About the 40th Lake Oketo Ice Fishing Tournament
Event on Monday, January 6, 2025: The 40th “Lake Oketo Ice Fishing Tournament” will be held on the schedule below.
Why not fully enjoy the charms of Lake Oketo in winter.
We look forward to many applications.
⇒ Applications are now closed because the participant limit has been reached.

Date and Time: Sunday, January 26, 2025
Registration: 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM; Competition: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Expected finish: 12:00 PM

Participation fee: Adults ¥2,000; junior high school students and younger ¥1,500 (includes fishing site cooperation fee, insurance, and bathing ticket)

Application period: Wednesday, January 8, 2025 to Monday, January 20, 2025
* Reception hours: 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM (excluding weekends and public holidays)
* Applications will close once the capacity (60 people) is reached.
⇒ Applications are now closed because the participant limit has been reached.

Where to apply: Oketo Town Tourism Association Office (Oketo Town Hall, Industry Promotion Division, Commerce and Tourism Section)
Please apply by phone or fax.
TEL: 0157-52-3313 / FAX: 0157-52-3353

Kumejima Tsumugi Exhibition and Kumejima Tsumugi Fair Week Held in

February 6th is Kumejima Tsumugi Day!
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the national designation of Kumejima Tsumugi as an Important Intangible Cultural Property.
February 1st ~ 16th is Kumejima Tsumugi Fair Week.
When you come to Kume Island, be sure to enjoy the charm of Kumejima Tsumugi, a traditional craft that Kume Island is proud of.
How do you like it? to be rediscovered through seeing, touching, and experiencing?

【Kumejima Tsumugi Exhibition】
Venue: Kume Island Museum
Period: February 1 (Sat) ~ February 16 (Sun), 2025 (Reiwa 7)
*Closed on Mondays
* The first day, February 1 (Sat) 11 o'clock ~ Opening Ceremony Held in at Kume Island Museum

Contact us
Kume Island Museum
542 Katekari, Kumejima, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa
TEL　０９８－８９６－７１８１

Kumejima Tsumugi Fair Week
Events will be held in on Sunday, February 2nd!
〇 Free dressing experience * Reception on the day, first-come, first-served basis
〇 Free weaving experience * Reception on the day, first-come, first-served basis

〇Exploring the historical background of Kumejima Tsumugi (10 o'clock ~ 14 o'clock) * Advance reservation required
Information: President Toru Matsumoto

February 1 (Sat) ~ February 16 (Sun)
* 2/13 (Thursday) will be closed due to the old 16th Day Festival.

〇 Sales of special service items
〇Tsumugi Day Limited SALE
Location: Kumejima Tsumugi no Sato Yuimaru-kan
(Opening hours: 9 a.m. ~ 5 p.m.)
TEL:０９８－９８５－８３３３

The 72nd Bibai Snow Festival

The e-sports tournament that was very popular last year will be Held in again this year!

Recruitment starts 2025.01.20mon9:00~.

#Snow Festival #SnowFestival #Bibai #Hokkaido #eSports #Smash Bros. #SSB #Pitaan #Recruitment #Call for participants

⛷️🏔️ A special tour to fully enjoy nature and culture in winter in Shinanomachi 🍶🎨
Would you like to enjoy a winter-only special experience in Shinanomachi, Nagano Prefecture, one of Japan’s top ski resort areas? ❄️✨
💡 Top 3 highlights of this tour 💡
1️⃣ Freeride experience
Enjoy the thrill of freeriding at a snow resort with the best snow quality—feel the freedom as you carve down the slopes on a snowboard! Suitable for beginners to advanced riders. You can also take lessons from pro snowboarder Konishi!
2️⃣ Indigo-dye remake workshop
Try your hand at creating original items in a traditional indigo-dye workshop using Furumi indigo and Ise-katagami paper stencils. Don’t miss the rare, delicate patterns of the Ise-katagami.
3️⃣ Star-gazing and gourmet dinner
Cook together using a special menu supervised by a top chef and experience traditional Japanese preparation methods! In the evening, relax under a sky full of stars 🌌✨
🗺️ The charms of Shinanomachi 🗺️
Rich nature and fresh air: areas like Kurohime Plateau and Lake Nojiri offer beautiful seasonal scenery.
A food treasure trove: corn, tomatoes, and botan chili peppers showcase exceptionally high-quality produce!
History and culture: the Naumann Elephant Museum and Uga Shrine on Lake Nojiri reflect the region’s history and traditions.
📅 Dates
1️⃣ Saturday, January 4th, 2025 – Monday, January 6th, 2025
2️⃣ Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 – Friday, January 24th, 2025
If you’re interested, DM the tour conductor @donapon.kazuma📩
We will provide more details!
Let’s create new winter memories together ❄️✨

Happy New Year!
Thank you for your continued support this year.

New Year Greetings & Winter Mount Oyama 2025
The Isehara City Tourism Association officially launched today.
We look forward to your continued support this year.

Winter Mount Oyama ✨ Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays from January 11 to January 26, 2025 ✨
This winter, for seven days only, the Oyama Cable Car line will be illuminated and operate night services with views until 7:00 PM.
On Sunday, January 12, the Oyama Sky Lantern® will be launched from Oyama Afuri Shrine Lower Shrine at 4:30 PM, and popular characters Kururin, Kanamin, and Mokoron will appear on rotating weekends (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays).

The view from Oyama Afuri Shrine Lower Shrine was awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. The nightscape seen through the clear winter air is indescribably beautiful and captivating.
Please take this opportunity to join the many events.

※If you plan to aim for the summit of Mount Oyama, start early to allow plenty of time. The public restroom at the summit may be temporarily unavailable due to freezing, so please use restrooms in advance.
*Photo: New Year’s sunrise from Oyama Afuri Shrine Lower Shrine on New Year’s Day

Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station, North Exit, Bus Stop No. 4
Take the ‘for Oyama Cable Car’ bus for about 30 minutes
Get off at the final stop and walk 15 minutes along Koma Sando to the cable car station

The 59th Shimoda Onsen Daffodil Festival commemorative trading card is being distributed with excitement!
[Distribution location] Tsumekizaki Amazake Hut
[Distribution time] 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Feel free to ask and pick one up (≧▽≦)!
They are appearing one after another at Shimoda City events and elsewhere.

Year-end Greetings

Everyone, were you able to finish your work for the year safely😌? Some of you might not care about New Year’s at all😂

We at Gokase Tourism Association and the Gokase Specialty Center will, out of our own convenience, be closed for the year-end and New Year holidays as follows.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Monday, December 30>
Cafeteria: closed
Shop and produce: open mornings only
<Tuesday, December 31 – Thursday, January 2>
Closed
<Friday, January 3>
Cafeteria: opens at 11:00
Shop and produce: opens at 10:00
<Saturday, January 4 onward>
Regular business hours resume
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gokase Tourism Association will also be closed from Tuesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 2.
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

We have also compiled the January events we know about so far into a calendar to help you plan outings for next year🤗

And there’s more! We are accepting votes for “Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko
). We would be delighted if you and your family take your time over the New Year to pick photos and vote🥺✨
We truly appreciate your support🙇‍♀️‼️

We will be open tomorrow, so this is one day early, but… 🤣
Thank you very much for your support this year. We look forward to your continued support next year.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve🤩👋✨

*We’ll say it again: we are open through tomorrow. Just kidding*

The 3rd Hosono Highlands Yamayaki Experience

🏔 What Hosono Highlands Is Like 🏔
Hosono Highlands spreads across the slopes of Mt. Amagi, which erupted between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago. The plateau covers about 125 hectares—roughly the size of 26 Tokyo Domes—and offers a majestic expanse of grassland. It is said to be a treasure trove of flora and fauna nurtured by volcanic terrain.
In spring, you can forage for mountain vegetables such as bracken amid fresh greenery. In autumn, vast stands of golden susuki (silver grass) create a spectacular display. From the summit you can see Sagami Bay and the Izu Islands, where meadow and seascape combine into a unique panorama.

Inatori Hosono Highlands has been recognized among the 100 Grassland Villages We Want to Preserve for the Future for the value of local knowledge, awareness, and skills accumulated through long interaction between people and nature.
Hosono Highlands conducts an annual yamayaki (controlled burn) to maintain the grassland. During walks you can observe grass-cutting work performed in preparation for the burn.
⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰
🔥⛰ What “Yamayaki” Means ⛰🔥

Yamayaki is an essential annual practice to keep Hosono Highlands as open grassland.
By burning overgrown grasses and shrubs, the area is prevented from turning into forest, and the burned vegetation returns nutrients to the soil to sustain a rich grassland.

This yamayaki has continued every year at Hosono Highlands since the Edo period.

Because the plateau borders neighboring Kawazu Town, preventing fire from spreading across boundaries is critical, and the work must address elevation changes and steep slopes, so seasoned experience and

advanced fire-management know-how are required.
⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰ ⋱⋰

● Event Overview

Yamayaki is an activity necessary to keep Hosono Highlands as grassland and has continued annually since the Edo period.
As a first trial in February 2023, we opened the yamayaki on a very limited basis and offered it as a guided tour for observation.
To help more people learn about this tradition in greater depth, we will hold the Yamayaki Experience again in 2025.
Please come and witness the overwhelming sight of the landscape ablaze.

● Event Schedule — Saturday, February 8, 2025
Date and time: Saturday, 2/8, 10:30–15:30 (scheduled)
10:30: Assemble and register at Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2
11:00: Yamayaki viewing (guided yamayaki explanation, lunch provided)
14:00: Post-yamayaki walk (guided)
15:30: End of program and dismissal (Program order may change depending on yamayaki progress; please understand in advance.)
Meeting/registration location: Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2 (parking spaces available)
➡ On the day of the yamayaki, general vehicles are not allowed into Parking Lot No. 1. Please park at the foothill Parking Lot No. 2.
There is no public transportation to the venue. Please use your own means of transport to access the site.

Participation Conditions
・Capacity is limited to 30 participants.
・Participants who are junior high school age or younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
・Please apply only if you fully understand the safety notes and on-site hazards.

Participation Fee
3,500 yen per person. Includes admission, consumption tax, local guide, lunch, insurance, and grassland management fee (1,000 yen).
※The participation fee is payable on site on the day of the event.
※We will contact you by email in advance and on the day about the event. Please note you cannot apply without an email address.

How to Apply
Please apply by entering the required information on the Higashiizu Town Tourist Association event page.
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot
Or call the Higashiizu Tourist Association (TEL: 0557-95-0700) to register by phone.

● Notes and Precautions
About Participation in Work
This event is for observing the yamayaki. You may not take part in fire-starting or other operational tasks.
Cancellation Decisions
Yamayaki may be canceled on the morning of the event due to weather conditions (wind, humidity, rain, etc.). If yamayaki is canceled, this event will also be canceled. There are no substitute events. Please register only if you accept these cancellation conditions.
What to Wear on the Day
Yamayaki is a very dangerous operation, and flying embers or smoldering debris may be present.
Please wear flame-resistant clothing with minimal exposed skin.
All activities at the site are outdoors, so please prepare for cold weather.
Guide Language
Guidance is provided in Japanese only. Thank you for your understanding.

Cancellation Policy
If the event is canceled or you cancel, we will charge cancellation fees as follows.

If yamayaki itself is canceled due to severe weather (strong wind, dry conditions, rain, etc.), no payment will be charged.
If you cancel for personal reasons:
・Cancellation on the day or the day before → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
・Cancellation two days or more before → 0% cancellation fee.
・No-show without notice → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
*We may also claim actual communication costs or other damages where applicable.
For cancellations due to unavoidable events such as disasters, please contact the organizer.

If the organizer cancels for reasons other than weather, we will consult with participants and refund an appropriate amount.


Items to Bring
・Flame-resistant (fire-retardant) and warm clothing
・Clothes you don’t mind getting stained by sparks or soot
・Well-broken-in shoes
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot

【Cherry blossom planting experience 🥰 at Oboshi Park】

At Oboshi Park, one of the 100 best famous landmarks in Japan
Using Furusato Nozei Tax Payment to Plant Cherry Blossoms
I can.

The cherry blossom tree planting experience is the Sakura Festival in late March of 2025 (Reiwa 7)
It is scheduled to be held on one of the Saturdays and Sundays during the period.

As a memento of the experience, engrave your name on the plate.

Learn about Japanese food culture!
Nationwide smartphone stamp rally across Japan 🗾 2024
To promote Japan’s food culture, we are holding a nationwide smartphone stamp rally that takes you to related sites featuring “100-year foods” and food culture museums across the country.
In Isehara✨ you can currently collect stamps at the two locations below!
* Otsuya Kyarabuki Honpo
(Oyama Koma Sando: 618 Oyama, Isehara, Kanagawa)
URL https://kyarabuki.com/
* Eki-naka Kururin House / Isehara Station Tourist Information Center
(On the stairs at the north exit of OdakyuLine Isehara Station)
URL https://isehara-kanko.com/

Participants will be entered in a drawing to win prizes related to 100-year foods and food culture museums.🎁
Bring your family, come with friends, or join solo—everyone is welcome♪
================================
Event period: until Friday, January 31, 2025
For details and to participate
Click here ▶ https://foodculture2021.go.jp/stamprally/

【2025 Kisoji Ice and Snow Light Festival】
This year Kisoji ice and snow lights will be Held in again Festival.
From January 25th ~ February 15th, ice candles and bamboo lanterns will be lit at Shukuba in Kisoji. Events of several hours once a year. Fun a fantastic world that is different from usual.

♦1/25 (Sat) Kiso Town Miyanokoshi
♦2/2 (Sun) Shiojiri City Niekawa Juku
♦2/3 (Mon) Shiojiri City Narai juku
♦2/7 (Fri)-8 (Sat) Kiso Town Fukushima juku
♦2/8 (Sat) Nakatsugawa City Magome juku
♦2/9 (Sun) Agematsu Town Nezame-no-Toko, Okuwa Village Sports Park
♦2/18 (Sat) Nagiso Town Tsumago juku

And Held in a photo contest again this year! The winning works will be used for posters, flyers, web advertisements, etc. for the next year.
【For those who apply on Instagram】Account of the Kiso Tourism Federation (@kiso_japan_official
) > #kisoji_hyosetsu_2025 Don't forget to tag them!
【Apply by sending photos】Please send 4 color prints or A4 size (4 slices wide are also acceptable) to the Kiso Tourism Federation.
Period: 2025/2/1~2/28 (must arrive by this date)

For details, please check the Home page "Kiso Valley Rippu".

We have 😊 received many applications

New Year in Isehara 🎍 2024–2025
Information on Ōyama operations and parking during the New Year holidays
Ōyama in Isehara is said to be the first place in Kanagawa Prefecture where you can see the first sunrise of the year. The expected time to see the first sunrise from the summit of Ōyama is 6:45 AM.
Also noteworthy is Hijirimine (a sacred peak), accessible by a roughly 2.5-kilometer uphill walk from Sannomiya Hibita Shrine of about one hour, where you can enjoy a spectacular 150-degree wide-angle view of the first sunrise rising to the left of Enoshima from the summit.
From New Year’s Day 2025, Isehara will be full of New Year events.
We have compiled information for each location; please check the details and dress warmly before you go.
Please note that many people visit Ōyama during the New Year season, and severe congestion and traffic jams caused by cars waiting for parking are expected. Please use public transportation whenever possible.
When it is dark underfoot, bring lighting as needed (flashlights, headlamps, etc.).
For details, please see each site and the Isehara City website below.
https://www.city.isehara.kanagawa.jp/kankou_guide/docs/2024122300044/

On Tuesday, December 17, we held in the "Ubuyama Village Winter Lunch Party".
Village, about 20 participants from outside the Village were able to enjoy cooking and eating deliciously while learning about the master's commitment.

Speaking of Kumamoto and Aso, "soup"
soup is also eaten in Oita Prefecture, but the taste and shape of the soup are different depending on the region and each family.

This time, we asked a mother from Ubuyama Village to be a teacher and teach us how to cook.

We used vegetables that were painstakingly made by farmers in the Village, and we enjoyed the soup with new Rice and Akitaka cabbage.

It is a small Village with about 1,400 Village residents, but the people who live there are very powerful.
Ubuyama Village is located in the hinterland of Aso.
There are many roads that are difficult to pass with a large car, and you can feel a different charm from popular sightseeing spots.

I would be happy if you could learn about Satoyama life in the Ubuyama village where the deep part of Aso remains strongly through this article.

New Year's in Kanagawa! First Pilgrimage to the Shrine
Why don't you welcome the start of the new year at a shrine in Kanagawa?

https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/theme_list/hatsumode

Miyama Karabuki no Sato Snow Festival
It was a pity that there was no snow, but I wanted to take a picture of the whole view of the village of Miyama, so I managed to climb the snowy mountain alone and took a hard picture.
Of course, since it was a snowy mountain, there was no road, and it was almost a cliff climb, but 😅 on the way back, it was pitch dark and I managed to descend the mountain while getting lost on the way. 😌

[Aikou-Ishida Station✨Illumination✨] 2024
The annual event by Ishida Shoko Shinkokai lights up the rotary in front of Aiko-Ishida Station on the OdakyuLine with 10,000 LED lights until Saturday, March 15, 2025!
With the concept "Bringing light and warmth from the heart of the town to the local community," this illumination is filled with the feelings of local residents—please come and see it.

[Notice] Akindo Market♪
Today (20th) and tomorrow (21st) — two days only!!

At Roadside Station Iwanai,
local Iwanai town sake at special prices!
Yama 720 ml ¥2,640 ⇒ ¥2,376
Umi 300 ml ¥990 ⇒ ¥891
The flyer lists Yama 300 ml, but we ran out of stock.
We apologize.

Also,
Asahi Super Dry
Clear Asahi
Kodawari Sakaba Lemon Sour
are on sale too♪

Please come by and check them out 🙏

This is a monthly event where you can shop great deals at stores in Iwanai town~

[Castle EXPO 2024 Announcement]
Castle EXPO is one of Japan’s largest castle festivals, held every December at Pacifico Yokohama to promote and develop castle heritage and to bring together castle enthusiasts.
People, castle specialists, and castle fans from across Japan gather to sell castle goods, present a variety of castle-related exhibits, and offer rare events such as specialist talk shows and lectures.

Isehara City also exhibits: Maruyama Castle Oshiro-in (castle seal) sales!
Isehara City currently has Maruyama Castle Ruins Park, an urban park.
It is said that in the Kamakura period the residence of the gokenin (vassal) Kasuya Tota Arisuke, who had close ties to the shogunate, stood here, and that in the Muromachi period it served as the residence of Uesugi Sadamasa.

◆Date and Time: Saturday, December 21, 9:00–18:00 (last admission 17:30)
Sunday, December 22, 9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30)
[Saturday Night Program]
Saturday, December 21, 18:00–20:30 (scheduled)
◆Venue: Pacifico Yokohama North
(1-1-2 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture) and others

※Tickets are now on sale at various play guides!

Hina dolls prayed to ward off misfortune from children and bring good fortune in life.
On the Izu Peninsula, hina dolls are displayed with various wishes tied into hanging decorations on both sides of the tiered doll platform.
This is a long-standing custom.

The 28th Hanging Hina Decorations Exhibition
🌞 January 20 (Monday) – March 31 (Monday) 🌞

🍑 In the Inatori area of Higashiizucho, there has been a custom since the Edo period of hanging a pair of suspended decorations on either side of the hina platform for the Girls’ Festival. 🍑

The Inatori Onsen hanging decorations have been passed down through generations. A charming sight unfolds as many types of hangings—such as crawling-baby dolls modeled on infants, sanbaso performers, and rabbits—link together and drape down. This scene, a winter-to-spring specialty of Inatori Onsen, invites you with a parent’s loving thoughts for their child.



Venue Information

Main venue / Cultural Park Hina Museum [Admission: 500 yen]
Sponsored exhibition venue / Naburatoto (February 15 – March 9) [Admission: 100 yen]
Futatsubori [Free admission]
Hachiman Shrine [Free admission]

Details
Address: 1729 Inatori, Higashiizu Town, Kamo District, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0411
Phone: 0557-95-2901
Access: 20-minute walk from Izu-Inatori Station
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Parking: Cultural Park parking lot / flat rate 500 yen
Organizer: Inatori Onsen Ryokan Association
Event start date: 2025/01/20
Event end date: 2025/03/31

"Shinpu Castle" from Kai Province makes its first ascent 🏯⚔️ to the "Castle EXPO"]

Over the two days of Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22, 2024,
At Pacifico Yokohama North
Finally to be Held in "Castle EXPO2024"!
Shinpu Castle in Nirasaki City, Yamanashi Prefecture will ascend for the first time 🏯⚔️✨✨

At the booth,
Katsuyori Takeda's banner T-shirt,
NEW RELEASE! A map of Shinpu Castle was designed
Original Clear File,
We will 💠🤍 sell limited seal of the castle to commemorate the first ascent of "Castle EXPO"

By the person in charge of excavation
Please 🔥🔥 come and listen to the story of the castle fever

At the venue [Castle Tour Tourist Information Zone K-90]
We look forward to seeing you 🙋 ♀️✨

————————————————————

Castle EXPO is one of the largest castle festivals in Japan, held in every December at Pacifico Yokohama since 2016 for the purpose of promoting and developing castle culture and interacting with castle lovers.
"Castles", "castle specialists" and "castle fans" gather from all over Japan, and it is an Events that has gained high support.
This year's theme is "Castle Fever Day"! Please come and visit us!

For more information on Events and ticket Information, please check the Castle EXPO Official website.

————————————————————

【Detailed Information】
■ Date and time
December 2024
21st (Sat) 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5:30 p.m.)
22 (Sun) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.)

・Saturday Night Program
Saturday, December 21, 2024
6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (tentative)

■Venue
Pacifico Yokohama North
(Address: 1-1-2 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, etc.)

■ Organizer
CASTLE EXPO
(Japan Castle Association, Jobito <Tohoku Shinsha >, Murayama Co., Ltd., Pacifico Yokohama)

[Notice] IWANAI RESORT Open ⛷️

This Saturday, December 21, IWANAI RESORT, a ski area in Iwanai-cho, Hokkaido, is scheduled to open for the season!

Notice of Municipal Products Sale at City Hall♪
From today for two days, Isehara City Hall will host a pop-up sale of local specialties in the first-floor entrance hall★While supplies last!
Cheesecake from Kashiwagi Farm; Frieden; Tanzawa-Ooyama soba from Jinenjoka; seasonal vegetables from the Katano family; shiitake mushrooms from Takei Mushroom Farm; Suzuki chili peppers; karabuki (braised butterbur stems) from Otsuya; Ryoben Ooyama manju available only on the 19th; Kururin goods; and many other tasty treats from Isehara.

We look forward to seeing you!
Wednesday, December 18th and Thursday, December 19th
10:00–14:00
At Isehara City Hall, 1st-floor lobby

It is an icicle of thirty hammers in Saitama prefecture.
I was fascinated by the sight of ice art.

We are looking for participants for the "39th Yubetsu Wilderness Okhotsk Cross Country Skiing Tournament"!
A major winter Events "Yubetsu Wilderness Okhotsk Cross Country Skiing Tournament" will be held in for people who are fascinated by the Yubetsu Wilderness.
In the competition, we have prepared 6 individual courses, such as the Yubetsu Wilderness Course, which runs 80 km, the longest course in Japan, and the 5 km Course, which even those who are not confident in their physical strength can easily participate in, and an ekiden in which one team of 5 people runs 95 km.
Enjoy cross-country skiing surrounded by the majestic location of Kitadaisetsu.
< Held in and Course >
Engaru Town, Yubetsu Town
Yubetsu River Basin Special Course ~ From Engaru Town Shirataki Tengudaira (Kita Daisetsu Cross Country Course) to Yubetsu Town Nakayubetsu Naka Towns (Yubetsu Town Cultural Center TOM)
< For inquiries, please contact>
Yubetsu Wilderness Okhotsk Cross Country Skiing Tournament Executive Committee Secretariat
Yubetsu Town Kamiyubetsu Government Building Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division
Phone: 01586-2-5866

The poster for Tomakomai City's major winter Events "Tomakomai Skate Festival" has been completed!

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the "Tomakomai Skate Festival", which is "good to eat and good to play" and "Shibareyaki" that is baked and eaten in a drum under the cold winter sky, and the "Little Slide" about 4 meters high made of snow!

Kurara Band Christmas Live 🎄

On Saturday, December 14th, Kurara Band Christmas Live took place at Gion Terrace Kuraraku Multipurpose Hall 😆

This was the third Christmas live, and once again a large crowd came to enjoy the show 😀

Despite the winter chill typical of Kuraoka, the venue buzzed with heat 🔥 as adults and children alike jumped and danced with excitement 😁🎵

It was a concert that brought smiles to everyone who attended, and we look forward to it happening again next year 🥰

Ginji Katsura Rakugo Performance

Today, December 15, a rakugo performance by Ginji Katsura, who hails from Nobeoka and is also active in Tokyo, took place🪭✨

This event held the morning show at Kurun and the afternoon show at Kuraokakurara🤗

As a poster, this was my first time seeing live rakugo properly, and I was very excited to watch🤩✨

Rakugo uses almost no props!
Performers remain seated, using only a tenugui (hand towel) and a sensu (folding fan), skillfully expressing characters through gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact😯
They make the audience imagine the scene, delivering stories that end with a punchline that makes you laugh out loud🤭

It was truly funny, and I listened with excitement wondering how each punchline would land🤣💫

The scene of eating soba was especially striking. It was incredible—he really made it seem like he was eating. It looked delicious🤤💕 lol

In the afternoon, students from Gokase Secondary School also came to watch, and the venue filled with laughter✨

A boy of around five laughed out loud too, and I felt rakugo is a wonderful art that transcends gender and age😳

He kindly agreed to commemorative photos, and both the morning and afternoon shows provided a consistently enjoyable time🥹👏

I hope he will hold another rakugo performance in Gokase soon🤗✨
Thank you very much for today, Ginji Katsura👏👏👏

At the "Nayoro Snow Quality No.1 in Japan Festival" (Snow Festival) to be Held in in Nayoro City, Hokkaido in February 2025, we would like to Held in the "Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Competition", where snow sculpture carvers from all over the world compete in skill and artistic level, and liven up the Local Snow Festival and Broadcasting the wonderful snow quality of Nayoro to the world!

In Nayoro City, located in the north of Hokkaido, this is the executive committee that Held in the Nayoro Snow Quality No.1 in Japan Festival (hereinafter referred to as "Snow Festival").

Held in the Snow Festival as a Local Snow Festival, this time for three days from February 7 ~ 9, 2025.
We have planned various events such as a huge slide, illuminations, a huge maze of snow, and a frigid yakiniku festival where you can enjoy yakiniku in -20 degrees Celsius, and this is a major winter Events that will be celebrating its 73rd year this year!

Held in the Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Contest since 2001 as the centerpiece of the Events, in which professional snow sculpture sculptors from around the world compete in the skills and artistry of snow sculptures.
However, due to the recent rise in prices, it has been difficult to find the cost of running the Games, and we have a strong desire not to disrupt this unique and wonderful Events, so we Squid planned this project.

Outline of the Tournament
The Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Contest began in 2001 as the Japan Cup, the World Five Continent Squid Broadcasting s Snow Sculpture Competition, and in 2020 it celebrated its 20th edition, with 19 snow sculptures lined up at the venue, the largest ever.
There were some years when the tournament had to be canceled due to the spread of the new coronavirus, but February 2025 will mark the 22nd edition of the historic tournament.

For details, search for "Campfire Crowdfunding"!
When you open the site, you can see it by searching "Nayoro"!

At last
Taking advantage of the wonderful snow quality of Nayoro City, the Nayoro International Snow Sculpture Sculpture Contest, which broadcasting the charm of the region to the world, is an important project that will open up the future of the region. Through this Events, we hope to let many people know the charm of Nayoro City and lead to the revitalization of the region. We look forward to your warm support.

The 'Symbol Street Terrace' illumination, which will brighten the street, begins on Saturday, December 14th. ✨ The opening ceremony, starting at 5:00 PM, will liven up the event with performances, including a set by Tomakomai Tourism Ambassador Shihori Kadota. ✨