Have you all been feeling tired lately??? It may be a little early, but why not plan an evening with friends, partners, or family to see a nationally designated Important Cultural Property lit up? In December, we will illuminate Katakura-kan in Suwa for six days across three weekends (Dec. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22, 2024)! Katakura-kan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and served as a filming location for the famous hot spring film *Thermae Ro◯e* (title partially obscured in the original). Wild eel is actually in season right now, and there is a traditional cold 'doyō' period in January (寒の土用), which locals note. Here’s a suggested plan: 1. Enjoy eel in the Suwa–Okaya area 2. See Katakura-kan illuminated 3. Unwind and refresh from everyday fatigue and stress at Kamisuwa Onsen. Oh—don’t forget to book your accommodation! ・Period: December 7–8 (Sat–Sun), December 14–15 (Sat–Sun), and December 21–22 (Sat–Sun), 2024. ・Time: 17:00–20:00 * Bathing hours at Katakura-kan end at 20:00. Last admission is at 19:30.

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

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

— Bunka-Bunsei Procession ① — On Saturday, November 23, the 57th Bunka-Bunsei Procession took place, hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Association That Loves Tsumago. Under clear skies, residents and visitors recreated the people who likely walked this Nakasendo during the Bunka-Bunsei era and the atmosphere of the post town, bringing lively activity to Nakasendo and Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku).✨ Thank you to everyone who attended and for cooperating with photography etiquette and other manners. We hope the event is held safely again next year.

✨ 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 😌

Suginoya sits at the foot of Wada Pass on the Nakasendo. The menu ranges from katsudon and set meals to pizza and pasta. 🍕✨ Address ▶︎ 3389 Wada, Nagawacho Phone ▶︎ 0268-88-2005 Hours Weekdays ▶ 11:00–21:00 Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays ▶ 11:00–20:00 Closed every Thursday

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 Reopening of Road Closure] The entrance to Tsumago inn (on the Magome side, opposite the No. 3 parking lot) had been closed to vehicles for road improvement work for a while, but the closure was lifted today, Friday, November 22. Thank you for your cooperation during the long closure! —Notice— Vehicles and pedestrians may now pass as usual, but vehicle entry into the post town is one-way from Omata Bridge, so entry from the No. 3 parking lot side is prohibited. Also, within Tsumago inn, vehicles are always prohibited from 10:00 to 16:00 to protect the scenery.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, the Nakasendo Tsumago inn will host a Bunka-Bunsei era procession! This annual event has taken place on November 23 since 1968 to commemorate the start of preservation efforts at Tsumago Yado. Local residents dress as samurai, courier runners, komuso (mendicant monks), and other figures to recreate the post town atmosphere of the Bunka-Bunsei period. As in past years, the procession will march along the Nakasendo from 10:30 at Watashima General Ground to 11:20 at Tsumago inn (lunch break), then resume at 13:25 and walk the Nakasendo between O-Tsumago and Tsumago. Imagine the travelers who once walked this road in the Bunka-Bunsei era and enjoy the procession. Details about the schedule and other information for the day are available on the Tsumago inn official website✅ There is no reserved space for media or photography. Please avoid blocking others and watch the procession without standing in the way. Non-participants must not join the procession. Tsumago inn remains a living community while preserving its streetscape. Please refrain from entering private property or causing disturbance. The photo shows last year’s event. It is forecast to be cold tomorrow, so please come warmly dressed 😊❄

Today's Nobeyama Highlands This morning's low was -3.8°C🌡️ Yesterday Yatsugatake finally got a dusting of snow, and it really feels like winter now🏔️ Temperatures are forecast to drop further from the weekend🥶 Please dress warmly when you visit🧣🧤

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.

Akasawa has finished this season, but the Autumn leaves on the Nezame-no-Toko floor are still in Best time to visit The coloring of the maples is beautiful!

Tadachi Washi Papermaking Experience 2024! The tradition of washi papermaking has long been passed down in the Tadachi area of Nagiso town. At one time it was an important winter side industry for farming families. Although Tadachi washi vanished for a while with the spread of Western paper, the town restored the house of Tadachi Washi in 1985 to preserve the traditional techniques and share them with many people. At the Washi House, artisans still carry on the papermaking craft today.✨ The Washi House now offers a winter-only papermaking experience! Because it uses natural materials and cold water, this is a precious experience available only in winter.👀 There are two workshop options: a postcard and a koban (oval coin) size. Why not make your own one-of-a-kind original washi paper? Period: December–March Location: Tadachi Washi House (234-2 Tadachi, Nagiso town) Inquiries: 0573-75-4910 (Washi House) ※Reservation required For details, please check the Nagiso Tourism Association website "Burari Nagiso."✨

[Winter Driving] Check snow road information! Nagiso town is a region that typically sees snowfall each year. If heavy snow is forecast, road closures may occur. Please review the importance of winter equipment and snow driving precautions before you head out. You can get real-time road conditions, road-closure updates, and winter equipment information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s live cameras, social media, and websites. We ask for your cooperation to prevent winter traffic accidents and troubles. MLIT Winter Drive Navi Chubu Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Iida National Highway Office Snow Road Information for the South Shinshu and Kiso Region (map available) Tsumago Tourist Information Center TEL: 0264-57-3123 (Business hours 8:30–17:00, closed during the New Year holidays)

Partial road closures on the Nakasendo Currently, some sections of the Nakasendo are closed or have restricted access. Signs, ropes, and detours are in place, so please watch your step when passing through. 1. Between Magome and Magome Pass — Bridge collapse If you walk from Magome to Tsumago, go past the Jinbajō Observation Deck in Magome and follow Prefectural Route 7. Turn right at the sign for the old Nakasendo. At the Y-shaped junction ahead, turn left onto the stone path; a wooden bridge there is half-collapsed. The Nakatsugawa City Tourism Division has set up ropes and barriers, but please be careful of your footing when passing. 2. Kudaritani (see map above) A detour around Kudaritani runs behind nearby houses. If walking from the Tsumago direction 3. From the entrance to Tsumago inn (near Parking Lot 3) to Tsumago Power Station Note: Closed to vehicles. Pedestrians may pass.

That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about! It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa. I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment. According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone! ◎ Koshido 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture ☎ 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/ That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product. He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on! ◎ KOSHIDO 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/

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

November 10, 2024 From Takabocchi Highlands, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture Morgenroth towards the Hodaka mountain ranges of the Northern Alps is truly spectacular! Impression by the beauty of the gradation from the base to the sky. I was able to enjoy the sunrise from Mt. Hotaka to Mt. Yarigatake.

[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.😊

Lake Nojiri is starting to change color little by little! This year the autumn colors are a bit later than usual 🍁

Participants of the Mikane Road Walk in Nagano will wear costumes on Saturday 16th, Ueda Kokubunji ~ "Unno Yado" and "Old Tanaka Inn (Tanaka Shopping Street)" around 11:30-13:30 ~ A total of about 100 people will walk to Komoro Drum Gate. Some people take the Tanaka Station Boarding to Komoro Station. The "Golden Road" that connects the Sado Gold and Silver Mines and Edo

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

Shikinzan (紫金山) — Comet ATLAS Did you know that between October 13 and October 26, the comet was visible to the naked eye even in Japan? I, Kawanishi (河西) — a real foodie — was so focused on food that I completely forgot. I'm so sorry. F. N. kindly provided these photos. They are truly lovely🌠 I wish I could take pictures this beautiful! I feel lucky to have been born in a city where scenes like this can be seen. I think it’s a city to be proud of!!! Does that famous scene from that movie come to mind — the lake and the comet falling? Yes, the film 'Kimi no ◯ wa' (an intentionally obscured reference to 'Your Name'). It's even rumored that this place inspired Lake Itomori, and the site has become a pilgrimage spot for foreign visitors. We received photos of Shikinzan (紫金山) — Comet ATLAS taken from Tateishi Park, so we’re sharing them with you. The comet appears in every picture, so please try to find it! ※ Brightness has been adjusted. It seems that many skilled photographers gathered at Tateishi Park that day! Some camera lenses cost as much as a small car!!!!! Photography runs deep... My wife scolds me that I hardly use my DSLR, but I will keep working every day to bring you attractive photos of Suwa📷 ※ Personally, I use a Nikon D-series (D7100, an older camera but one I love). I would be grateful for any guidance on camera operation, such as how to photograph fireworks or comets... ・Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Did you know you could see Tsuchinshan-ATLAS from October 13 to October 26 with the naked eye? A friend kindly shared this photo, taken by F. N. It’s beautiful, moving, and fantastic. I’m so proud of my city and truly happy to have been born in Suwa!!! Lake and comet—does that famous animated movie come to mind? I know it does: Your Name. She shared these pictures with us, and I want to pass them on. Every photo shows Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, so please try to spot it!!! That day, so many photographers were at Tateishi Park. One of them told her that a camera lens cost over $6,500!!! Amazing!!! Photography is deeper than it seems. I own a Nikon camera (not very expensive but I love it). I need to study how to take better pictures. I must improve my technique before my wife gets mad at me… I haven’t used my camera recently. I know I need to practice over and over, right?

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.

【Kisoji Autumn Leaves Recommended Spot Summary】 There are There are Spot many Autumn leaves in the Kiso, but this time we will introduce these 8 selections! * The best time to see Autumn leaves is usually mid-October ~ early November, but it varies depending on the location and period, so please check in advance. ◆#Tsumago juku #tsumago 2159-2 Azuma, Nagiso Town, Kiso District ◆#Joshoji temple Okuwa Village, Kiso District, 831-1 Suhara · ◆#Atera Canyon #atera Nojiri, Okuwa Village, Kiso District Note: The road is completely closed until 11/7. ◆#Kaida Highlands #kaidakogen ◆#Mt. Ontake #ontake (Best time to visit Mt. Ontake 8th station: late September ~ early October) ◆#Kiso Koma Highlands #kisokomakogen Hiyoshi, Kisotown, Kiso District ◆#Kiso Lake Okukiso (Lake Okukiso) Elementary Kiso Kiso village Kiso District ◆#Narai juku #naraijuku Shiojiri City Narai juku