In Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture, there are two nationally Famous Bonito flakes factories, Yamaki and Marutomo. In addition, the Kaminada Fisheries Cooperative Kyoei Net manufactures and sells high-quality dried anchovy using Fresh anchovy caught in Iyonada Sea, and the Iyo Forestry Association makes thick and nutritious dried shiitake mushrooms using log cultivated shiitake mushrooms. All of them are products from which you can get delicious "dashi". "Dashi" is the base of Japanese cuisine and plays an important role in determining the deliciousness. Iyo City, which is rich in products that produce such "dashi", is a "city of dashi". In Iyo City, the "town of dashi", Aihara Seafood Shop, which has inherited the traditional manufacturing method since the founding of 1965 (Showa 40), has become so popular that orders There are receive from all over the country. Of particular note is the "Muroaji shaved flakes". Carefully selected muroaji is carefully removed from the middle bone by hand, dried in the sun, and then shaved with a well-used Showa 30 (Showa 30)-style sharpening machine. "Flower Bonito", which has been popular in Iyo City for a long time, is actually this "Muroaji shaved flakes". It is characterized by a stronger umami flavor than Bonito flakes. Please enjoy this special shaved flakes once. 🐟 Enjoy 🐟 the "dashi town" with a handedness "dashi" experience The Events "Iyo City Fureai Saturday Night Market" where you can Tasting the dashi of Aihara Seafood Store is Held in from the first to the third Saturday of June every year! Here, you can compare several types of dashi taken on the spot and have a "handedness" dashi experience. The raw materials for dashi vary depending on the region, such as bonito flakes, shaved flakes, dried sardines, kelp, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Please take this opportunity to visit Iyo City, the "city of dashi", and experience the deep dashi culture. 📍 Aihara Seafood Store 📍 Address: 12-5 Nada-cho, Iyo-shi, Ehime Phone: 089-982-0505 Business hours:8:40~17:00 Regular holiday: Every Sunday Car parking lot: None * Please Use the shopping street shared parking lot Car

Taisha Senbei Suwa Shop On this day, foodie Kawanishi was drawn in by a sweet aroma and visited Taisha Senbei Suwa Shop. Since childhood, foodie Kawanishi has loved Taisha Senbei’s peanut senbei and castella senbei; they are among his favorite treats. Despite being busy, Mrs. Sasaki, wife of President Sasaki, spoke with foodie Kawanishi. Taisha Senbei’s history began with its founding in Shimosuwa Town near the end of the Taisho era, and the shop moved to Suwa City in 1955. The Suwa Confectioners’ Association roster from 2011 lists the founding year as Taisho 10 (1921), but the source of that information seems unclear. Still, you get the sense that Taisha Senbei belongs to Suwa. When people hear Taisha Senbei, don’t they picture the peanut senbei? Actually, the first item sold as Taisha Senbei seems to have been the castella senbei (unofficial). The peanut senbei bears the name “Taisha” on the snack itself, so people naturally imagine Taisha Senbei means peanut senbei. That’s not the case. At first, castella senbei was the product known as Taisha Senbei. Both peanut senbei and castella senbei have been popular signature items since the founding. I learned this only after hearing the story myself! Taisha Senbei’s origin story says the founder had a close relationship with the chief priest of Suwa Taisha’s Lower Shrine at the time. The priest asked the founder to make distributable treats that parishioners could receive during the Onbashira festival. The senbei the shop then made, called Asahi Senbei (today’s castella senbei), was allowed to be called “Taisha Senbei,” and so Taisha Senbei was born. I was deeply moved to finally learn the origin of a name I had wondered about since childhood. The recipes for Taisha Senbei are fixed in their basic proportions, but the craftsmen adjust them daily according to the season, temperature, and humidity. I believe this deep trust in the artisans is why Taisha Senbei has been loved in Suwa for so long. Taisha Senbei’s recommended products are, of course, all of their offerings, but one item that especially caught my eye was the salted yokan with walnuts. They use large walnuts so generously that you can plainly see big chunks of walnut with the naked eye. It’s a must-buy souvenir for walnut lovers!!! The tourist association reports that visitors from other prefectures often buy Taisha Senbei as souvenirs in Suwa, and the taste prompts questions like “Can this be bought online or at department stores?” That’s how popular it is. When you visit Suwa, please pick some up as a souvenir!!! ◎ Taisha Senbei Suwa Shop 📍 5320-9 Nakasu, Suwa City ☎ 0266-53-2777 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 17:15 ◎ Closed: Sundays ◎ Parking: About 10 spaces in front of the shop ◎ Website: http://taisyasenbei.jp//

Finally, the long-awaited opening! The new community exchange center Tuktuk opens next to JR Shintoku Station. ・Date: Sunday, June 15 ・Time: 10:00–16:00 ・Venue: Tuktuk Community Exchange Center, next to JR Shintoku Station @tuktuk_shintoku For the opening event there will be food trucks, a flea market, a rock–paper–scissors tournament, a communal ribbon-cutting and many other activities. And the highlight is… the “Cherry Pit Spitting Contest in Shintoku Town” hosted by Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture 🍒 ・Date: Sunday, June 15 ・Time: 12:00–14:00 (Registration opens at 11:30) ・Venue: Station Front Event Plaza ・Participants: 200 people (same-day registration, first come, first served) ・Participation prize: 50 g of Sato Nishiki cherries ※ Prizes will be awarded for exceeding a set distance Eat delicious cherries and give your best shot at spitting the pit as far as you can! We look forward to your challenge 💪 At the station front event plaza, cherries and local specialties will also be sold, so look forward to that. ◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆ Also, the Shintoku Town Tourism Association, currently located in Shintoku Town Hall, will relocate to the second floor (station side) of Tuktuk. If you visit Shintoku for sightseeing, stop by for work, or have a little time while waiting for a train or bus, please drop in. We look forward to meeting you and sharing the charms of Shintoku Town. We’ll be waiting on Sunday, June 15 💁‍♀️ #Hokkaido #Yamagata Prefecture #Tokachi #Higashine City #Higashine cherries #Sato Nishiki #Sato Nishiki cherries #Cherries #Pit Spitting Contest #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #JR Shintoku Station #Tuktuk station-front complex #tuktuk #Tuktuk #Opening #Opening Event #hokkaido #hokkaidotrip #hokkaidotourism #tourism #tokachi #shintoku #cherry #welcomeshintoku #discovershintoku

On May 14, 2025, the New Tea Presentation Ceremony took place at Shizuoka Prefectural Office. From Iwata City, Takumi Miyamoto, the 2025 Iwata City Tourism Ambassador, presented new tea to Governor Yasutomo Suzuki. Great taste! Great color! Great aroma! This is Iwata tea, grown on the Iwata Plain and richly blessed by the sun. Enjoy its refreshing, clean aroma, clear color, and deep flavor.

Higo Green Melon, a specialty of Kikuchi City, is now in season! Higo Green Melon grows larger than ordinary melons, with thicker, very tender flesh. It also contains plenty of water and juice, with a sugar content of 14 degrees or higher. Higo Green Melon is in season from late April through early July. It is mainly produced in Shichijo Town, Kikuchi City. Shichijo Town is blessed with clear spring water selected among Kumamoto’s Top 100 Famous Waters, such as Maekawa and Shimizu springs. Rich in minerals and oxygen, this water helps grow delicious melons. Producers tend the melons every day without rest, which ensures careful attention and results in sweet melons with beautifully netted rinds. Higo Green Melons are mainly sold at Roadside Station Shichijo Melon Dome in Shichijo Town. All melons sold at the Melon Dome undergo strict sugar tests with an optical sensor. Only melons that meet the sugar level of 14 degrees or higher are displayed for sale. Introducing Kikuchi’s proud specialty, the Higo Green Melon! To share this deliciousness and charm with many people, we have planned a special hands-on program! Title “Play Sommelier and Judge Sweetness♪ Sugar Level Challenge & Ultimate Melon Parfait Making in Kikuchi” In this program, you will make a parfait lavishly using Higo Green Melon. The melons used for the parfait are specially managed for the event date. Therefore, you will taste perfectly ripened, sweet melons on the day. We will use a generous half melon per parfait, making it satisfying to eat and great for photos. We will also top the melon with rich milk soft serve from Toride Farm. Garnishes will include strawberries grown in Kikuchi. Why not try making an original melon parfait you can’t find anywhere else? In addition to making the parfait, each participant will receive one whole melon to take home so you can enjoy it with your family. The take-home melon will be measured with the sugar sensor on site. You will be asked to guess the sugar level of the melon you selected. Those who guess the exact sugar level will receive a prize. We look forward to your participation♪ Please make reservations by scanning the photo QR code. Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 14–15, 2025 (20 participants per day) Time: 10:00–12:30 Place: Roadside Station Shichijo Melon Dome Participation fee: 7,700 yen per person Contact Kikuchi Tourism Association Address: 1273-1 Kumafu, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture 861-1331 TEL: 0968-25-0513

🌿New Tea Season🌿 The tea fields in Gokasecho are turning a vivid green😌🍵 The first and second photos show the house in Kuwanochi, in front of which the weeping cherry trees that we introduced in spring looked so beautiful📸✨ Against the fresh green of the remaining cherry leaves, the two-tone tea fields made an incredibly beautiful scene🥺👏 Fresh tea is arriving one after another at the Gokase Specialty Center, and the scent of new tea fills the shop🥰 Enjoy the fragrant, new tea leaves that make you feel as if you are standing right in the tea fields🍵✨

Robatayaki is an excellent cuisine in which seafood and meat are slowly grilled to bring out the aroma and umami. The shops you can enjoy are easily accessed from the Hotel, and you can enjoy the unique taste of the port town! Enjoy the Specialties Furnace Grilling!

Donko-tei A restaurant attached to the village information hub Shiitake Hall 21🍽️ Enjoy Morotsuka’s unique flavors made from seasonal mountain produce😋 *Please note: closed every Wednesday.* Every month on the 7th and 8th we hold the "Morotsuka Naba🍄 Days" event The numbers 7 and 8 read as "naba," giving the event its name, Morotsuka Naba🍄 Days, held monthly! What is naba🍄? In Morotsuka, shiitake mushrooms are called "naba." At Morocco House, Special Products Sales Office, dried shiitake go on sale at discounted prices, and at Donko-tei we offer shiitake-related specials and services✨ If you love shiitake, come to Morotsuka Village on the 7th and 8th!

Morokko House Specialty Shop This warm, welcoming store along National Route 327 uses plenty of locally sourced timber from the village🌳. The shop sign was recently refreshed✨ When you visit, be sure to take a look at the charming illustration nearby🥰 We deliver safe, reliable mountain produce harvested in Morotsuka Village with heartfelt care💖. This is the place for Morotsuka souvenirs! You can choose the heat level for yuzu kosho and dressings, and, of course, Morotsuka’s signature dried shiitake—plus fresh shiitake are available in season from autumn through winter. Both types are grown on natural logs🍄. Longtime favorites include Nanatsuyama miso, yomogi (mugwort) dumplings, and handmade konnyaku. Quirky shiitake cookies🍪 make a fun souvenir pick. For game-meat fans, frozen venison and wild boar are also on sale! Every Friday we offer a limited-quantity, shop-exclusive shiitake sushi. Seasonal village-grown vegetables🥬 and flowers🌸 are also sold, letting you enjoy the flavors of the season and the unique highland produce of Morotsuka. You’ll also find locally produced shochu from the village’s two sake breweries and handmade crafts by residents. Both are rare items rarely found outside the village.

"Okhotsk Flower Migration Markets in HTB On-chan Terrace" will be held in for two days on April 18 (Fri) and 19 (Sat)! At the Events, in addition to selling carefully selected specialty products from the Flower Migration area (Engaru Town, Takinoue Town, Yubetsu Town, Monbetsu City), Workshops, questionnaires (you can play Gacha Gacha without mistakes), and "Yurukyara" will also appear ♪ 　Recommended for selling Specialty products in Engaru Town! !! is "Wintering Shirataki Jaga", which is difficult to obtain even in the Locals. Shirataki potatoes have been further wintered in the highlands with a large temperature difference of 400 meters Raised Traditional Japanese straw raincoat an average of 400 meters, and once you eat them, you will not forget them (50 yen per piece). In addition, the Popular Workshop "Obsidian Key Chain Making Experience (500 yen)" will also be held in limited quantities. 　Please come to the venue for two days where you can enjoy the charm of the Flower Migration area! !! Date & Time: April 18 (Fri) 11:00~18:00, April 19 (Sat) 10:00~17:00 Location: HTB On-chan Terrace (Chuo-ku, Kita 1-jo Nishi 1-6) https://www.htb.co.jp/ichimoni/marche/okhotsk202504/...

From Wednesday, March 5 to Monday, March 24, the 22nd Spring Hokkaido Products and Tourism Fair will take place at Tenmaya Okayama Main Store as part of Tenmaya Department Store’s 100th anniversary celebration. Jagachokotto makes its first appearance! It also makes a great White Day gift. Tenmaya Okayama Main Store Address: 2-1-1 Omotecho, Kita Ward, Okayama City TEL: (086) 231-7111

Welcome to Gokase Town in winter ✨ Answer our survey and get local specialties 💪 (Response deadline: Friday, February 28 ⚠️) A notice from Gokase Entertainment Co., Ltd. 💡 Right now, visitors to Gokase Town who complete a short survey will be entered into a drawing. Fifteen winners will receive local specialties from Gokase Town 🤩✨ This survey aims to make Gokase Town an even more attractive tourist destination, so we would greatly appreciate your cooperation 🤗 Here’s your chance to win a set of wine and kama-iri tea (pan-roasted tea) 💪❤️‍🔥 The response deadline is Friday, February 28 ⚠️ When you stop by Gokase Town, we look forward to your visit 🥺🙏

Matsuura Whitebait & Tiger puffer fish gourmet fair is being held in! !️ Held in a gourmet fair where restaurants and accommodations in the city offer dishes using the ultra-rare Matsuura "whitebait" that is caught only during this period and the aquaculture "Tiger puffer fish" that boasts the largest production in No.1 in Japan. Each restaurant offers elaborate menus such as Kaisen Donburi using "raw whitebait", which is rare in Kyushu, pasta and rice bowls of "kamaage whitebait" with outstanding texture and flavor, and course meal of Tiger puffer fish. Please take this opportunity to Gari "Matsuura's Extreme" at "Production Area Matsuura"! 【Events Overview】 ◆Period: 2025 (Reiwa 7)Until Friday, February 9 　　* The whitebait fair has been extended due to popular demand! 　　* Please remember until "Pufferfish Day"! ◆ Participating stores: 10 ⇒ 11 stores 　　* "Roadside Station Takarajima" has been newly added to "Matsuura Umi no Furusato-kan" and "Shin-Matsuura Fishery Cooperative Fishery Processing Plant", which are only available for sale. ◆ Win! : We are also running a campaign in which those who order the Subject Menu during the Gourmet Fair and cooperate with the questionnaire will be selected by lottery to win luxurious prizes such as Matsuura's Specialty products. Please see the flyer for details. #Matsuura City, Nagasaki, Matsuura City #Matsuura's Extreme #Matsuura whitebait #Matsuura cultured Tiger puffer fish #Matsuura Shun ゙ Shun ゙ Market #Holy land of Fried Horse Mackerel Matsuura #Matsuura, the land of the end of the original era

【Hayakawa Meitoshi: Kominka Cafe Locksmith】 Spend time around the sunken hearth while feeling the slow stream of time and the tranquility of Okuyama, a locksmith in the northernmost village of Hayakawa Town! 【Meals】The menu focuses on local production for local consumption, such as fresh pasta made with homemade miso, curry and stewed tomatoes made with Deer meat from the In the town. The "Sesame Cheesecake" and "Chiffon Cake" that appeared in the popular anime are also popular Gastronomical delicacies! In addition, the food is served with cutlery and pottery by artists in the In the town. 【Experience】If you have time, we also recommend Narada's traditional "Oboko doll painting experience"! Please forget about time and create a special work. The photo is the Scene of the "Oboko Doll Painting Contest" held at the exchange salon of our Tourist Association! Everyone lost track of time and enjoyed the colors and designs they wanted. *Oboko doll: In Narada, we and a warm custom of giving handmade wooden toys as gifts to babies who are celebrating the Lunar New Year for the first time that year. Oboko dolls are given to girls, and toys such as guns and mallets are given to boys. In Showa 35, it was designated as a Yamanashi Prefecture Cultural Property (Ethnic Documents) as a "living tool of Narada".

Today is Christmas Eve 🎄 and it's also the release day of the unpasteurized sake "Ina Bizen-no-kami Tadayoshi"! For sake lovers 🎁 For year-end greetings 🎁 With the cooperation of Shinkame Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Hasuda City), another batch of unpasteurized sake has been completed this year. This sake honors the achievements of Ina Bizen-no-kami Tadayoshi, the figure who gave the town its name, and features a refreshing, clean taste. Please enjoy it.

Once again this year, thanks to a collaboration with Ina Winery in Ina City, Nagano Prefecture—linked by the shared name “Ina”—we have produced delicious wines.👏 [Saino-mi (Kyoho Grape Wine)] Made with 100% Kyoho grapes from Ina Town.🍇 Fermented whole with the skins, using the same method as red wine, this process draws out the color and flavor compounds from the skins, resulting in a wine with rich aroma and a clean, refreshing taste. It’s also delightful served warm at this time of year.🍷✨ [Otome no Kaori (Pear Wine)] Made with 100% Hosui pears from Ina Town.🍐 By fermenting only the pear juice, this wine captures a pear-like flavor with a well-balanced gentle acidity and sweetness. We recommend serving this one chilled.🥂✨ 〈Retail Locations〉 • Yamazaki Shop Uchida-ya • Seven-Eleven Ina Oohari Store • Seven-Eleven Ina Hanu-eki-mae Store • Seven-Eleven Ina Sakae Store • Seven-Eleven Ina Sakae 6-chome Store • Ina Town Tourism Association (general incorporated association) You can also purchase them on Yahoo! Shopping and Furusato Choice. For details, please see the Tourism Association website.🔎 These wines, luxuriously made with Ina Town’s specialty products, make a great choice for Christmas or the New Year holidays. Please enjoy them!😊

🍁Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024🍁 Please vote! [Until January 5, 2025!] Thank you very much for the many entries to the “Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” contest held recently on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account 🥹✨ We have taken the liberty of conducting a strict first-round selection by the tourism association staff and have chosen 12 entries from all submissions 🤔💡 From these 12 entries, we would like to decide the winners by asking followers of our Instagram account to vote 🤩👏 Please follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko), then in the comments of a post with the hashtag #Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Vote, choose one of the 12 entries and comment the number of the entry you selected ✍ Voting is limited to one vote per account. [Voting period: Until Sunday, January 5, 2025] [Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account] https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Please check the original posts by the entrants before voting 🤗 1 @gokase_pan 2 @kaaazuuu1123 3 @thusandleavis 4 @mitsu_yumi.0520 5 @san.shimako.1105 6 @hiroko.gf1 7 @kaaazuuu1123 8 @niidome2110 9 @sakai_0808 10 @sakai_0808 11 @thusandleavis 12 @naomin168 Ten winners who vote will be selected by lottery to receive specialty products from Gokase Town as a gift 🎁💫 We look forward to your many votes 🥰

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!

From Soto Recipes! As a special return to everyone who supported us through crowdfunding of the luxury retort "Izu no Gokumeshi" that fully uses high-quality ingredients from the three towns of Shizuoka and Izu, we Held in a social gathering to eat "Izu no Gokumeshi" together in Izu with our ambassador Izu no Nushi Fishing. Izu Southwest Coast Tourism Promotion Council Three towns: Nishi-Izu Town, Matsuzaki Town, and Minami-Izu Town We received full cooperation in recipe development, etc. Chiaki, Representative of Soto Recipe Co., Ltd. Ambassador "Izu no Nushi Fishing" With everyone who supported us We enjoyed camping food unique to the southwestern Coast of Izu, such as "Dogashima barley wine", "Hon Wasabi and local fish", "Ghibier yakiniku", "natural eel kabayaki", "deep-fried ginaga shrimp", and "tide soup". Souvenirs include "Hot Spring Melon", "Bonito Dashi Salt", and "Matsuzaki Rice". There is a very much to everyone who participated.

[Recording of Itome Meeting Deluxe] Today, December 5, we recorded the hugely popular “Itome Meeting” segment of Gokasecho Kurara Channel, beloved both inside and outside Gokase Town📹✨ Although the recording was originally scheduled for June, it was postponed due to various circumstances😭 The venue was Potunto Ikkenya Kuraoka, which just opened this October🏠💡 On a set that looked like a real TV show, we welcomed local legends Ito-shan (96) and Tome-shan (98) from the Kuraoka district, Gokase Town, plus special guest Asakiss-san (98). The three of them, totaling 292 years, delivered razor-sharp conversation🤣👏 Reporters from Miyazaki Nichinichi Shimbun also covered the event, and Itome Meeting continues to lead the way in energizing Gokase Town literally from the front lines…🥹✨ This edition has been powered up as “Itome Meeting Deluxe – Together with Asakiss-san♪” and will be released soon🤩🙌 Please subscribe to Gokasecho Kurara Channel on YouTube and look forward to the video upload🥳💫 Their quick-witted responses, despite being nearly 100 years old, are sure to inspire you. If you haven’t seen it yet, please give it a watch🤗

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 ☺️

Anata Terasu: Tea, Healing, Fortune-telling, and Goods Today, Saturday, November 30, Anata Terasu took place at Miyazaki Sabo’s Barber House ☺️🍀 This event, which was also held in summer, is now at Volume 5 🖐️💡 A wood-burning stove warmed the shop, giving a gentle, happy warmth 😌💕 A wide range of fortune-telling and healing services were available 🫶 I asked Hikari Therapy for a guardian reading and a channeled message this time 🤗 I was surprised by some unexpected results 😳 but they might indeed be true 🤭 I felt encouraged to keep the messages in my heart and live joyfully 💪✨ While others waited for healing services, they relaxed, chatted, and enjoyed delicious tea, chiffon cake, and bread 🍵 Healing goods like warm items and other soothing accessories were on display, making for a lovely event where time flowed slowly ☺️✨ Actually, I’m typing this post while eating the hojicha chiffon cake I bought… and it’s unbelievably delicious 🥹💕 The rich hojicha flavor and moist chiffon texture are perfect… If you get the chance, please try it ✨ This was a rewarding event recommended for anyone who’s always busy and feeling a bit short on mental space 🥰

【Fujikawa Town Komuro Yuzu and Fuji 🥰】 This year, Komuro's yuzu harvest is low because it is a back year. Komuro's yuzu is characterized by a strong Aroma. I recommend the yuzu pepper and yuzu ponzu sauce set using the yuzu.

In June 2025, I visited Tokutoku, a community exchange center opening next to Shintoku Station. The facility combines a display of railway heritage, a kids’ area, a shop selling Shintoku specialties, a cafe, and a multipurpose hall. The tourism association will move to Tokutoku next year, and we look forward to more opportunities to interact with visitors than ever before. #Hokkaido Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #Shintoku Station #railways #railway heritage display #kids’ area #cafe #local specialties

That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about! It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa. I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment. According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone! ◎ Koshido 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture ☎ 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/ That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product. He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on! ◎ KOSHIDO 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/

Yama no Ocha Sakamotoen Autumn Warehouse Sale Today, Sunday, November 10th, the “Autumn Warehouse Sale” took place on the grounds of Sakamotoen 🍵✨ Sakamotoen’s booth offered discounted teas, and shoppers who spent over ¥2,000 could enter a raffle—what a deal 😳👏 There were also light food stalls, food trucks, and booths selling crafts and relaxation services, creating a calm, pleasant atmosphere 😌💕 A fill-a-bag of mandarins for ¥500 drew challengers who expertly piled the bags full—watching their skill made me laugh out loud 🤣🤣🤣 The festival’s highlights, the hojicha latte and matcha latte, were truly delicious and ordered by many 🤤 I couldn’t stop at the hojicha latte I bought first and ended up enjoying a matcha latte too 🤭 Simply perfect ✨ Inside the building, beautiful kyusus and Sakamotoen’s tea products lined the shelves 😳💡It was pure luxury to imagine brewing tea with a favorite kyusu while browsing the many tea varieties 🥹… Although it rained, everyone relaxed and smiled as they enjoyed their tea, making it a lovely festival 😌💕

Gokase Junior High School Product! Dried Shiitake Mushrooms On Wednesday, November 6th, we observed a class of second-year students at Gokase Junior High School🍄‍🟫✨ The students handled every step themselves, from sorting and bagging the dried shiitake to setting the price🤗 The shiitake were grown as part of the school's curriculum. The current third-year students inoculated the logs last year, and the second-year students carried out the sorting and packaging this time👏 This year’s yield was lower than usual, so selecting good mushrooms was a tough task💦 However, the students enjoyed the work, consulting with each other—"Is this one okay?" "Maybe not…"—as they made their choices🤗 They weighed and bagged the mushrooms with sales in mind, aiming for balanced portions and an attractive appearance🤔 After sealing the packs neatly with a vacuum sealer, the students set the prices themselves, referring to current market rates👏 Those shiitake were actually sold at the Gokase Specialty Center at the prices the students decided😳✨ Finally, the students learned about log management and precautions, deepening their understanding of Gokase’s specialty product, log-grown shiitake😌✍️ We hope students continue to encounter and cherish the town’s specialties and culture from a young age and carry them forward into the future✨

Saturday, November 23, 2024 — One-day-only tour “A Winter Tradition: Nozawana Pickling Experience — From Harvest to Brine” Meeting place: Public lodging facility Village Azumino Time: Gather at 1:00 PM, dismiss at 3:30 PM (planned) Fee: ¥5,000 per person (tax included) Fee includes: the Nozawana pickling experience; delivery fee for 5 kg of Nozawana per person; light refreshments and tea; insurance; and a complimentary day‑use bath on the day of the experience only Who can join: Open to everyone; reservations accepted from one person (children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian) *Reservations will close once capacity is reached The complimentary day‑use bath is valid only on the day of the experience. Please speak to a staff member. For details, visit the Azumino City Tourism Association website under “Experience Tour Reservations”

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is Ina Town Tourism Association. Ina Town, Kitaadachi District, Saitama Prefecture, sits in the central-eastern part of Saitama Prefecture and boasts a beautiful natural environment. Known as the Rose Town, it attracts many visitors to the prefecture’s largest rose garden. Leave the city’s noise behind and enjoy a leisurely pace—Cool Japan Video brings you recommended sightseeing information for Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture. Thank you for watching! [Access from Tokyo to Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ By car From central Tokyo, you can reach Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture in about one hour via the Shuto Expressway or the Tohoku Expressway. ▼ By train Train access is also convenient. From Tokyo Station, take the Ueno-Tokyo Line and transfer at Oomiya Station to the NewShuttle. The NewShuttle runs directly to Uchijuku Station, and the trip takes about one hour. Buses also run from ageo station and lotus field station, providing access into Ina Town. [Rose Town, Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is widely known as the Rose Town. The town’s Town Establishment Memorial Park, opened in 1972, contains the largest rose garden in Saitama Prefecture. Some 400 varieties and 5,000 rose bushes bloom in a riot of color, delighting visitors. You can see Ina Town’s original varieties, including Ina Hime, a charming pink climbing rose that continues blooming into autumn; Ina Rose, a deep crimson large-flowered rose whose shape becomes antique-like as it opens; and Ina no Tsuki, a pale yellow medium-flowered rose created to commemorate the town’s 50th anniversary. The best viewing seasons are early May to early June and late October to mid-November. Rose-themed events and festivals are also held, letting you fully enjoy the charm of roses. Ina Town is a member of the Rose City Conference, which includes 29 municipalities nationwide (as of May 2024). In 2024, the 33rd Rose City Conference in Ina was held on a grand scale, welcoming municipal leaders from across Japan. [Popular sightseeing spots in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Around the Ina Clan Residence Site The Ina Clan Residence Site is the former estate of Ina Bizen-no-kami Tadayoshi, a retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was active from the Sengoku Period into the early Edo Period. Tadayoshi earned Ieyasu’s deep trust and contributed to flood control, civil engineering, and new paddy development, using Ina as a base to help lay the foundations of the Edo Shogunate. Earthen ramparts, moats, and roads from that time still remain, and the residence is designated as a prefectural commemorative monument (historic site). ▼ Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 “Musenyama – KDDI Forest” Musenyama – KDDI Forest is a conservation area with rich nature, featuring a native deciduous broad-leaved woodland centered on konara oak. It hosts the cherry festival, and many hanami visitors come during peak season. ▼ Cultural properties of Ina Town Ina Town is home to many cultural properties. Representative examples include nationally registered tangible cultural properties (buildings) such as Oshima Family Residence Main Building and Saito Family Residence Main Building; Saiko-ji Temple’s wooden seated Amida Nyorai statue, designated as a prefectural tangible cultural property (sculpture); and the Shiku no Mikoshi, a town-designated tangible folk cultural property. Thanks to local efforts, these items remain today and hold high historical value. They are scattered throughout the town, so visitors can enjoy historical exploration and cultural property tours. [Local specialties of Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Wine A recommended souvenir from Ina Town is wine made from 100% locally grown Kyoho grapes or pears. These wines feature rich flavor and aroma and pair well with meals. ▼ Sake Another specialty is sake. This sake uses 100% Saitama-brand rice from Ina Town called Sainokagayaki as the polishing rice, producing a concentrated, rich rice flavor. It is brewed at Shinkame Shuzo in Hasuda City, a brewer famous nationwide for producing only junmai sake. [Events and festivals in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Cherry Festival A lesser-known but beloved cherry spot, the cherry avenue in Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 hosts an annual festival. On festival weekends, farm produce direct sales and various events take place. This area is called Musenyama because it once stood where the antenna array of Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd., the predecessor of KDDI, soared. Although there are relatively few cherry trees, about 200 meters of tunnel is formed by ancient cherry trees over 80 years old, creating a breathtaking sight for visitors. ▼ Rose Festival The Rose Festival, held in May during the peak rose season at Town Establishment Memorial Park, is one of Ina Town’s signature events. Tree roses, climbing roses, old roses, and English roses bloom in a rainbow of colors, filling the park with a sweet fragrance that delights visitors. On weekends, programs such as rose weddings and mini concerts add variety to the festival. ▼ Ina Festival Ina Festival, held every August at the Town Establishment Memorial Park, is a major summer event enjoyed by families and tourists. Traditional taiko drumming, bon odori dancing, food stalls showcasing local specialties, and stage events provide plenty of entertainment. The festival concludes with a vivid fireworks display. ▼ Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa – The Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa –, held in late October, lets visitors savor the beauty and scent of autumn roses. Though autumn roses tend to be smaller, their fragrance is said to be stronger. Like the spring Rose Festival, it features various rose-related events, local vegetable sales, food stalls and kitchen cars, and stage performances. [Tourist information for Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is an attractive town with beautiful nature and a rich history. With good access from central Tokyo and a reputation as the Rose Town, we bring you plenty of recommended information about Ina Town’s history, nature, and more. We hope you enjoy it!

Gokase Winery Harvest Festival 2024 Yesterday, Sunday, October 20, following last week’s events, Gokase Winery held the "Gokase Winery Harvest Festival 2024" to celebrate the release on Saturday, October 19 of the 2024 vintage new wines 🍷🎉 Although the rain from the day before was gone and the sky cleared, it turned sharply cold from the morning, and as the name suggests the Wind Hall felt chilled by strong, cold breezes today 🥶💦 Still, the crowd warmed up with a lineup of lively, exciting stage programs 🤩✨ Taiko drumming, hula dance, singing, and a raffle… and the familiar Hikari hosted the event 💡 Her light, bright hosting energized the audience greatly 🥳 She was so busy she kept appearing on stage again and again 🤣🤣🤣 Food stalls offering pizza, sausages, Kitaura scallops (hiougi kai), and various sweets that paired well with the new wine filled the venue and kept everyone happy 🤤💕 The highlights were the sashimi servings of sakuramai kampachi and tuna 🐟🍴✨ Fresh sakuramai kampachi, alive that very morning, were filleted on site and served to attendees 😍 Sakuramai kampachi raised on nutrient-rich pomace—the leftover pressed grapes from winemaking at Gokase Winery—have no fishy odor and less of the greasy taste typical of farmed fish, making them especially delicious 🤤💡 Lines snaked through the venue for the kampachi and tuna 😳 I managed to grab some myself; it had no off-putting smell, a smooth, mellow texture, and was truly delicious 🥰 The finale featured the main guest, Reiwa’s Showa-era pop song young star Kokoro Umetani, on stage 🎤✨ Kokoro appeared in an outfit that matched the wine-themed atmosphere 🤩🍷 Despite her cute appearance, her powerful, glamorous voice stunned the audience 😳✨ Fans had come from afar, including from Saitama Prefecture, to support her 👏 With fans and townspeople together, the stage reached a spectacular peak of excitement 🎉🎉🎉 At last, the newly released Gokase wines are now available. Although the summer heat had raised concerns about the harvest, the tireless efforts of local grape growers paid off. They harvested higher-than-usual sugar levels and aroma, producing exceptionally fine grapes and very tasty wine 🥹👏 I haven’t had a chance to drink it yet, so I can’t wait to taste it 🍷✨ Everyone, please enjoy the season’s wines.