Limited seats still available! Shinano‑Omachi Hidden Gem Tour — Learn Camera Techniques We’re pleased to announce the date: Thursday, January 9, 2025 (backup date Friday, January 10, 2025). The subject is Omachi’s specialty, koori-mochi (frozen rice cake). This guided tour lets you enter the processing site for koori-mochi, observe the workers, feel the texture of the ingredients, and capture the atmosphere with your own camera while learning photography techniques. Thanks to the continued cooperation of the Katakuri Koori‑Mochi Section of Nōsanbutsu chokubaijo Katakuri, this event is possible again this year. Registration has just opened, but only a few spots remain. If you’re interested, please consider applying soon. ⭐︎ View participants’ photos here https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/88323/... ⭐︎ To apply, use this link or call 0261-22-0190! https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/event/90392/...

[Ski resorts in Omachi City are open!] Jiigatake Ski Resort opens on Friday, December 13, and Kashimayari Ski Resort starts the season on Saturday, December 14. Omachi’s winter season has finally arrived ✨ Powder snow awaits you all ⛄ For details, please see the official website ☺

Actually, on December 1st, Kamisuwa Shizune from the “Onsen Musume” project suddenly appeared at the Suwa City Tourist Information Center inside JR Kami‑Suwa Station!!! Her voice actress is Nanaka Suwa! ◆What Onsen Musume Is Onsen Musume is a regional revitalization project created to promote the attractions of hot spring towns and tourist spots across Japan to domestic and international audiences through various content such as anime, manga, characters, and voice actors. Previously, Shimosuwa Watanon lived in Shimosuwa Town, but Kamisuwa had not yet appeared. With yesterday’s appearance in Kamisuwa, the twins—Kamisuwa Shizune (older sister) and Shimosuwa Watanon (younger sister)—finally managed to be together yesterday! Thank you for waiting. At the information center, we sell one can badge per person (up to two) and acrylic keychains (one per person). Customers who purchase a total of 1,500 yen or more will receive an original sticker! Please come safely! We look forward to welcoming you from the bottom of our hearts!

Notice of Winter Closure for Some Public Toilets in Town To prevent freezing, some public toilets and drinking fountains in town were closed from Wednesday, December 11th. Please check the closure status of toilets at your destination in advance. Closure period: Wednesday, December 11, 2024 – late March *Toilets available during winter* ・Within Tsumago-juku, Tsumago-juku parking lot toilets ・Nakasendo Ishikochi Tachiba Teahouse, O-Tsumago, Kudaridani / Kurashina Soreisha toilets ・Mitomuno-juku toilets ・Kakitsubata Gorge parking lot toilets (on the Koiji Suspension Bridge side)

About sightseeing information during the New Year holidays Here is an announcement about sightseeing information for the New Year holidays! Have a wonderful New Year🐍✨ ► Information centers and tourist facilities Nagiso Town Tourism Association, Tsumago tourist information center, Nagiso Station tourist information center Closed from Sunday, December 29 to Friday, January 3 Nagiso Town Museum (Wakihonjin Okuya, Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) main inn, History Museum) Closed from Sunday, December 29 to Friday, January 3 ► Buses From Tuesday, December 31 to Friday, January 3, community buses (Magome Line and Hoshin Line) will operate reduced services. Some trips will run at different times than usual, so please be careful. Also, because tourist information centers will be closed from December 29 through January 3, tickets will not be sold during that period. Please pay the driver in cash when getting off the bus. ► Taxis Nagiso Sightseeing Taxi (in the Tsumago No.1 parking lot) Tuesday, December 31 to Friday, January 3: 8:00–17:00 Closed on Wednesday, January 1 Contact Nagiso Sightseeing Taxi Co., Ltd. TEL. (+81)-264-57-3133 ► Tsumago-juku For shop opening hours, please check the official Tsumago website. *The photo shows the New Year’s first smoke signal ceremony on January 4 at the site of Tsumago Castle*

About road closure at Koiji Pass Koiji Pass (Kakitsubata Gorge to Okua Village), will be closed during the winter due to expected snowfall and icy conditions. We ask for your cooperation. Location: Koiji Pass (Kakitsubata Gorge to Nojiri, Okuwa Village) Period: Friday, December 13, 2024 – mid-April

December 10th Jiigatake Ski Resort Pre-Opens!! 2024☃ A heavy snowfall has hit Omachi City over the past few days, and the Jiigatake Ski Resort pre-opens tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.! ⛷ To celebrate the opening, day lift tickets are offered at a special price, 2,000 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children. ⛷✨ (Season passes are valid / regular prices resume from the 13th) Please come and join us😉

📍Wakihonjin Okuya (Tsumago inn) A magical phenomenon called “slanting light,” visible only on clear winter days, is shining beautifully today! Beams through the latticed windows draw white, elegant lines in the irori smoke 🪄 The slanting light begins to appear around 10:00, from the right side of the irori, and now, at about 12:30, the light falls straight onto the irori. (Photographed today at 12:15) When it centers on the middle is the best moment for a photo opportunity 📷 Around the winter solstice, the light that now reaches about halfway across the irori moves forward, stretching nearly to the tatami. The sun’s angle changes how the light falls ✨ Tomorrow’s forecast is clear, so you might catch the slanting light again ☀ Wakihonjin Okuya / Historical Museum (Nagiso Town Museum) 📍Within Tsumago-juku (Azuma, Nagiso town, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture 399-5302) ⏰9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:45) 🎌Closed on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays 💰600 yen

Nobeyama Highlands Today This morning at Nobeyama Highlands. The temperature dropped to a season-low of -12.3°C, ranking fifth nationwide🌡️🥶 Snow fell all day yesterday and a light dusting covered cars this morning❄️🏔️Major roads are mostly dry, but some sections remain damp, so please stay cautious tonight and afterward❗Travel safely🦉

📍Iseyama This morning everything was white with frost, and the sky was a clear deep blue! At 8:30 a.m., Route 19 registered −1°C ❄️ The photo is of Iseyama this morning 🏔️ It looks like a perfect day for photographing the snow-dusted Alps ☀️

Miyamaso Welcome to the beautiful Shinano Road, a relaxing healing inn. Shinshu Matsumoto Sengen Hot Spring has long been popular as the inner courtyard of Shinshu Matsumoto. The scenery overlooking the majestic Northern Alps and the relaxing Hot Spring promise a relaxing time. A healing inn "Miyamaso" surrounded by the beautiful nature of Shinshu. We look forward to your Use. Number of guest rooms: 36 rooms, group acceptance: up to 80 people Western-style room, Japanese-Western room, Western-style room (tripril), Western-style room (Barrier-free), Japanese-style room Founded: 1955 Other Free Wi-fi / Barrier-free Address 浅間Hot Spring 3-28-6 Car parking space for up to 60 cars, Bus / Large vehicles allowed Nearest bus stop Asama Hot Spring TEL: 0263-46-1547 FAX:0263-46-7442 Cashless payment credit card (Visa, Mastercard, JCB), Smartphone payment (PayPay) ・ 20 minutes by bus to Asama Hot Spring from JR Matsumoto Station, 3 minutes walk from "Asama Hot Spring Bus Stop" ・30 minutes by Car from Matsumoto IC on Nagano Road ・20 minutes by Car from Azusagawa SA (Smart IC) Free Car parking right next to the building! Both RV Car and Car with 3 numbers are OK Car park!

Nov. 27th in 2024 Today, the gluttonous Kasai went to a Japanese sweets shop for research again!!! It's Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch! But, everyone, do you notice anything in the pictures? Look! Look!!! I was so excited to go to Engetsu-dou that I forgot to take a picture of the shop's exterior... I'm really driven by my appetite... I'm ashamed... I'll make sure to do it next time! I spoke with Mrs. Katagiri, the proprietress of Engetsu-dou Hompo! It seems that they started with a different shop name 78 years ago (Showa 21), before it became Engetsu-dou. At first, it was in front of Kamisuwa Station! Four years later, they expanded to Kowada, and eight years after that, to Shimizu. Now, they have the Shimizu store and this Fukushima store, which opened in 1992, offering Japanese sweets at two stores in the city!!! The proprietress's recommendations are the revived "Kojou Monaka" and "Kabuto Monaka"!!! There are about four types of Monaka, and there are many different kinds. According to the proprietress, "Each Japanese sweets shop has a different red bean paste, so it's fun to try and find your favorite!" Also, she said "Recently, the number of foreign customers has been increasing little by little, and I think they may be paying attention to red bean paste because it is lower in calories than Western-style cream." ◎ Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch 📍Nakasu-Fukushima, 5398-1 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-58-1547 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Shimizu and Fukushima stores, every Tuesday ◎ Engetsu-dou Hompo Shimizu branch 📍Shimizu 1-2-12 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-52-1543 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 Nov. 27th in 2024 Today I went to Engetsu-dou Hompo which is Japanese traditional sweets (Wagashi) shop in Suwa city! “Wa” means Japan. “Gashi” means sweets. So, Japanese traditional sweets call Wagashi? They have two shops in Suwa, Shimizu-machi area and Fukujima area. I went to Fukujima location. Don’t you notice about pictures??? Did you? I was focus for Wagashi… That’s why I forgot to take a picture about Engetsu-dou’s exterior… That’s big mistake! Horrible!!! I’m so sorry about that. I’m gluttony. Wagashi was right front of me, I lost from Wagashi’s temptation. So, I forgot took the shop’s exterior photo… Ms. Katagiri (landlady) introduce her shop and Wagashi. They founded in 1946. About 78 years. The shop was front of Kamisuwa station. They started with the different name of the shop. It became Engetsu-dou in 1950. Shimizu-machi branch opened in 1958. Fukujima branch opened in 1992. I asked her, “what is your recommendation Wagashi?” She told me Kojou Monaka and Kabuto Monaka. Monaka is a Japanese sweet that is bean‐jam‐filled wafers. Also, she said “You can enjoy Wagashi every season, and each shop has original sweetened red bean paste. So, you can enjoy to find your favorite shop. Now, gradually increasing foreign customers. I think they realized Wagashi is less than calories compare to cake.” ★ Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch 📍Nakasu-Fukushima, 5398-1 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-58-1547 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Shimizu and Fukushima stores, every Tuesday ★ Engetsu-dou Hompo Shimizu branch 📍Shimizu 1-2-12 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-52-1543 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00

December 7th to December 21st "Fukushima Teppen Park Illumination 2024" will take place. The illumination at Fukushima Teppen Park, perched 805 meters above sea level, features a Christmas theme. Enjoy the collaboration with the night view! ■ Dates and times: Saturday, December 7th to Saturday, December 21st — lights on from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM ■ Location: Fukushima Teppen Park Organizer: Fukushima Teppen Park Event Executive Committee

Making nozawana pickles in the hot springs ♨️ Nozawana pickles are a sign of early winter in Shinshu 😊 I joined the NPO Gurutta Network Omachi’s “Nozawana Pickling Hot Spring Vegetable Washing” event 😌 I posted about it on the staff blog ✨ I’d be happy if you could view it on the official website ☺️

Kiso Area Ski Resort Information 2024-2025 We will inform you of the scheduled opening dates of each ski resort this season. * There are subject to change due to weather, etc., so please check each Home page for details. A unique ski and snowboard area awaits you! Scheduled opening date of the ski resort ★12/14 (Sat) Kaida Highlands Maia Ski Resort (Kiso Town) Address: Kiso Town, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture Kaida Highlands Nishino 5346-1 ℡：0264-44-1111 ★12/20 (Fri) Ontake Ski Resort (Otaki village) Address: 3162 Otaki village, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture ℡：0264-48-2240 ★12/20 (Fri) Nogi Pass Ski Resort (Nagawa, Matsumoto City) Address: Nagano, Matsumoto City, Nagawa 1173-13 ℡：0263-79-2246 [Open period only] ★12/21 (Sat) Yabuhara Highlands Ski Resort (Kiso village) Address: 2857-16 Kiso Village, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture, Kiso Village, Nagano Prefecture ℡：0264-36-1622 ★12/21 (Sat) Kiso Fukushima Ski Resort (Kiso Town) Address: Kiso Town, Kiso-gun, Nagano Prefecture Shinkai 10034 ℡：0264-27-6021

The 13th Azumino Kamiakari Bamboo Lantern Festival Friday–Sunday, December 6–8, 2024 About 10,000 bamboo lanterns will be lit one by one, warming and brightening the cold winter nights The gentle glow of candles will warm your heart as well Lighting hours: 16:00–around 20:00 Venue: Hotaka Shrine Open lighting ceremony for everyone (Participants are asked to bring a lighter for lighting by 16:00.) *Lighters for lighting will be sold on site.* ● Kagura Hall Live Performance A lively live show will be held to energize the event ● Special Hotaka Ningyo Kamiakari Display A special stage unique to this year’s kamiakari will be exhibited in the Kita Shrine Garden ● Kamiakari Goshuin (Kamiakari commemorative seal) During the kamiakari event, from 16:00 to around 20:00, a special goshuin will be available only at this time. A customary offering of 500 yen is required. Concurrent Event / Azumino Terrace Dec 6–8 “Rice and Sake MARKET” 15:00–20:00 Food trucks and delicious-treat tents gather in one place! A warm rest tent with a stove will also be available.

【Star Photography Workshop Held on November 30】 We held a star photography workshop again this year to introduce the villagers to the beautiful night sky of Minamimaki Village, one of Japan’s three top stargazing spots.📋✏️ We photographed the stars at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, a facility that is usually closed at night.📡📷 Thanks to photographer Teruyasu Kitayama’s instruction on shooting techniques and the generous loan of a high-performance camera from OM Digital Solutions Corporation, even an amateur like me could capture beautiful images.😚 The air has turned clear and it’s the perfect season for star photography, but Minamimaki Village’s cold is on another level.🥶 Please dress warmly when you come.🧣🧤

Diamond dust Kirigamine seen for the first time The view seen in the temperature of -15 degrees Celsius. In Kirigamine, if the conditions are good, you can see "fog ice", "diamond dust" and "sun pillar". "Frost" refers to ice that appears white when supercooled fog or water vapor adheres to tree branches. "Diamond dust" is a phenomenon in which ice crystals formed by the sublimation of water vapor in the atmosphere fall. It is a view that can only be seen in the cold Squid.

I’ve been feeling winter in Nagawacho for a little while now🧣 This time I visited Utsukushi-no-ike😊 There were frost pillars and some thin ice forming❄️.*˚ Please be careful when driving, as nearby roads may be frozen⚠️

When it comes to pickles from Shinshu, nozawana is well known, but in southern Shinshu, gensuke kabuna pickles are cherished. Gensuke kabuna becomes sweeter and more flavorful after exposure to frost. As the cold grows harsher at this time of year, Toyooka Village has entered the ideal harvesting season for gensuke kabuna. Toyooka Tabi Jikan offers hands-on harvesting experiences for gensuke kabuna. We also provide pickling recipes. For details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. The program is scheduled to run from around November 25th to December 20th, ending once supplies run out.

Have you all been feeling tired lately??? It may be a little early, but why not plan an evening with friends, partners, or family to see a nationally designated Important Cultural Property lit up? In December, we will illuminate Katakura-kan in Suwa for six days across three weekends (Dec. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22, 2024)! Katakura-kan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and served as a filming location for the famous hot spring film *Thermae Ro◯e* (title partially obscured in the original). Wild eel is actually in season right now, and there is a traditional cold 'doyō' period in January (寒の土用), which locals note. Here’s a suggested plan: 1. Enjoy eel in the Suwa–Okaya area 2. See Katakura-kan illuminated 3. Unwind and refresh from everyday fatigue and stress at Kamisuwa Onsen. Oh—don’t forget to book your accommodation! ・Period: December 7–8 (Sat–Sun), December 14–15 (Sat–Sun), and December 21–22 (Sat–Sun), 2024. ・Time: 17:00–20:00 * Bathing hours at Katakura-kan end at 20:00. Last admission is at 19:30.

Toyooka Tabi Jikan has installed a persimmon noren under its eaves! Please relax and enjoy it along with the foot bath♪

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

— Bunka-Bunsei Procession ① — On Saturday, November 23, the 57th Bunka-Bunsei Procession took place, hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Association That Loves Tsumago. Under clear skies, residents and visitors recreated the people who likely walked this Nakasendo during the Bunka-Bunsei era and the atmosphere of the post town, bringing lively activity to Nakasendo and Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku).✨ Thank you to everyone who attended and for cooperating with photography etiquette and other manners. We hope the event is held safely again next year.

✨ The Northern Alps are dusted with snow 🏔 Today, November 25th, just after noon, Omachi City cleared to bright sunshine ☀️ and the snow-dusted Northern Alps appeared 🏔 I took photos from Omachi Park to the east of Omachi City and from the observation deck at the summit of Mt. Takagari ✨ Visitors from Japan and abroad were enjoying the view. For more details, we posted on the staff blog. Please see the official Omachi City Tourism Association website 😌

Suginoya sits at the foot of Wada Pass on the Nakasendo. The menu ranges from katsudon and set meals to pizza and pasta. 🍕✨ Address ▶︎ 3389 Wada, Nagawacho Phone ▶︎ 0268-88-2005 Hours Weekdays ▶ 11:00–21:00 Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays ▶ 11:00–20:00 Closed every Thursday

Notice of public toilet closures for winter To prevent freezing, some public toilets in Minamimaki Village will be closed from Monday, November 25, 2024 until mid-April 2025 (scheduled). We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please note that the public toilet in front of nobeyama station remains available 24 hours during winter. The restroom inside the Minamimaki Village Rural Culture and Information Exchange Center (Vegitable With) is also available during the center’s opening hours.

[Notice of Reopening of Road Closure] The entrance to Tsumago inn (on the Magome side, opposite the No. 3 parking lot) had been closed to vehicles for road improvement work for a while, but the closure was lifted today, Friday, November 22. Thank you for your cooperation during the long closure! —Notice— Vehicles and pedestrians may now pass as usual, but vehicle entry into the post town is one-way from Omata Bridge, so entry from the No. 3 parking lot side is prohibited. Also, within Tsumago inn, vehicles are always prohibited from 10:00 to 16:00 to protect the scenery.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, the Nakasendo Tsumago inn will host a Bunka-Bunsei era procession! This annual event has taken place on November 23 since 1968 to commemorate the start of preservation efforts at Tsumago Yado. Local residents dress as samurai, courier runners, komuso (mendicant monks), and other figures to recreate the post town atmosphere of the Bunka-Bunsei period. As in past years, the procession will march along the Nakasendo from 10:30 at Watashima General Ground to 11:20 at Tsumago inn (lunch break), then resume at 13:25 and walk the Nakasendo between O-Tsumago and Tsumago. Imagine the travelers who once walked this road in the Bunka-Bunsei era and enjoy the procession. Details about the schedule and other information for the day are available on the Tsumago inn official website✅ There is no reserved space for media or photography. Please avoid blocking others and watch the procession without standing in the way. Non-participants must not join the procession. Tsumago inn remains a living community while preserving its streetscape. Please refrain from entering private property or causing disturbance. The photo shows last year’s event. It is forecast to be cold tomorrow, so please come warmly dressed 😊❄