Autumn at Ooyama 2024 Maple Report 🍁 12.5 Here is the current view of Oyama Temple as of Thursday, December 5, and of the lower Ooyama Afuri Shrine and Fujimidai as of Tuesday, December 3. On clear days, the view of Mt. Fuji from Fujimidai is exceptional! The maple trees along Suzukawa, below the OyamaCableCar bus stop, are also beautiful. The peak of the autumn leaves has passed at this soothing spot of Ooyama, so please visit as soon as you can! ※Sunset comes early, so if you aim for the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Platform 4 Take the ‘For Ooyama Cable’ bus for about 30 minutes Get off at the last stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station

December 7th to December 21st "Fukushima Teppen Park Illumination 2024" will take place. The illumination at Fukushima Teppen Park, perched 805 meters above sea level, features a Christmas theme. Enjoy the collaboration with the night view! ■ Dates and times: Saturday, December 7th to Saturday, December 21st — lights on from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM ■ Location: Fukushima Teppen Park Organizer: Fukushima Teppen Park Event Executive Committee

Ryozenji, an indispensable site in the history of Shimoda’s opening, sits a 10-minute walk from Izukyū-Shimoda Station. On November 8, a new shop called Sushilabo 302 opened in the temple’s parking lot. It’s a great stop when you want to tour compact Shimoda efficiently, grab a quick bite, enjoy lively conversation with the staff, or if you overdid the ryokan breakfast but still want sushi in Shimoda.(^^)/ The sushi chefs are several “side-job sushi artisans.” They trained for a few months and debuted when the shop opened.✨ They normally work in completely different fields, and some have come from other prefectures. Sushilabo, a new style of sushi restaurant in Shimoda, was planned by the fourth-generation owner of the town’s popular sushi spot Mimatsu Sushi, who helped train these side-job sushi artisans and bring the shop to life. When you stroll around town, please stop by and enjoy— you might even meet a favorite side-job sushi artisan!

[Odakyu Family Fun Festa 2024] Railway companies from across Japan will gather in Ebina, including the Odakyu Group and local municipalities along its lines! Isehara City will offer multicolor woodblock print workshops, while Yoshikawa Brewery will set up on Saturday the 7th and Happy Pan Life will appear on Sunday the 8th. Family-friendly events include character greetings, a Fuma ninja show and Fuma ninja experience, a stage appearance by Odakyu’s child-support mascot Koron, and a stationmaster role-play experience. Please join us! Date and time: Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, 10:00–16:00 Venue: Ebina Central Park Access: A short walk from Ebina Station on the Odakyu and Sotetsu lines Organizers: Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Ebina Central Park designated manager

Request for cooperation in a tourism survey 2024 To all visitors to the Tanzawa–Ooyama area (Atsugi, Hadano, Isehara): We ask for your cooperation in a tourism survey. *Survey period* Until Sunday, December 22 After completing the survey, if you show the response screen you will be eligible to receive one free Kururin sticky note at one pickup location only, one per person. One of the pickup locations, Isehara City Tourism Association (weekdays only, 9:00–17:00), will distribute one Kururin sticky note free of charge. We appreciate your cooperation!! Saving an image of the completion screen will make pickup smoother. Odakyu Line Isehara Station north exit · on the stairs Isehara City Tourism Association (general incorporated association) TEL 0463-73-7373 9:00–17:00 (weekdays only; closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays)

This is the state of Lake Onneto as of Monday, December 2. Parts of the lake’s surface are frozen, but the ice remains thin in many areas. In recent years, more visitors have come to see the ice bubbles, but places where natural gas escapes have very weak ice strength, and some spots may never freeze solid even in full winter. For that reason, walking on the lake is extremely dangerous and is not recommended by the local tourism association. As previously announced, Road 949 leading to Onneto (the gate in front of the hot spring) is scheduled to close on December 6. When you visit, please take thorough snow and cold-weather precautions, and enjoy Onneto in winter safely.

Autumn in Gokase: Peak Season Now! Josenji With only one calendar page left and autumn foliage ending in most places, surprisingly Josenji is now at its peak 😳🍁 It was cloudy when I took the photos, but the deep, vivid reds stood out and looked incredibly beautiful 🥹✨ While leaves are fading elsewhere, are the trees at Josenji a late-foliage variety? Or is it due to local environmental factors? I’m not sure, as I don’t know the details… In any case, I never expected to see such stunning autumn colors in December 😳👏 Please stop by and enjoy them for yourself 🤗✨

40th Anniversary Event Tsukigase Plum Valley Early Spring Marathon Guest runner: Kenji Moriwaki! Registration is open now! Search for "Tsukigase Plum Valley Early Spring Marathon"♪

Commemorative Celebration for the Registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Today, Sunday, December 1, a celebratory gathering was held at the Ara-Odori Hall in the Sakamoto district to mark the registration of “Gokase Ara-odori” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in February of Reiwa 3 (2021).👏✨ Because the registration around Reiwa 3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding a celebration then was difficult, so today’s event was finally realized.🥹 After the opening, the ceremony proceeded smoothly with greetings from the Ara-Odori Preservation Society and congratulatory messages from guests, followed by kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening) accompanied by the powerful sounds of Ara-odori drums, bells, and matchlock gun volleys.🍶🔨 Later, Mr. Fujimoto, the lead dancer, gave the toast and the banquet began.👏 It was a wonderful gathering where members of the Ara-Odori Preservation Society, the dancers and their families all shared their various feelings about Ara-odori.😌 During the banquet, the host conducted interviews in which, somewhat shyly, everyone spoke passionately about Ara-odori.🤭✨ When people had enjoyed enough sake and conversation, the event concluded with three cheers of banzai.🙌🙌🙌 In Miyazaki, a land that preserves many traditional performing arts such as kagura, the registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage truly felt like a great achievement.😳 Going forward, we hope these traditional performing arts, preserved and passed down in each district, will continue to be treasured.✨

[TV Asahi "Shokusai no Oukoku" Isehara Yamatoimo] Broadcast date and time: Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:30–9:55 ◇ Program: "Shokusai no Oukoku" A show that stays close to the people who are passionately working to preserve "Japan's food" and unravels the rich world of ingredients. Yasuhito Nakamura of Yamatoimoya in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a yam producer who single-handedly hand-digs about 15,000 yam plants grown in his fields from autumn through winter! Program highlights: ▽ Left the corporate world to become a yam farmer! The secrets of stickiness and aroma ▽ Tips for yam cooking worth copying, learned from popular restaurants, and more Be sure to record it so you don’t miss the show! And experience Isehara—famous for its scenery, souvenirs, and gourmet food— see it with your eyes, hear it with your ears, feel it with your skin, taste it with your mouth, and enjoy visiting the filming locations!! Yamatoimoya TEL 0463-96-6333 At the Ekina Kururin House Yamatoimoya’s yam-filled Tanzawa-Ooyama soba and other items are on sale and well received! Midway on the stairs at the north exit of Odakyu Line Isehara Station Ekina Kururin House (Isehara Station Tourist Information) TEL/FAX 0463-95-5333 OPEN 9:00–17:00 (open year-round) * January 1–3, 2025: 10:00–15:00

Hello everyone! This is the Shosenkyo Tourist Association. Today brought clear skies, and the Shosenkyo Houtou Festival was held in grand fashion! This year’s Houtou Festival was a collaborative event with Kofu Daiichi High School’s Research Course. The a cappella club, dance club, and folk-rock club delivered wonderful performances that really energized the crowd! In addition, the bingo tournament with luxurious prizes was a huge hit. The five varieties of houtou on offer each had their own distinctive flair, and every one was superb! Which houtou was your favorite?

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 🥰

[🍁Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submission Showcase — Part 6—🍁] Here we introduce works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” contest held on the Instagram account of Gokase Tourism Association! @gokase_pan

【🍁Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024 Photo Contest Entries — Part 5🍁】 Here we showcase works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024” held on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. @thusandleavis様

🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Contest Entries — Part 4 🍁 Here we introduce works posted to the "#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" contest held on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account! @mitsu_yumi.0520 @naomin168 @niidome2110 (in no particular order)

🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submissions — Part 3 🍁 Here we showcase photos posted to the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account for the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” event! @donguri223103 @san.shimako.1105 @kaaazuuu1123 @kickcamp_with_jimny (in no particular order)

[🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 Photo Submissions — Part 2 🍁] Here are works posted to the “#Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” event on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account! @hiroko.gf1 @gokase_pan @miyazaki_212449 (in no particular order)

⛩ Gion Shrine Niiname Festival and Final Kagura Performance 👹 On November 23rd, the Niiname Festival and the final kagura performance were held at Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka district.⛩ First a Shinto ceremony took place, followed by a kagura dedication at the kagura hall.👹 Today we welcomed visitors from overseas and guests who came from Tokyo.😮 The gingko trees at Gion Shrine had turned color, creating a carpet of yellow.😆✨ Gokase Town is getting colder, and it looks like winter is finally arriving.⛄

[Searching for Autumn in Gokase] November 19 A little late, but I went looking for autumn around Gokase and am sharing some photos📸✨ Photo 1 / Shirataki Falls Photo 2 / From the bridge on the way to Unoko Falls viewing point Photo 3 / From Yūhi no Sato Ohashi (Sunset Village Bridge) Photos 4 and 5 / Near the torii at Myoken Shrine

G Music Corps Regular Concert On Sunday, November 17th, the G Music Corps held a concert at Yumeyume Plaza TAC in Takachiho Town🎺🎶 The program was packed into four exciting parts😳💡 Under the baton of conductor Mitsutoshi Hasebe, the concert opened with a Disney medley. Familiar tunes arrived on a dynamic sound that made people move along before they knew it🤩👏 In the second part, dancers from Takachiho Town’s studio DACTCREW delivered an impressive performance to popular songs🪩💫 The third part recreated the original show’s format with a lively amateur singing stage😆🎤 Seven contestants from Gokase, Takachiho, and Kumamoto Prefecture sang joyfully to live wind ensemble accompaniment✨ A former real bell-ringer from the original program played the bell live, a trophy was presented to the winner, and the excitement peaked 🥳👏 The final fourth part featured guests trumpeter MAKOTO, drummer Kiyotaka Kuroda, and pianist Satsuki Imamura in a powerful, high-impact set😳✨ Audience members praised the event, saying things like "I’m glad I came; I never expected it to be this much fun" 🥹💕 G Music Corps, active both inside and outside the prefecture, delivered a wonderful performance that makes you want to cheer them on for the future. Great job to everyone involved❗

Sunset Village Exhibition✨ On Saturday and Sunday, November 16–17, the former Kuwanouchi Elementary School gym hosted the "Sunset Village Exhibition" and the "Small Sato Frost Month Festival," to much excitement 😆🎉 Creative works by local residents were on display, and visitors toured them with great interest 👀 On Saturday, November 16, food stalls and workshops drew lively crowds 😁 At the workshops, many people happily carried their finished pieces home, and seeing that made us happy too 😊

When it comes to pickles from Shinshu, nozawana is well known, but in southern Shinshu, gensuke kabuna pickles are cherished. Gensuke kabuna becomes sweeter and more flavorful after exposure to frost. As the cold grows harsher at this time of year, Toyooka Village has entered the ideal harvesting season for gensuke kabuna. Toyooka Tabi Jikan offers hands-on harvesting experiences for gensuke kabuna. We also provide pickling recipes. For details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. The program is scheduled to run from around November 25th to December 20th, ending once supplies run out.

This morning Tokachigawa Onsen was blanketed in snow. The forecast high for today is 5°C, so I think it will melt soon, but the pristine white snow is beautiful! It will get colder from now on, so please come to Tokachigawa Onsen to warm up 😊

It rained in Otofukecho this morning. By the afternoon the sky cleared to a beautiful blue, but the wind is chilly... Even so, preparations are already under way for the winter event Sairinka! Every year we start wiring and other electrical work before the snow falls. Please look forward to seeing what kind of light displays Sairinka will present this year! It was raining in Otofukecho this morning. By the afternoon the sky turned into a beautiful blue, but the wind was cold... At the same time, preparations for the winter event "Sairinka" have already begun! Every year we begin installing wiring before the snow falls. Please look forward to the light production that Sairinka will bring this year!

Autumn at Ooyama 2024: Autumn Leaves Update 🍁 11/28 As of yesterday, Wednesday, November 27, the autumn foliage is at its peak. Oyama Temple and Ooyama Afuri Shrine Lower Shrine look as pictured. The Ooyama Autumn Foliage Light-up and the OyamaCableCar night operation (weekdays until 19:00, weekends and holidays until 20:00) run through Sunday, December 1. Enjoy a magically different atmosphere from daytime, the spectacular night view from about 700 m that earned two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and the beautiful autumn leaves together. Don’t miss the Masu Tiramisu at the scenic cafe Saryo Sekison. Concurrent Events 11/30 (Sat) and 12/1 (Sun) 10:00–16:00 *Shukubo Stamp & Quiz Rally* Collect stamps by visiting the temple lodgings, answer the quiz, and you might win a lovely prize!? *Old Approach Marche* Along the old approach road in front of the Afuri Shrine office, various food trucks and local shops will be open. Please note that on the weekend of 11/30 (Sat) and 12/1 (Sun) buses, the cable car, and parking are expected to be very crowded. Allow plenty of extra time for your trip. Please use public transportation where possible. Sunset comes early, so those aiming for the mountaintop are asked to start early in the morning. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station north exit, Platform 4 Take the bus bound for "Ooyama Cable" for about 30 minutes Get off at the final stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station

[SETAGAYA!DAY2024] Popular shops from inside and outside Setagaya Ward will open stalls, and from Isehara Kashiwagi Farm will sell cheesecakes, drinkable yogurt, seasonal vegetables, and other local products! At Carrot Tower (4th and 5th floors) you can enjoy talk shows, street performances, a stamp rally, and projection mapping screenings (Sangenjaya Patio Fountain Plaza 17:00–20:00), with plenty of events. Please come and join us! Date and time: Sunday, December 1, 2024, 10:00–16:00 Venue: Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line Setagaya Line Sangenjaya Station Front Plaza Inquiry: Setagaya City Industrial Promotion Foundation Regional Revitalization and Exchange Promotion Division Tel: 03-3411-6715

Toyooka Tabi Jikan has installed a persimmon noren under its eaves! Please relax and enjoy it along with the foot bath♪

[Oyama & Isehara City General Sports Park Autumn Foliage Update] 2024 🍁 The Oyama autumn foliage light-up and OyamaCableCar nighttime service (until 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays) run through Sunday, December 1, 2024! Enjoy a magical atmosphere unlike daytime, with Shonan night views blending with beautiful autumn colors. Here are Oyama Temple on the morning of Sunday, November 24, and the illuminated lower shrine of Oyama Afuri Shrine on Monday, November 25. Oyama attracts many visitors and is almost at peak color now! ※It becomes very crowded on weekends. If you come by car, you may wait 2–3 hours for parking. Please use public transportation whenever possible. ※Sunset comes early, so if you plan to head for the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 4 Take the bus bound for Oyama Cable (about 30 minutes) Get off at the last stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station. 🍂 These are the magnificent ginkgo rows inside Isehara City General Sports Park from last weekend. A leisurely walk! The sports park offers many playgrounds such as a long and wide slide and a tarzan rope. Situated on a hill, it also provides panoramic views of the mountains and town surrounding Isehara, making it well worth a visit! Isehara City General Sports Park Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 3 Kanagawa Chuo Bus No. I-34 bound for Nanasawa Get off at the ‘‘General Sports Park’’ stop and walk 5 minutes.

Shop: Christmas items🎄 Wreaths, patchwork pieces, postcards and more We have an expanding selection of cute items♪ About one month until Christmas🎄 Children are surely waiting for Santa Claus with excited hearts and eager anticipation🎅✨ At Roadside Station Iwanai, Taramaru and Beniko are dressed as Santa! Please take your time browsing the shop when you stop by

This is the view of Onneto today (November 25). The road from the national highway into Onneto is packed snow and ice. Please take great care when traveling. The surface of Onneto has a thin layer of ice only along the shore. It will still take some time before the lake freezes solid. The Onneto Line road leading to the lake will be closed beyond Nonaka Onsen at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, and will be closed to vehicles for the winter (until April 11 next year). The road from the national highway to the hot spring will remain open, but you will not be able to drive past that point to the lake, so please be aware of this.