Roadside Station Marumero No Eki Nagato The current temperature is 9°C Today is suddenly a warm day. Thankful for the sun 🌞!! Tomorrow the high will be 4°C again... 1st photo: Jizo statue at Nagakubo (intersection of Route 142 and Route 152) 2nd photo: Former Wada Junior High School

A kadomatsu with a bowl-shaped shimenawa😍 This style of New Year’s decoration is commonly used in this region. In the past, people say they used to place offerings inside it! The kadomatsu and shimenawa of JA Shinshu Ueda Yodakubo South Branch. Members of the local senior club are said to decorate it every year.

Spectacular winter views you can only see in winter The Limited Express Azusa that ran from Tokyo and the Northern Alps Heading north from Hotaka Station toward the snowy country A panoramic view of the Hakuba mountains seen from Azumino!

Azumino chilled to minus 6 degrees The sun quietly hits the Northern Alps The snowy ridgelines turn red This is the view from Azumino Ohisama Road

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🚙🎅

⛄️ It turned into a white Christmas 🎄 On the morning of Christmas Eve, Omachi experienced snowfall from night into morning ⛄️ The city’s conifers wore a snowy makeup, and many Christmas trees appeared 🎄 Some places have packed snow ❄️ Please take care with your footing when you come 😌 Official website “Shinano-Omachi Navi” https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp//

One shot from December 19, 2024 Jōnen-dake, one of Japan’s 100 famous mountains This photo was taken near the Jōnen Dōsojin The winter blue sky and snow-capped ridgeline make a beautiful scene The cold, dry air has settled over Azumino for the season.

[Northern Alps from Omachi Park 🏔️] Today in Omachi City, the sky has been clear since morning ☀️ From Omachi Park, located in front of the Mountain Museum, the snow-capped Northern Alps could be seen beautifully 🏔️ Visitors taking photos cheered with delight ✨ For sightseeing in Omachi City, see below 🔽🔽🔽 https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp//

[Ski resorts in Omachi City are open!] Jiigatake Ski Resort opens on Friday, December 13, and Kashimayari Ski Resort starts the season on Saturday, December 14. Omachi’s winter season has finally arrived ✨ Powder snow awaits you all ⛄ For details, please see the official website ☺

Nobeyama Highlands Today This morning at Nobeyama Highlands. The temperature dropped to a season-low of -12.3°C, ranking fifth nationwide🌡️🥶 Snow fell all day yesterday and a light dusting covered cars this morning❄️🏔️Major roads are mostly dry, but some sections remain damp, so please stay cautious tonight and afterward❗Travel safely🦉

Miyamaso Welcome to the beautiful Shinano Road, a relaxing healing inn. Shinshu Matsumoto Sengen Hot Spring has long been popular as the inner courtyard of Shinshu Matsumoto. The scenery overlooking the majestic Northern Alps and the relaxing Hot Spring promise a relaxing time. A healing inn "Miyamaso" surrounded by the beautiful nature of Shinshu. We look forward to your Use. Number of guest rooms: 36 rooms, group acceptance: up to 80 people Western-style room, Japanese-Western room, Western-style room (tripril), Western-style room (Barrier-free), Japanese-style room Founded: 1955 Other Free Wi-fi / Barrier-free Address 浅間Hot Spring 3-28-6 Car parking space for up to 60 cars, Bus / Large vehicles allowed Nearest bus stop Asama Hot Spring TEL: 0263-46-1547 FAX:0263-46-7442 Cashless payment credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB), Smartphone payment (PayPay) ・ 20 minutes by bus to Asama Hot Spring from JR Matsumoto Station, 3 minutes walk from "Asama Hot Spring Bus Stop" ・30 minutes by Car from Matsumoto IC on Nagano Road ・20 minutes by Car from Azusagawa SA (Smart IC) Free Car parking right next to the building! Both RV Car and Car with 3 numbers are OK Car park!

December 7th to December 21st "Fukushima Teppen Park Illumination 2024" will take place. The illumination at Fukushima Teppen Park, perched 805 meters above sea level, features a Christmas theme. Enjoy the collaboration with the night view! ■ Dates and times: Saturday, December 7th to Saturday, December 21st — lights on from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM ■ Location: Fukushima Teppen Park Organizer: Fukushima Teppen Park Event Executive Committee

Making nozawana pickles in the hot springs ♨️ Nozawana pickles are a sign of early winter in Shinshu 😊 I joined the NPO Gurutta Network Omachi’s “Nozawana Pickling Hot Spring Vegetable Washing” event 😌 I posted about it on the staff blog ✨ I’d be happy if you could view it on the official website ☺️

The 13th Azumino Kamiakari Bamboo Lantern Festival Friday–Sunday, December 6–8, 2024 About 10,000 bamboo lanterns will be lit one by one, warming and brightening the cold winter nights The gentle glow of candles will warm your heart as well Lighting hours: 16:00–around 20:00 Venue: Hotaka Shrine Open lighting ceremony for everyone (Participants are asked to bring a lighter for lighting by 16:00.) *Lighters for lighting will be sold on site.* ● Kagura Hall Live Performance A lively live show will be held to energize the event ● Special Hotaka Ningyo Kamiakari Display A special stage unique to this year’s kamiakari will be exhibited in the Kita Shrine Garden ● Kamiakari Goshuin (Kamiakari commemorative seal) During the kamiakari event, from 16:00 to around 20:00, a special goshuin will be available only at this time. A customary offering of 500 yen is required. Concurrent Event / Azumino Terrace Dec 6–8 “Rice and Sake MARKET” 15:00–20:00 Food trucks and delicious-treat tents gather in one place! A warm rest tent with a stove will also be available.

【Star Photography Workshop Held on November 30】 We held a star photography workshop again this year to introduce the villagers to the beautiful night sky of Minamimaki Village, one of Japan’s three top stargazing spots.📋✏️ We photographed the stars at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, a facility that is usually closed at night.📡📷 Thanks to photographer Teruyasu Kitayama’s instruction on shooting techniques and the generous loan of a high-performance camera from OM Digital Solutions Corporation, even an amateur like me could capture beautiful images.😚 The air has turned clear and it’s the perfect season for star photography, but Minamimaki Village’s cold is on another level.🥶 Please dress warmly when you come.🧣🧤

When it comes to pickles from Shinshu, nozawana is well known, but in southern Shinshu, gensuke kabuna pickles are cherished. Gensuke kabuna becomes sweeter and more flavorful after exposure to frost. As the cold grows harsher at this time of year, Toyooka Village has entered the ideal harvesting season for gensuke kabuna. Toyooka Tabi Jikan offers hands-on harvesting experiences for gensuke kabuna. We also provide pickling recipes. For details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. The program is scheduled to run from around November 25th to December 20th, ending once supplies run out.

Toyooka Tabi Jikan has installed a persimmon noren under its eaves! Please relax and enjoy it along with the foot bath♪

✨ The Northern Alps are dusted with snow 🏔 Today, November 25th, just after noon, Omachi City cleared to bright sunshine ☀️ and the snow-dusted Northern Alps appeared 🏔 I took photos from Omachi Park to the east of Omachi City and from the observation deck at the summit of Mt. Takagari ✨ Visitors from Japan and abroad were enjoying the view. For more details, we posted on the staff blog. Please see the official Omachi City Tourism Association website 😌

Notice of public toilet closures for winter To prevent freezing, some public toilets in Minamimaki Village will be closed from Monday, November 25, 2024 until mid-April 2025 (scheduled). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please note that the public toilet in front of nobeyama station remains available 24 hours during winter. The restroom inside the Minamimaki Village Rural Culture and Information Exchange Center (Vegitable With) is also available during the center’s opening hours.

Notice of Stone-Roasted Sweet Potato Sales Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24. On both days, stone-roasted sweet potatoes will be sold from around 11:00 AM! We will also offer roasted Anno sweet potatoes, known as the “king of sweet potatoes.” Please give them a try♪ Prices - Roasted sweet potato (Beniharuka, Beni Azuma): small 200 yen · large 300 yen - Roasted sweet potato (Anno sweet potato): small 300 yen · large 400 yen - Roasted baked potato: 200 yen *Get 50 yen off the total bill for every two items purchased.

Winter Opening Hours for the Nobeyama Tourist Information Center The opening hours of the Nobeyama Tourist Information Center in front of JR Nobeyama Station will be as follows during the winter period. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your understanding. Winter Schedule ・Period: November 25, 2024 (Monday)–mid-March 2025 ・Hours: 10:00–16:00 ・Closed: Mondays (if a public holiday, closed the following Tuesday), and during the New Year holidays (December 29–January 3) Contact for closed-day inquiries Minamimaki Village Promotion Corporation TEL: 0267-91-1771 (closed December 29–January 3)

At Shinshu Tateshina and Mishaka Pond. You can enjoy the picturesque scenery.

At Shinshu Togakushi, Kagami Pond. The reflection of the scenery on the water was beautiful.

[Event: Report on the November 9 (Sat) Salt Road Walk!] Here is a report on our autumn Salt Road Walk, where participants felt history underfoot. The walk began in the Sha district at Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine. The morning started shrouded in mist, but the sky cleared into perfect blue as the day progressed. Participants enjoyed walking while gazing up at the snow-capped Northern Alps. Thank you to everyone who joined us 😍 A brief introduction: we plan to hold this event again around the same time next year. If you’re interested, please check our association website in the fall. Omachi City Tourism Association

[🍁Autumn Foliage Updates Are Live🍂] Autumn colors are later than usual across Japan in 2024, and the foliage spots in Omachi are about ten days behind their typical peak. We are sharing these color updates on the official website “Shinano Omachi Navi.” Please use this information to help plan your visit.😊

Cycling Guide Tour — Fruit Sweets Plan Cycle out to an orchard and pick apples 🍎 Enjoy sweets made with the apples you picked! Right now in Toyooka Village, it's apple (Sun Fuji) harvest season 🍎 The pleasant riding weather continues! We look forward to your participation in the Fruit Sweets Plan! For tour details, please check the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website.

Around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the summit of Mount Nagamine A sea of clouds and the Northern Alps rising to around 3,000 meters We enjoyed another clear view of the Northern Alps today In November the sunrise comes later, and from the summit you can also see the alpenglow of the Northern Alps as they turn red in the morning light Please take in the breathtaking, ever-changing views of the Northern Alps [Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour] The Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour, where you stay in Azumino and enjoy the summit vistas, runs through December 8, 2024! Stay in Azumino and join us! <Information about the Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour> This panoramic view of the Northern Alps from Mount Nagamine at 933 meters is a sight only early risers can see! Below you spreads the Azumidaira plain, and the 3,000-meter peaks of the Northern Alps towering before you create a view you can see nowhere else. You can also take in MtJonen, Azumino’s symbol, and, in the distance, the Hakuba Mountain Range. At the summit of Mount Nagamine, enjoy coffee time as you watch the spectacular morning view in the crisp early air. Each cup is carefully hand-dripped. Alongside the majestic scenery, the fresh morning air and a freshly brewed, delicious coffee will slowly awaken your body and satisfy your heart. Please enjoy this blissful moment. [Price] Per person / JPY 3,500 (same price for adults and children) * Tour reservations are limited to guests staying at designated accommodations. Please check the accommodation’s stay plans or inquire at check-in. * The tour requires advance reservation. Reservations can be made at the designated accommodation up to 8:00 p.m. the day before use. * Please pay the participation fee at the front desk by the day before use. [Price includes] Bus fare, coffee and snacks [Minimum number of participants] 2 people [Notes] * The tour will be canceled in case of rain or bad weather. (Decision will be made around 4:00 p.m. on the day before the tour) ・Because it is early morning, you may feel cold. Please bring something warm to wear as a layer. For details and a list of participating accommodations, please search for "Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour"

Larch leaves are at their peak golden color. In Minamimaki Village, larches and other trees are reaching their peak autumn color. The slopes along the Chikuma River (Hirose to Kaijiri) are especially beautiful, and you can enjoy the view from your car while driving along Route 141. The area around JR Saku-Hirose Station, known as a remote, secluded station, is also nicely turned golden. However, the peak of the fall color is surprisingly brief, and the leaves look likely to drop all at once soon.

[Announcement: Stone-Roasted Sweet Potatoes Now on Sale] Starting around 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 4, Toyooka Tabi Jikan will begin selling stone-roasted sweet potatoes! We use sweet potatoes sourced from local farmers and prepare authentic stone-roasted sweet potatoes for you. Sales end once the day’s planned quantity is gone. Please give them a try! Stone-roasted sweet potatoes will mainly be sold on weekends going forward, but depending on supply they may also be available on weekdays. [Prices (all tax included)] - Medium roasted sweet potato 200 yen - Large roasted sweet potato 300 yen Add 50 yen for coffee - Two-Variety Tasting Set (with coffee) Medium + Medium 400 yen Medium + Large 500 yen Large + Large 600 yen - Roasted potato (one) 150 yen - Coffee 100 yen - Cappuccino 100 yen

Vegetable Harvest Experience As of October 31st, daikon radishes, red turnips, and chayote are available for harvest! At the Vegetable Harvest Experience, you can fill a bag with seasonal vegetables to your heart’s content! Reservations are prioritized, but same-day registration is possible. For more details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabijikan website.