Today, I took a walk in Kawagoe. The kazaguruma in front of the Otorii Gate of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine will be open until September 23rd.

Winter in Fukui brings many cloudy, rainy, and snowy days, and the sky is often leaden. That makes a sunny break all the more precious! A winter sunset seen after a long time looks especially beautiful against the clear air.

Photographed on September 15, 25. After Prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. It is a pear raw caramel frappuccino and a pear and caramel tea cake. 🍐 Today is my birthday.

[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] Only in Shimanto City!! “Salt-Seared Bonito” (Part 2) Following Part 1, Part 2 introduces recommended ways to enjoy the bonitos seared in Shimanto City that you can taste only here. 〇 Nakamura’s one-and-only “Traditional Salt-Seared Bonito” When people think of delicious food from Kochi Prefecture nationwide, the first thing that comes to mind is the seared bonito. Sprinkling salt or pouring sauce before searing is said to be a food culture unique to Kochi. Yet within the same prefecture, the style in central Kochi City differs greatly from that in Nakamura in the southwestern Shimanto City: Nakamura’s salt-seared method stands apart. Around Kochi City, the dish is a simple one of just sprinkled salt. In Nakamura, by contrast, chefs marinate the seared fish with proud house sauces featuring salt, vinegar, citrus juice, and other flavoring, letting the flavors meld. Nakamura’s traditional salt-seared bonito piles on heaps of condiments—onions, garlic and more—until the fish is nearly hidden. Those generous toppings don’t just look appetizing; they make nutritionally balanced combinations, so the dish is also excellent as a healthy choice. Nakamura’s traditional salt-seared bonito, found only in Shimanto City, carries an unshakable local food culture and history. Each restaurant crafts and serves its own proud version of this delicious salt-seared specialty. From the searing process to the way it’s eaten, the condiments and the sauces, every establishment applies its own ingenuity and care to its salt-seared bonito. In Shimanto City, you can enjoy as many distinctive salt-seared styles as there are restaurants. Would you like to go on a salt-seared tasting tour in Shimanto City and sample Nakamura’s traditional salt-seared bonito? 〇 Perfect match for salt-seared bonito: Shimanto Bu-chu Highball A perfect companion to Nakamura’s traditional salt-seared bonito is the Shimanto Bu-chu Highball, made with the locally grown “forbidden fruit” bushukan. It’s a standard menu item at izakayas in Shimanto City. The drink is ultra-refreshing from first sip to finish, with a crisp citrus flavor and a pleasant, moderate bitterness. Popular with both men and women, it pairs beautifully with food. Try Shimanto Bu-chu Highball with salt-seared bonito—you’ll likely get hooked after one sip. 〇 Shimanto-grown “forbidden fruit”—the bushukan Why call it the forbidden fruit? Bushukan is related to yuzu and sudachi but is an entirely different fruit. Once you taste it, ordinary vinegar-citrus fruits won’t satisfy—you’ll understand why it’s called the “forbidden fruit.” Its defining features are a clean, sharp acidity and a uniquely refined aroma. That elegant scent and tartness bring out the best in ingredients from mountains, rivers, and sea. Beloved by citrus fans across Kochi, the “kingdom of sour citrus,” bushukan has long been nicknamed the “king of sour citrus.” Beyond its flavor, the tree is very vigorous: once it bears fruit, it will yield abundantly each year from late August through early October with little care. While most citrus trees live for several decades, bushukan remains healthy and productive for over a hundred years. Bushukan is also resistant to disease and pests and grows vigorously without heavy reliance on pesticides, making it a safe, reliable crop. This rare bushukan grows only in Shimanto City and is not shipped widely across Japan—why not come taste it for yourself? How did you find this? Perhaps the appeal of salt-seared bonito and bushukan has whetted your appetite. Please enjoy salt-seared bonito and a Shimanto Bu-chu Highball when you visit Shimanto City.

[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] You can only eat this in Shimanto City!! "Salt-Seared Bonito" (Part 1) When you think of delicious food from Kochi Prefecture, the first thing that comes to mind nationwide is the seared bonito known as "katsuo no tataki." Katsuo is a famous specialty of Kochi, and as everyone knows, it actually has two peak seasons! In this piece about the katsuo beloved by Kochi residents, Part 1 explains the timing and characteristics of each season, and Part 2 will cover recommended ways to enjoy it that you can only taste in Shimanto City. 〇 The seasons of katsuo: hatsugatsuo and modorigatsuo Katsuo is a well-known specialty of Kochi, but its name changes with the fishing season (peak season) to "hatsugatsuo" or "modorigatsuo." Here we introduce these two types of katsuo with different names, describing each season, their characteristics, and Kochi-specific recommended ways to eat them. 〇 Light-flavored hatsugatsuo! Hatsugatsuo, loved since long ago as one of spring’s seasonal ingredients, originally referred to katsuo landed at the start of the year, as suggested by the prefix "hatsu" (first). In recent years, however, the term has come to mean katsuo landed from spring into early summer. Juvenile katsuo hatched from eggs ride the Kuroshio Current northward around spring to seek food and grow into adults. Katsuo landed during this northward migration are called "hatsugatsuo," also known as "noborigatsuo." The exact landing locations vary, but in Kochi the season runs mainly from spring to early summer (around March to May). Young, fast-growing hatsugatsuo have translucent red flesh, a clean, springy texture, and a firm bite. They have less of the characteristic katsuo aroma, making them easy to eat even for those who are not fond of strong fishy smells. Because hatsugatsuo is low in fat and light in flavor, it’s recommended to serve it as tataki together with the fatty skin. This is the season for the Nakamura-style salt tataki enjoyed with plenty of condiments. We will introduce Nakamura-style salt tataki in the next article, "Salt-Seared Bonito You Can Only Eat in Shimanto City!! (Part 2)." 〇 Rich-flavored modorigatsuo! On the other hand, the katsuo that migrated north in search of food reaches southern Hokkaido, where falling water temperatures prompt them to head south again in search of warmer waters. Katsuo landed during this southward migration are called "modorigatsuo." In Kochi, the season is around autumn (September to November). Because modorigatsuo feed heavily and are landed after growing large, they are rich in fat and are also called "toro katsuo" or "abura katsuo." They have long been cherished as an autumn ingredient. The flesh of a large modorigatsuo is deep crimson in color, with fatty, pale areas near the skin and a rich, chewy flavor. How was that? Are you starting to get curious about katsuo? In Part 2, we will introduce the salt-seared katsuo you can only taste in Shimanto City!

Photographed on September 15, 25. CAFE ANDON's café latte and cinnamon crumble tart with grapes and raisins. 🍇

Photographed on September 15, 25. This is CAFE ANDON's Andon chicken curry. It is a menu that I like very much. 😊🍛

Moncher × Gokase Grapes 🍇 I visited the Gokase grape collaboration now on sale at Moncher Seasons in Hakata Hankyu.✨ The cakes displayed in the showcase looked as delicious as they sounded… 🍰 A kind staff member showed me the cakes made with Gokase grapes. 👀 They said the collaboration has been widely promoted, and some customers come specifically for the cakes featuring Gokase grapes. 😆 I tried the soft-serve made with Campbell Early grapes. 🍦 The soft-serve wasn’t overly sweet, and the aroma of Campbell Early gently spread through it, making it perfect for this still-warm season. 😍 The cakes using Gokase grapes are scheduled to be sold through the end of September. 💡 Be sure to visit Moncher Seasons on the B1 level of Hakata Hankyu. 😊

Event Notice📣 Tokachi Nakasatsunai Gourmet Ride 2025 takes place on Sunday, September 21! Nakasatsunai Village, blessed with beautiful nature, is a rich agricultural area with abundant food. 😊 The village offers countless picture-perfect landscapes, including views of the Hidaka Mountains, and is a member of the Association of The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan. This cycling event lets you savor the village’s charms at your own pace! Ride freely as you visit checkpoints and aid stations around the village. If you stay within the time limit, you may stop to sightsee or visit places you like along the way. The only condition is to finish at Nakasatsunai Village Hall by 2:00 PM. 🎵 Each aid station serves gourmet dishes made with local ingredients so you can enjoy Nakasatsunai’s flavors. 😍 Why not come cheer on cyclists from across the country on the day? Wave flags along the roadside to welcome them (cheering flags will be provided). Register via the QR code on the flyer or here → https://forms.gle/QMEeQC1PTjFBfoPu5... Meeting place: Nakasatsunai Village Hall headquarters Meeting time: 8:30 AM Inquiries Tokachi Nakasatsunai Gourmet Ride Executive Committee TEL: 0155-68-3390 (Secretariat: Nakasatsunai Village Tourism Association)

Photographed 9/13/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed 9/13/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

The Nakamura family built great wealth as owners of cargo-buying ships. The Nakamura House is a large mansion of a Kitamaebune shipowner, featuring a distinctive estate layout and a three-story guestroom wing. It has been open to the public since April 2024. Can you feel the history and romance of the Kitamaebune captains who endured and thrived on the majestic Sea of Japan?

Photographed 9/13/25. LEC COFFEE's fig Basque cheesecake and Original Chai. September is my birthday month, and October is the Kawagoe Festival, so I think I'm floating for the time being.

Event Announcement 📣 The 49th Kashirin Park Festival will be held on Sunday, September 21, 2025 😊 This autumn industry festival lets you savor the flavors unique to Taiki, a town with both mountains and sea!! This year’s HBC Radio live recording guests are Mariko Nagai and Shinya Kono and Hitoshi Fujio from Oklahoma 🎵 The program is packed with favorites like the annual Wagyu Festival and the Aki-aji (autumn salmon) Grab, food stalls featuring Taiki’s delicious offerings, dairy product sales from Snow Brand Megmilk, which has a factory in Taiki, and a fun raffle 😍 📍Note: Entry to the Aki-aji Grab is by lottery. Lottery tickets will be distributed between 9:00 and 9:30. Also, the event may be canceled depending on fishing conditions. Please understand in advance. There are kid-friendly activities too, including a stamp-art workshop to make a Taiki drawstring bag, a woodworking class, and a bounce dome ✨ Come enjoy Taiki’s seasonal flavors in Kashirin Park, surrounded by the town tree, kashiwa (oak)!! We look forward to seeing you 🤗 📍Date and Time: Sunday, September 21, 2025, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM 📍Location: Kashirin Park (held rain or shine) https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp/tp_detail.php?id=424...

Introducing 🍁 the Okusobana Nature Garden scheduled to open on October 1 The total road closure due to the construction of the Okusobana Valleys Road is expected to be lifted, and you can Fun the Okusobana Nature Garden in autumn from 10/1! Okusohana Nature Garden Information 【Opening period (autumn)】2025/10/1 (Water)~11/3(Mon) 【Opening Hours】8:30-17:00 【Address】16943-4 Onimusato, Nagano City (Okusobana Dam) 【Car Parking】Available (300 cars, 25 large buses) 【Admission fee】200 yen for junior high school students and older 【Inquiry】Onimusato Tourism Promotion Association 026-256-3188 The best time to see < Autumn leaves> Every year, mid-October to late October The promenades are maintained and you can enjoy trekking for about 2~4 hours. An example Course < walk> ●Tourist Center ~ Rest House ~ Bentenjima ~ Yoshiike ~ Komidaira Wetland / About 2 hours #Autumn leaves #Autumn leaves Spot #Okusobana Nature Garden #Nagano City #Nagano Prefecture #Nagano Tourism #Nagano Travel #nagano #naganocity

Because soba breaks more easily than other noodles, it came to be eaten on the night before New Year’s Eve as a way of symbolically cutting off the misfortunes of the past year. In the Imajo area, families make soba at home at the end of the year to serve as their year-crossing noodles.

Photographed 9/13/25. This is LEC COFFEE's fig Basque cheesecake. I passed the exam I took last month, so I congratulated you. 😊💮

Photographed 9/16/25. This is the Ai sea bream lottery of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. When I Prayer around 10 o'clock, the removal of the edge wind chime had begun.

Event Announcement📣 “Sea and Land Festival” and Toyokoro Industry Fair 2025 is coming 😊 Enjoy an autumn in Toyokoro filled with sights, tastes, and fun. This year, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the town’s establishment, the festival will be more lavish than usual, featuring special complimentary items like Toyokoro wagyu diced steak and Toyokoro autumn salmon chanchan-yaki available in limited quantities 😍 Onstage, you can enjoy drum performances by Toyokoro Taiko “Enyukai” and a concert by Toyokoro Junior High School Brass Band, plus a spectacular stage show featuring enka singer Junko Ishihara as a guest! Also returning by popular demand are the annual hits: the Otsu autumn salmon direct-sale event and the autumn salmon grab contest 🎵 There will also be a bounty of activities including a rice cake and sweets toss where you can win local specialties, various local product stalls, and food trucks—plenty to enjoy!! Toyokoro’s bounty is ripe for the picking—now’s the perfect time to taste it! We look forward to seeing you 🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, September 20, 9:40 AM–2:00 PM 📍Venue: JA Toyokoro Multipurpose Plaza https://www.toyokoro.jp/page/6325.html...

Nikko Toshogu Shrine covered in fog on a rainy day ✩.*°

[👒 Summer Gokase 2025 Entry Photo Showcase ④ 👒] Thank you for entering the “Summer Gokase 2025” campaign 😆 Thanks to you, we received many submissions ✨ Here are some of the photos submitted to “#Summer Gokase 2025”! @kakigoori2020 @gokase_pan @chika_narita @niidome2110 @tae_gerbera35 @narunaru918 @kokoyukeip There were many other wonderful entries besides the ones shown 😆 We will now begin judging! Please wait a little while for the announcement of the results 😁

It is a dance Events that was Held in in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Odawara Castle. Local dances called "Essahoi", hula dances, and various dancers and artists gathered. It was a masterpiece performance, with a sense of dynamism and beauty of gestures.

Photographed 9/16/25. It is an early dinner (breakfast) of Mr. 168. It is Taiwanese rice balls and black tea soy milk. Taiwanese rice balls are filled with takuwan, mustard greens, omelets, fried bread, and pork, and are nutritious.

Notice of the Hibita District Exploration Tour "A Day Tracing Ancient Memories" For history lovers— This full-day tour begins with a formal visit to Sannomiya Hibita Shrine in Sagami Province and then takes you, with a cultural heritage specialist guide, on a relaxed journey through the district’s living "ancient memories," including the former shrine site, burial mounds, and Jomon-period archaeological sites. 🍱Generous tour perks included! Enjoy a special bento from Megumi Kitchen made with pesticide-free vegetables and fermented seasonings, plus a tasting of three local sake servings from Yoshikawa Brewery, letting you experience Hibita’s charms with all five senses. It’s sure to be an unforgettable day for nature, history, and sake enthusiasts. Date and time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 9:00–14:00 (runs in light rain) Meeting place: Sannomiya Hibita Shrine precincts (1472 Sannomiya, Isehara) Participation fee: 4,000 yen (tax included; bento, three sake tastings, and insurance included) Capacity: 20 people (minimum 10 to run); advance reservation required (deadline: October 27) For application details and more information, please check the Tourism Association website. https://isehara-kanko.com/hibita_tour2025/... We look forward to your participation!

[👒 Summer Gokase 2025 Photo Entries Spotlight ③ 👒] Thank you for entering the "Summer Gokase 2025" campaign 😆 Thanks to you, we received many submissions ✨ Here are some of the photos posted to "Summer Gokase 2025"! @kakigoori2020 @machieri9.3 @fouzan_839 @totalrelaxation_salon_spring @gokase_pan We will now begin the selection process! Please wait for the results to be announced 😁

In the Kono Area, narcissus flowers bloom across the slopes facing the Echizen Coast in winter. How about enjoying the elegant narcissus with its pleasant fragrance?

Light and Shadow, and Jellyfish This is the Kamo Water Museum Located in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture Jellyfish greet you from a 5-meter-diameter water tank. When I looked up, it was 🤤 a beautiful view

Tone River Fireworks Festival 🎆 This is one of the Tone River Fireworks Festival held yesterday. It was held jointly by Four shrines, and the night sky of Arakawa blossomed in vivid colors. I would like to 🤤 outbound again next year

Photographed 9/8/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. It is a wind chime with red thread.

Photographed 9/8/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The wind chime shelf is also a sight to behold.