Snowy Moominvalley ☃️

This is located in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture
Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park.

Moominvalley with snow was a fantastic atmosphere 🤤
I'm 🤭 sure the hibernating Moomins are also enjoying it

❄️ "Winter Gokase 2025" Voting Now Open ❄️【Until Sunday, March 16, 2025!】

Thank you all for entering "Winter Gokase 2025"!

We have conducted a careful first-round selection by the tourism association staff and chosen ten entries from all submissions.🙏✨

From these ten entries, we will ask everyone to vote to decide the prize winners.🤩👏

Among those who vote, ten people will be randomly selected to receive specialty products from Gokase Town as a gift.🎁💫 We appreciate your participation.🙇‍♀️

How to vote is explained below.💡
[Voting period: Until Sunday, March 16, 2025]
⚠️ Voting is limited to one method per person and one vote per account or individual.

<To vote via Instagram>
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/
・Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.
・From the posts marked with the hashtag "#Winter Gokase 2025 Vote," choose one of the ten featured entries and comment the photo number in that post's comment section.✍
⚠️ If you are not following the account, message exchanges may be unreliable and you will be excluded from the gift drawing. Please be aware.

<To vote via Facebook>
https://www.facebook.com/gokase.kanko/?locale=ja_JP
・Choose one of the ten featured entries in this post and comment the photo number.
・Voting is limited to one vote per account.
⚠️ If you win the gift drawing, we will contact you via Facebook Messenger. If there is no reply within two weeks, the prize will be forfeited.

<To vote via the website>
・Go to the "Winter Gokase 2025 Vote" page from the Gokase Tourism Association website's news topics (https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1994.html）
・Click the URL on the "Winter Gokase 2025 Vote" page to open the voting form.
・Enter your email address.
・Choose one of the ten entries, check the box for that entry, and submit your response.
⚠️ If you do not enter an email address, you will be excluded from the gift drawing.

Please be sure to view the original posts by the applicants before voting.🤗

1. @yamabico_san (photo 2)
2. @gokase_entertainment (photo 3)
3. @photo_ay_umi (photo 4)
4. @mgm_1228 (photo 5)
5. @eco9syu_sekiryo (photo 6)
6. @goto0619 (photo 7)
7. @fowafuwarin5 (photo 8)
8. @thusandleavis (photo 9)
9. @mas8787a (photo 10)
10. @photo_ay_umi (photo 11)

We look forward to receiving many votes from everyone 🥰

🎿 Ski Resort Final Event 🏂

Sunday, March 9 was the last day of operations for Gokase Highland Ski Resort ❄️

Under a clear sky, a big prize drawing took place from 11:00 AM 🎁

Cheers erupted each time the winning numbers for lavish prizes were announced, and the drawing ended in great excitement 😆✨

After the drawing, visitors immediately enjoyed the last runs of the season on the slopes 🎿

Gokase Highland Ski Resort, revived this season ❄️

Thanks to everyone, we were able to operate safely through today 😊
Thank you very much 🥰
We look forward to seeing you again next season!!

[❄️ Introducing photos submitted to Winter Gokase 2025 — Final installment ❄️]

The Gokase Tourism Association held the “#Winter Gokase 2025” photo event on its Instagram account through February 28.

This is the final showcase of the entries we received.🥹✨

@fowafuwarin5
@mas8787a
@mgm_1228
(in no particular order)

Making its long-awaited debut is Unoko Falls✨ These lovely photos capture the ski area where snow still lingers and the surrounding great outdoors.👏

Thank you all for so many submissions.😭

It was a harsh winter, but many of the winter photos felt warm and heartening.😊☀️

Busan Shrine dyed in the color of snow

This is Busan Shrine in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture.
It is dyed in a snowy landscape and becomes 😊 a mysterious space

Rest Yuzu and Mount Fuji

Photographed in 🥰 the Komuro area of Fujikawa Town

There were still yuzu left on the tree.

Just when you thought it was going to be warm in March, it snowed again... 🗻❄️
In Yamanouchi Town, it happens every year, so the monkeys are not 😌 surprised
On such days, the best thing to do is ♨️🐒 to take a dip in the Hot Spring

Oyster snow and be careful of accidents while driving.

It is Tokachi Obihiro Airports
The scenery with the Hidaka Mountains in the background
I like it because it looks like an airport in Hokkaido.

In April, the temperature rises
Water vapor in the air also increases
It is also affected by yellow sand and PM2.5.
The scenery in the distance becomes hazy.

Frosty morning

The 2025 Tangram Madarao Winter Triathlon in Shinshu Shinanomachi has taken place!
This is a winter triathlon featuring three snow events: running, cycling, and cross-country skiing.
This year’s event welcomed triathlon Olympian Yuichi Hosoda as a special guest.
Although light rain fell, the competitors gave it their all with spirited performances!

[Scenic Views within a 10-Minute Walk from Shinano-Ōmachi Station 🏔]
Today, February 27th, Omachi City enjoys clear skies ☀️ The Omachi City Tourist Association is located inside JR Ōito Line’s Shinano-Ōmachi Station 😌 So sometimes visitors ask for spots where they can see the Northern Alps during the wait for their next train. Here are the spots we guide people to🏔✨ The first is from the pedestrian walkway over the small overpass ahead after turning left at the “Asahi-cho” intersection on National Route 147 🏔 The second is from the “Asahi-cho” pedestrian bridge 🏔 When you stop by Omachi City, why not take a short walk around Shinano-Ōmachi Station? 😊
⭐️Explore Omachi City⭐️
https://www.kanko-omachi.gr.jp/

Mt. Gokayama in the Snow
Snow piles up on the triangular-roofed gassho-zukuri house born from the wisdom of the Heavy snowfall area in the Aikura gassho-zukuri village in the snowy Gokayama of Echichu, and Impression by the wisdom of our ancestors who let the snow fall with Nature

Sunset in Arasaki
At dusk in Arasaki, where the wind blows and white waves rise, you can see Izu Oshima Island and Mt. Fuji faintly in the distance.

Sunset in Kushiro
Sunset on the Kushiro River and sunset on the Nusamai Bridge

Stars orbiting the North Star
Here at Nobeyama Highlands Elevation There are Nobeyama Radio Observatory National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Highlands of 1300~1500m. In winter, the air is clear and it is a perfect place for stargazing. Looking at the stars orbiting the North Star, you can't help but feel the profundity of the universe.

Dawn on the Nobeyama Highlands
Fuji and the Southern Alps seen from the Shinshu Nobeyama Highlands, the clouds hanging over the Southern Alps are dyed red by the Sunrise, and the sun is about to rise

Lost Landscapes

Kurama Station

Fuji Waiting for Dawn
Fuji at dawn seen from the Shinshu Nobeyama Highlands

Yatsugatake dyed in the Sunrise
Morgenroth of Yatsugatake seen from the Yatsugatake Observation decks Shishiiwa on a winter morning
At sunrise, it turns red from the top of the mountain, and as the sun rises, it gradually turns toward the base.

Temple on a snowy day

It was a snowfall that happened once a year
#Kyoto City
#Toji Temple
#Five-story pagoda

I came to Toyama for sightseeing, but unfortunately it snowed

If it's snowing, you can't just go out to see the snowy scenery, so you can walk from the hotel to the Takaoka Great Buddha

On a snowy night, while no one was around, the Light up Takaoka Great Buddha was quite handsome.

The 14th Teshikaga Photo Contest Winning Entries 4/5

The Teshikaga Photo Contest celebrates its 14th year this time.

While recent years have favored digital submissions and entries via social media, the Teshikaga Photo Contest follows a classic format, judging printed works. For this edition, we invited Takeshi Mizukoshi, an internationally known mountain photographer who lives in Teshikagacho, to serve as a special juror.

For the 14th contest, we accepted entries from November 1, 2024, to December 25, 2024, across four categories: Starry Skies, Sea of Clouds, Activities (Experiences), and Open. From 154 submissions, 20 works won awards!

Today we present five Special Prize winners. Congratulations! 🎊
The final installment will appear in the next post. Stay tuned📸♪

✴︎Special Prize✴︎
“Morning Awakening, In the Calm” Hazuki Yamada
“As in Ancient Times” Masao Kainuma
“A Night of Complete Ice Cover” Masaru Murakami
“Nature’s Vitality” Tadashi Takeda
“Charge” Toshikazu Yanagihori

🏔 I visited photo spots in the Northern Alps📷💨
On February 25th, Omachi City was clear and sunny from morning☀️ Thanks to radiational cooling, the temperature fell to nearly -10°C, making for a very cold morning❄️ I bundled up every part of my neck🧣🧤 and went around the photo spots📷 The snow-capped Northern Alps stood out against the blue sky🏔 I hope this helps when you visit Omachi City☺
⭐️ Omachi City Tourism Association Official Website ⭐️
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/

This work was photographed near Omi Nagaoka, Shiga Prefecture, with Mt. Ibuki and the DisneySea (Fantasy Springs) wrapping bullet train.

【❄️Introducing Photos Submitted for Winter Gokase 2025 — Part 6❄️】

Although days have warmed noticeably, mornings and evenings remain bitterly cold in Gokase Town 🥶
We’re grateful that entries for the “#Winter Gokase 2025” campaign on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram have been accumulating, so here are some of the submissions 🙌✨

@donguri223103
@xitiannaiyang4
@goto0619
@irnoarkoa
@yamabico_san
@satoshi.misaki
@thusandleavis
@fowafuwarin5
(in no particular order)

While many winter scenes come from the Kuraoka area, this time we received a snow photo of Josenji Temple in the Sanko area as well 👏✨ Even within snowy landscapes, the lively atmosphere of the ski resort, the calm winter mood of Kuraoka, and the sacred, quiet presence of Josenji each have their own charm — they’re all wonderful ☺️💫

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

There’s only a short time left before this campaign closes ✨ Please feel free to enter with any small winter photo — we’d love to see your submissions 🤗🎶

How to enter (deadline: Friday, February 28, 2025)
Follow Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko) and post with the hashtags “#Winter Gokase 2025” and “#photo location (for example: #Unoko Falls)” 📸

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

※Snow accumulation and icy roads can be dangerous. Please prioritize safety and take care to avoid accidents when photographing⚠️

[Saturday, March 25] Motorcycle and meat Events "RIDE & MEAT @UBUYAMA PLACE" Held in decided!
Admission is free. Kitchen Car, BBQ of meat, motorcycle test ride, etc., it is a day that you can enjoy on the stage of Aso in early Spring.
Location: UBUYAMA PLACE (formerly Ubuyama Ranch)　
Date: Saturday, March 25, 9:00-15:00 (In case of rain, it will be postponed to the next day)
Admission: Free

* Participants will receive a "Kumamon Sticker"!
* Manufacturers that can be test-driven
・YAMAHA
・BMW Motorrad
・Aprilia
・Royal Enfield
・MUTT
#UBUYAMAPLACE
#Spring Aso
#Yamanami Highway
#After open burning
#Ubuyama
#Aso is a sacred place for motorcycles
#Bikes
#Delicious Beef
#Spring Events
#Kids can also enjoy it
#Kitchen Car

~Ubuyama Midwinter Flea Market~
Held in on Sunday, February 23, the midwinter flea market was successfully completed with Many people Stalls and many customers coming.
Held in the event for the first time, and I think 😭 there were many points that we could not reach
We are very grateful that we were able to Held in the event with good weather thanks to everyone's cooperation.
Normally, I should have thanked each and every one of the Stalls, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank you.
Ubuyama is one of the most mountainous areas in Aso, There is a where the cold is severe.
Many people came to such a place and said, "It was fun," and it became a Minamoto of our energy.
Held in Events where we can connect with everyone like this.
There is a very much for taking this opportunity to thank all the Stalls and visitors.
#Ubuyama
#Kumamoto
#Aso
#Flea Market
#Midwinter

Iwanai Onsen 50th Anniversary♨️

With heartfelt thanks to the local community
“Iwanai Onsen Yu-matsuri” Celebration♨️

About the Iwanai Onsen Yu-matsuri⤵︎
Event period: Saturday, March 1, 2025 to Monday, March 31, 2025

🟡Benefit 1: Limited-time discounts (bathing and accommodation)
Special discounts are available at participating Iwanai Onsen facilities
*Present the flyer to receive the benefits❗️
*For accommodation, offers are limited to residents of the Shiriuchi area and require telephone reservations
🟡Benefit 2: Onsen stamp rally
A chance to win luxurious prizes by lottery!!!
Prizes
1st prize: Pair accommodation voucher for Takashima Ryokan♨️ (1 group)
2nd prize: Set of 3 craft beers🍺 (1 person)
3rd prize: IWANAI RESORT 1-day lift ticket⛷️ (3 people)

Flyer distribution locations⤵︎
・Iwanai Onsen bathing facilities and venues
・Iwanai Town Hall
・Roadside Station Iwanai
・Other distribution spots around town

⭐︎How to participate⭐︎
Bring the flyer and use discounts at participating facilities!
Collect stamps at two onsen locations and enter the lottery

Iwanai Onsen won in the “Onsen General Election 2024”
Ranked 3rd nationwide and 1st in Hokkaido in the Beautiful Skin category👏🏻
Takashima Ryokan also defended its national No.1 spot in the Solo Traveler category❗️

Take this opportunity to visit Iwanai Onsen♨️