◆Sport Bike Rental◆ Rent a sport bike with ease! Why not explore the nature-rich Toyooka Village by bicycle? We offer a wide range of models so even those who have never ridden a sport bike can easily try one. Guided courses are also available, so please inquire. ■Special campaign: enjoy both a rental bike and a harvest-picking experience!! If you book a rental bike together with either vegetable picking or peach picking, the rental fee is 50% off. Please check the detailed pages on the Toyooka Travel Time website for harvest-picking contents. Reservations are also possible from the website. When booking a rental bike, write in the “Comments” field that you also reserved a harvest-picking experience. Available rental bikes Cross Bike ■Recommended height: 150–180 cm (three sizes available) ■From the famous Italian brand Colnago ■Stylish design with a premium feel *Number of units available for reservation: 3 (first come, first served) Road Bike ■Recommended height: 155–175 cm (M size) ■Equipped with disc brakes ■Frame designed to reassure beginners *Number of units available for reservation: 1 (first come, first served) Mountain Bike ■Recommended height: 130–145 cm ■Wider tires provide stability on rough roads ■Equipped with disc brakes; sized for easy use by women as well *Number of units available for reservation: 2 (first come, first served) Cyclocross Bike ■Recommended height: 155–175 cm (M size) ■Authentic cyclocross bike ■Feel free to ask if you’d like a test ride *Number of units available for reservation: 1 (first come, first served) Gravel Bike ■Recommended height: 145–170 cm (S size) ■Wider tires provide stability on rough roads ■High-end Shimano components for gears and brakes *Number of units available for reservation: 1 (first come, first served) Reservations are accepted via the Toyooka Travel Time website or by phone. Bicycles may be unavailable due to prior reservations or event participation. Please check the Rental Bike Calendar for details. Contact 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 Toyooka Village Tourism Association, Toyooka Travel Time 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)

◆E-BIKE Rental Bicycle◆ Rent an E-BIKE and enjoy cycling. E-bikes offer a more natural pedaling feel than conventional electric bicycles and make hills effortless! With an E-BIKE, you can fully enjoy the scenery in the open air. We also offer guided courses, so please inquire. ■ Special campaign: enjoy rental bicycles plus fruit and vegetable picking!! If you reserve a rental bicycle together with vegetable picking or peach picking, the rental bicycle fee will be 50% off. Please check the detailed pages on the Toyooka Travel Time website for the contents of the harvest experiences. You can also make reservations from the website. When reserving a rental bicycle, please write in the “comments” field that you are also reserving a harvest experience. eBIG.SEVEN Size M ■ Recommended height: 155–175 cm ■ Vehicle weight: approx. 20 kg ■ Equipped with a powerful motor that makes the weight barely noticeable *Available for reservation: 5 units ePASSPORT CC 400 EQ Size S ■ Recommended height: 160–175 cm ■ You can place a basket or bag on the rear rack ■ This is a city-style model that makes mounting and dismounting easy *Available for reservation: 2 units ePASSPORT CC 400 EQ Size XS ■ Recommended height: 150–165 cm ■ A smaller size recommended for women ■ A stylish bike that’s perfect for Instagram-worthy photos *Available for reservation: 3 units Reservations are accepted via the Toyooka Travel Time website or by phone. Bicycles may be unavailable due to reservation status or event participation. Please check the Rental Bicycle Calendar for details. Contact 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 Toyooka Travel Time, Toyooka Village Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association) 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)

◆2024 Bamboo Shoot Harvesting◆ You can harvest bamboo shoots that herald the arrival of spring. Beginners welcome! Farmers will patiently teach you how to dig from the very beginning. The well-maintained, spacious bamboo grove makes it safe and enjoyable even with children. The bamboo shoots come from moso bamboo, a species that grows only in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture. Fine bamboo shoots! Aim at the base and swing once! If you wish, we can prepare grilled bamboo shoots from what you harvest. Toyo Terrace parking lot serves as the grilled bamboo shoot venue. Plunge freshly harvested bamboo shoots, still in their husks, into bamboo charcoal! We use bamboo charcoal—made by burning bamboo—as the heat source for the footbath! They finish grilling in 15–20 minutes!! They steam to a delightful doneness. A sweet aroma, like grilled corn, fills the air! A portion of the shoot tip becomes especially delicious! [ Details ] Participation is by advance reservation only. Depending on reservation status, same-day registration may be possible. Please call to inquire. ■Reservation start April 6 (Saturday) from 9:00 AM ※Please note the reservation period may change depending on bamboo shoot emergence. Rising fertilizer costs and the aging of the grove owners have made it difficult to maintain the groves. Therefore, to cover labor and maintenance costs, we introduced an admission fee starting in fiscal 2023. For details, see the section “Admission Fee + Bamboo Shoot Harvesting Fee.” ■Period April 17 (Wednesday) – May 6 (Monday) Rain or shine ※The schedule above may change depending on bamboo shoot growth. ■Reservation times Four sessions per day ① 9:00 AM ② 10:30 AM ③ 1:00 PM ④ 2:30 PM =Notes= The grove owner will meet you at each reservation time. (Follow the owner’s car in your private vehicle to the grove.) Please complete check-in at least 10 minutes before your reservation time. If you are late for your reservation, we may be unable to accommodate you. ■Admission Fee + Bamboo Shoot Harvesting Fee (tax included) ●Admission fee: 300 yen per person (junior high school students and older) The amount you harvest per standard automobile (including kei cars) affects the fee as follows. ・Harvest 10 kg or more → Admission fee waived ・Harvest 5–10 kg → Admission fee 100 yen For details, see the Admission Fee Quick Reference. ●Bamboo shoots: 450 yen per kg We will provide one harvest bag per standard automobile (including kei cars) at reception. ■About harvest bags One harvest bag is issued per group. If a bag becomes full at the grove and cannot hold all your bamboo shoots, we will provide an additional bag on site. If you want to split your bamboo shoots into separate bags to take home, please inform reception at payment. Additional bags are sold for 50 yen each. ■About rice bran One bag of rice bran is provided per harvest bag. (One bag of rice bran is enough to remove bitterness from about 15 kg of bamboo shoots.) If your measured total exceeds 15 kg, we will provide additional rice bran bags (one per 15 kg). If you split your bamboo shoots and need more than one rice bran bag, please request them at payment. Additional bags are sold for 50 yen each. ■Domestic travel accident insurance You may opt to enroll in domestic travel accident insurance. If you wish to use it, please request it at reception. 500 yen per person (tax included) ■For parties arriving in two or more private cars We will settle fees per group based on one standard automobile (up to 10 seats) or one kei car (up to 4 seats). Do not use extra cars; please leave them in the Toyo Terrace parking lot. Please check here for payment instructions. ■What to bring / Wear ・Work gloves ・Boots or other shoes that can get dirty ・Clothes that are easy to move in ・Rain gear (in case of rain) ・Bags to divide bamboo shoots (only if needed) ■Grilled bamboo shoots (optional) We offer a service to turn your harvested bamboo shoots into grilled bamboo shoots at Toyo Terrace. If you wish, please harvest a separate, smaller bamboo shoot specifically for grilling, apart from the ones you take home. Toyo Terrace provides bamboo charcoal; toss husked bamboo shoots boldly into the charcoal, steam for 15–20 minutes, and they’re ready. Freshly harvested shoots have less bitterness at the tip and can be eaten as-is without blanching if grilled. The bamboo charcoal grill is free to use, so give it a try. Bamboo shoots become noticeably more bitter about an hour after harvesting. Even if you take them home and try to grill them, the bitterness may be too strong to enjoy. Please savor the freshly harvested grilled bamboo shoots available only here. ■Meeting place / Contact Toyo Terrace (Toyooka Village Tourism Association) Hours: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 TEL: 0265-49-3395 ■How to reserve Reservation start: April 6 (Saturday) from 9:00 AM Please wait a little longer until reservations open. ●Phone reservations 0265-49-3395 (Reception hours 9:00 AM–6:00 PM)

This is the Toyooka Village Tourism Association. Hello to everyone watching the Cool Japan Video! Toyooka Village, in Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture, is located in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture, in a region known as Minami Shinshu (Southern Shinshu). The village has a population of approximately 6,500. Compared to much of Nagano Prefecture, Toyooka Village enjoys a relatively mild climate with little snowfall, making it a thriving agricultural community for fruits and vegetables. On Cool Japan Video, we will be sharing recommended information about Minami Shinshu Toyooka Village, so please enjoy our content. In this first post, we will briefly introduce some special experience plans and sightseeing spots you can enjoy within Toyooka Village. ■□ Cycling Guided Tours to Fully Enjoy Toyooka Village’s Nature □■ The Toyooka Village Tourism Association offers the following cycling guided tours to allow visitors to experience the village’s natural blessings. Our cycling tours use E-BIKEs (electric-assist bicycles), making it easy to navigate even uphill slopes♪ Even if you are not used to cycling, our Japan Cycling Guide Association–certified guides will provide support, so you can feel at ease. ◇ Fruit Sweets Plan ◇ This beginner-friendly course takes about two to two and a half hours to complete♪ Harvest seasonal fruit and then enjoy a dessert prepared on the spot by the chef at the local restaurant Cafe & Dining en—an experience you can enjoy year-round. Taste sweets made from freshly picked Toyooka Village fruit♪ ◇ Forest Road Activity Plan ◇ Available for a limited time from late May through the end of August♪ This roughly three- to four-hour course offers thrills and excitement as you ride over bumpy paths you wouldn’t normally take. After working up a sweat in the midsummer heat, the natural water slide will create an unforgettable memory! After enjoying playing in the river, relax with a takeaway lunch from Toyooka Village. ◇ Exquisite Course Lunch Plan ◇ Available for a limited time from late April through early December♪ This roughly four- to four-and-a-half-hour plan lets you experience harvesting Toyooka Village’s seasonal vegetables. After harvesting with a local farmer, savor a superb multi-course lunch prepared by a dedicated chef using freshly picked vegetables while enjoying the spectacular view of the Ina Valley below. ◇ Night Tour Overnight Plan ◇ Available for a limited time from late April through mid-October♪ This evening-start plan lets you enjoy sunset cycling and vegetable harvesting in Toyooka Village, followed by a luxurious BBQ dinner prepared by a dedicated chef with a panoramic view of the Ina Valley below. Afterward, you can soak in a ceramic bath and spend the night at Toyo Terrace for a relaxing, indulgent stay. ■□ Must-See Sightseeing Spots in Toyooka Village □■ ◇ Roadside Station "Minami Shinshu Toyooka Marche" ◇ A must-see spot showcasing fresh local produce and specialty items. Serving as the regional food market of southern Shinshu, it offers a wide selection of locally grown vegetables and fruits—perfect souvenirs for your Toyooka Village visit. ◇ Fukushima Teppen Park ◇ From the park’s observation deck, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Maeda rice terraces in Fukushima Honmura and the Ina Valley. During winter, seasonal illuminations are also displayed. ◇ Mibusawa Fudo Falls ◇ This waterfall has a 15-meter drop. It is about a five-minute walk from the prefectural road, so you can visit easily. (You can also reach it by rental bicycle.) ◇ Weeping Cherry Blossoms at Sasamidaira ◇ This weeping cherry tree reaches about 15 meters in height and is estimated to be over 400 years old. It is designated as a Toyooka Village natural monument. ■□ Popular Events Loved in Toyooka Village □■ ◇ Toyooka Festival ◇ Held each year in November at the Toyooka Village Hall venue, the Toyooka Festival attracts roughly 12,000 attendees in total and is one of the village’s most popular events. Many food stalls line the venue, and stage events and musical fireworks take place. ■□ Specialty Products of Toyooka Village □■ Toyooka Village produces delicious fresh fruits nurtured by its rich nature, including peaches, apples, Shine Muscat grapes, Ichida persimmons, and pears. The village is also known for matsutake mushrooms, often called the king of mushrooms. These specialty products are carefully cultivated by local people, and their flavors have impressed many visitors. In Toyooka Village, you can also enjoy seasonal fruit-picking experiences such as the apple tree owner system and peach picking. These activities are especially recommended for families, giving children a valuable chance to enjoy nature while learning the importance of food. Also, at the Vegetable Garden Buffet Restaurant Vegful Kitchen, you can enjoy superb dishes made with fresh vegetables from Toyooka Village in a buffet style. When visiting Toyooka Village, be sure to fully indulge in the local cuisine! ■□ Enjoy Toyooka Village Tourism □■ Toyooka Village also runs the Toyooka Village Working Holiday program, which offers countryside living experiences and agricultural experiences for those considering relocating to the countryside or starting farming. Surrounded by Toyooka Village’s great natural beauty, why not escape the daily hustle and find true relaxation? Cool Japan Video will continue to share recommended and up-to-date information about Toyooka Village, Nagano Prefecture, so please follow us!

Akasoba no Sato in Minowa Town, Nagano Prefecture is recommended as a superb view to visit in autumn. The contrast between the clear autumn sky and the red flowers is amazing.

Shinshu Otari Village Tsugaike Highland's floating island wetland at an altitude of 1,920 m is gradually approaching the arrival of autumn by the wind. It was carried. The vivid green marshland in summer is gradually beginning to take on a variety of colors, and it is early to see the autumn leaves, but I was able to feel the change of seasons from summer to autumn. It is a good memory of the trip where the subtle color gradation made me hear the end of summer. Next time, I would like to visit at the height of autumn leaves.

Hakuba and Kitaone Highland are easy to climb with a single lift, so it is recommended. The sunrise view from the plateau is very wonderful.

At the Takabotchi Plateau in Nagano Prefecture, I photographed the sea of clouds spreading over the Suwa Basin and Mt. Fuji. It's a scenery that I wanted to see at least once in my life, so it's amazing to be able to see it in person.

Utsukushigahara Highlands/ Nagano In the distance, you can see the Ogatou Hotel and the TV tower. It is a resort hotel above the clouds that I would like to stay at least once.

Beautiful Tower/Utsukushigahara Highlands Nagano Utsukushigahara is often foggy, so there was a time when there were many distresses. As one of the countermeasures, the Beautiful Tower was installed, an evacuation tower equipped with a fog bell.

Utsukushigahara Highlands/Nagano An idyllic landscape prevails.

Utsukushigahara Highlands/Nagano Utsukushigahara of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. The highest peak is Ōgazu with an altitude of 2034m. In the Utsukushigahara Highlands as a whole, you can see 20 of Japan's 21 3,000-meter peaks. The scenic hike on a clear day was awesome.

Nagano Prefecture Ina City Misuzu Kasahara's "Cherry Blossoms on the Banks of the Six Roads" This photo was taken on April 10, 2022. Compared to Takaen Castle Ruins Park, there are fewer people and you can spend a relaxing time. You can see the rows of cherry blossom trees, lush ponds, and snow-covered Komagatake. The point of this photo is the co-starring of cherry blossoms and Nishikigoi. SONYα7Ⅱ FE59mm 1/2000s f5 ISO320

In the snow that has accumulated in Kita Shinshu, the Shinkansen passes by.

The morning in Kita Shinshu became a snowy landscape all at once. I tried to take an amateur picture of playing in the smooth snow, but my arms were not good, and the scenery in the background and powdery snow were covered. I hope you can convey the atmosphere.

At the Fukushima rice terraces in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, which was selected as one of the 100 best terraced rice fields. The river illuminated by the western sun is the Chikuma River. It seemed that the full-scale rice harvesting would begin the next day.

Autumn sunny day in Kita Shinshu It is a flower in our garden The sun glitters through the trees Very pleasant day

Kita Shinshu has also begun to bloom The sun begins to shine and turns bright red

Ears of rice shining in the morning Rice harvesting will soon flourish Fruiting autumn I am grateful

Nagano Prefecture, at Sujinmon on the way to Togakushi Shrine Okusha. I arrived at 6 a.m., the sun was starting to rise, and the sunlight was shining, which was very fantastic. We received a lot of pure and clear air with deep greenery in summer. I passed the person who had already visited the shrine, and when I turned around, I felt very nostalgic.

Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden, where you can see 🎵 blue poppy flowers, comakusa and shimotsukiso

Ontake Sea rice field art in the rice fields of Azumino

Lotus flowers, lotus fields, lotus in rice fields

#Summer #Rainbow #Iridouun #Paddy field #Rice field #Rice field #Northern Alps Irido clouds, rice paddies and rainbows

View from the former gondola platform in Shiga Kogen Hasuike, Nagano Prefecture Locations for the Winter Olympics A very nostalgic tokoro

National Treasure Matsumoto Castle Karasujo It was a dignified castle built in 1504 the first year of Eisho with a history of more than 510 years.

In Hiratani Village, Nagano Prefecture. I was overwhelmed by the sunflowers in full bloom.

There are riverside hot springs in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture. I found a nice place like a secret waterfall in the back.

Morning colors

Crescent moon floating in the Obasute rice fields When Corona subsides, please come and see the beautiful dawn again