It is Daimonzaka of Kumano Kodo in Wakayama Prefecture. Rain-soaked cobblestones are good. Am I the only one who thinks that rain looks good on Kumano Kodo?

Kure Volcano, Hiroshima Recommended spots in Hiroshima #Kurahashi Volcano 👈 1 from 📸 the volcano on Kurahashi Island It is a superb view spot overlooking the 360° Seto Inland Sea. There are various climbing routes here, and there are many scenic points. I want to go again! It's a wonderful mountain that makes you think! 😊 ◾️ Currently, the road that can be reached near the summit is closed due to falling rocks, and you will have to climb from the middle of the mountain. It takes about 40 minutes from the road and about 1 hour from the mountain trail, but I definitely recommend the mountain trail! The stairs are a little tough, but... 😅

Kaiomaru Park, Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture The Kaio Maru just after the sunset was beautiful

【大阪城 梅林公園】 2024年2/16 現在 開花情報：中咲きが咲いてるなぁ samuraihonor.com Osaka Castle Umegorin Park As of 2/16/2024 Flowering information: I see the middle blooms are blooming.

Aqua was 😋 eating salmon while lying down

First solo trip to Kyoto! It was a weekday morning, so there were few people and I was able to take a beautiful picture!

Matsukawa, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture The pink of the cherry blossoms and the red of the sightseeing boat were beautiful, and I thought it was wonderful that all the people on the sightseeing boat were looking at the cherry blossoms.

Ocean Spa Fuua Ocean Spa Fuua (Fuua) is Atami’s largest day-use hot spring facility, offering panoramic views of Sagami Bay. At the breathtaking open-air standing bath—about 25 meters long and one of Japan’s largest—you can float in a sensation where sea and sky seem to merge. By day you’ll see the blue sky and sparkling Sagami Bay; by night you can enjoy the glittering nightscape of Atami City. Atami Living, a richly appointed relaxation area built around the theme of “seaside villa life,” features eight different lounges and terraces, as well as bedrock baths, a café, and extensive treatment and beauty services. The spacious Ocean Lounge, with its high ceiling, is a popular spot to relax while gazing at the sea stretching before you. The Onsuijoku Torukka offers supreme relaxation under the moonlight, with carefully selected sofas and natural aromatherapy scents. A restaurant serving resort-style dishes adjoins the facility, promising a restorative time that helps you forget everyday life, both physically and mentally. ※Guests under 18 years old must be accompanied by a guardian aged 20 or older. ※Children aged 4 through elementary school must be accompanied by a guardian of the same sex and cannot use mixed bathing areas. Some facilities may be unavailable for safety reasons. ※For safety reasons, children aged 0–3 are not allowed to enter. ※The open-air standing bath is not available to guests shorter than 135 cm. ※Entry may be limited depending on congestion. ※Operating conditions may change; for details please check the official Ocean Spa Fuua website. Address / 10-1 Wadahamaminami-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-8626 Phone / 0557-82-0123 Access / ■ About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR atami station ■ About 10 minutes by bus from JR atami station bound for Atami Port / Korakuen, then get off at the final stop Hours / 10:00–22:00 (last admission 21:00) Closed / Irregular holidays Fees (including consumption tax) <Standard Fee> Adult 3,080 yen · Child 2,310 yen <After-5 Fee (entry from 17:00)> Adult 2,310 yen · Child 1,760 yen ※An additional bathing tax of 150 yen applies to adults only. ※On weekends, public holidays, and certain days, a surcharge applies (Adult +330 yen · Child +220 yen). ※Please check the official site for the specific dates. Parking / 230 spaces

Himenosawa Park Himenosawa Park, a famed flower spot in Atami, overflows with seasonal blooms all year round. It is a natural park where you can also enjoy a full-fledged adventure playground. About 600 species of plants grow within the park. In an environment that feels like a botanical garden, flowering trees such as azaleas and a variety of wildflowers burst into bloom. (The photo shows azaleas that bloom from late April to early May.) About a 90-minute trek from Himenosawa Park will take you to Jukkoku Pass, allowing you to fully enjoy nature on the way. Please enjoy the moving floral scenes to your heart’s content, where flowers welcome you whenever you visit. Address / 1164 Himenosawa, Izu-san, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-0002 Telephone / 0557-83-5301 (Himenosawa Park Management Office) Access / From JR atami station, take a bus bound for the Motohakone area for about 30 minutes and get off at Himenosawa Park Admission / Free Parking / Free (Sazanka Parking: 46 passenger cars, 3 buses) and others

Atami Gigi Kenban Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai The geiko association hall where geiko rigorously train, the geiko kenban. The current building was completed in 1954 (Showa 29). At the time it was an impressive structure and was said to be the finest geiko association in the Tokai region. Today the hall hosts Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai every Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the professional dances that are rarely seen in everyday life. The kimono styling, graceful manners, and breathtaking beauty are a sight to behold. Address / 17-13 Chuocho, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-0015 (along the Hatsukawa) Phone / 0557-81-3575 (Atami Gigi Kenban) Access / From JR atami station take the bus bound for Momijigaoka for about 10 minutes → get off at Shimizucho Dates and Times / Every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM (about 30 minutes). One performance only. Fee / 2,500 yen (tax included). Children in elementary school and younger are free. Parking / None (there is a nearby municipal paid parking lot) Reservation priority For visits to observe regular weekday training, please inquire Temporary cancellations may occur

Jacaranda Flowers Are you familiar with jacaranda, a member of the Bignoniaceae family native to South America? As shown in the photos, it produces clusters of purple flowers like bunches of grapes, and the contrast of green leaves and purple blooms makes it a very beautiful deciduous tall tree. In Atami City, you can find tall trees (towering overhead) and smaller shrubs (at eye level) along Route 135 (the Jacaranda Promenade in Tokaigancho to Shinshicho “Waterside Park” along the sidewalk, and inside Waterside Park). Although jacaranda’s flowering season in Japan is said to be June, it is extremely rare for it to bloom outdoors on the mainland because of the climate. Some years in Atami saw no flowering at all, and some trees bloom a second time in September or October rather than only in June. Even when they do bloom, not all trees flower; some years only a few trees bloom. Some trees produce many flowers, some only a single cluster, and some not at all. How much will bloom this season? ※Bougainvillea along the Itagawa River also reaches its best viewing at the same time, so please visit both. Main jacaranda planting locations and numbers ● Jacaranda Promenade (along Route 135, beside the sun deck) … one tall tree about 10 m, four trees 3–5 m, and 100 shrubs 1–2 m ● Along Route 135, downbound (from the Central Police Box to Waterside Park Section 2) … 20 trees 5–6 m ● Waterside Park Section 3 … one tall tree of about 2 m near the pedestrian bridge, and five shrubs on the Wada River slope Total above: 25 tall trees (non-shrub) and 105 shrubs History ・In July 1990, one tree was planted in Omiya Green Space to commemorate the sister-city partnership with Cascais, Portugal ・In 2000, 24 trees were planted along the national highway (diagonally in front of the Central Police Box to in front of the Waterside Park event plaza) (Since then, some have been transplanted and others newly planted.) ・In April 2013, trees were planted in Waterside Park Section 2 (in front of the Tourist Association) and Section 3 (three trees in Section 2 and two in Section 3) ・On June 1, 2013, the “Jacaranda Promenade” was completed in Omiya Green Space (45 young trees planted) ・From September 2013 to June 2014, Omiya Green Space (west side) was developed (planting), and a few trees were transplanted from along the national highway ・June 2014, completion of the “Jacaranda Promenade” Address / Tokaigancho to Nagisacho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone / 0557-86-6218 (Atami City Park and Greenery Division) Access / To the Jacaranda Promenade (Omiya no Matsu) ■ About a 20-minute walk from JR atami station ■ About a 5-minute bus ride from JR atami station toward Atami Port → get off at “Omiya no Matsu” Parking / City-operated paid parking (East parking lot, Waterside Park, etc.) and others

Nishikigaura One of Atami’s scenic spots. This celebrated coastline of sheer cliffs stretches about 1 kilometer south from Uomizaki, the gateway to the Izu Peninsula. (Uomizaki–Nishikigaura–Sogaura totals about 2 kilometers) When the sun rises, its light pours over the bay and flashes in five brilliant colors, so the place took the poetic name Nishikigaura, borrowing the image of woven brocade from Kyoto. Remnants of the Atami-Taga volcano remain here, and legends linked to historical figures such as Minamoto no Yoritomo and Kato Kiyomasa still survive. The cliffs tower about 80 meters high. Strange rock formations carved by the rough waves—Kabuto Rock, Bedrock, Eboshi Rock, Benten Rock—stand in a row, while Hatsushima and Oshima float offshore. For the best view, head to the area near Hotel New Akao and the cafe “Hana no Yousei.” Note: Access to Hotel New Akao’s rooftop garden is limited to hotel guests only. Thank you for your understanding. Address / 〒413-0033 Atami, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture (near Hotel New Akao) Access / From JR atami station take a bus bound for Ajiro for about 15 minutes and get off at Nishikigaura Parking / None

Winter tradition Tokachi Ranch Umaoi Exercise Held to relieve winter inactivity and help prevent difficult births in pregnant mares. You can see the horses up close, making it an exhilarating sight! Open to the public only on weekday mornings. ※In 2024 it ended on February 16.

The 34th Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in 2024 will be held until Thursday, February 29! Every night during the exhibition period, the cherry blossoms are lit up at night and you will be enveloped in a fantastic scenery. This time, we will introduce the lodging facilities that you want to visit when sightseeing at the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. Have a blissful time with hot springs and fresh cuisine from Kawazu! The lodging I would like to introduce this time is "Shakunage". ・In a quiet environment surrounded by nature, you can relax with the sounds of birds and the greenery of trees. The open-air bath, where you can hear the murmur of the river, has a stylish atmosphere where you can take a bath while watching the stars shining in the sky at night. Meals are mainly wild vegetables and seafood. ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Shakunage 【Address】Shizuoka, Kamo-gun Kawazu Town Nashimoto 1127 Phone number: 0558-35-7657 Check-in/Check-out is 3:00 p.m. and check-out 10:00 a.m. [Total number of rooms] 8 No shuttle service [Parking lot] 8 cars ◇ ◆ ◇ Parking information for those who come to the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival by car ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ About the parking lot ◆ Business hours:8:30~21:00 ・Regular car ●Regular car 4~13 parking lot to Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 200 yen ・Large vehicles ●Large 1 and 2 parking lots to the Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to the Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 5,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen

February 16 The early-blooming atami sakura have finished, and the Oshima zakura are coming into full bloom! White cherry blossoms are blooming at the seaside park beside Marine Spa Atami.

The 34th Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival, the earliest event in Honshu where you can enjoy cherry blossom viewing, is being held. In this post, we will introduce sightseeing spots in Kawazu Town that you can enjoy together with the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival! This time, I would like to introduce "Nikai Falls". ・A 20-meter-high waterfall located just below the Agar Bridge along the old road and falling in two stages. It is the first waterfall at the source of the Hontani River Kawazu River, and there are many trees around it. It is one of the famous waterfalls of Amagi with beautiful scenery such as autumn leaves and fresh greenery. ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Nikai Falls 【Address】Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Kawazu Town Nashimoto 【Parking lot】Yes Passenger car 15 cars ◇ ◆ ◇ Parking information for those who come to the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival by car ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ About the parking lot ◆ Business hours:8:30~21:00 ・Regular car ●Regular car 4~13 parking lot to Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 200 yen ・Large vehicles ●Large 1 and 2 parking lots to the Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to the Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 5,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen

⛄ It's the first snowfall in a while ⛄ Snow fell this morning for the first time in a long time! ⛄ Thanks to recent warm weather, the roads and sidewalks were almost dry until yesterday… Please be careful when coming out! 😖

Ikeda Masuo and Yoko Sato Creative House This house was the home and studio of the late multi-artist Ikeda Masuo, who excelled in printmaking, painting, and film. He lived here from 1982 (Showa 57) until his death in 1997 (Heisei 9), sharing the space with world-renowned violinist Yoko Sato. The house, where the two prodigies lived together and based their artistic activities, exhibits Ikeda’s handwritten manuscript of his Akutagawa Prize-winning work "Dedicated to the Aegean Sea," his chronology, photographs, lithographs, and ceramic panels, as well as Sato’s stage dresses, musical scores, chronology, and photographs. Come see a glimpse of their glamorous yet unpretentious daily life. Address / 10-24 Kaikocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 413-0003 Phone / 0557-81-3258 (Creative House) Access / About a 15-minute walk from atami station / About a 3-minute bus ride from atami station toward Izusan Shrine, get off at Momoyama, then about a 3-minute walk Opening hours / 9:00–16:30 (last admission by 16:00) Closed / Every Tuesday (open on public holidays) and during the New Year holidays Admission / Adults 360 yen, junior and senior high school students 240 yen, elementary school students and younger free *Children below elementary school age are not allowed to enter unaccompanied Parking / None

Atami Nanayu (The Seven Hot Springs of Atami) As you walk through the town, you can spot steam rising from various slopes. These are the source springs known as the “Atami Seven Hot Springs.” You can tour the springs and experience their long history and hot-spring atmosphere. (Each of the seven guideboards has a commemorative stamp.) • The Oyu Geyser was a naturally erupting spring famous worldwide as an old intermittent spring. Oyu erupted six times day and night, blasting water and steam in alternating, violent bursts that were said to make the ground tremble. Its activity gradually declined from the middle of the Meiji era and ceased in 1923 (Taisho 12) though it did erupt again during a major earthquake. In 1962 (Showa 37) it was preserved as a city cultural property and remains so today. ※Today, water is artificially ejected roughly every five minutes to recreate the historic eruptions of Oyu. Address / 〒413-0018 Kamiyadocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone / 0577-86-6232 (Atami City Lifelong Learning Division, Cultural Facilities Office) Access / About a 20-minute walk from JR atami station / About 20 minutes from JR atami station by Yu-Yu Bus → get off at Oyu Geyser → about a 3-minute walk Parking / None • Ozawa no Yu The baths in the gardens of Sawaguchi Yazaemon, Fujii Bunjiro, and Yonekura Sazaemon were once called Heizaemon no Yu, but locals called them Ozawa no Yu because they were in a small ravine. Like Seizaemon no Yu, it is said that calling out loudly caused a strong flow, while calling softly produced a weaker flow. At Ozawa no Yu you can cook hot-spring eggs with the steam that wells up. Locals vouch for how tasty they are, making this a small but beloved Atami attraction. ※Renovation completed on July 1, 2023. Two steaming vats were added and new benches installed. Address / 〒413-0013 Ginza-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture (in front of Tenjin Liquor Store) Phone / 0557-86-6218 (Atami City Parks and Greenery Division) Access / About a 15-minute walk from JR atami station Parking / A few paid parking spaces are available nearby In addition to these two sites, there are Furo no Yu and Mizu no Yu, Sajiro no Yu (Eye Bath), Seizaemon no Yu, Nonaka no Yu, and Kawarayu. ※The Atami Seven Hot Springs are not bathing facilities.

📍 Ishikawa / Kanazawa Station Drum Gate Kanazawa Station has been selected as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world. Ishikawa Prefecture was severely damaged by the earthquake on New Year's Day, but there are many tourist attractions, so I hope it will become a lively tourist destination again.

Atami Sightseeing Boat SANREMO (Sanremo) The Sanremo was named after Atami’s sister city, the Italian port town of Sanremo. Departing from Shinsui Park Third Pier (at the mouth of the Hatsukawa River), this roughly 30-minute cruise passes offshore sites such as Nishikigaura and Sogaura, turns back just before Akanesaki, and offers sea views of Atami, the Manazuru Peninsula, Kawana in Ito City, and Izu Oshima. In the underwater observation room with glass windows, you can see fish from inside the boat. If you climb the steps to the open deck, you can feed the seagulls and feel as if you are flying over the sea with them. The vessel has a capacity of 50 passengers, and small pets are allowed on board. Enjoy cruising around Atami. Address / 3rd District, Shinsui Park (near Hatsukawa), Nagisa-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0014 Phone / 0557-52-6657 Access / About 10 minutes by bus from JR atami station bound for Atami Port, Korakuen, or Ajiro Asahi-cho → get off at Shinsui Park → 1-minute walk Departure times / 10:00, 10:40, 11:20, 12:00, 13:00, 13:40, 14:20, 15:00, 15:40 (approx. 30 minutes) Closed / Every Tuesday, in severe weather, and during maintenance. Please check the official website beforehand just in case. Fares / Adults (junior high school and older) ¥1,700; Children (ages 3 to elementary school) ¥900 Children under 3 free; small dogs free; discounts available for people with disabilities. Parking / Adjacent municipal Shinsui Park Second Parking Lot and others (municipal parking rate: ¥110 per 30 minutes) Tickets are available at the boarding point. Routes may change or services may be canceled due to weather. The underwater observation room is only likely to show fish before departure.

Shinsui Park - Moon Terrace A waterside park stretching south from Sun Beach. Atami City is a sister city of Sanremo in northern Italy, and because the terrain and townscape are similar, the park was developed with the image of a northern Mediterranean resort. The first section, Sky Deck, evokes the South of Europe and the Côte d'Azur and is primarily brick. The second section, Rainbow Deck, evokes the northern Italian Riviera of Sanremo and is mainly stone. The third section, Nagisa Deck, linked by Nagisa Small Park and a pedestrian bridge, evokes the Bay of Naples in southern Italy and features planted flowers and trees. The park is loved by locals and visitors alike as a place for walks, sunbathing, events, and commemorative photos. ・March 1997: Completion of the first section (including Moon Terrace), approximately 170 by 50 meters ・March 2000: Completion of the second section (138 meters) ・April 2009: Completion of the third section, approximately 160 by 40 meters Nicknames ・September 2003: Names decided for the first section as Sky Deck and the second section as Rainbow Deck ・October 2009: Name decided for the third section as Nagisa Deck Address / 〒413-0014 Nagisa-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone / 0557-86-6218 (Atami City Parks and Greenery Division) Access / From JR atami station take a bus bound for Atami Port for about 10 minutes and get off at Ginza or Shinsui Park-shita Parking / Municipal Shinsui Park parking lot, 140 spaces (municipal parking: 110 yen per 30 minutes)

The 26th Minami Cherry and Rapeseed Blossom Festival Period: February 1 to March 10 (now ongoing) Photo: Otsuka Tokiya

The 26th Minami Cherry and Rapeseed Blossom Festival Bloom update for February 16 Overall, the flowers are in full bloom. * In areas that bloomed earlier, the petals are fluttering down. * The parking lot at Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana is very crowded.

Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima　　 Recommended spots in Hiroshima #Jigozen 👈 One piece 📸 with the silhouette of Morning Sun and Yurikamome I think it's time for Yurikamome to leave. See you next year!! 😊👋

Takeda Castle Ruins! From September to November, the sea of clouds can be seen 🏯 beautifully It was 🌅 great to climb the mountain lightly before the sun rose and greet the sunrise at the ruins of Takeda Castle

When humans team up with nature to create something, it becomes more intriguing. The Lake Shikotsu ice festival is a perfect example of this. Hokkaido's crystal clear water lake serves as the primary source for crafting marvelous ice sculptures.

The 34th Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival in 2024 will be held until Thursday, February 29! Every night during the exhibition period, the cherry blossoms are lit up at night and you will be enveloped in a fantastic scenery. This time, we will introduce the lodging facilities that you want to visit when sightseeing at the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival. Have a blissful time with hot springs and fresh cuisine from Kawazu! The lodging we will introduce this time is "Family & Resort Kawabata". ・Standing along the clear stream of the Kawazu River, this lodging boasts a hot spring with a high skin-beautifying effect. Both the large public bath and the open-air bath are poured into the bathtub by flowing from the source, and it is reputed that the skin becomes smooth after the bath. The environment surrounded by nature is a walk in the Sagano Canyon, seasonal flowers, bird watching, and clear stream fishing. For dinner, where you can taste the mountains, rivers, and seafood all at once, you can enjoy plenty of the blessings of nature with fresh vegetables grown in your own vegetable garden. ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Family & Resort Kawabata 【Address】188 Kawazu Raft, Kawazu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number: 0558-35-7310 Check-in/Check-out is 3:00 p.m. and check-out 10:00 a.m. [Total number of rooms] 14 Reservation is required. 【Parking lot】10 cars ◇ ◆ ◇ Parking information for those who come to the Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival by car ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ About the parking lot ◆ Business hours:8:30~21:00 ・Regular car ●Regular car 4~13 parking lot to Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 200 yen ・Large vehicles ●Large 1 and 2 parking lots to the Ekimae Venue about 700~800m, to the Mine Onsen Venue about 700~800m [Daytime] 8:30~17:00・・・1 car / 5,000 yen [Night] 18:00~21:00・・・1 car / 1,000 yen

Yes, Chizu! "Okay, it's decided! ｣

【大阪城 梅林公園】 2024年2/15 現在 開花情報：雨だが8分咲 いよいよ花見 samuraihonor.com Osaka Castle Umegorin Park As of 2/15/2024 Flowering information: Rainy, but the blossoms are in full bloom at last.