloom all at once. ※From February 1 onward every day from 18:00 to 21:00 We are holding evening cherry blossom illumination, bamboo lanterns, illuminations, and nanohana (rapeseed flower) lighting. ◇Please refer to the following for the “blooming status” https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-entry&spot=162849&cat=18711&pageno=3&type=spot... ◇For information about the 27th Minami Sakura and Nanohana Festival, see here https://www.minami-izu.jp/?p=we-page-event-entry&event=73493&cat=18736&type=event...

Kashinozaki Lighthouse, located in KushiHonmachi Oshima, Wakayama Prefecture, is the oldest stone lighthouse in Japan. The daffodils were in full bloom. Aroma cannot be delivered.

"Hina no Festival Yamauchi" has started 🎎 This Events, which is now in its 21st year, is an activity in which the members of the Hina no Festival Yamauchi Executive Committee spend about two months Spread the charm of the chicks! In the first Events, many chicks are displayed 🎎 at the Kaede Pavilion next to Kaede no Yu If you look closely, you will see that everyone has a different pattern of clothes, and there is a girl lying down and writing, so you will want to take your time and take a closer look! Please take a peek before taking a bath or while waiting for the Trains 👀

. . *:・ ゚. *:・ ゚*:・ ゚. *:・ ゚. * 　"Spring Performing Arts Festival 2025" Held in 🌸! 　　Spring Harmony♪ Spring Arts Festival 2025 in Aibetsu . . *:・ ゚. *:・ ゚*:・ ゚. *:・ ゚. * ■ Date and time: February 24 (Mon) 13 o'clock ~ ■ Place: Kurara et al. ■ Performers 　• Ripple Chorus 　• Mahoko Abe & Midori Yamagata 　• Recorder Ensemble Ikoro 　• Asahikawa Kimppens ■ Ticket: 500 yen for high school students and older, free for junior high school students and younger 　* Please check the flyer for ticket purchase and inquiries ■ Organizer: Aibetsu Town Cultural Federation Enjoy 🎼 the harmony of chorus and instrumental music

This is the cherry blossom I took at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden last year! I 🌇 took it in a split second in the evening I would be happy 🌸 if it would be an opportunity for you to learn about cherry blossoms in Japan Thank you for watching!

【2025 (Reiwa 7) Ando Family Residence Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)】 National Important Cultural Property Ando Family Residence will celebrate the peach festival again this year. More than 300 dolls from the Edo period to the Showa era are on display. Yamanashi Prefecture's own Hina doll, "Yokosawa Bina", will also be exhibited. Events of koto concerts during the period will also be held, so please enjoy the rich sound. Date and time: February 13 (Thu) ~ April 7 (Mon), 2025 (Reiwa 7) Opening hours: 9 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.) (*Closed on Tuesdays) Admission fee General 300 yen Elementary, junior high and high school students 100 yen (*Infants free) 【Ando Family Residence】4302 ☎Seinan Lake, Minami-Alps City 055-284-4448 [Cultural Properties Division, Board of Education] ☎055-282-7269

The poster for the 2025 Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival is complete!! Each year, we select the gold‑prize photograph from the photo contest held during the festival period for the poster image. We hope many people will visit this year’s plum festival, take lots of photos, and make lasting memories of Tsukigase! From the early‑spring Tsukigase Marathon to the Spring Breeze Plum Village Friendship Festival and sencha tea festival at Romantopia Tsukigase, plus a haiku competition and Nara‑zome textile exhibition, the event lineup is packed with activities!! At the tea houses that open only during the festival, you can enjoy Tsukigase specialties you’ll find nowhere else: Tsukigase hot pot, country udon, wild boar hot pot, plum soft serve, charcoal‑grilled kusa‑mochi, plum roll cakes, and more! May many smiles bloom again this year! All members of the Tsukigase Tourism Association are working hard to prepare and look forward to your visit!

Boshu Kamogawa Nanahata Road 2025 If there is no wind, it feels a little warm.

Hello, this is the Shinshu Suzaka Tourism Association. This year has also started ~30-tiered decorations Thousand Dolls Festival~ In Suzaka Art Park, At the World Folk Doll Museum, the Suzaka Print Museum, and the Historical Building Park, the Hina-sama from the late Edo period to the present heralds Spring in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture. Fun the colors, patterns, and facial expressions of the kimono that change with the times. What is the Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)? 　The Hinamatsuri (doll festival) is a festival to celebrate the healthy growth of girls. In Japan, January 7 Seven Grass Festivals March 3 Peach Festivals May 5 Iris Festivals July 7 Tanabata September 9 Chrysanthemum Festival is called the Five Festivals and is a traditional annual event. Among them, the peach festival and the iris festival are still recognized as important festivals. What is the Hinamatsuri (doll festival) of the month delay? 　In ancient times, the lunisolar calendar (old calendar) was used in Japan, and the Hinamatsuri (doll festival) on March 3 was held in April of the current Gregorian calendar (new calendar). Even now, in snowy areas and farming villages, the custom of celebrating the Hinamatsuri (doll festival) on the lunar calendar when it has become warmer remains strong. In Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, there is still a custom of celebrating the month late in April. Held in: Thursday, January 16, 2025 ~ Sunday, May 18, 2025 Exhibition replacement closed: April 14 ~ April 23, Closed on Wednesdays after May 7 Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m. (Last admission 30 minutes before closing) * Suzaka Print Museum and Historical Building Park will be on display until Sunday, April 13. This year, May Dolls Iris Festival will be Held in at the same time from Thursday, April 24. Admission fee: January 16 ~ April 13 600 yen 　　　　(Free for high school students and younger, and for those under 18 years old) 　　　　　April 24 ~ May 18 500 yen (doll Museum only) Held in Place: Suzaka Art Park (World Folk Doll Museum, Suzaka Print Museum, Historical Building Park) Address: 1367-1 Nobe, Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture ☎：０２６－２４５－２３４０ The fourth and fifth photos show the historical building garden The sixth photo shows the Suzaka Print Museum Photos 7 and 8 show the Scene of the chicks preparing for the exhibition.

Happy New Year. Warm New Year greetings from Tsukigase Plum Valley. Tsukigase Plum Valley lets you take in at a glance the plum blossoms and the gorge, with the plum seen as the harbinger of spring. Designated a Place of Scenic Beauty in 2020 and now marking 100 years, the Tsukigase Tourism Association, together with local residents, works to preserve this wonderful plum gorge so everyone can enjoy it. The “Tsukigase Plum Valley Plum Festival,” starting on February 9, opens with the 40th Tsukigase Plum Valley Early Spring Marathon on its first day and runs through a variety of events up to the Spring Banquet on March 23, with preparations underway to welcome everyone. We ask that you visit Tsukigase Plum Valley, which we have spent a year preparing, and offer this as our New Year greeting. Noriaki Ida, President, Tsukigase Tourism Association

Here’s tourist information for Nagiso town! Tenpaku Azalea Colony (Town Natural Monument) A vast colony of mitsuba azalea blooms in Tenpaku Park. About six varieties and roughly 400 azalea shrubs grow in the garden, and among them the Nagiso mitsuba azalea is a rare species found mainly around Nagiso town as its name suggests. Bloom times shift slightly each year depending on the weather, but the best viewing period is generally from early to mid-April. Perched on a hill in Tenpaku Park, the site offers excellent views of Momosuke Bridge and Mt. Kiso-Komagatake. At the Nagiso Station side entrance to the wooden suspension bridge over the Kiso River, Momosuke Bridge, cherry blossoms also come into full bloom around early April, making it a recommended time to visit! ► Access - By car: Immediately off National Route 19. Tenpaku Park has free parking (about 30 spaces). - By train: About a 10-minute walk from JR Nagiso Station (closer if you cross Momosuke Bridge). ► Other information - It is a five-minute uphill walk from the parking area to the azalea garden. Please avoid parking in front of the garden as it blocks residents’ passage. Visitors with mobility difficulties may be dropped off near the garden, but please park the vehicle in the parking lot. - The parking area has restrooms and vending machines. - The park includes the Momosuke Fukuzawa Memorial Museum and the Mountain History Museum, where you can learn about the history of Momosuke Bridge and its builder, Momosuke Fukuzawa. - For current blooming conditions, please refer to the Nagiso Town Tourism Association website. Enjoy the vivid purple blossoms carpeting the garden!

40th Anniversary Event Tsukigase Plum Valley Early Spring Marathon Guest runner: Kenji Moriwaki! Registration is open now! Search for "Tsukigase Plum Valley Early Spring Marathon"♪