The curtain of drooping Ume plums was in Best time to visit 😊

This is located in Mie Prefecture
　　　　　　It is "Suzuka Forest Garden".

Every year from late February to early March, the best time to visit is reached, and the drooping Ume plums bloom like curtains.
Since it is crowded with many people, it is recommended 🤤 to Light up early in the morning or at night

Kotaro: "It's time to wake up. Squid, if you can't get up for a moment, lend me a hand..."

2024 Minamiizu Town Photo Contest Results Announced!
We have selected six prize-winning works—Grand Prize and Runner-up—across three categories.
Submission period: Saturday, June 1, 2024 to Friday, January 31, 2025.
Eligible works: Photographs taken between February 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025.
Total submissions: 310 entries (two winners chosen from each category).
Thank you very much for the many entries that expressed such deep affection for Minamiizu.
The results page is as follows.
https://minamiizuphoto.mitte-x.istsw.jp/award.html?cn=52

Ume Plum Ishigaya Park, Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture This is a Ume Plum park where you can park your car in the parking lot of the Daini Shinmei Road Akashi service area, and since it is a highway, it is a recommended Spot in a place where it is easy for people from far away to stop by.

New: The Nagano Prefecture tourism map has arrived.
The 2025–2026 edition of the Nagano tourism map is here, and gracing the cover is the 45 m antenna of the Nobeyama Radio Observatory—surely one of this year’s most talked-about sights.
It’s a great honor for the observatory to appear on the cover of a map that represents Nagano’s 77 cities, towns, and villages.
Copies of the map will be available at tourist spots throughout Nagano Prefecture. Pick one up and take a look.

📍 Enoshima
It was taken on the same day as the day of the Enoden shooting.
The Sunrise seen from Enoshima Island in winter is my favorite view in the world.
When the air is clear and the waves are calm, the sun's rays are reflected on the surface of the sea, creating a golden path.
There are not many people, so it is a beautiful scenery that almost sucks you in.
It is not the same place as Enoshima in the summer, you can spend a peaceful time, and the roads are not crowded, so it is recommended.
Even though the waves were calm, it was a little windy and very cold on this day, so when you go to the sea in winter, I recommend that you bring warm clothes and hot drinks!

📍 Enoshima
This is Enoden, taken at the end of 2024.
I visit once every winter to see the Sunrise on Enoshima.
I'm sure I've ridden it many times already, but the view of the sea from Enoden is always exciting.
In particular, the sea on a winter morning that can be seen from the vicinity of Kamakura High School Station is calm with few people, unlike summer, and it seems to be a beautiful painting with a sense of loneliness.
In addition, the air is clear and Mount Fuji looks very beautiful, so it is highly recommended to heal the fatigue of the year.
* Please refrain from stopping on the tracks or entering the level crossing.

Tokyo in the middle of the night: Dawn is near and far away

Looking at the rainbow yellowtail in the distance from Minato City, Tokyo

Meigetsu-in Temple in Kamakura, Famous for its hydrangeas

Autumn leaves in autumn are also a wonderful temple

The autumn view from the window of enlightenment is very cool

Before sunrise in autumn

An unexplored station that has gradually emerged

The appearance of Okuoi Kojo Station in Shizuoka was like a phantom beauty

Sakura Jingu Shrine is nearby, so I often go there, but the coolest time is on a rainy day

When you walk around the city, this figure suddenly appears

I thought it wouldn't snow in Tokyo this year.
In March, the early-blooming cherry blossoms began to bloom, and then the snow fell.

Snowy scenery of early-blooming cherry blossoms at Sakura Jingu Shrine

Very cool scenery typical of Japan

【⛄️Snow-Dusted Omachi City❄️】
After yesterday’s snow, fukujusō flowers in the Shinko area of Miasa were nestled in the snow❄️The yellow blooms peeking out from the white snow create a lovely contrast🌼A few photographers were taking pictures📷✨The cityscape visible from Omachi Park also showed a light dusting of snow⛄️After the chill through yesterday, today’s sunlight feels pleasantly gentle☀️A few sunny days look likely😌That said, it may still be a little while before true spring arrives in Omachi City😌
🌼Spring Flower Update 2025🌼
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/88859/
🌸Last Year’s Cherry Blossom Report🌸
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/88713/

[🌸 Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2025 🌸] From Thursday, March 20 to Sunday, May 11!

(Surely) with the last of the snow behind us, the season of flowers is finally approaching Gokasecho ✨ We’re running a spring Instagram campaign too 🤩🙌

Follow the Gokase Tourism Association account (https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/) and post photos of flowers taken in Gokasecho to Instagram using two hashtags: #GokaseHana2025 and #dateofphoto (e.g., #March20) 🤳❤️‍🔥

Every day during the campaign, one person will win a mini set of Gokasecho specialty products 🎁✨
This time, amazingly!
During the nighttime illumination of Kijiya’s weeping cherry tree organized by students of Gokase Secondary School’s “Gokase Sakura Project” (March 23 [Sun]–April 16 [Wed] ※updated 4/2), entries featuring photos of Kijiya’s weeping cherry will have double the daily winning chance 😮✨!?

Plus! Outstanding entries will receive a gift box of Gokasecho specialty products 🤩👏
And even more! This time there will also be a “Gokase Sakura Project Award”…🤭🌟!?

Submitted entries will be featured on the Gokase Tourism Association and Gokase Sakura Project social media channels as they are selected 💡

[Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025

⚠️Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/index.html
⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

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In spring in Gokasecho you can enjoy not only weeping cherry but also rhododendrons, akebono azaleas, and many other flowers 🌸
In the warm weather, how about a flower tour around Gokasecho 🤗?
We sincerely look forward to your participation ✨

Suzuka Forest Garden Light up 2025.03.15

Enjoy the weeping Ume plums in full bloom

It was raining lightly, so there were not many people.

Suzuka Forest Garden is a research Cultivation farm that aims to preserve and disseminate the "tailoring techniques" of weeping Ume Plum, which is one of the traditional horticultural cultures of Japan.

Sakurajima Eruption
2025.03.07 Sakurajima Island had two eruptions at 16 and 17 o'clock
The photo shows Sakurajima at 17:38.

Metaseikochia trees in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture

We aimed for a day when it snowed.

It started snowing at dawn, and the Water of the Water on the road began to increase, and I was able to take a reflection shot.

For me, journeys hold far greater significance than simply reaching a destination. Each adventure teaches me lessons that resonate deeply within me. Under the vast blue sky, nestled before majestic mountains and surrounded by vibrant fields of flowers, I discovered a vision of Earth that embodies true beauty. I wish the world could grasp this idea, transforming battlefields into meadows of blossoms, where weapons are replaced by cameras—capturing the stunning splendor of our planet instead of promoting conflict.

[Announcement ❄️ of Winter Gokase 2025❄️ Results]

Thank you for waiting! !️
Announcement 🥳🎉 of the results of "Winter Gokase 2025"

This time, in addition to the followers of the Gokase Tourism Association's Instagram Account, we decided 👏✨ the winning item by voting by Facebook and Google Form

Thank you to 🙇 ♀️💕 everyone who voted
Now, let's announce the 👇👇👇 results

[🥇 Gold Award]
Mr. @mas8787a
[🥈 Silver Prize]
Mr. @fowafuwarin5
[🥉 Bronze Award]
Mr. @yamabico_san

The Gokase Highland Ski Resort, which has been revived in yellowtail three years, and the winter appearance of Josenji Temple, which enjoys beautiful scenery in both Spring and autumn, won prizes 🤩✨

It is raining today, but there was a lot of snow this year, so ❄️ there are many difficulties, but I am always amazed 👏 by the power of Nature that creates beautiful scenery and by the people who express themselves through the viewfinder

Congratulations ㊗️🥳🎉 to all the winners

And There is a to 😭❤️ 🔥 everyone who applied, voted, and participated

Spring is finally here 🌸
We will inform you of the Spring campaign soon, so when you come to Gokase to enjoy cherry blossom viewing, please take many photos and cry when 😭💕 you participate

💫 Best regards

【Oyanagawa River Valleys Fresh greenery trekking 🥰】

In early summer, you can enjoy fresh greenery in the Oyanagawa River Valleys
It has become a popular trekking spot.

In the Valleys, there are 10 bottles large and small Suspension Bridge and five waterfalls.
Yes, you can enjoy a walk casually.

It’s very windy and snowing heavily in Teshikaga today🌀
Please be careful when going out⚠️⛄️🌨️❄️

Saitama's Kawazu cherry blossoms are also in full bloom 🌸

This is located in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture
It is a row of cherry blossom trees along the Aoge Hori River.

Saitama's Kawazu cherry blossoms start 😊 here every year
The Kawazu cherry blossoms blooming along the river for about 1 km are a sight to behold

Toyooka City, Hyogo
It was cold at Kinosaki Onsen Self

Toyooka City, Hyogo
It was cold at Kinosaki Onsen Self

Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture You can experience various villages and various experiences while feeling like a Satoyama while in the city
Aina Satoyama Park

Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture You can experience various villages and various experiences while feeling like a Satoyama while in the city
Aina Satoyama Park

Toyooka City, Hyogo
It was difficult on the way, but I managed to take a picture of Kinosaki Onsen during the big cold wave aiming for the timing of the snowfall.

Toyooka City, Hyogo
It was difficult on the way, but I managed to take a picture of Kinosaki Onsen during the big cold wave aiming for the timing of the snowfall.

Tokiwa mansaku, a flower that grows naturally in only three places in Japan

From Shodai Mountain, popular for its many hiking routes and as a beginner-friendly mountain walk, we introduce tokiwa-mansaku (tokiwa mansaku).
Tokiwa refers to evergreens that keep their leaves year-round.
Mansaku is said to express the wish for a bountiful harvest.

The three places in Japan where you can encounter wild tokiwa-mansaku flowers are said to be
Shodai Mountain, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Ise Jingu, Mie Prefecture
Kamukura, Kosai City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Typically they are in bloom from mid-April to late April each year.

Spot information
Shodai Mountain (Shodai-san)
Shodai Mountain parking lot, restrooms available
2773-595 Kaba, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture
0968-63-1421 (Arao City Tourism and Cultural Exchange Division)

#Shodai Mountain #Arao-jenic #tokiwa-mansaku #Kyushu mountains #Kyushu Nature Trail #low-mountain hike #mountain climbing #Shodai Mountain trail running #Arao City #Kumamoto