Photographed on July 3, 25. This is the Suzu Araragi wind chime of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.

Event announcement📣 July has arrived, and summer is here in earnest — a season full of festivals and events. If you’re free this weekend, why not drop by one of the events taking place? 🤗 📌Saturday, July 5 — Shirohebi-hime Festival at the shore of Lake Shikaribetsu in Shikaoicho. This theatrical folk performance, created from Ainu traditions, features a 13-meter white snake and a princess dancing in a dreamlike spectacle. ■Time: 17:30–21:15 ■Free shuttle bus to the venue: A free shuttle will operate from Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum in Shikaoicho to the lakeside venue using the regular bus route. 📌Sunday, July 6 — The 52nd Pyotan Falls Yamabe Release Festival at Satsunai River Park in Nakasatsunai Village. The day starts with the release of yamabe (a local trout), followed by a Poroshiri drum performance, hands-on workshops, food trucks, and ends with a stage-side edamame toss featuring the village’s specialty edamame. ■Time: 10:00–14:00 ■Access: About a 60-minute drive from Obihiro Station Find other summer events on the Tokachi HARE website under “Events.” Please check the homepage at the URL below 😊 It’s been hot every day, so please take care to avoid heatstroke and enjoy a pleasant weekend 🎵 https://tokachibare.jp/event/...

Notice: Iwanai Shrine Annual Festival This year too, the Iwanai Shrine Annual Festival will take place over three days from July 7th to July 9th. Please be aware that some roads will be closed during the festival, so take care when coming to the area. Come and join the “Iwanai Festival.”😌 *The schedule was referenced from the Iwanai Shrine website.

Photographed on July 3, 25. I had an And at Iidabashi, and before that, I Prayer at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. The Tanabata decorations were stunning. 🎋 Precincts around half past seven in the morning.

Photographed on July 1, 25. After Prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. Chillax soda yuzu citrus and cinnamon roll.

Photographed on July 1, 25. This is the Ai sea bream lottery of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

[Notice of Natsu-mode — Flower Market] Natsu-mode — Flower Market will be held at Isehara Daijingu. In addition to the summer staple morning glories and seasonal potted flowers for sale, food stalls and kitchen trucks will line the grounds. Dances and musical performances will appear on stage. Bring the whole family and enjoy. 🌸Date and Time Saturday, July 5 — 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday, July 6 — 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM 🌸Venue Isehara Daijingu The shrine grounds, bright with flowers, make a perfect setting for an evening stroll. Feel the start of summer amid night breezes, swaying blooms, and soft lights. For details and the stage schedule, please check the official website. https://www.daijingu.net/2025/06/15/1287/...

Photographed 6/29/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Summer in Japan is very hot, and it is quaint to visit the riverbed to escape the summer.

Dazzling summer light shining through the porch. This year's heat is in serious mode. The cat is exploring in search of the last coolness in the sink Water ...? In the afternoon when the wind chimes do not ring, the silence and heat blend together in the summer of Japan. "Squid can't be angry about anything with this water...?"

Photographed on July 1, 25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

A Tranquil Shrine Soothing You with the Cool Chime of Wind Bells At Sagi Shrine each summer we hold the “Wind Bell Festival.” 🎐 Wind Bell Festival 🎐 Event Period Friday, June 20, 2025 – Sunday, August 31, 2025 Around 500 wind bells line the grounds during the festival, offering vivid colors, refreshing tones, and the calming green of the shrine grounds. It’s also a hidden popular spot in Miyoshi City for Instagram-worthy photos. The grounds regularly host markets such as the “Saginoko-san Goenichi” market. (Check @saginokosan.goenichi on Instagram for event details!) Summer is just getting started. Why not visit Sagi Shrine to enjoy some cool relief? ⛩️ Sagi Shrine 📍1877 Tokaichi-machi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture 📞 0824-62-3343 📱 080-5363-3967

■Pothole Tour■ Deep inside Toyooka Village, at the foot of Mt. Kimen, you can enjoy river play at one of Japan’s largest potholes. Dive headfirst into a plunge pool or float and relax. Refresh yourself to the fullest in the emerald-green summer stream. Our guide staff will support you. You may join with children. We recommend combining this with a paella-cooking experience at Nodaira Campground! 【Plan Details 】 ■Season Around July to early September ※If you prefer dates outside the above period, please consult us. ■Meeting place General Incorporated Association Toyooka Village Tourism Association (Toyooka Tabi Jikan) ＝ For those using car navigation ＝ 《Toyooka Tabi Jikan》 Address: 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture TEL 0265-49-3395 ※If the above address does not appear, set your destination to Toyooka Village Central Nursery School and come to that location. 《Toyooka Village Central Nursery School》 Address: Kamiine 12368, Toyooka Village TEL: 0265-35-4953 ■Capacity 8 people (minimum number to hold tour: 2 people) ※If only one person or more than eight people wish to participate, please consult us. ■Price (tax included) Per person: 5,000 yen ※If you use the showers at Nodaira Campground, an additional 500 yen per person is required. ■Course details and schedule ① Meet at Toyooka Tabi Jikan 9:30 (payment) ② Travel to Nodaira Campground Around 9:30–10:10 ※Please travel by private car. ③ Arrive at Nodaira Campground Around 10:10 ④ Walk to the pothole area Around 10:15–10:45 ⑤ Stream walk and river play at the pothole Around 10:45–12:15 ⑥ Return to Nodaira Campground and dismiss on site Around 12:45 ■About the plan 【About Nodaira Campground】 It is about a 40-minute drive from the center of Toyooka Village. Leaving populated areas behind, you can enjoy a relaxed time surrounded by green trees and the sound of the river. Please travel to the campground by private car. 【About the pothole “Daimyojin Fuchi”】 In Abukawa Gorge there is one of Japan’s largest giant potholes, measuring seven meters in diameter. A pothole forms when stones on the riverbed rotate in the current and gradually carve into the bedrock over long years. 【Can be combined with other activities】 You can combine the pothole tour with a paella-cooking experience or a guided cycling tour. Please inquire for details. 【Clothing and items to bring】 ● Quick-drying clothing (recommended: garments with minimal skin exposure) e.g., rash guard ● Change of clothes ● Shoes that can get wet (recommended: those that do not come off easily) e.g., marine shoes ※You may use the changing rooms and lockers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility before and after the tour. ※For an additional fee, showers at Nodaira Campground are available (500 yen). ※For an additional fee, showers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility are available (300 yen). ■Inquiries and reservations Please apply by phone or via the inquiry form on the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. Phone number: Toyooka Tabi Jikan 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00) Website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/pothole-tour/...

Photographed on July 1, 25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed 6/29/25. Among the more than 2,000 rim musubi wind chime, only one There are wind chime with red thread. Every day, the location changes. If you find it, you may find something good.

At the National Bihoku Hillside Park (Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture), the hydrangeas that color the early summer in Japan are in Best time to visit! ✨ About 100 varieties and 10,000 "hydrangeas" planted in the Hiba-no-Sato hydrangea garden and Japanese cedar trees are in Best time to visit! Best time to visit is expected to continue until early July. Hydrangea flowering status (as of June 29) 【Name】Hydrangea 【Flowering state】Best time to visit 【Flowering period】Mid-June ~ mid-July *Best time to visit is ~early July 【Flowering place】Hiba no Sato, Hydrangea Garden, Japanese cedar trees Number of units: Approx. 10,000 shares 【Place】National Bihoku Hillside Park 【Address】4-10 Mikkaichi Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 【Contact】National Bihoku Hillside Park TEL 0824-72-7000 Click here for details▽ https://www.shobara-info.com/news/5133...

Meeting the "Flower That Brings Happiness," Kirengeshoma — Summer Hikes up Mt. Kurodake Around Obon, the elusive Kirengeshoma begins to bloom quietly in the mountains 🌼 Listed as Vulnerable (Category II) on the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List and thrust into the spotlight by an NHK morning drama, this flower is said in local lore to bring happiness to those who see it. Kirengeshoma once grew in large colonies around Morotsuka Village and Mt. Kurodake, but its numbers have drastically declined due to deer browsing. Now, it survives only in limited areas where local residents continue conservation efforts. Mt. Kurodake is designated an Important Habitat by Miyazaki Prefecture, and besides Kirengeshoma it shelters many rare Kyushu mountain plants and wildlife, making it a precious natural treasure. On this hiking tour, local guides will accompany you, pointing out rare plants and offering nature interpretation so you can fully savor the rich forest. 🟡 Tour Overview: Mt. Kurodake Hike 📅 Date and Time: Saturday and Sunday, August 23–24, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM 📍 Meeting Point: Obarai Community Center (escort from Shiitake no Yakata 21 available) 🎒 Eligibility: Ages 3 and up (minimum 4 participants to run / maximum 10) 💰 Fee: Adults ¥5,000 / Children ¥4,000 (lunch and guide fee included) 📝 Registration Deadline: Saturday, August 16 Hike Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (suitable for beginners to intermediate hikers) 🌱 Please wear comfortable clothing and hiking boots or non-slip athletic shoes. A special summer day to meet the elusive flower. We look forward to your participation!

Teshikaga Day-Trip Baths Guide Teshikaga offers many hot springs with free-flowing natural source water. With options ranging from public baths to hotel hot springs, you can choose a day bath that suits your preference. Here is a roundup of recommended day-trip baths in Teshikaga. ♨️ https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/?cats=663%2C669...

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. It is a rim musubi wind chime. 🎐

It is a thatched circle of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Ikuta Shrine

Ikuta Shrine. Marriage Water Lottery. I was so fascinated by the scenery immersed in water that I hurriedly pulled up.

Would you like to come and see a festival that has been around for almost 300 years? The Sawara Festival is a festival held in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture for three consecutive days from July 11 to 13, 2025. It is a very powerful festival with 10 huge festival floats dragging around the town. Songs and dances are also performed at the same time. Held in from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The stalls of the many is also Stalls, so you can enjoy it all day long. Access from Narita International Airports is to take the Keisei Main Line to Keisei Narita Station, Transfer at Narita Station on the JR Narita Line, and Get off at Sawara Station.

This photo was taken when I went to Ginyama Hot spring. It was the perfect summer resort for the hot and humid summer. It was cool near the waterfall as if the cooler was working.

Summer at Minami-Izu is finally here!!! Starting today (June 28), the ferry service to Hirizo Beach is running! The ferry to Hirizo Beach, a hidden spot boasting some of the clearest waters in Japan, operates through September 28. For details on how to apply for the Hirizo Beach Swimming Tour hosted by our tourism association, please see the following. https://x.gd/ppFn9... For other summer information, please refer to the following. https://x.gd/Nf4RG... ■About the photos shown Hirizo Beach photo: SAYOKO SUZUKI https://www.instagram.com/izuphoto_345/... Credit is included because unauthorized use is prohibited. Yusuge Park: Entry from the Minami-Izu Town Photo Contest 2024 The Minami-Izu Town Photo Contest 2025 is now accepting entries https://minamiizuphoto.mitte-x.istsw.jp/index.html?cn=131...

Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a town where agriculture flourishes! A treasure trove of food! ✨ This time, we are offering a "direct from the production area" online shop that delivers directly from Shobara Production Summer gift sales have started 👏👏 at "rural woodlands Shobara SELECT SHOP" Quite rare "grapes" 🍇 from Hiroshima Prefecture, corn that is 🌽 popular with a limited number of Traditional Japanese straw raincoat, and Shobara's Representative Hiroshima brand Wagyu beef "Hiba Beef" are on sale to make it easier to use and eat, such as "Soboro" and "Shigure Nii"! From the movement to Squid to do something about the Harmful Animals damage caused by wild boars, we have also started selling a new product "Shobara Inoboshi Meat Dumplings"! Shobara inoshi meat dumplings that do not have the Smell peculiar to wild boars and are easy to eat from children to adults. Rice and Sake 😍 Please take this opportunity to purchase it! Rural Woodlands Select has also started an official LINE! A 300 yen coupon will be given to 🎁 new registrants Rural woodlands, Shobara SELECT SHOP ▽ https://satoyamaselect.jp// Notice|Shobara Tourism Navi ▽ https://www.shobara-info.com/special//5119...

air hole The wind hole is a mysterious rock hole where cool winds blow throughout the four seasons. In summer, fog is generated due to the temperature difference with the outside air, and a mysterious scene appears in front of you. Around the end of June, the "Himalayan blue poppy" blooms beautifully, which is Cultivation to Use the cold air of the wind hole in the pit dug in front of the wind hole. Located inside Shanglin Forest Park, there are hydrangeas and autumn leaves planted nearby, and you can enjoy them every season. It is also famous as a starting point for climbing to Saragamine and Dragon God. Location: 791-0223 896-24 Kamibayashi, Toon City Access: 15km by Car from Matsuyama Expressway Kawauchi IC on Prefectural Roads 23 and 209 towards Kamibayashi Forest Park Car parking lot: Yes Toilet: Yes

July 7th is Tanabata 🎋🌌 In front of Morotsuka Village Central Community Center, tanzaku with wishes and cute Orihime and Hikoboshi figures made from origami are hung on bamboo branches 🌟 Just looking at them warms the heart 😊 Why not write a lovely wish of your own? 💫

Photographed on June 21, 25. This is Kazaguruma of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. From 6/28, the rim musubi wind chime will start.

Photographed on June 15, 25. It is a yo-yo lottery of Kawagoe Hachimangu. A new Squid lottery has also begun. 🍉