Photographed on January 22, 2014. This is the New Year “Musubi no Kirameki” flower water basin at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. It is on display for a limited time until Tuesday, January 27. I start work at my new workplace today. With a fresh start, I will do my best. 😊

Photographed on January 24, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s lemonade and a kumquat Basque cheesecake. On cold days, citrus-flavored treats taste especially good. 😊🍊🍋

Photographed on January 24, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s kumquat Basque cheesecake. It contains kumquats and is delicious. 😊🍊

On a clear, cold winter day, our family enjoyed flying kites in a park with a great view of Mount Fuji.

Photographed on January 24, 2014. This is Chabudai-san's morning meal. This week it is a kabuto (turnip) and milk soup. The amanatsu marmalade is very tasty. Time has flown, and today the winter break comes to an end.

Today I strolled around Kawagoe. Chabudai-san’s HOT natsumikan. It warms the body. ☺️🍊 Yesterday I walked around Tokyo and Omiya. 👟

hoshino resort tomamu Ice Village This is a wedding at the Ice Chapel. Three ceremonies are held each day, and fireworks are set off at the end of each service.

In front of Yonezawa Shrine in Yamagata Prefecture. I photographed a lone tree against the blue sky, using the raised snowbank formed by roadside snow clearing as the foreground.

In Shimizu Yoshiwara, Shizuoka City. I took a long exposure before sunrise over Mount Fuji, keeping some city lights in the frame to capture the pre-dawn scene.

On a bitterly cold winter morning, before the sun broke the horizon, I found a frosty fantasy on the window glass.

Around Shiga Highlands / Ishinoyu. On a cold morning, rime ice had formed on a small tree at my feet and glittered.

At Shiga Highlands. Against a clear blue sky, trees dusted with fresh snow on their branches stood out beautifully.

Around Maruike in the Shiga Highlands. On a morning after fresh snow fell, the sparkling new snow was dazzling.

The exercise rides for horses at Tokachi Ranch have started again this year. They are said to have begun to relieve lack of exercise in pregnant mares. Now they have become a popular midwinter event in the Tokachi region.

On a snowy night, I finished my meal and stepped out into the inn’s garden. I thought about the arrangement of the Shirakaba trees, imagined stopping the snow, and let the scene grow in my mind.

Morning light set the fresh snowfield aglow, making the trees’ frost and the snow surface sparkle.

The morning sun rose above Minokake Rock in Minami‑Izu, and the surface of the water began to gleam.

On a chilly morning in late February, a mist hung over the sea around Minami‑Izu’s Minokake Rocks, lending the scene a dreamlike quality.

Photographed on January 20, 2014. This is LEC COFFEE’s strawberry latte and a sweet potato tart. It’s cold again today.

Photographed on January 20, 2014. This is a sweet potato tart from LEC COFFEE. 🍠 I am on winter break until my transfer. Today, I tried face yoga.

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Roadside Station Nakasatsunai will host the Nakasatsunai Winter Festival 😊 Enjoy a full lineup of snow activities, including snow rafting, a snow treasure hunt, and a snowy slide! Make the most of the cold winter day and have fun! Food trucks will also be on site, so you can enjoy tasty treats 🎵 📍Program Highlights ・Snow rafting (one ride 100 yen, limited to the first 250 participants) ・Stamp rally (limited to the first 100 children in elementary school or younger) ・Snow treasure hunt (for elementary school children or younger) ・Sledding 🛷 (free sled rentals available) ・Marshmallow roasting (3 pieces for 50 yen; available while supplies last) ・Hot milk served (limited to the first 100 people) 📍Date and Time: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 10:00–12:00 📍Location: Roadside Station Nakasatsunai South Side Special Venue Bring your family and friends and come to Roadside Station Nakasatsunai 🤗 https://michinoeki-nakasatsunai.jp/post_event/post_event-1311/...

The strawberry season has arrived! Here are spots in Nagano City where you can enjoy strawberries. 1. Nagano Berry Farm If you want to go strawberry picking within Nagano City, this is the place to go! They minimize pesticide use and make the most of Nagano’s abundant natural environment, so you can enjoy safe, secure, and delicious strawberries to your heart’s content. Reservation method: Strawberry picking is by advance reservation. Please make a phone reservation with JA Nagano Agri Naganuma or book online via Jalan Net before your visit. Phone number: 026-295-1093 (JA Nagano Agri Naganuma) Price: 50 minutes all-you-can-eat Weekdays ¥2,100 Weekends and holidays ¥2,400 *For details, please see the Nagano Berry Farm website.* 2. Garden Hananomi Nagano Yoshi Strawberry Farm This is a farm shop where you can buy freshly picked strawberries. They grow and sell various varieties, focusing on benihoppe, as well as black strawberries and white strawberries. On weekends (Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) they also sell special strawberry daifuku! Phone number: 070-1238-9151 Hours: Around 10:00–16:00 Closed: None (the farm shop is open every day) *Strawberry daifuku and similar items are sold only on weekends and holidays.* *They may be closed occasionally due to circumstances.* *For details, please check the official website or official accounts.* #strawberry #strawberry picking #strawberries #Nagano City #Nagano Prefecture #Nagano sightseeing #Nagano travel #nagano #naganocity

Photographed on January 20, 2026. This is a strawberry latte from LEC COFFEE. What beautiful latte art. Thank you as always. 🥹 I am currently enjoying my winter break. 😊

Photographed on January 19, 2014. This is a hanachozu (flower-filled basin) by Hara Florist. 🌼