Azumino Cherry Blossom Update The cherry trees at Ryugamonbuchi Park in Akeina are about 80% in bloom Still, with a forecast for summer-like temperatures today, they might reach full bloom… It’s a pleasant park. Visit with a picnic spirit!!

April 6th Azumino cleared to a brilliant blue today Forecasts say the temperature will rise to 25°C by midday It looks like an unseasonal summer day… MtJonen in the Northern Alps is watching over us!!

April 6th Spring has arrived in Azumino, and plants are bursting into new growth all at once!! Wasabi flowers, cherry blossoms, and even the ridges… After a long winter, Azumino is at its most radiant right now♪

April 5th Azumino Cherry Blossom Update The Hyakuraku Cherry tree in front of the Yukio Tabuchi Memorial Museum is in full bloom This is an Edo-higan cherry, and its pale pink petals are beautiful!!

April 5th Azumino’s tourism hub, in front of Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line The willow tree that starred in the so‑called "symbol tour" is budding, and the daffodils are in full bloom When you visit, stop by briefly and then pop into the Tourist Information Center!!

April 4th Azumino Cherry Blossom Report The weeping cherry tree at Anyouzan Seigenji Temple, located along the foothill road in Azumino, has begun to bloom Two large weeping cherry trees stand beyond the moss-covered approach This Soto Zen temple is also notable in summer for the lotus flowers beside the temple grounds!!

April 4th Azumino Cherry Blossom Report The weeping cherry tree at Hodakasan Soutokuji Temple near hotaka station in Azumino is in full bloom!! You can also enjoy a zazen meditation experience here♪ For details, check the official site of the Azumino Tourism Association

April 3rd The Somei-yoshino cherry trees at Azumino’s scenic spot Jitensha Hiroba have begun to bloom They are still opening here and there It will be delightful to see them in full bloom alongside the pink moss (shibazakura)!

March 30th The Hyakuraku cherry tree at the Yukio Tabuchi Memorial Museum has begun to bloom!! With spring-like warmth, the cherry blossoms can’t wait any longer These are Edohigan cherry trees, an early-blooming variety in Azumino Today they are about thirty percent open, showing deep pink petals♪

Minami Shinshu Cherry Blossom Report — A fleeting dream floating in the nightfall. Here are last night’s (March 27) nocturnal cherry blossoms from Minami Shinshu. This year the blooms came earlier than usual, and their full splendor stood out in the stillness of the night. Lit from below, they seemed almost alive. 📸 Lineup ①② Azumi no Sato Butai-zakura: The ancient tree’s power is overwhelming when lifted by the lights. ③④ Ishizuka no Sakura: Its branches reach into the night sky with strength and grace. ⑤⑥ Koubaiin Temple weeping cherry: A cascading curtain of rosy blossoms. ⑦⑧ Senshoji Temple weeping cherry: The temple setting lends it a sacred aura. Date photographed: 2026.3.27 A night-time magic found only in this season and this place. Come and quietly gaze up at a spring night that you must experience in person. Starting today, the Minami Shinshu Single Cherry Tree Digital Stamp Rally and the Instagram Photo Contest are also underway! Check the southern Nagano tourist information site Minami Shinshu Navi for details.

Sakuhomachi Tourist Facility Opening Information Tourist facilities on Yachiho Kogen will open for the season in stages🌿 ■ Yachiho Lake Operating period: April 17 – October 30 🐟 A popular spot for fishing and relaxing by the lakeside ■ yachiho highland nature park Operating period: April 23 – November 8 🌲 Enjoy a walk through birch groves and past waterfalls while soaking in nature ■ Flowering Tree Garden and Mallet golf course Operating period: May 16 – October 12 🌷 A casual area to enjoy the natural scenery of Yachiho Kogen Each facility has different opening hours, so please check the image for details. This season, come to Yachiho Kogen to enjoy everything from fresh greenery to autumn leaves🌱

Nagano Prefecture Minami Shinshu Iida Cherry Blossom Report🌸 Spring has arrived in Minami Shinshu again this year🌸 Blooming began earlier than usual this year, and some lone cherry trees are already in full bloom or at their peak. Each tree seems to tell its own story, offering a spring landscape unique to this region. Here’s today’s lineup📷✨ 1. Kuyoto no Sakura (its dignified presence captivates) 2. Yasutomi Sakura (a celebrated tree representing Iida City) 3. Meotozakura (their closeness is heartwarming) 4. and 5. Koubaiin’s red weeping cherry trees (their vivid crimson contrasts with the sky) 6. Unsaizi Temple’s cherry tree (its blooming in silence feels otherworldly) Photo taken: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

March 23rd A gloriously clear, sunny day in Azumino Many hikers at the summit of Mount Nagamine were enjoying this view!! Today even hang gliders made an appearance

March 18th Today's scenery of Azumino View from Ohisama Road

March 18th Spring has arrived in Azumino Plum blossoms have begun to bloom at Daio Wasabi Farm, and the red and white hues stand out against the wasabi fields

March 5th From the summit of Mount Nagamine in Azumino’s satoyama, you can enjoy a sky-high view Views of Azumino town and the Northern Alps The forest road is still closed for the winter, so please climb on foot and work up a sweat♪

March 4th Azumino, where it rained all day yesterday When the rain stopped, the mountains were dusted with snow Just when I thought most of the snow had melted, the Northern Alps put on their winter coat again

[🧸For Sakuho town residents only🧸] Montbell annual membership fee Normally 1,500 yen, but the Sakuho Town Friend Card lets town residents join for 1,000 yen✨ As a member, you will receive benefits such as ・Earning points on purchases ・Receiving the member magazine OUTWARD ・Discounts at partner facilities ・Event information and more. This is recommended not only for outdoor enthusiasts but also for those who want to get started🌿 🔽Join or Inquire🔽 Visit Montbell Sakuho Store inside Roadside Station Yachiho Kogen

Introducing a new shop that accepts the Zenkoji Omotesando Walk-and-Eat Ticket ✨ "CHAYADO Hyaku-hachi" @cha_yado_momoya From April 1st, the Zenkoji Omotesando Walk-and-Eat Ticket can be used here. This is a matcha café attached to a guesthouse, newly opened by the popular sweets shop centotto gelato, known in Shinanomachi and Nagano station. Soft light through wooden latticework and a quietly composed space that values empty space let you enjoy a peaceful time. 【Phone】026-217-2608 【Hours】9:00–18:30 (last order 18:00) 【Closed】None 【Parking】None Zenkoji Omotesando Walk-and-Eat Ticket Eligible Item (from April 1) "Affogato" 750 yen → effectively 650 yen with ticket *Choose one of the three types below* Matcha Espresso Affogato Milk Matcha Affogato Espresso Affogato 【Recommended items】*Not eligible for the Walk-and-Eat Ticket* 1) "Hyaku-hachi Parfait" A new item now on offer, the Hyaku-hachi Parfait uses strawberries lavishly and lets you enjoy a collaboration of gelato and matcha chocolate! Price: 1,100 yen 2) "MOMOYA Latte" Hyaku-hachi’s original layered matcha latte series made with fruit from Nagano Prefecture. Choose from blueberry, strawberry, or azuki (red bean). Price: 900 yen <Zenkoji Walk-and-Eat Ticket> This value ticket lets you choose and buy favorites from about 20 shops selling Nagano specialties and sweets! ✨How to use✨ 1) Purchase a ticket [1,000 yen each, tax included] *price revised from April 1* (Until March 31 each ticket could be purchased for 700 yen, tax included) 2) At shops listed in the brochure, exchange the stickers attached to the ticket (100-yen × 8, 50-yen × 4) for products 3) Redeem used tickets for a prize (receive an original bag!) It’s cheaper than usual and perfect for sampling small tastes from various shops while you walk and eat ✨ For more details, see the highlights on @nagano_cvb! #cafe #sweets #walk-and-eat #Nagano City #nagano

Today's Observatory This morning's lowest temperature in Nobeyama was -15.5°C, the second coldest in the country. The sky is clear, and Yatsugatake is showing its full blue. Last year, the NAOJ Nobeyama Observatory was bustling with pilgrimages, but it has now returned to quiet. I remember with fondness the time a year ago when we nervously debated various measures, wondering, “Will people really come in droves?” If you couldn't take a leisurely tour of the observatory back then, now is a good time to visit—it's still a bit chilly, though.

[Komaide Pond Campground Reservations Open] Komaide Pond Campground sits in a stunning stand of white birch often called the most beautiful in Japan, offering a superb location for camping 🏕️ Reservations for the 2026 season are now open! Season opens: Friday, April 24 Bookings open: Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 AM To reserve, search for "komaide pond campground" on the NAP site for campground reservations. Komaide Pond Campground official site https://yachiho-kogen.com/camp/...

Here are spots where flowers are at their best in March ✨ 1. Fukujusō at Hinata Ooka A natural colony of fukujusō (Adonis ramosa) spreads across about 2,000 square meters on the rolling hills of the Hyūga District in Oooka, Nagano City. On well-kept slopes, fukujusō bloom proudly with the majestic Northern Alps as a backdrop. Typical peak season: mid-March 2. Fukujusō at Nanaoekosaka More than 30,000 fukujusō carpet the steep east-facing slopes. This dense stand of fukujusō, said to be the finest in northeast Shinshu, is a spectacular sight. Typical peak season: early to late March Note: You will walk about 500 meters along a mountain path from the parking area, including uphill sections, so please wear comfortable shoes such as sneakers. 3. Roukaku Plum Garden (Shinshu Shinmachi) Around 1,000 small ume trees and red-plum varieties are planted here, offering delicate blossoms set against the flowing Saikawa River. Typical peak season: late March to early April The Nagano Convention & Visitors Bureau website summarizes flowering conditions around Nagano City 🌼 #plum #love flowers #scenic flower views #Nagano City

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 15, Okuwa village Okuwa Village Sports Park

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 14, 2026 Nagisomachi Tsumago inn Tsumago-juku

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 11 — Nezame-no-Toko, Agematsu Town

A fire lookout tower and MtJonen together!! Nagano Prefecture apparently has a lot of fire lookout towers…

Jikkasegi Irrigation Canal flowing beside the Northern Alps An irrigation waterway built in the Edo Period Now it serves as a resting spot for ducks

February 17th Yesterday Azumino was mostly cloudy, but today it’s clear Mt. Jonen appears in a dignified, striking view

February 15th I went to see the fukujusō on Mt. Kojo because fukujusō started blooming in my garden They grow in a cluster at the corner of the clearing just before the summit of Mt. Kojo Maybe it was still early, so only a few were blooming… Their color makes you feel the arrival of spring

Takase River flows from Omachi into Azumino It then meets two rivers and becomes the Saikawa Upstream lie MtShirouma and the ridgeline of the Northern Alps Sunlight pours down as if spring has arrived