Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Tokyo is an amazing city with a vibrant history that truly comes alive during its festivals. One of the highlights is the kanda matsuri, which takes place at the beautiful kanda myojin shrine. The lively mikoshi parade is filled with joy and cultural charm, making it a fantastic experience for everyone.

Hello, this is En'emon Folklore Museum. July has arrived and the hot days continue, but Shosenkyo Gorge still feels a little cool.
While the sea’s chill is nice for summer vacation, it’s also a great season to soothe yourself in the mountains with a forest bath, listening to birdsong and relaxing among the green.

Yamanashi has no sea, but the museum holds stones as beautiful as the ocean.
Larimar is one of the three major healing stones, symbolizing love and peace, and it’s perfect for anyone seeking comfort and healing.
Also, Shosenkyo is famous for its quartz, which used to be called a fossil of ice because it feels cool to the touch.
It looks refreshing too, so come and touch it~♪

#Shosenkyo Gorge #Ontake Shosenkyo #Yamanashi Prefecture #Yamanashi #Kofu City #Kofu #Kai City #Kai #scenic spot #Japan’s scenic spots #scenic view #sightseeing #tourist spot #travel #Yamanashi trip #Yamanashi tourism #En'emon Folklore Museum #Shosenkyo Story En'emon Folklore Museum

Mokoto Pass
Mokoto Pass runs along the north side of Lake Kussharo.
It is a prefectural road connecting Kawayu Onsen to Higashi-Mokoto Village. Not well known as a tourist route, the road nevertheless offers unique, beautiful views from two observation points.
Do visit — you are likely to encounter wonderful scenery.
https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/mokototoge/

[Shinshu Sakuhomachi Nature Immersion Day Tour] 🍃🌿
\A day trip to soothe you in the great outdoors/

Event Date: Sunday, August 3

Highlights
✔︎ Walk around the moss-covered, mystical forest at Shirakoma Pond🌳
✔︎ Tour a long-established sake brewery with tasting experience🍶
✔︎ Lunch featuring local flavors: yamame fish rice bowl and soba set🐟🥢
✔︎ Enjoy shopping at the Roadside Station Visitor Center✨🛣️

Departure and Return Locations
・Sakudaira Station, Asama Exit
・Roadside Station Yachiho Kogen Visitor Center
➡️If you live nearby, meeting and dispersing at the Roadside Station is convenient!

Price: 9,900 JPY per person (tax included), includes lunch
What to bring: comfortable walking shoes, rain gear
Capacity: 25 people (minimum operation 15 people)

Refresh your body and mind as you savor nature’s gifts with all five senses🫧
This charming day tour is perfect for making summer memories🌱

How to Apply / Inquiries
Chikuma Kanko Co., Ltd., Saku Head Office Sales
Phone: 0267-62-1000 (Hours: 10:00–17:00)
※Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during the New Year holidays

Please join us with your family and friends.

A morning view of Azumino with the Northern Alps in sight
Mount Jonen stands clearly visible
I imagine many climbers are pushing on toward the summit today as well
This is the view from Ohisama Road 😄

Good morning.
This is Azumino, greeting a wonderfully refreshing morning.
The Northern Alps are clearly visible.

Hello everyone, this ☺ is Kitahiroshima Town in the northwestern part of Hiroshima Prefecture!
We, the Kitahiroshima Town Tourism Association, will broadcasting the charm and latest information of our town.
Thank you for 💛 following and sharing

【What kind of town is Kitahiroshima Town?】 】

In the northwestern part of the Hiroshima Prefecture, in the West China Mountains Elevation 300 Meter to 800 Meter
It is located almost in the center of the Geihoku region, which extends to the basin Highlands, and borders Shimane Prefecture to the north.
Fresh greenery in Spring, Clear streams in summer, Autumn leaves in autumn, and Winter sports in winter are crowded with tourists.
Since ancient times, it has flourished as a relay point connecting Sanyo and Sanin, and in the Middle Ages, it was also a production area of iron sand.
In addition to the many ruins of the Sengoku Warlord Mori clan (Mori-shi) and the Yoshikawa clan,
Folk performing arts such as Kagura and Dengaku, beech forests, Wetlands, flora and fauna, etc.
It is a town where precious and majestic Nature spreads Nature and rural culture is alive.

I want to know more about Kitahiroshima Town! I want to go! For those who say,
Please see ✨ the "Roundabout, Kitahiroshima" Home page and each social media

＼ ✨💠After the Hydrangea Festival💠✨ ／
Starting today, July 2nd, hydrangeas are floating in the monument tank at Izukyū Shimoda Station rotary.💠🫧
The hydrangeas were carefully pruned by the staff in charge of Shimoda Park, and they will remain on display until Wednesday, July 16th.
Even hydrangeas that have passed their peak in the park look fresh and beautiful when floated on the water!
There are especially many blue hydrangeas, which stand out against the summer sky and give a very refreshing impression.🌿🩵
If you are nearby, please stop by and take a look!

*Only authorized personnel have pruned or collected plants within Shimoda Park.
Please refrain from cutting or taking plants from the park.*

■Paella Cooking Experience■

This plan invites you to try making paella with support from a specialist certified by the All Japan Paella Federation.

The venue, Notanohira CampGround, lies deep in Toyooka Village. Far from populated areas, it is a quiet campground set beside the clear Abukawa River.

Relax and refresh to the green trees and the gentle murmur of the river, and enjoy making paella together in a lively atmosphere!

[Plan Details]
■Season
Late April through October

■Meeting Point
Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)

= For those using car navigation =
toyooka travel time
Address: 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture TEL 0265-49-3395
If the above address does not appear, please set Toyooka Village Central Nursery School as your destination
and come to that location.
Toyooka Village Central Nursery School Address: 12368 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village TEL: 0265-35-4953

■Capacity
10 people (minimum operating number: 5)
If you wish to participate with fewer than 5 people or more than 10 people,
please contact us to discuss arrangements.

■Price (tax included)
For groups of 5 to 10 participants: 5,500 yen per person
If you wish to participate with a different number of people, please contact us.

[Contact: Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)]
・By phone: 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
・Inquiries via website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Course Details and Schedule (approximately 4 hours)
1) Gather at toyooka travel time 11:00 (payment)

2) Travel to Notanohira CampGround 11:00–11:45 approximately
※Please travel by private car.

3) Arrive at Notanohira CampGround around 11:45

4) Paella making experience and meal 11:45–15:00 approximately

6) Local dismissal at Notanohira CampGround around 15:00

■About the Plan
[About Notanohira CampGround]
It is about a 40-minute drive from the center of Toyooka Village.
Far from populated areas, you can enjoy a leisurely time amid green trees and the river’s murmur.
Please travel to the campsite by private car.

[About the Paella Cooking Experience]
Participants will make paella with guidance from a certified paellero (paella chef) accredited by the All Japan Paella Federation.
Specialists from the Japan National Paella Contest Team, members of Paella Mania Cup winning teams, and other authentic paella experts will teach you, offering a special hands-on experience.

[Combining with Other Activities]
It is possible to combine this plan with other activities.
We particularly recommend pairing it with the Pothole Tour, where you can enjoy river play at one of Japan’s largest pothole sites.

[Clothing]
・Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for active movement
※You may use the changing room and lockers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association before and after the tour.
※For an additional fee, showers are available at the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility.
(300 yen)

■How to Inquire and Apply
Please apply by phone or via the inquiry form on the website.
Phone: toyooka travel time 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
Website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is possible until 6:00 PM four days before the experience date.
Cancellations after that time will incur a 100 percent cancellation fee.

■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/

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

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

I was able to make good use of the front bokeh and photograph Nagahama Castle, which has an overwhelming presence.

I had an errand and early in the morning, and when I left the house at about 5 o'clock, I was able to take a picture of Hikone Castle standing against a golden background caused by the sunrise.

The Northern Alps taken from inside a car.
The cars don't stop, and I can't get this view out of my head when I pass the tracks.

Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Ikuta Shrine

It is a tree near the Menkawakei in Kumakogen town, Ehime Prefecture. I felt a very free Nature of young greenery clinging to the trees that Raised grow over a long period of time.

This is Maruike from Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture. This pond, which has a color of both blue and green, has been carefully protected since ancient times, and seemed to create a special space with the surrounding Nature. On the last day of my trip to Tohoku, I visited in the evening. Visiting the site after seeing the dynamic mountains and nature of Tohoku, I was very surprised and impression by this pond with a diameter of only 20 meters. I think it was the color of this picture, and I think it was bluer. It is a scenery that I would like to see again.

Today, June 30, is the last day of the Hydrangea Festival 💠✨
How did you find the hydrangeas at Shimoda Park?
If you have favorite photos, please join our Instagram photo contest 📸💜
To enter, follow the official Shimoda City Tourism Association Instagram and post with these two hashtags: "#Izu Shimoda Onsen Hydrangea Festival 54" and "#Japan’s No.1 Hydrangea Garden 54" — that’s all!
Winners will receive prizes to help them fully enjoy Shimoda 🎁👏

Follow us on Instagram from here 👇
https://www.instagram.com/shimoda_kanko/

Don’t forget to check the blog, too 👀!
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20250630

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.

One quiet springtime afternoon, a cyclist pedals along the enchanting canopy of soft pink petals in full bloom in Sewaritei Yodogawa Riverside Park. Witnessing such scene before me felt like time seems to have paused as the spirit of serenity whispers through every falling blossom.

This moment captures more than just motion; it reflects the harmony between nature and human presence, the quiet joy of spring and the enduring beauty of Japanese tradition. As the wheels turn gently over the petal-strewn path, the scene becomes a living haiku—fleeting, serene, and deeply moving.

"Beneath cherry skies,
Wheels hum through petals like wind,
Spring breathes, then drifts on."

- a haiku by the Lemonee

🍑Toyooka Village Cycling Guided Tour – Fruit Sweets Plan (Peach)– 🚴‍♀️

Enjoy a rewarding ride wrapped in Shinshu’s nature, feeling the breeze as you go.
On the Toyooka Village Cycling Guided Tour – Fruit Sweets Plan – local guides lead you to relish the village’s scenic charms and seasonal flavors.

The seasonal fruit for summer is “peach”!
After cycling along roads lined with orchards, take a break with a special dessert made lavishly with peaches.
The juicy, sweet aroma of peach fills the dessert, offering a blissful treat you can only taste here.

Tour Information
■Meeting Time
12:50 PM
■Duration
About 2 hours 30 minutes
■Distance
Less than 10 km. The tour uses E-BIKES (electric-assist bicycles).
(No electric-assist bicycles for children are available.)
Children who cannot ride a bicycle can use a carrier bike (weight limits and other restrictions apply).
■Group Size
2 to 5 people
※Participation as a single person or groups larger than five can also be discussed.
■Price
Ages 3 and up: JPY 5,000 per person
Ages 0–2: Free (please share the fruit and sweets with an accompanying adult)
※The above price applies when the fruit is “peach.” Prices vary depending on the fruit.
■Inquiries & Reservations
Toyooka Tabijikan 0265-49-3395 (Hours: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM)

You can also see more details on the Toyooka Tabijikan website.
https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/tourism/guide-tour/cycling-guide-tour-02/5975/

Mount Iimori's daylilies are nearly in full bloom.
Yesterday we held a hike to see the daylilies on Mount Iimori. Right in the middle of the rainy season and worried we might cancel due to rain like last year, the forecast suddenly changed and, to our surprise, the weather turned out fine 😅 We even caught a glimpse of Mt. Fuji through the clouds, making it a lucky hike 🎉
The daylilies are just short of full bloom, but they were impressive enough to enjoy 😋 I think the peak will be around late next week.
Well done to everyone who joined us — great job 🫡

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