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"♪

I thought that this year's Sapporo would have warmer days than every year and that the Period to see Autumn leaves would be Squid longer, but the snow fell early and it turned out to be a very short autumn. This time, I would like to introduce 🌳 the Autumn leaves Spot around the hotel taken in early November 🍂 Hotel Kita 3-jo Street Side The trees on the north side of the hotel (along Kita 3-jo Street) are now more red than they were in this photo. Since it is a place where it is difficult to get sunlight, it seems that you can see the Autumn leaves a little longer. At the foot of the tree, there is a "Nanmosa stove" and a photo Spot of the 📷 hotel 🍂clock tower Speaking of Sapporo, Famous landmarks are just around the corner from the hotel! Located in in the building district, there are many trees around the clock tower, and it is Light up at night, making it look 👀 more beautiful 🍂 Odori Park Odori Park, which shows various faces in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, Events, etc., can see various kinds of Autumn leaves in autumn. It's just a short walk from the hotel, so Squid might be 🚶🏻 ♂️🚶🏻 a good idea to go for a walk 🍂 Hokkaido Office Red Brick Terrace If you walk straight west from the hotel, you will find the Hokkaido Government Office. In the square of the red brick terrace in front of the Provincial Government Office, stalls such as Mackerel sandwiches and taiyaki, which are now a hot topic, were lined up. The provincial government office is undergoing renovation work until around March next year, but you can enter the premises. Inside the red brick terrace, there are also Famous restaurants that Hokkaido is proud of! 🍂 Hokkaido University Row of ginkgo trees Speaking of Autumn leaves in Sapporo, this is it! [Row of ginkgo trees] in Hokkaido University. The 70 Row of ginkgo trees is a sight to behold 😲 It'There are a little far from the hotel, but it's a recommended Spot, so please include it in your ✨ sightseeing plan There are so many other Autumn leaves Spot in Sapporo that I can There are t introduce them all! It was scattered by the snow and strong winds the other day, but it looks like you can still enjoy it 💕 Please stop by various Spots!

A clump of higanbana blooming in Kamitomita Towns, Wakayama Prefecture, flowering has been delayed for a long time due to the heat of this summer, but it is finally in full bloom.

The view from the OHAMA terrace on Ikema Island in Miyakojima was the best 🥰 It was a view that made 🏝️✨ me want to look at it for hours

Baikoan Located in Tsukigase, Nara, Baikoan is Japan’s sole maker of karoubai (processed plum) that has preserved a production method passed down there for about seven hundred years without alteration. Karoubai refers to processed ume fruit, introduced to Nara as a medicine some 1,300 years ago by envoys to Sui and Tang China. Around seven hundred years ago, during the Nanbokucho period, it reached Tsukigase as a mordant for safflower dyeing. From the late Edo period through the early Meiji era, karoubai reached its heyday as a mordant for cosmetic red dye, and some 400 karoubai workshops operated, but demand plunged after the invention of chemical dyes. By the early Showa era only a few producers remained; after the war Baikoan became the sole manufacturer and continues to this day. Baikoan cultivates plums, rice, and vegetables and processes food across 30,000 square meters of verdant land and rich nature. Although the plums in Tsukigase were originally planted to make karoubai, the sight of plum trees in full bloom reflected on the valley and river of the Satsukigawa captivated people and made this area Japan’s first officially designated scenic spot. During the plum festival from February through the end of March, our shop offers dining and hanami from scenic box seats filled with the scent of plum. In Reiwa 6 (2024) we built the Nara Beni Workshop. This Japanese-style building incorporates traditional Japanese craftsmanship throughout. Inside the workshop, where you can feel delicate, advanced techniques and Japanese aesthetics, visitors can experience safflower dyeing using karoubai. We hope the experience becomes an opportunity to rediscover the wonders of Japanese culture. Watching the ever-changing colors of nature and the early-morning sea of clouds spreading across the Tsukigase valley can create the illusion of being in a plum paradise. Early spring light, tranquil fresh greens, the bounty of autumn, the scents of winter. We live and work with the seasons in the strict yet warm nature of Tsukigase.

Romantopia Tsukigase Plum Valley ~Experience the seasons at Romantopia~ In spring there’s a plum festival, in summer you can pick ume plums and try tea leaf picking. You can also enjoy year-round activities such as mochi pounding and black tea making. ◇RV Park Enjoy Romantopia Tsukigase Plum Valley in a campervan. Experience the extraordinary in hills and fields that reveal different faces with the seasons. ◇Tent Camping Relax with tent camping at Romantopia Tsukigase Plum Valley. Experience the extraordinary in hills and fields that reveal different faces with the seasons. ◇Hands-on Learning Have fun trying things you’ve never done before at Romantopia Tsukigase Plum Valley. ◎Mochi Pounding Experience Enjoy freshly pounded mochi made with a kine mallet and usu mortar. After the experience you can eat some on site and take the rest home. 18,000 yen / per mortar session ※Includes experience fee, equipment fee, and ingredients (2 sho rice) Available for groups of 4 or more. ◎Konnyaku Making Experience Enjoy freshly made handmade konnyaku. After the experience you can eat some on site and take the rest home. 2,000 yen / per person ※Includes experience fee and materials (konnyaku yam 1 kg yields 10 blocks) ※Additional portions negotiable; available for groups of 4 or more. ◎Tea Picking & Factory Tour Tea picking season begins when the tea fields flush with the young green of new leaves. Includes one-pack tea to take home. 1,500 yen / per person ※Includes experience, tour, and souvenir. [Experience season] Mid-May – October (contents vary by timing) ◎Hand-rolled Tea / Black Tea Making Make hand-rolled tea or black tea using a hot plate. You can take the tea you make home. 2,500 yen / per person ※Includes experience, tour, and souvenir. [Experience season] Mid-May – October (contents vary by timing) ◎Miso Making Experience Try the full process of making miso. You can take the miso you make home. 8,000 yen / per person ※Includes experience fee, materials, and take-home container. [Experience season] January 10 – mid-February ◎Matcha Experience Under preparation ※Consultation required ◆Romantopia Tsukigase◆ 707-10 Tsukigase Nagahiki, Nara, Nara Prefecture Open days (Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday)
Available only from 9:00 to 17:00 0743-92-0810

EVERYONE WHO WATCHES COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! How do you do! It is the West City Tourist Association. Saitoshi is a city located in the central region of Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu. It is a town full of historical romance and such as National Special Historic Site Saitobaru Kofun Tumulus, one of the largest Kofun Tumulus in the Japan, and Togun Castle, the residence of Ito, the lord of Hyuga Country. Saitobaru Kofun Tumulus is a scenic spot for flowers Spring with 2,000 cherry blossoms and 300,000 rape blossoms, 1 million sunflowers in summer, and 3 million cosmos in autumn. Access is about 10 minutes from the Nishito IC on the Higashikyushu Automobile Expressway. Use public transportation is about 60 minutes by bus from downtown Miyazaki City. Cool JAPAN VIDEOS will send out recommended Tourist Information in Nishi City, Miyazaki Prefecture, so please follow us! 【Introduction of recommended Sightseeing spots in Nishi City, Miyazaki Prefecture】 ・Saitobaru Kofun Tumulus It is a group of Kofun Tumulus that was designated as a National Special Historic Site in Showa 27. In 2018 Heisei 30, it was certified as a Japan heritage site. It is one of the largest Kofun Tumulus in the Japan, with more than 300 Kofun Tumulus from the late 3rd century to the first half of the 7th century scattered on a plateau of about 2.6 km from east to west, 4.2 km from north to south, and Elevation 50~80m. It is also known as a scenic spot for flowers, and you can enjoy various landscapes throughout the four seasons, with 2,000 cherry blossoms and 300,000 rape flowers blooming in Spring, 1 million sunflowers blooming in summer, and 3 million cosmos blooming in autumn. Access is about 10 minutes from the Nishito IC on the Higashikyushu Automobile Expressway. Use public transportation Get off at Miyazaki Kotsu Saito Bus Center and take a taxi for about 5 minutes. #West City #Miyazaki Prefecture #Kyushu #Saitobaru #Saitobaru Kofun Tumulus #Cherry blossoms #Rape flower #Sunflower #Cosmos #Kofun Tumulus #History #Tourism #Travel #Tourist Association

Reiwa 6 Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival Photo Contest Gold Prize Nobuko Nakamura "Tsukigase Wanpo" This will be the poster for next year’s Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival! Thank you for many entries this year! We look forward to many visitors and many entries next year. All members of the Tsukigase Tourism Association await you!!

🌸 Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024 — Results Announcement 🌸 Thank you for waiting‼️ Here are the results of “Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024” 🥳👏 We received a total of 116 votes this time ✍️✨ Thank you so much for all your votes 😌 Now for the results 👇👇👇 🥇 Gold Prize @gokase_pan — Rain and the Night at Josenji Weeping Cherry Tree 🥈 Silver Prize @sakai_0808 — Nighttime Hanami Camp at the Waterfront Park 🥉 Bronze Prize @niidome2110 — Evening at Josenji Weeping Cherry Tree Congratulations to all the winners㊗️🥳🎉 And thank you to everyone who participated and submitted entries 🙏✨ By the way…… We’ll soon announce a photo contest on Instagram themed around summer in Gokase 😳💡 Please join us again 🥰

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Tourist Spot: Akebono azalea On Mt. Futagami, which sits on the border between Gokasecho and Takachiho, you can see Akebono azalea from around mid-April each year. Mt. Futagami has two peaks, Otodake and Onnadake, and the Akebono azalea that is relatively easy to see grows on Onnadake.

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Tourist Spot: Sankasho Shrine Sankasho Shrine was established when a small shrine (hokora) from Mt. Futagami, said to be the site of the descent of the heavenly grandson, was brought down and built at the mountain’s foot. Founded around the late 900s CE, its nagare-zukuri-style structure is entirely made of cypress, and its architectural design and carvings are regarded as masterpieces of the early modern period. This main hall is designated as a tangible cultural property of Miyazaki Prefecture. The site also houses the stone-carved Gate Guardian Deity statues (two faces), which are designated as a prefectural tangible cultural property. At the autumn grand festival, Aradance, an ancient performance tradition from the Sakamoto district designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, is offered. On November 30, 2022, 41 fūryū-odori (stylish folk dances) across Japan, including Gokase’s Aradance, were inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the shrine grounds and in the surrounding garden, you can find Tsukushi rhododendrons and western rhododendrons, along with weeping cherry trees and camellias. They typically reach peak bloom from mid-April through mid-May, offering flower viewing during that period. The Sankasho Shrine Spring Festival is held in April. Deities enshrined: Izanagi no Mikoto, Izanami no Mikoto, Sarutahiko no Mikoto, and Fujiwara no Michizane (enshrined together).

【🌸Gokasecho Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024🌸】 Thank you for entering the Instagram campaign "Gokasecho Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024"! We will decide the winners by votes from our followers✨ Followers, please choose one work from the 12 entries and comment its number in the comments of this post✍ Voting is limited to one vote per account. [Voting period: until July 5] The posted images are screenshots of the applicants' photos, so the image quality is poor. We apologize for that. Please also view the entrants' original posts on Instagram before voting😃 1. @__torippy.__ 2. @yasuyochan.192 3. @yuichi_5101 4. @amiamibz 5. @niidome2110 6. @inoshima0124 7. @akihiko.shinchi 8. @sakai_0808 9. @mgm_1228 10. @aiaiaiaiaiaiai77 11. @gokase_pan 12. @goto0619 We will hold a lottery and give Gokasecho specialty products to 10 randomly selected voters🎁 We look forward to your votes✨

Goryokaku. It's ⭐️ really a great shape It's a 🌸 view I've always wanted to see This year, it was also staged in 👓⌚️🎀👟⚽️ a popular anime movie

Goryokaku ruins. Period, the cherry blossoms were 🌸 in bloom It was very nice to take a walk because it was ☺️ large

A 1 km stretch of Edo-period streets! A feature on the charms of Narai-juku Let me introduce Narai-juku, located at the northernmost edge of the Kiso Road! Narai-juku was designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1978, and in 2016 the Kiso Road including Narai-juku was registered as a Japan Heritage site, making it a place of great historical value. Narai-juku preserves about 1 km of Edo-period streets. Just strolling along the streetscape is an enjoyable way to sightsee. With completely different looks in each season, you can visit several times a year without ever getting bored! In Narai-juku you can enjoy Nagano Prefecture specialties such as soba noodles, gohei-mochi rice cakes, oyaki stuffed dumplings, and local sake. You can also buy regional crafts unique to the area, such as Kiso lacquerware and bentwoodware, as souvenirs! By the way, the production center for Kiso lacquerware is right next door in Kisohirasawa, and Kisohirasawa is also designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings! It’s fun to drop by Kisohirasawa while you’re visiting Narai-juku!! Some shops offer kimono and yukata dressing services, so you can dress up and walk the Edo streets for a true time‑slip experience! In the past, Narai-juku was used as a filming location for the morning drama Ohisama, and it is cherished as a pilgrimage site by fans. Please come and visit Narai-juku!

Shiojiri’s top pick for sightseeing! A feature on the charms of the Mt. Takabocchi Highlands Located east of Shiojiri City between the city and the Suwa area at an altitude of 1,655 m, here are the attractions of the Mt. Takabocchi Highlands! Mt. Takabocchi Highlands is famous for taking stunning photos—so much so that it’s called “Japan’s number-one photo spot”! You can take in sweeping views of Mount Fuji, the Northern Alps, the Central Alps, Norikura, and Mt. Myoko, Japan’s representative peaks. Add in Lake Suwa, the sea of clouds, azaleas known as rengetsuzutsuji, and grazing cows, and you’re guaranteed picture-perfect shots if you bring a camera! Sunset, sunrise, and night each reveal completely different faces of the highland, which is part of its appeal! In particular, Mt. Takabocchi Highlands is the only place where you can capture the sea of clouds, Lake Suwa, and Mount Fuji in a single frame! A campground is also available! Camping while gazing at the mountains is simply unbeatable! For details and reservations, search for “Mt. Takabocchi Highlands Campground”! It’s also great for moderate hikes! There are trails around the ranch and a promenade to the summit, offering a pleasant distance you can enjoy while breathing the fresh highland air! Along the way you might meet cows and rengetsuzutsuji in bloom! Mt. Takabocchi Highlands is also famous as a sacred site featured in Yuri Camp△ and Your Name. Enjoy the same scenery that appears with the characters in those stories! It’s about a 30‑minute drive from Shiojiri IC, so please come and visit!

With the ceiling painting of History Restrooms available Mountain Temple The approach road lined with Autumn leaves with dazzling green leaves Restrooms available It was a healing time, early summer afternoon Gari

A view of Nagoya from Kiso Mikawa for this Period only.

Cherry blossoms and Himeji Castle Himeji Castle is also known as White Heron Castle, a castle located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Major buildings such as castle towers and turrets built in the Edo period still exist, and are registered as national treasures, important cultural properties, and UNESCO World Heritage Lists. I visited Himeji Castle when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, The photo was taken from the restaurant in the building. I tried to make it a panoramic style, and when you look at it like this, it is quite wide. Cherry blossoms and egret castle are the best match.

It was a very beautiful sight to see the moist approach to the rain Gari.

This is the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. We went sightseeing at dusk. It is a very magnificent structure.

It is a spectacle bridge Miyamori River Bridge in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture. It seems that this place is lit up every day... It was very beautiful.

I went to Oshino Hakkai for the first time. The number of foreign tourists was overwhelming. I guess you're interested in Japanese history and culture.

◆Hikokudaira Peach Blossom Road◆ The peach blossoms of Hikokudaira began when fifteen original saplings were purchased from Senaiji in Achi Village in 1997 and planted around a private residence. (The peach blossoms of Senaiji are said to have originated when Momosuke Fukuzawa (the son-in-law of Yukichi Fukuzawa) brought saplings back from Munich, Germany, in 1922.) Moved by the beautiful red, white, and pink blooms, and wishing to match the local landscape, they decided to plant extensively. They planted on privately cultivated land and along roadsides, borrowing village-owned strips beside the roads to plant as well. In 2000 they received a grant under the "Community-Built Regional Development Project," and with the cooperation of neighboring residents for planting and underbrush clearing, now more than about 200 peach trees have been planted. Each year the area has become popular for its scenery surrounded by the beautiful peach blossoms. The name Hikokudaira comes from the trade name of the project initiator, Mr. Masaru Kubota. Manager: Masaru Kubota ●Details for Hikokudaira Peach Blossom Road ・Best time to visit Mid April to late April ・Admission fee None ・Parking None ・Toilets Temporary toilets available ・Contact Toyooka Travel Time (0265-49-3395)

I took an aerial view of Aragi Island from a bird's-eye view. Actually, it was shaped like this. Aragi Island, Aritagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture * Flight permission from Aritagawa Town * Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Comprehensive Flight Permit has been obtained. * Flight plan report and flight log book have been prepared.

Himeji Castle, also known as the White Heron Castle, stands as the best-preserved castle in Japan. This stunning fortress is not just a Japanese National Treasure but also a World Heritage site. With its 400-year-old, seven-story castle keep and over 1,000 cherry trees that bloom in spring, the castle's grounds are a sight to behold.

Hirosaki Castle Flower Raft 2024.04.20 In Hirosaki Castle, there is a "Team Sakura Guard", and this team protects the cherry blossoms. Cherry trees that are over 100 years old also produce a lot of flowers thanks to this team. Gari will drop a lot of petals because it will have a lot of flowers, and this raft will be completed.

Doll Memorial Service Suwa, Nagano Prefecture Onsenji Temple, Rinzai Myoshinji School On March 17, 2014, I visited Onsenji Temple. It is about a ten-minute walk from Kamisuwa Station. This temple performs memorial services for dolls and stuffed animals. It felt much like a funeral for dolls and stuffed toys. Onsenji holds a doll memorial service every March. In Japan, Boys’ Day falls on May 5 and Girls’ Day on March 3. Most grandparents give dolls to their grandchildren to pray for the child’s healthy growth. These are traditional Japanese dolls unique to Japan. As a result, many Japanese households own Japanese dolls. I believe dolls also have a spirit, like animism suggests. When your child owns a doll, the child plays with it. As the child grows up, they tend to move away from the doll. Most Japanese people do not simply throw away the dolls that watched over their children’s growth. That is because the dolls spent time with the child. Most Japanese think dolls have a soul. That is why they hold memorial services for dolls. That day, over 1,000 dolls were gathered. The chief priest chanted sutras for the dolls and stuffed animals for about 30 minutes. The priest offered thanks to the dolls with purifying salt. We prayed with the same feeling. It was a very mysterious experience. It was my first time seeing so many dolls and stuffed animals. Still, it was a deeply heartfelt Buddhist memorial for the dolls. I felt I could sense a little of Buddhist sentiment. That is why I love Japan!! Also, Onsenji is famous as a spot for autumn leaves. If you want to see beautiful foliage, please come and see the autumn colors at Onsenji.

Traditional Japanese straw raincoat in the coming season Nagoya, Aichi

Photographed 5/25/24. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.