Yuzu Picking Volunteers Wanted!

We are recruiting yuzu picking volunteers in Fujikawa Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, one of the leading yuzu-producing areas in the Kanto region.

Come and try it for yourself!

I photographed a stunning orange sunrise this morning. I also love the mist along the foot of the mountains.
I took this from a farm road in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture.

Panoramic view from the summit of Mount Nagamine
The chilly Azumino valley lies under a sea of clouds, with the Northern Alps towering beyond
You can only see a scene like this on an Azumino morning!

Azumino Full Moon
This is the Harvest Moon setting behind the Northern Alps
On cold mornings a sea of clouds spreads below, and the view of the Northern Alps from Mount Nagamine is spectacular!!

Shiojiri-juku Location: Shiojiri City, Shiojirimachi

The old Nakasendo route that crossed Misawa Pass, Ono-juku and Ushikubi Pass from Shimosuwa-shuku was abolished in 1613 (Keichō 18). From 1614 (Keichō 19) the Nakasendo was rerouted via Shiojiri Pass and the new Shiojiri-juku was established.

The town layout work was overseen by Ogasawara Hidemasa, lord of Matsumoto Domain. He laid out the new Shiojiri-juku in an east–west plan southwest of the old post town. The honjin was one of the largest on the Nakasendo, and the post town also featured a noticeboard area and a Matsumoto Domain checkpoint.

Plots in the post town were typically three to four ken wide. By 1843 (Tenpō 14) the town had 166 households, including 75 inns — the largest number among the 26 post towns of Shinshu, due to its position at a road junction below Shiojiri Pass. Major fires in 1828 (Bunsei 11) and 1882 (Meiji 15) destroyed much of the town, but the Ono family house, a National Important Cultural Property, still evokes the town’s former appearance.

Blue sky
This is a morning photo of Kozu Coast in Odawara.

[Special offer for Michihigashi residents: “Use and Revive” Kawayu Stay Discount — Winter plan now on sale!]

This winter, revive your body and spirit with a budget-friendly stay at Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga.
The “Use and Revive” Kawayu Stay Discount (Winter), available to residents of Michihigashi, went on sale on October 20 at three properties affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association.

As autumn ends and the calm of winter approaches, why not stay at Kawayu Onsen during the deep cold and come back refreshed?

Kawayu Stay Discount (Winter)

・Eligible period
Weekdays and Sundays from Sunday, November 2, 2025 through Sunday, March 29, 2026

・Eligible area
Residents of Michihigashi: Kushiro, Nemuro, Okhotsk, and the Tokachi region

・Participating properties
Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, Kawayu Kanko Hotel, KKR Kawayu (members of the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association)
*Oyado Kinkiyu will be closed from November for the time being and is not eligible.

・Discount amount
Adults ¥2,000, children ¥1,000 (no limit on consecutive nights)

・How to book
Via each property’s official website, by phone, etc.

This offer ends when the budget runs out, so neighbors, please take advantage of it.
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/syukuhakuwariwinter25/

[Kawayu Visitor Center Lecture Announcement 📣]
Tomorrow, Saturday, 10/25, Professor Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, who has conducted long-term research in this field, will give a lecture titled "Why is Lake Kussharo so shallow? The secrets of Mount Atosanupuri revealed by the latest research." The venue is Kawayu Visitor Center and admission is free. We look forward to your visit ⛰️✨

Lecture
"Why is Lake Kussharo so shallow? The secrets of Mount Atosanupuri revealed by the latest research."
We will welcome Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University.
Date: Saturday, December 6, 13:30–15:30
Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, second floor
Admission free (no registration required; capacity 50)

We hope this talk offers a chance to encounter the grand natural story behind the familiar landscape of Lake Kussharo, so you can learn more about the lake and the park and feel proud of them.
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/kawayuvcfureai2/

I visited the famous Toohoku peak MtAdatara (1,700 m).
I took the ropeway from Okudake Trailhead to Summit Station, passed MtYakushi (1,322 m), and reached the summit of MtAdatara. Then I was moved by the stark volcanic landscape of the explosion crater (Numanodaira Crater), continued to Mount Yahazu (1,673 m), and enjoyed the autumn colors painting the slopes of MtTetsu (1,709 m).

Location: Nihommatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

I visited Mt. Kurikoma (elevation 1,626 m), the celebrated Tohoku peak praised as the "carpet of the gods."
At the temporary shuttle bus stop, Kurihara City staff warned that "bears have been appearing on the trail for four consecutive days!" and, ringing bear bells loudly, we made the ascent.
By the grace of the gods, we encountered no bears and were treated to truly stunning autumn foliage. Thank you.

Location: Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture

Sparkling Korakuen: An Evening Tea Gathering
Thursday, October 23 and Friday, October 24

At Korakuen, where the maple trees had turned crimson, a light-up and tea gathering took place.

Inside the garden stands Korakutei, a tea room used several times a month for tea practice and tea gatherings for children.

Still, many village residents had never stepped into Korakutei, and many had only viewed Korakuen’s garden from outside.

For regular walkers and those who don’t usually go out alike, these two days provided an opportunity to visit Korakuen.

Because the garden has almost no lighting, lights placed along the walking paths glittered in the darkness.

A gentle, light rain fell that night.

The softly sweet tea sweets and the warm, full-bodied tea warmed us through.

Even without knowing tea ceremony etiquette, I found the tea room’s refined, comforting atmosphere soothing, and I visited many times.

(Refills of tea were available 🧉)

Despite the poor footing due to the weather, many people came—thank you very much.

#Nishiokoppe Village
#Hokkaido
#Traditional Japanese garden
#Korakuen
#Autumn foliage light-up
#Tea gathering
#Night
#Autumn

Azumino was pleasantly warm, but a sudden passing shower arrived…
When I looked up at the sky, there was a double rainbow

Divine glow ✨

On the way back from photographing Shirataki Falls, the pampas grass lit by sunlight looked divine, so I took a picture 📷

You can see gleaming pampas grass around town right now 👀

The temperature swings between morning and evening have deepened the autumn colors 🍁

Peak foliage may still be a little way off, but you can already feel the autumn scenery and breeze beyond the leaves 🌰

Outbound because it was autumn, I went to see the Autumn leaves.
I like this season when the surroundings are brightly colored.

Mindfulness tourism was held at Kikuchi Gorge in Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

We offered the ultimate retreat in nature’s clear streams to maximize mental and physical performance.
Away from everyday noise, participants enjoyed a special experience that sharpened the five senses while feeling the breath of nature.

The program featured mindfulness walking incorporating meditation and breathing techniques.
Participants walked through Kikuchi Gorge together with a resident priest.
At each spot, people quietly faced nature—lying on rocks, sitting in zazen, or otherwise pausing in reflection.
In the calm atmosphere, attendees refreshed their minds and bodies and seemed to find new insights.

On the first day, we held “Mindfulness Walking and a Tea Ceremony.”
A tea master conducted a tea gathering within Kikuchi Gorge.
The water of Kikuchi Gorge was used for the tea.
In the silent morning space, guests settled their minds and quietly enjoyed delicious tea.

On the second day, participants experienced “Mindfulness Walking and a Breakfast Gathering.”
They ate breakfast in the crisp morning air while sensing the surrounding nature.
They enjoyed their meal in a relaxed, peaceful state.
The dishes used the soft water from Kikuchi Gorge, offering clay-pot rice and meals made with local Kikuchi ingredients.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the experience in their own way.
By walking and touching nature in the morning, many said they were able to forget work worries and busyness.
The matcha tea ceremony eased tired bodies, and the sound of the clear stream sharpened both hearing and taste.
Meditating in nature with the murmur of the river and the cool air felt pleasant.
Freshly cooked rice in a clay pot and nameko mushroom soup warmed body and soul; the dishes were elaborate, truly delicious, and left guests very satisfied.
These were among many comments we received.

It was a luxurious time to experience Kikuchi’s food, nature, and moments of self-reflection with the five senses.
Instead of letting a day pass by unnoticed, participants seemed to appreciate spending time in nature solely for themselves.

Autumn leaves on floating islands

A floating island located at the Anegawa Dam in Shiga Prefecture.
The Autumn leaves season is spectacular.

You should definitely see the flowers on rainy days at Seumo Park!
It is the droplets that have gathered on the lotus leaves.
Lotus leaves are highly water-repellent, so they collect water neatly.
The rainwater floating on the lotus leaves sparkles like a work of art.

Shimoda Photography Club 10th Anniversary Photo Exhibition Now Open✨!

The Shimoda Photography Club has been capturing Shimoda’s landscapes and everyday life.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, a special exhibition of about 2,000 photographs is on display📸✨

The exhibition spans three areas:
🚉 Inside the station (Izukyū Shimoda Station ticket gate)
🏬 Downtown street (Renjaku-cho Street to Ise-machi Street)
🖼️ Downtown gallery (Oyokocho Fujita Building)
November 1st (Saturday) – November 9th (Sunday)
on view🏞️🎨

Take a stroll through town and rediscover Shimoda’s charm through these photos🌿
👉 More details here
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20251101

Inatori Hosono Highlands Autumn Susuki Viewing Event
A vast 125-hectare field of silver grass turns into a silvery to golden carpet from October 31 to December 1 (Monday), creating a spectacular panoramic spot. You can take in sweeping views of the Amagi mountain range and the Izu Islands, and it’s guaranteed to be photogenic!
See the event page for details
https://hosonokougen.com

Photo from my father.
2025.11.01

Yusaku Park (Yujaku Koen)
❚ Autumn foliage status as of October 31, 2025
Yusaku Park (Yujaku Koen) in Asaji Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture
It is one of Oita Prefecture’s representative spots for autumn colors.
The trees are still mostly green overall. The Yusaku Tourism Momiji Festival begins on November 3. During the festival, kusa-mochi (grass rice cakes) and other items are sold.
We will report the changing foliage conditions here in sequence.

Location: Yusaku Park (Kamiozuka, Asaji Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture)
Parking: Available

■■■ Access to central Bungoono City ■■■
About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture
About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture

■■■■■■■■■■■■
Introducing sightseeing and recommended spots in Kyushu, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture
■■■■■■■■■■■■

[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] Savoring the River! Ayu, Unagi, River Shrimp, Gori! Traditional Fishing Methods That Live Alongside the Shimanto River

Introducing the traditional river fishing methods passed down by river fishers on the Shimanto River. This highlights the important local culture of living close to the river and gratefully receiving its bounty.

〇Traditional Fishing Methods of the Shimanto River
The Shimanto River’s traditional fishing methods have been carefully preserved by local river fishers. While their form has gradually changed with environmental shifts, they still remain part of daily life. The river’s abundant gifts—ayu (sweetfish), unagi (eel), tenaga-ebi (long-arm shrimp), and aosa nori (green seaweed)—brighten family meals with the seasons. Skilled chefs in Shimanto City also prepare them into delicious dishes for visitors, and various processed forms are enjoyed as souvenirs.

〇See the River, Taste the River
A slow walk along the Shimanto River reveals traps for catching eels and long-arm shrimp seen from chinkabashi bridges, partly submerged in the water. Depending on the season, you may encounter people fishing for ayu or working from traditional river boats. Along the banks you might spot stone-lined devices for catching gori, and at the river mouth workers harvesting green seaweed. If you look closely at the Shimanto River, you’ll discover human lives intertwined with the river. In the evening, taste the very ingredients caught with the traps you saw, slowly savored at a local restaurant. It’s a distinctive, insider way to enjoy the Shimanto River.

〇Introduction to Traditional Fishing Methods
・Ayu Fire-Swinging Fishing
Nets are set across the river in advance, and at night a boat swings torches from the deck. Startled by the dancing bands of flame, ayu panic and are driven into the nets. Today this practice often uses LED lights, but the principle remains the same as the traditional method. Ayu are also caught by cast nets, angling, and other methods.

・Long-Arm Shrimp Fishing
From a chinkabashi bridge looking toward the water’s edge, you can see PVC pipes spaced at regular intervals. These are korobashi, traps for catching long-arm shrimp. Once made of wood, they have changed to more convenient materials over time. Long-arm shrimp are commonly enjoyed deep-fried whole, producing vibrant colors, and are treasured as a local flavor—some grow large enough to resemble cucumbers.

・Unagi (Eel) Fishing
You may see pieces of styrofoam or PET bottles floating in the river without drifting away; they can mark korobashi used to catch eels. Sensitive to smell, eels avoid resin traps, so wooden korobashi are still widely used.

・Gori Fishing
If stones are lined along the riverbank to dam the water, they may form the setup for gori’s noborio-toshi-ue fishing. In the Shimanto River, juvenile Numachichibu fish are called gori and are enjoyed as a spring to early-summer delicacy. They are typically eaten deep-fried or simmered in soy-based preserves.

〇Important Notices
Fishing on the Shimanto River is subject to fishing rights. Purchasing an angling permit is required when you fish.
Also, closed seasons are established to protect resources.
Please be aware of these regulations.

Sugao Magaibutsu
❚ Oita Bungoono Geopark
Sugao Magaibutsu stands in Mie Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture.
Its full, gentle face and softly rounded shoulders show a beautifully three-dimensional carving.
Its craftsmanship is exquisitely detailed, comparable to wooden Buddhist statues in Kyoto and Nara.
Sugao Magaibutsu is thought to date from the end of the Heian period. It is carved into welded tuff from the Aso pyroclastic flow about 90,000 years ago.
It has been designated a National Important Cultural Property and a Historic Site.
Location: 466 Asase, Mie Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture

About a five-minute drive from Sugao Magaibutsu is Roadside Station Mie, which offers a panoramic view of Enaito no Kei. It’s a good spot to take a break.

■■■ Access to central Bungoono City ■■■
From JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture: about 3 hours by car
From JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture: about 2 hours by car
From JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture: about 1 hour 20 minutes by car
From JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture: about 1 hour 20 minutes by car

■■■■■■■■■■■■
Kyushu — Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture (Bungoono City)
Introducing sightseeing and recommended spots
■■■■■■■■■■■■

Autumn colors in the satoyama and the JR Shinonoi Line
The countryside of Azumino is beginning to show its colors.

Autumn colors of the Northern Alps viewed from near the No. 2 parking area at the Mitsumata trailhead
Is that Choyari standing sharply in the distance…?
The mountainside foliage was at its peak!!

Hello from Crystal Sound 😃✨ The weather has been refreshingly pleasant, making this the perfect season for outings 🎶

The autumn colors are gradually advancing in Shosenkyo Gorge, and the mountains are turning brilliant hues of red and gold, creating truly beautiful scenery ✨
Bring your camera and you’ll capture many lovely photos 📸

The museum has also received many new items in stock ✨
The photo shows a dazzlingly gleaming pyrite specimen 💎
Please stop by when you go out 😊
All of our staff warmly look forward to your visit 🌈

It is a scenic spot in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Enzuki Island.
A large number of tourists come to watch the sunset over Engetsu Island.

Autumn of the Sangi Railway

Along the Sangi Railway line in Inabe City, red spider lililies bloom in autumn.

Autumn sky.
A photo of my father's LINE confirmation of survival.

2025.10.30

November is almost here 🍂✨
This time, we introduce six autumn foliage spots in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture! 🍁
Be sure to dress warmly and come to Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture 💛🎶

🍁🍁🍁Here are the highlights of the six autumn leaves spots🔽🍁🍁🍁

1. The Nursing-Rooting Giant Ginkgo of Mt. Kamitakano 🍁
[Address] Takano-cho, Shinichi, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] This giant ginkgo stands in the precincts of Tenman Shrine, with a trunk circumference at chest height of 9.6 meters, ranking first in the prefecture. It is said to have been planted as a sacred tree when Takemikazuchi-no-kami was enshrined here in the first year of Tenpyo (729). Aerial roots called "breasts" hang down from the main trunk, and it is designated as a prefectural natural monument. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About an 8-minute drive from Takano IC on the Onomichi–Matsue Expressway or from Roadside Station Takano
[Typical viewing period] Early to mid-November

2. Mt. Azuma 🍁
[Address] Moriwaki, Hiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] Mt. Azuma belongs to Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park and lies about 35 km north of Shobara City in northern Hiroshima Prefecture. The Azuma Lodge of Kyukamura closed in 2020. Restroom facilities are available at the former campsite public toilets. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

3. Hiba Mountain Range 🍁
[Address] Yuki, Saijo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Shimane Prefecture
[Highlights] A series of mountains around 1,200 meters high, with the area near Hiba-san Goryo covered by a nationally designated natural monument of pure beech forest. Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] To Hiroshima Prefectural Citizens’ Forest Park Center
About 40 minutes from Shobara IC
About 40 minutes from Tojo IC
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

4. Dogo Mountain Range 🍁
[Address] Misaka, Saijo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Tottori Prefecture
[Highlights] One of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains and featured in Sumie Tanaka’s New 100 Famous Flowers of the Mountains. Enjoy 360-degree views from the summit, stone embankments from former ranches, and the large pond built as a water source for tatara ironmaking. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 45-minute drive from Shobara IC to Tsukimigaoka
About a 30-minute drive from Tojo IC to Tsukimigaoka
[Typical viewing period] From early November

5. Taishakyo Gorge 🍁
[Address] Tojo-cho, Shobara City to Jinseki Kogen Town, Jinseki District, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] A gorge spanning Tojo-cho in Shobara City and Jinseki Kogen Town. Designated a National Scenic Spot in 1923 and listed among Japan’s Top 100 Landscapes. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 15-minute drive from Tojo IC on the Chugoku Expressway
[Typical viewing period] Late October to early November

6. The Iroha Maple Group of Kamichi 🍁
[Address] Inakusa, Soryo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
[Highlights] The Iroha maple group of Kamichi includes remarkably large trees, the largest having a trunk circumference at chest height of 3.25 m, and nine others exceeding 2 m in circumference—an unusually large cluster even on a national scale. ※Please note that conditions may vary depending on the weather.
[Access] About a 15-minute drive from Shobara IC on the Chugoku Expressway
[Typical viewing period] Early to mid-November

For autumn foliage information for 2025, see🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/special/4758

For an article summarizing the highlights, see🔽
https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5312