Hello 😃 This is Yamanashi Wine Kingdom Main Building. March has arrived, and Shosenkyo Gorge is slowly showing signs of spring.
It’s still a bit chilly, but the mountain trees are starting to take on a hint of green, and the landscape’s expression is softening 🌿

Shosenkyo Gorge was once known as a source of quartz, and the beautiful crystals mined here helped Yamanashi become known as the City of Gems ✨

Shosenkyo Gorge is also home to Kanazakura Shrine, which enshrines quartz as its sacred object, making it a particularly recommended spot for fans of stones and power stones 💎
It’s a mystical place where you can feel nature and history ⛩️

When you visit Shosenkyo Gorge, be sure to see Senga Falls.
The view of the waterfall up close is full of power and so photogenic you’ll want to capture it on camera 📸

When touring Shosenkyo Gorge, please stop by Yamanashi Wine Kingdom Main Building.
At this time of year, we offer wines that feel bright and springlike 🍷🌸

We sincerely look forward to your visit.

Welcome to the Kikuchi Cherry Blossom Festival 2026 🌸

Kikuchi City will hold the Kikuchi Cherry Blossom Festival at Shimin Hiroba to coincide with the cherry blossoms. Please enjoy the spring scenes of cherry trees spreading through the town on the breeze.

【A red carpet will be installed on the Kikuchi Shrine Sando】
Event period: March 20 – mid-April (scheduled)

【Kikuchi Sakura Marche】 Date and time: Sunday, March 29, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
The venue will feature local gourmet food, the Kikuchi Sakura Marche, workshops, and stage performances with a spring feel. There will also be family-friendly activities such as hands-on experiences for children, appearances by local mascots, and a small mobility test-ride event.

【Kikuchi Sakura Marathon Marche】
Date and time: Monday, March 22, 9:30 AM–2:00 PM
A gourmet market will gather at Shimin Hiroba, the marathon’s starting point, bringing together Kikuchi’s local foods.

Additionally, the KUMAMOTO FURUGI CARAVAN is scheduled for March 28 and 29. Please note that details may be announced on the day or subject to change.

Mornings tend to be relatively less crowded, so a morning stroll is recommended. Please consider adding it to your plans!

Contact
Kikuchi Cherry Blossom Festival Executive Committee
TEL 080-9106-7416 Executive Committee Chair Sato

#Kikuchi Cherry Blossom Festival #Cherry Blossoms #Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture

Untying the Threads of Sakai — A World Tour in Sakai!? 🌍 “SAKAI Gourmet EXPO” Confirmed!


Gather hungry on the long weekend in March at Sakai Risho no Mori (@rishonomori)! ✨
A colorful lineup of international food trucks and tents will offer a global feast 🤤

From authentic flavors you rarely get to try to family favorites that kids and adults love,
six food trucks and two tent vendors will serve up fresh, delicious dishes! 🚚💨

Enjoy the open-air setting and savor world cuisine while spending a lovely spring moment. 🌸

Tag friends and family and strategize what to eat! 👇

📅 Date: Friday, March 20 (national holiday) and Saturday, March 21
⏰ Time: 10:00–16:00
📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori
※ Exhibit lineup is subject to change

🔍 Search “Untying the Threads of Sakai 2026” for details!
🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435

Himo Tokeba Sakai: Stunning Ink Art Live Painting Performance🖌️

“ICHIGO ICHIE” by Vít Kodoušek ( @squaremotionart ), an artist who served as the Ceremonial Director for the Czech Pavilion, will be held!
Using ink, he captures the atmosphere of the moment on canvas in a dynamic performance. Experience the birth of art that can only happen “here and now” up close✨

📅 Date: Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22
⏰ Times: ① 11:00 / ② 14:30 (about 25 minutes per session)
📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori
💰 Admission: Free

🔍 For details, search “Himo Tokeba Sakai 2026”!
🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435

Himototakeba Sakai: Sakai Risho no Mori × Czech Pavilion <Main Hall Tea Room × Contemporary Art Tea Utensils>

The masterpiece "La Traviata" turned into wagashi.
A special tea gathering featuring contemporary art tea utensils 🍵✨

At the Main Hall Tea Room of Sakai Risho no Mori (@rishonomori),
we will serve tea using original tea utensils created by contemporary artists that were also used at the Expo site ✨ The confection is an elegant limited fresh wagashi inspired by the Czech master Alphonse Mucha’s work "La Traviata" 👀

Enjoy a luxurious time in a serene space, savoring art with all your senses♪

"Main Hall Tea Room (each session about 60 minutes)"
📅 Dates: Friday, March 20 (national holiday) – Sunday, March 22
※ Session times vary by day, please check carefully
📍 Location: Sakai Risho no Mori
🍵 Participation fee: ¥1,000 (includes "La Traviata" wagashi)
✅ How to apply: Reserve in advance on the Sakai Risho no Mori reservation site (each session limited to 20 people)
(URL: https://reserva.be/sakairishonomori )
⚠️ The contemporary artists’ tea utensils are limited in number.
🎁 Special experiences available!※ See the reservation site for sessions and details.
・Tea whisking experience
On designated sessions on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd, enjoy the chance to whisk your own tea 🍵
・Shamisen performance
On a designated session on Saturday the 21st, Tsuruya Musical Instruments (@tsuruya_music_instruments) will present a shamisen performance 🪕

🔍 For more details, search for "Himototakeba Sakai 2026"!
🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435

Photographed on February 28, Heisei 26.
These are the flower-filled handwashing basins (hanachozu) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 28, 2014.
These are the flower-filled hand-washing basin displays at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Event Announcement 📣

Tokachi Craft Makers Night will take place on Thursday, March 19. 😊

This one-night event brings together three makers who craft beverages in Tokachi with their own philosophies and participants to discuss the future of Tokachi’s drinking culture. 🎵

Part One is a panel discussion (about 45 minutes) with the three makers leading “new beverage making in Tokachi”: beer, cider, and gin.

Part Two is a social gathering (about 60 minutes) where you can enjoy drinks paired with food and freely chat with the three makers.

📍 Date and time: Thursday, March 19, 2026, 18:00–19:45 (reception starts at 17:30)
📍 Venue: LAND, 1st Floor, Tenkodo Building, 12-1, West 2 South 11, Obihiro
📍 Capacity: 40 people (reservation required, first-come, first-served)
📍 Eligibility: Ages 20 and over (alcohol will be served)
📍 Fee: 3,000 yen (drinks from three companies plus pairing dishes from Kobito no Daidokoro in Ashorocho)
*Payment in cash on the day*

📍 Registration deadline: Saturday, March 14, 2026 — registration closes once capacity is reached.
*Please apply via the QR code on the attached flyer.*

📞 Inquiries: Tokachi Plain Distillery TEL: 0155-65-0479 (We may not be able to answer depending on business conditions. Thank you for your understanding.)

https://tokachibare.jp/sake-museum/

Dinner in Gokase 🍴

Today I’m sharing a dinner that a tourism association staff member recently enjoyed ✨

Starting with the dinner 🍴
Top photo: roasted venison 🥩
Look at that shine… 🤩
(Ah… this is very much the staff member’s personal impression)
This was a shocking dish that made me think, I’ve never had venison this delicious before… 💡
After tasting this roasted venison, all my previous assumptions about game meat were turned upside down!

The vegetables were mainly local, seasoned so you could eat them endlessly 😊

The wild boar stew left no trace in the pot—scooped up with bread— the chicken was tender and juicy, and the venison Bolognese was neatly finished off 😋

Even the dessert, a kettle-roasted tea brownie, made this a hugely satisfying dinner 👏

This time I had a non-alcoholic cocktail, and it was thoroughly satisfying ✨
…I’m really frustrated I couldn’t drink alcohol… 😭 (saying it out loud)

This dinner was at:
Guesthouse & Bar EL CAMPO
📍872-1 Kuraoka, Gokasecho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture

Note: The venue normally opens Friday through Sunday, but will open on weekdays by reservation.
Note: Course meals are available with a reservation at least one day in advance.

Photographed on February 24, 2014.
This is the hanachōzu (flower water basin) at Hara Florist.

#Unraveling Sakai: Sakai Risho no Mori × Czech Pavilion

Enjoy a tea time that brings the breeze of the Czech Republic paired with the sparkle of Bohemian glass🍵🇨🇿

At Sakai Risho no Mori (@rishonomori), we recreate the “Sakai Hospitality Tea Gathering” held at the Expo Czech Pavilion!
Beautiful Bohemian glass tea ware and limited wagashi inspired by the official mascot “Rene” will be featured✨

Experience a special moment where tradition and modernity meet♪

〈Seated Tea Ceremony〉
📅 Dates: March 20 (Fri, national holiday)–22 (Sun)
⏰ 10:00–17:00 (last reception at 16:40)
📍 Venue: Sakai Risho no Mori
💰 Fee: ¥800 (tax included, includes Rene wagashi)
👨‍🍳 Capacity: About 20 people per session (approximately 20 minutes)
✅ How to apply: No reservation required, first-come first-served on the day

🔍 For details, search “Unraveling Sakai 2026”!
🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435

Photographed on February 22, 2014.
This is Tomori Dining's honey lemon. 🍋🍯

🌸For a spring outing🌸 Take a leisurely tour of Sakai’s old highways and relax at Kokoan with views of the Mausoleum of Emperor Hanzei🍵

How about a stroll around Sakai’s old highways during cherry blossom season?🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️🚶
A sightseeing volunteer guide accompanies the tour, so you’ll learn many new things✨

After the walk, unwind at Kokoan next to Hochigai Shrine⛩️ with sweets and tea🍡🍵
Enjoy a tranquil time in a lovely location overlooking the Mausoleum of Emperor Hanzei😌

Discover the charms of nearby Sakai you might not know, together with the cherry blossoms🌸
*Photo of the cherry blossoms at the Former Kosenji Temple Akai Site: taken on March 29, 2025*

📅 Date and time: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meet at 9:50 or 12:50. Reservations required at least three days in advance
💰 Fee: 4,000 yen (includes Kokoan voucher)
📍 Meeting place: Sakai City Hall 21st-floor observation lobby
*On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays one person may join. From Monday to Thursday we accept requests for groups of two or more.*

🔍For details, search “Sakai old highway tour”
https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/tourism/detail/201

NHK 'Geo Japan: 100 Spectacular Views' aired an episode titled "Hokkaido — Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu."

Teshikaga in Hokkaido unfolds a grand natural landscape. This episode focuses on Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu. It shared many facts even locals might not know, from volcanic activity to rare creatures living on the Wakin Peninsula, making it both beautiful and educational. Here is a selection of highlights 💁‍♀️✨

_________________________________
NHK BS
Geo Japan: 100 Spectacular Views
Hokkaido — Lake Kussharo and Lake Mashu
Saturday, March 7 — 12:00 to 13:00
_________________________________

https://www.web.nhk/tv/pl/series-tep-ENV69LY378/ep/2Z169XL1MQ

Introduction to Our Sponsor Companies – The 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest
The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced, and each winner has received a supplementary prize.

This Teshikaga Photo Contest is held with the support of local businesses in Teshikaga. On the official Teshikaga-navi Instagram, we will gradually introduce the sponsoring companies that have supported us. (In no particular order)

This time, we introduce Suzukifarm Co., Ltd., the company that runs Cream Fairy Tale, famous for its delicious gelato‼︎📝 More detailed information is available on Teshikaga-navi, so please take a look✨ Thank you very much to Suzukifarm Co., Ltd. for cooperating with this event🙇❣️

We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga-navi.

[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/

#Himotokeba Sakai \/ Miyakumyaku Comes to Sakai🔵🔴

Himotokeba Sakai 2026
~OSAKA SAKAI EXPO~
Miyakumyaku Photo Session in Sakai Confirmed!

A chance to take photos and videos together🌟
Relive the excitement of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in Sakai once more!

🗓️Date & Location: Friday, March 20 @ Inside Daisen Park
Saturday, March 21 @ Sakai Risho no Mori, Lecture Room, 2nd Floor
⏰Times: ①11:00 / ②13:30 / ③16:00 (30 minutes each)
💰Free
✅Advance lottery system; application period: Tuesday, March 10, 10:00 – Monday, March 16, 10:00
※Winners will be notified by email on Wednesday, March 17.

🔍Search for "Himotokeba Sakai 2026" for details!
🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20260227145543

＼👧All children enter free👦／

From Wednesday, March 25 to Tuesday, March 31, for seven days, Noah Dolphin Dome celebrates its first anniversary by offering free admission for children (ages 4 through elementary school)🎊

We have many other special anniversary programs lined up just for the occasion📢
Of course, our regular animal-interaction programs will run as usual!
Make wonderful spring memories at Noah Dolphin Dome…🌸

Admission fees
◯ Regular rates
Adult (junior high school and older): ¥1210
Child (ages 4 through elementary school): ¥770

◯ Night time (entry from 17:00)
Adult (junior high school and older): ¥770
Child (ages 4 through elementary school): ¥550
*Children aged 3 and under are free all day*

Opening hours
10:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30)

Parking
None (please use nearby coin-operated parking; no partner parking available)

🔍 Search for "Noah Dolphin Dome" for details!
🔗 Website: https://www.dolphindome.jp/

Photographed on February 22, 2014.
This is a meal set from tomori dining.
It includes domestic chicken karaage, homemade ganmo (fried tofu fritter), simmered hijiki seaweed, miso soup, and pickles.
It's quite a feast. 😊🍚

Tsukigase Plum Valley Ume Festival
Now ongoing!
Thanks to the cold weather, the plum blossoms are likely to last longer✨
The area around Lakeside Village Tsukigase is at its best, too✨

Photo courtesy of yasunori okamoto

Photographed on February 22, 2014.
This is the hanachozu at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

📢 Program Broadcast Notice 📢
The final episode covering various aspects of Teshikagacho will air on STV Sapporo Television Broadcasting’s “Dosanko WEEKEND” on Saturday, March 14th, at 9:25 AM 👀✨

Last week’s first half about Teshikagacho showcased a miraculous clear view of Lake Mashu, relaxing hot springs and footbaths, and savoring delicious Mashu Wagyu, among many other delightful highlights 🍦🧚🏻‍♀️

We’re excited to see what the finale will bring this weekend❣️Please be sure to tune in‼︎

March 9
−10°C Akanko early morning walk tour!
Thanks to the cold that let clouds settle over the lake like a dragon,
we could see frost flowers and rime ice gleaming against the blue sky♪
We walked across the lake, where diamond dust sparkled in a magical scene. ✨

Photographed on February 21, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 24, 2014.
These are the hanachozu (flower water basins) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 21, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on February 17, 2014.
This is the hanachouzui (decorative flower water basin) at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

Photographed on February 15, 2014.
This is the hanachozu (flower water basin) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, located at the omikuji distribution area.

Photographed on February 18, 2014.
The red plum blossoms line the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸

Photographed on February 20, 2014.
These are the red plum blossoms along the approach to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌸