Hello. This is En'emon Folklore Museum 😃 After the recent snowfall ❄️, you can still see some snow lingering around Senga Falls ✨ Please watch your step on the stairs to the falls, as some sections are icy. Shosenkyo Gorge is also seeing more warm days during the daytime ☀️ On sunny days, we recommend a relaxed walk while soaking up the sunlight 😀🌿 This month's birthstone: Amethyst 💜 Known as a stone of purification and healing, it is also associated with 'true love.' At En'emon Folklore Museum, we offer high-quality amethyst pendants in beautiful colors, cuts, and sizes, as well as rare amethysts with clear quartz tips—each a must-see ✨ Please stop by during your walk 😃 All our staff look forward to greeting you with smiles 💓 When you visit, please take extra care with your vehicle and your footing 🚗✨

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 6–7, 2026 Kiso town Fukushima inn, from Kisofukushima Station to the former Nakasendo area

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 3, Shiojiri City, Narai inn (Narai-juku) Entire Narai-juku

2026 Ice and Snow Lantern Festival February 1, 2026 — Niekawa-juku, Shiojiri City (within the Niekawa post town)

2026 Kiso Road Ice and Snow Lantern Festival January 24, 2026 Kiso town Hiyoshi Miyanokoshi Around Miyanokoshi-shuku Honjin

Azumino’s breathtaking viewpoint – Mount Nagamine summit From here you can enjoy views of the Northern Alps♪ I gazed out over Azumino, dyed entirely in white!!

February 8th Snowy landscape at Daio Wasabi Farm Japan’s largest wasabi field is also wrapped in snow Perhaps because the snow absorbs sound, a quiet world spreads out

February 8th Snowy Scenery in Azumino The snow that fell steadily since last night has turned Azumino into a sea of white.

February 8th Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line, the gateway to Azumino sightseeing It snowed last night, and Azumino is blanketed in white Visitors should take care with their footing!!

Hello! This is Waraji, a Koshu local cuisine restaurant. Although February marks the arrival of spring on the calendar, Shosenkyo Gorge is wrapped in crisp, cold air and offers the clear winter scenery unique to the season❄️🌿 After a walk taking in the majestic nature formed by rocky cliffs and evergreen trees, why not rest with us for a while😊 Our recommendation is a piping-hot freshly fried tendon (tempura rice bowl)🍤 We generously use three large prawns; their crispy, fragrant batter pairs perfectly with the fluffy rice. Its impressive appearance makes it a dish you’ll want to photograph📸✨ The interior offers a calm space warmed by wood accents. You can warm up your chilled body and enjoy a leisurely time with us over tea🍵 Shosenkyo Gorge is still quite cold, so please make sure to dress warmly before you come🧣 We sincerely look forward to welcoming you😊

【✨Spectacular View from Omachi Park 🏔️】 On February 4, the first day of spring in the traditional calendar, the Northern Alps were visible beautifully from many spots across the city area 🏔️ So we headed to Omachi Park, a small hilltop park on the city’s east side. Omachi Park is an easy-to-reach scenic spot by car ✨ With no obstructions, you can take in a sweeping view of the town and the snow-capped Northern Alps 😊 If you happen to be nearby, this is a view you should enjoy ✨ ⭐️For more details about Omachi Park, see below 🔽🔽🔽 https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/omachipark/...

February 4th A snow moon two days late and MtJonen This morning in Azumino the sky was perfectly clear The moon setting behind MtJonen

February 3rd In the morning, snowflakes drifted over Azumino The sky cleared and the Northern Alps stretched into the distance as far as Hakuba The OitoLine runs toward Hakuba

The Karasukawa flows through Nagano Prefecture's Karasugawa Valley Green Space It carries snowmelt from Mt. Jonen in the Northern Alps As it flows, it nourishes Azumino

Sen'en Ridge (仙塩尾根), Minami Alps National Park, Japan

Ariakeyama Shrine sits on the foothills of the Northern Alps, venerating Mt. Ariake as its sacred mountain and serving as a village shrine rooted in mountain worship. It is also famous as a power spot. The Yumeimon Gate, adorned with carvings of the twelve zodiac animals, is splendid and designated as a tangible cultural property.

Gala Yuzawa is one of my favorite ski destination near Tokyo. Its not only a good ski resort but also a fabulous sightseeing spots. The snow-capped mountain peaks looks very beautiful and during sunset time creates an unforgettable moments.

Rainbow Line Summit Park will be closed for maintenance from Monday, February 2nd through Friday, February 6th. (First Parking Lot will be inaccessible during the closure.) Prefectural Route Mikata Goko Rainbow Line remains open as usual, with passage hours from 8:00 to 18:00. Please note that these hours may change due to snow. Also, from Saturday, February 7th through Tuesday, February 10th, the lifts will be under construction and only the cable car will operate. https://mikatagoko.com/%e2%9d%84%e3%83%a1%e3%83%b3%e3%83%86%e3%83%8a%e3%83%b3%e3%82%b9%e4%bc%91%e6%a5%ad%e3%81%ae%e3%81%8a%e7%9f%a5%e3%82%89%e3%81%9b%e2%9d%84/...

This is Shosenkyo Crystal Sound. How are you all doing? 😊 Winter at Shosenkyo Gorge is the season when the air is clearest and the landscape is wrapped in silence ❄️ Please enjoy the unique charm of this time of year, when you can have Shosenkyo all to yourself without interruption. While strolling through Shosenkyo Gorge, stop by shops selling jewelry and natural stones, and try sensing their “power” directly 💎✨ If you get hungry, warm your chilled body with a hot local dish 🍲 Escape the everyday and come to Shosenkyo to enjoy a special winter scenery. *Road surfaces can freeze in winter.* When you visit, please prepare winter tires 🚗⚠️ All our staff sincerely look forward to welcoming you 🌿

This is Taiyogaoka Metasequoia Namiki Avenue in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. A snowy tree-lined path, seen under a clear sky. The metasequoias in their snowy scenery. It was simply beautiful. 💕(୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷 🌲❄️☀️

Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkeys A place famous for monkeys bathing in hot springs A monkey gazing at the hot spring amid falling snow A sense of melancholy lingered.

January 26th Azumino was broadly clear today The Northern Alps, thickly capped with snow, could be seen

January 26th Azumino the day after it snowed The western foothills of the Northern Alps had accumulated snow, but the eastern side was only lightly dusted I looked out over Azumino from the summit of Mount Nagamine The summit had less snow than I had expected

Hello! This is Jewelry Town. The cold season has arrived, but on sunny days the sunlight feels pleasantly warm. At this time of year, Senga Falls reveals the vivid textures of its rock face, and the spray of water sounds magnificent and powerful amid the stillness. Take in the pure, wintry air unique to this season. At our shop, new items such as aura quartz and garden quartz have arrived in keeping with this year’s lucky colors of red and orange. We hope you enjoy them together with the nature of Shosenkyo Gorge. We look forward to seeing many of you again this year.

The date for the 38th Mihama – Hiroshi Itsuki Hometown Marathon has been set for Sunday, May 10, 2026! The entry period runs from Friday, January 23, 2026 to Sunday, March 15, 2026, and entries can be made via RUNNET. Come run along Mihama’s scenic coastline with us! https://runnet.jp/entry/runtes/user/pc/competitionDetailAction.do?raceId=384754&div=1&fbclid=IwY2xjawPehm9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEedoA4TNSq52SiHq1HQuIK2-sJQ59q-7W5z3yN16pmOl0lkanB1N5Stz8iZGQ_aem_M8l00ZEtb8aJGkY8PyQd6Q...

Gonbe Pass (Gonbee Toge) When transporting Ina rice to Kiso, the routes over Shiojiri Pass or Ushikubi Pass were fine up to Narai, but Torii Pass lay beyond and made the journey inconvenient in terms of days and rice prices. To solve this, cattle driver foreman Furuhata Gonbei spent two years opening a route through this pass, 1,523 meters above sea level, to reach Ina. Afterwards, rice flowed from Inadani Valley to Kiso Valley, while lacquerware, bentwood items and other woodcraft traveled from Kiso to Ina. In recognition of this achievement, the pass came to be called Gonbe Pass. As the watershed between the Shinano River system and the Tenryu River system, the views from this pass are superb: you can look down over Inadani Valley and enjoy a sweeping panorama of the Southern Alps. In spring’s fresh buds, summer’s deep green and mountain streams, and autumn’s foliage, the scenery delights travelers through every season. The pass is designated as part of the Shinanoji Nature Trail Gonbei Pass Route, where you can fully savor the great outdoors.

Kiso Kurashi no Kogeikan Location: 2272-7 Kisohirasawa, Shiojiri City ◎ Masterful craftsmanship and the power of lacquer breathe life into materials Kiso Kurashi no Kogeikan is conceived as a museum and shop. From the displayed and stocked items to the building materials and furniture, the facility proudly emphasizes wood—the hallmark of this region. The entire venue overflows with the warmth of Shiojiri and Kiso, offering everything from crafts to everyday household tools and mountain-country flavors unique to the area. ◎ A wide selection of local specialties from Shiojiri and Kiso, including the traditional craft Kiso lacquerware and Shiojiri wine A range of cultures born from interactions with nature. We introduce the attractions of local industries rooted in Kiso life—skills handed down for centuries—while also presenting new lifestyle ideas. A medal awarded at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, finished by the careful work of lacquer artisans, is on permanent display. Visitors can also enjoy a Kiso tsuishu (Kiso raised lacquer) sanding-and-revealing experience. (Advance reservation required at least two weeks prior) ◎ Traditional craft “Kiso lacquerware” hands-on experience menu (advance reservation required; please book at least two weeks in advance) Kiso tsuishu sanding-and-revealing experience Duration: Approximately 1 hour Fees: ① Coaster 2,200 yen ② Chopsticks 2,500 yen ③ Spoon 2,500 yen - Overview - Address: 2272-7 Kisohirasawa, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture Phone: 0264-34-3888 Fax: 0264-34-2832 Hours: 9:00–17:00 Closed: Every Tuesday / Open during busy seasons (closed irregularly) Parking: Standard cars: 500 spaces / Large buses: 10 spaces / Accessible: 4 spaces (all free) Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible restrooms, ramps Access: By car: 25 km (about 30 minutes) from Shiojiri IC / By car: 80 km (about 90 minutes) from Nakatsugawa IC / By train: JR Chuo Main Line to kisohirasawa station, then 20-minute walk

At Jigokudani Monkey Park in Nagano Prefecture, photographed Title: Reverie

Hello 😃 This is the main building of Yamanashi Wine Kingdom. This time we present “A View You Haven’t Seen Yet!” ✨ Shosenkyo Gorge has a ropeway that rises to the summit, where a panoramic spectacle unfolds on clear days. What the view looks like… come and find out for yourself 😊 You’ll also find an owl sculpture somewhere and artwork made by affixing stones together 🎨 If you look closely at this artwork, you’ll see words written on each stone. It’s fun to stroll around searching for the sculptures and art 🔍 And Valentine’s Day is coming soon 🍫 Why not toast with wine with a close friend or partner once in a while 🥂 You might discover a wonderful wine that makes a perfect gift 🎁 It’s still a cold season, so please dress warmly when you visit 🧣❄️

January 11th MtJonen summit sending up plumes of drifting snow Around noon today a trough of low pressure began passing over Azumino, turning a calm morning into fierce winds… The ridgeline of the Northern Alps visible from Azumino also turned white as snow plumes rose.