June 16 (Monday): Yukimichi Bookshop on a pop-up visit Starting this month, Yukimichi Bookshop will come to Nishiokoppe Village on the third Monday of each month📖 Until now their pop-ups were often on Wednesdays, so if that timing didn’t work for you, please drop by for a quick look. The location is Pomu. It’s the building between Nishiokoppe Village Office and Kikuchi Shoten that at first glance looks like a private home. Look for the “We’re Open” sign the children made a little while ago. Yukimichi, which has a shop in Shimokawacho, brings a carefully selected range of books from their large stock each time, so we’re excited to see what treasures appear this month! We welcome visitors from the village and neighbors alike. #Nishiokoppe Village #Yukimichi Bookshop pop-up #Shimokawacho #Pomu #June 16 #Third Monday

Early summer has arrived in Tomakomai, and some days now reach a high of 20°C. The Ezo squirrel, now in its summer coat, somehow looks quite cool! (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai-ko)

The Soft-Serve Rally 2025 has started again this year! This is the caramel soft-serve from Roadside Station Garden Spa Kikage no Cafe.🍦 The rich caramel sauce and the soft-serve paired perfectly and were absolutely delicious.❤️ There are other Tokachi-inspired soft-serves too, like Bean! Bean! Bean! soft-serve and Camembert cheese soft-serve.✨ Please give them a try.😊

Setoushi-kun Pochi Bags New Setoushi-kun goods have arrived! Pochi Bags These are small envelopes for a little tip, a celebratory gift, or pocket money. In Nishiokoppe Village, some people often use them to give pocket money to their grandchildren. Formed last year, the Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko drumming group wanted to liven up the village and thought about ways to raise activity funds, which led to this product. From cutting the paper to packing the bags, members handle everything by hand. We offer a colorful five-piece set and a three-piece set of poche bags printed with the words "Just a little". 3-piece set 250 yen 5-piece set 350 yen They are sold at Roadside Station Kapomarché, Hotel Morimu, and Mori Art Museum Komu. If you’re interested, please pick one up and take a look. Thank you. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Setoushi-kun #Goods #Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko #On Sale

When I walk around town, I see many different flowers. This time, I found a lily of the valley. Lily of the valley is one of Hokkaido’s representative flowers, and the native species reportedly grows wild in the highlands of Tohoku and Hokkaido. About a dozen small, white, bell-shaped flowers hang from a single stalk. This flower is fragrant, and after blooming it produces a spherical fruit that ripens red, but all parts of the plant are poisonous, so caution is advised. The flowering season is May to June, so I hope they will still be in bloom through the end of this month. An opening event for the Tokutoku Community Center, located next to Shintoku Station, will be held starting at 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 15. Lily-of-the-valley plants are in bloom near the Tokutoku Community Center, so if you’re interested, please come and see them while they’re at their best.🌸 Some information on lily of the valley has been quoted in part from Hokkaido's official website. #北海道 #十勝 #新得町 #しんとく #新得町観光協会 #新得駅 #駅前複合施設とくとく #とくとく #スズラン #すずらん #hokkaido #hokkaidotrip #hokkaidotourism #tourism #tokachi #shintoku #lilyofthevalley #welcomeshintoku #discovershintoku

At "Yurigahara Park" in Sapporo It's kind of sexy, isn't it?

Wakoto Peninsula is a caldera experience spot where forest and lake weave together. This peninsula juts out from the south side of Lake Kussharo, and its surroundings are geothermally warm, creating the curious effect of staying unfrozen even in winter. In this piece, we introduce Wakoto Peninsula, a rare environment in Japan. https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/wakoto/...

Applications for the Popular Obsidian Geotour 2025 are now open. Course There are two Course: the "Hachigosawa Outcrop Course," a huge obsidian outcrop that spreads out in front of you, and the "Akaishiyama Summit Course," where you can see the reddish obsidian, which is a characteristic of obsidian in the Shirataki area, at the summit plaza, as the name "Akaishi Mountain" suggests. You can enjoy lunch at a Local farmhouse restaurant at the "Hachizawa Outcrop Course" and the Sweets of the Local café at the "Akaishiyama Summit Course", and on both tours, you can Visiting the site the Engaru Buried Cultural Property Center exhibiting the national treasure "Hokkaido Shirataki Archaeological Site Excavation". This is a tour that is sure to be full, so we recommend that you apply as soon as possible! Details of the < tour and how to apply> Shirataki Geopark Official Website http://geopark.engaru.jp/post/2505/... until

On Sunday, June 1, representatives from Ashoro Town, the Ashoro Tourism Association, the Ashoro Mountain Friends Association, the Ministry of the Environment, the Eastern Forest Management Office, Hokkaido Police and other stakeholders gathered to hold the 2025 MtMeakan Climbing Safety Prayer Ceremony, followed by a prayer climb. We recently shared safety reminders about climbing, and we ask anyone planning a climb to take care to avoid accidents and enjoy ascending MtMeakan again this year.

Outdoor Screening and Star‑Gazing Night On Saturday, May 24th, we spent an evening of film and stargazing at the Forest Park. That said, the sky was unfortunately cloudy that night. It was also a bit chilly. We couldn’t look up at the stars, which was a shame, but the talk given by staff from Nayoro Municipal Observatory Kitāsubaru was fascinating, and they kindly opened their observatory vehicle for about 30 minutes. How long would it take to fly from Earth to the Sun by plane…? They explained the universe in a very easy‑to‑understand way, and both children and adults were captivated. While promoting this event, we discovered that far more people than expected are actually interested in the stars, which was a pleasant surprise. We’d like to create another opportunity to invite the observatory vehicle Polaris No. II again. (Nayoro Municipal Observatory website below) https://www.nayoro-star.jp/kitasubaru/... For the screening, we showed the Japanese‑dubbed version of the French animated film Linda Wants to Eat a Chicken! Amid the absurd twists and turns, I kept mentally reacting to the antics while enjoying a delightful 76 minutes. For movie snacks, Cafe Granch and Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko offered food stalls. Coconut dumplings, pudding, popcorn, mamecha (roasted soybean tea), and hojicha chai. Although the stalls were run by village residents, they offered some rarely seen menu items, and thanks to that the event was a big success. This was Nishiokoppe Village’s first outdoor screening. Despite weather concerns and other uncertainties, we managed to hold the event. Alongside this program, we inflated the bouncy dome until 9:00 p.m., and the children kept jumping for a long time—apparently bouncing at night feels different from daytime. Thank you to everyone who came, and to everyone who lent their support to make the event happen! #Nishiokoppe Village #Forest Park #Hokkaido #Outdoor Screening #Linda Wants to Eat a Chicken! #Stargazing #Nayoro Municipal Observatory #Kitāsubaru #Observatory Vehicle Polaris No. II #Cafe Granch #Nishiokoppe Uenshiri Taiko

This is an announcement from the Shiribeshi Dental Association about the Oral Health Campaign. The Shiribeshi Dental Association will hold the Oral Health Campaign: Cavity Prevention DAY 2025. Have you recently experienced difficulty chewing or noticed your speech becoming less clear? In addition to an oral frailty check and free dental examinations, there will be a brushing instruction corner, so please join us. We look forward to seeing you. Oral Health Campaign: Cavity Prevention DAY 2025 Date and Time: Saturday, June 14, 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Location: Kutchan Town, Shiribeshi General Subprefectural Government Residents’ Hall

Lilacs were blooming in Sapporo's Odori Park I also wanted to go to the Lilac Festival. I couldn't go this year because I wasn't feeling well. Tomorrow is revenge

At Hokkaido University Tomakomai Research Forest, the apple relative "zumi" has come into full bloom 🌸 The pristine white blossoms suit the waterside perfectly.

[Campsite Now Open] Thank you for waiting, the Nishiokoppe Village campsite is finally open! Season: From May 31 to October 19 Fee: 500 yen per site per night ※Additional charges may apply depending on the number of sites Reception hours: From 9:00 to 16:30 After 16:30, check-in will be processed the next day or via unmanned reception Guests who complete reception will receive a registration tag. Please return it at check-out. We also sell 20L trash bags. (3 for 300 yen, 5 for 500 yen) If you would like trash collection, please purchase at the management office when you check in. A trash bin will be placed beside the management office, so please put your sorted trash there. (Sorting: burnable waste, non-burnable waste, food waste, plastic containers and packaging, cans, PET bottles, glass bottles) The campsite is a free-site, so reservations are not required. For other campsite rules, please see the village website. https://www.vill.nishiokoppe.lg.jp/feeuub0000001a7a.html... We look forward to many visitors again this year! For inquiries, contact the tourism information center Rizumu (Rizumu). TEL: 0158-85-7125 #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Campsite #Forest Park #Now Open #Free Site

Relocation of “Shintoku Stella Station” and the reception of bicycle rentals in front of JR Shintoku Station Due to the move to the Tokutoku Community Center, bicycle rental reception on Saturdays and Sundays will be suspended. After the relocation, the new store will be renamed Cafe & Shop Kotoise. From Sunday, June 15th, bicycle rental reception in front of JR Shintoku Station will take place at the Shintoku Town Tourism Association on the 2nd floor of the Tokutoku Community Center. Ride through Shintoku Town <Ride with the winds of Tokachi!> We look forward to your visit. #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #shintoku #Welcome to Shintoku #Welcome back to Shintoku Town #Shintoku Town Tourism Association #JR Shintoku Station #Station-front multipurpose facility Tokutoku #tuktuk #tokutoku #bicycle rental #Sightseeing by bicycle rental #hokkaido #hokkaidotrip #hokkaidotourism #tourism #tokachi #shintoku #cyclelife #cycle #welcomeshintoku #discovershintoku

Hello everyone. Thank you very much for always using Roadside Station Higashikawa-cho “Michi-kusakan”. We update the chalkboard at Michi-kusakan with events and local information, so please take a look❣ *Chalkboard information is updated irregularly!*

Hello, this is the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association 🌻 This time, we’d like to introduce a little-known hidden scenic spot in town called "Chobo Hill" (Hill of Vistas)! Located a short distance from the town center, this hill is a somewhat special place that, as of now, doesn’t even appear on Google Maps. From the summit, you’ll face a vast sky and panoramic views of Hokuryu spread all around. On clear days, you can even see Mt. Otoe in Fukagawa and the Daisetsuzan National Park. Its appearance changes with the seasons and the hour, offering a different, moving experience each time you visit. Not fully developed as a tourist site, the hill’s quiet, unhurried atmosphere is part of its charm. Accessible only by car and a little inconvenient, it rewards you with a view you can almost have to yourself. Let the breeze brush past and take a deep breath. It’s a lovely spot to zone out and relax for a moment.

Higashikawa-cho will have a booth at Hibiya Music Festival 2025! We will exhibit at Hibiya Music Festival 2025, a two-day, free, borderless music festival open to everyone, held on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1, 2025. ■ Hibiya Music Festival 2025 Overview Name: Hibiya Music Festival 2025 Date and Time: Saturday, May 31, 2025, 10:30–20:30 Sunday, June 1, 2025, 10:30–20:30 Venue: Hirakawachou Park (Hibiya Park, 100-0012 Chiyodaku, Tokyo Metropolis) Admission: Free ※Some food stalls and programs require payment Organizer: Hibiya Music Festival Executive Committee Planning and Production: Seiya Co., Ltd. (Higashikawa-cho official partner company) / THE FOREST ▼ For details, see the official website https://hibiyamusicfes.jp/2025/... ■ Higashikawa-cho Booth: Music × Photography × Furniture! Have your photo taken to commemorate Hibiya Music Festival! Local photographers from Higashikawa-cho will offer free photo sessions with chairs from Higashikawa-cho. Commemorative photos and the digital files will be provided free of charge at the special booth. ※Higashikawa-cho: Exhibit at Kusachi Hiroba! ▼ Photo Schedule Three sessions each day. Session 1: 10:30–12:30 Session 2: 13:30–15:00 Session 3: 16:00–17:30 Photographers living in Higashikawa-cho will take the photos! Hokuto Wada (instagram:@hokutowada) Ryo Yasui (instagram:@prophoto_sou_yasui_makoto) Higashikawa-cho Economic Promotion Division TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 134) https://hibiyamusicfes.jp/2025/...

To residents and visitors of Higashikawa-cho and surrounding areas On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a brown bear was sighted along Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line). Please exercise extreme caution if you are traveling through or using the nearby area. Date and time: Wednesday, May 28 Location: On the road and near the bridge in front of Daisetsu Asahidake Gensui Park, heading from Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward Higashikawa-cho. Number of bears: One (encountered twice) Situation: The bear ran from the T-junction of Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward the Asahidake Gensui area. After fleeing into the forested area, it appeared on the road again before running off. We will continue to update with the latest information, so please remain alert. If you spot a bear, please report it immediately to the contact below. Higashikawa Town Agricultural Promotion Division, Forestry and Agriculture Promotion Office TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 152) https://reurl.cc/W0ZGYO...

Kussharo Kotan Ainu Museum stands in Kotan on the shores of Lake Kussharo, where Ainu people have lived since ancient times. You can hear the living breath of Ainu life and culture. https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/ainu_m_s/...

It is "Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park" on May 30th. "Renge azalea" is blooming ♪ beautifully The "Moss Phlox" in Moss Phlox Park is in Best time to visit, but the "Moss Phlox" on the other side of the road is still in Best time to visit ♬

The famed hot spring Kawayu Onsen draws its waters from MtAtosanupuri, a name that means “naked mountain” in the Ainu language. True to its name, the mountain’s slopes lack trees, and steam billows from vents with a thunderous roar, creating a dramatic sight. Getting as close as possible to view the fumaroles adds to the sense of occasion. Here we introduce Mt. Io (Atosanupuri), a designated natural sightseeing feature of Teshikagacho. For more details, see Teshikaga Navi 👀⭐️ https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/iouzan/...

📢 Aibetsu Town Fair Held in 😲✨ in Goto City! A few years ago, he was in charge of Information Broadcasting in Aibetsu Town as a regional revitalization cooperation team, and after his term of office expired, he started a restaurant centered on Kitchen Car in the town. He appeared all over the town, always had a smile on his face, and cherished Gari very much in connection with people... In Goto City, where I currently live, we will Held in 👏✨ the "Aibetsu Town Fair" 🔶 No.10 Sango's Omotsoka City "Hello from Hokkaido" Date 2025 (Reiwa 7) Saturday, May 31 〈Time〉11:00~15:00 〈Place〉280-4 Tomie, Tomie-cho, Goto City The Library of Three Books of Life Sango-san 🔸 Three books in my life 🔸 Kyowa Agricultural Products Aifukufuku 🔸 Love & Beats 🔸 B-Hit Co., Ltd. 🔸 Narita Farm If you are in the vicinity, please come to 😊 the venue! －－ The relationships and thoughts that were nurtured in Aibetsu Town are still strongly connected 🤝💕 even now that they are far away May many of you visit. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

Playing with Kendama Ken-chan From Atsuma Town Kendama Club Kendama Ken-chan, also known as Mr. Retsu Saito, came to visit us! Kendama fun isn’t just about placing the ball on the cups or spearing it on the spike. A unicorn balancing the kendama on its forehead. Stacked kendama play with multiple kendama piled up. Of course, it’s not only solitary play. One game challenges you to keep your ball on your cup while trying to knock other people’s balls off. Two players sit facing each other and gently tap the balls together to see if they collide—this play reads like a little fortune-telling game. There are many ways to play. We also saw lots of different kinds of kendama! Some have many balls, some have square balls, and they range from large to small. Just getting the ball to land on the cup made adults put on proud faces or smile with delight— it was a moment that revealed their innocent side. Kendama Ken-chan Thank you for making everyone laugh, from little kids to grandmothers, with your kendama!! Please come again—😆 #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #kendama #Atsuma Town #Kendama Club #Community Education Course #Council of Social Welfare #Community Revitalization Support Center

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

Good morning, everyone. Event announcement!! On June 1, 2025, the “Town of Photography” will celebrate its 40th anniversary. On this milestone 40th birthday, we will hold a variety of events so townspeople and everyone who supports us can enjoy the Town of Photography. At the Higashikawa Town Cultural Gallery, there will be a photo exhibition and talk by local photographer Minoru Okuda, an answer reveal for the crossword published in the May public relations issue, and a talk event tied to the publication of the Town of Photography 40th Anniversary Magazine. At the Higashikawa Town multipurpose exchange facility Sento Pure, there will be hot air balloon flight experiences, food trucks, a concert by Tokiko Kato, and te-tetsu hand-held fireworks by the Higashikawa Tetotetsu Fireworks Entomo-kai. The main event will be a birthday celebration with everyone gathered, singing “Happy Birthday” together with Tokiko Kato to mark the town’s 40th birthday! We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the Town of Photography’s 40th birthday, and we hope many of you will come. On the day of the event, the parking lot on the Sento Pure grounds will be unavailable because of the hot air balloon and te-tetsu fireworks events, so please use nearby public parking such as the JA Higashikawa lot or the Higashikawa Town Office parking. For details, please see the attached flyer. Contact: Higashikawa Town, Town of Photography Division TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 590)

When you come to Kushiro Prince Hotel, why don't you feel the charm of Kushiro Wetland, the largest wetland in Japan, by canoe? Canoeing is one of the pleasures of paddling, but you can also spend a quiet and leisurely time! There is also a chance to see wild birds and wildlife.

The large-petaled Trillium at Bansei Fureai Forest is in full bloom. The Trillium at the Fureai Forest, within walking distance from Bansei Onsen, is now at its best! They usually bloom through the end of May, so be sure to go see them. https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp/tp_detail.php?id=414...

At Rokka no Mori, Shirane-aoi, large-flowered Trillium, and anemone are in full bloom 😊 At the attached Rokka’ café (Rokkafe), you can enjoy freshly made Marusei butter sand, so please try one during tea time after strolling through the garden 🎵 📌 Rokka no Mori [Open Period] April 25, 2025 – October 26, 2025 [Opening Hours] ■ April, May, August, September, October 10:00–16:00 Shop: 10:30–16:00, Café: 11:00–16:00 (last order 15:30) ■ June, July 9:00–16:00 Shop: 9:30–16:00 Café: 11:00–16:00 (last order 15:30) [Admission] Adults ¥1,000, elementary and junior high school students ¥500 [Access] 🚗 About 40 minutes by car from Obihiro Station, about 20 minutes by car from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport, 🚌 About 1 hour by bus from Obihiro Station (get off at the nearest stop: Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai) From Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai it’s about a 15-minute walk, or rent a bicycle at Michi-no-Eki Nakasatsunai and cycle about 5 minutes https://www.rokkatei.co.jp/facilities/%E5%85%AD%E8%8A%B1%E3%81%AE%E6%A3%AE-...

By the shores of Lake Utonai. A red songbird, the benimasiko, and a narcissus flycatcher with a striking black-and-yellow contrast. They look like vividly colored wild birds straight out of a fairy tale. (Image courtesy of Roadside Station Utonai Lake)