[Reihoku Sunset Marche] Announcement for the September event📣 This is the Reihoku Sunset Marche September announcement♪ 👀Highlights of this Sunset Marche👀 ❣All-you-can-pack small onions🧅 and newly harvested rice from Reiwa 7! In addition to farm produce, there will also be prepared foods and various breads❣ We look forward to seeing you all😊 Don’t forget to bring your own bag🛍✨ [Planned agricultural products for sale] ・Asparagus ・Okra (round okra) ・Pumpkin ・Cucumber ・Water spinach ・Rice (newly harvested) ・Korinqui (kolinqui) ・Early-season mikan ・Onions ・Garlic ・Banana peppers 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche [Date] Saturday, September 14, 1:00 PM–3:30 PM [Location] Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association) @reihokukankou ※Reihoku Town Products Center facility (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Announcement The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (national holiday), hosted at six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City 😊 During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and items will be offered at discounted prices. Take this chance to visit, enjoy Amakusa Ceramics, and soak in the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪ The Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association account will introduce participating kilns one by one in the coming days. We will share photos 📸 of preparations for the kiln tour and ask about the new works 📝. Look forward to it! ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (national holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln Amakusa City: Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Goyama Kame Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies will run simultaneously! ※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 ※A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Contact: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

"Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" has featured Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu. "Overseas and domestic tour and hotel bookings with NEWT" introduced Kokushōji's Ichibutsu Nijūgo Bosatsu ✨ 👉 For details, please see our website and the news section! It is listed among the 12 recommended spots for Kumamoto sightseeing and is presented alongside other regional attractions 👀 Please stop by when you visit Kumamoto♪

“Majakki” LINE stickers Volume 2 are now on sale!! Arao City’s mascot character “Majakki” appears in an adorable pixel style! Please enjoy and use the Majakki LINE stickers delivered from Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture!! Majakki Pixel Stickers - LINE Stickers | LINE STORE Production: Arao City Tourism Association https://line.me/S/shop/sticker/author/5551850...

Third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk: Tourism Route Workshop to Be Held! We will hold the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. On Thursday, September 25, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, we will host the third Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk tourism route creation workshop. This session will focus more on “literature,” uncovering stories while weaving in the history of Reihoku to create a fun guide manual. It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so anyone interested in literature, history, tour guiding, or community development is encouraged to participate. Date and Time: Thursday, September 25, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kozufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 👉Apply via the notice section on the official Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association website! Application Deadline: Monday, September 22 Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 This workshop is organized under the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant program.

Tongjun Bridge in Yamato Town, Kamimashiki District, Kumamoto Prefecture If the timing is right, you can see the place where it is released Water is a masterpiece The area around the bridge is also spacious, rich and quaint

The 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Stroll” sightseeing route creation workshop was held🎊 Last week on August 21, the second workshop was held in Reihoku to develop a sightseeing walking route so visitors can enjoy the town’s literary spots and heritage as new tourism resources✨ Held with the aim of revitalizing tourism “together with local people,” the second session proved a rich time in which the more we dug, the more literary treasures of Reihoku we uncovered👏 In particular, participants were treated to a carefully delivered, realistic walking-tour-style guided explanation by Mr. Kanzaki, the president of the Guides Association, who projected images as he spoke. This gave everyone a renewed understanding of the local area and created a lively atmosphere♪ The next workshop, the third session, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM‼ We plan an enjoyable workshop full of activities that delve more deeply into literature and the history of Reihoku, so please join us👀 *We will open recruitment for participants on our website in early September.* We are also collecting ideas and insider information from those who cannot attend the workshops to help shape the walking route. Please take part in our survey via the announcements section on our website! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy Project for fiscal year Reiwa 7.*

Arao City mascot character “Majakki” LINE stickers released!! Arao City mascot character “Majakki” LINE stickers are ready‼ https://line.me/S/sticker/31230300... Majakki Stickers - LINE Stickers | LINE STORE Produced by: Arao City Tourism Association In July 2005, the majaku was selected as Arao City’s official fish. The majaku (anajako), Arao City’s fish, is a shrimp species that lives in tidal flats and has long been loved as a relative of hermit crabs. Born on July 3 (Arao Tidal Flat Day), Majakki is the prince of the majaku world! He appears around Arao to meet many people and promote the wonders of the tidal flats. Majakki works hard to bring smiles to Arao residents and visitors alike! Please enjoy these Majakki LINE stickers, featuring phrases in the Kumamoto Arao dialect‼ https://line.me/S/sticker/31230300...

Stamp Rally Touring Kumamoto’s World Heritage Sites! Collect stamps completed by visiting Misumi West Port, Manda Pit, Sakitsu Village, and more, and receive a clear file‼ To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the inscription of the World Cultural Heritage Sites “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” we are holding a stamp rally that visits the World Heritage sites and component properties within Kumamoto Prefecture. Visit Manda Pit and Misumi West Port, component properties of the World Cultural Heritage Site “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” and Sakitsu Village, a component property of the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region and Amakusa,” and tour Kumamoto City to fully discover the charms of Kumamoto! Collect all the stamps to receive exclusive World Heritage goods. Please see below for details. Event Period From Saturday, July 19, 2025 to Sunday, December 28, 2025 Opening Hours and Closed Days for Each Facility Manda Mine Station: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed: Mondays (if a Monday is a public holiday, closed the following weekday) Misumi-West Port Urashima-ya: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed: none Sakitsu Village Guidance Center: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed days during the event period: none Stamp Locations (5 spots in total) Manda Mine Station (Arao City) Misumi-West Port Urashima-ya (Uki City) Sakitsu Village Guidance Center (Amakusa City) Waiting Room on the Shinkansen Platform Side at kumamoto station (Kumamoto City) Sakura Machi Kumamoto, 2nd Floor Concourse (Kumamoto City) ‼Those who complete the rally will receive exclusive World Heritage goods‼ If you collect all the stamps, please show the completed design to staff at one of the facilities below. You will receive exclusive World Heritage goods. Locations to Receive Limited Goods • Manda Mine Station • JR Misumi Station Tourist Information Center (note: different from the stamp location) • Sakitsu Village Guidance Center Participation Fee Free Inquiries Regional Development Division, Tourism and Cultural Exchange Division, World Heritage and Cultural Exchange Office Phone 0968-63-1274

Hello everyone! How are you spending the three-day weekend? This July in Reihoku Town was blessed not only with the Jatto Festival and the dragon boat (Pearlong) races, but also with events like the Sunset Marche 🥬 and the Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche 🌿✨ (Photo shows the Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche) The next Sunset Marche is scheduled for September 14th❗️ The Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche will appear in Oyano on August 23rd and at A-Coop Reihoku on August 28th🎉 For details, check @cross_link2025👀 The hot days continue, so please take care of your health 🥹 We will keep bringing you Reihoku Town’s tourism and event information through the second half of this year 😤 #reihoku #amakusa #kumamoto #Reihoku #Amakusa #Kumamoto #tourism #marche #event #beauty #day trip spots #Yorimichi Marche #Reihoku Sunset Marche

We will hold the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop🎊 On Thursday, August 21, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association will host the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop♪ Based on feedback from the first session, we will consolidate and refine the tourism walking route into a single plan! It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so if you’re interested in tourism guiding or community development, please join us✨ Date and time: Thursday, August 21, 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) 👉To register, go to the Notices section on the homepage in our profile👀 Registration deadline: Friday, August 15 Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136 *This workshop is held as part of the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy project.*

Reihoku Sunflower Project 🌻 Introducing the sunflower project as one of Reihoku Town’s summer scenes! Local volunteer farmers have planted a total of 150,000 sunflowers at various spots around Reihoku Town (near Reihoku Town Hall and along Route 324), and they are now in full bloom 👀 The photos were taken with the sunset—one of Reihoku Town’s charms—in the background 🌇 The sunflowers along the major highway that runs through the heart of town are now at their peak, forming an important part of daily life for locals passing through town, and creating a memorable sight for first-time visitors ✨ You can take in the vast sunflower fields even just by driving by, so be sure to see them while they’re in bloom now!!

A workshop to create a sightseeing walking route for “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” was held🎊 and we are conducting a survey! Last week on July 23, a workshop was held to devise a sightseeing walking route that lets visitors enjoy “Reihoku’s Literary Treasures,” aiming to make the town’s literary spots and heritage into new tourism resources✨ Nine local and non-local participants who know the area well joined and engaged in lively discussions. Students, local residents, and travel industry professionals who attended offered ideas from their different perspectives, making it a very valuable time👏 The next workshop, the second session, is scheduled for Thursday, August 21 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, so please join us👀 *Recruitment for participants is planned to be announced on our website in early August* We are also collecting ideas and useful information for route planning from those who cannot attend the workshop. Please check the notice on our website from the profile of this account! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the 2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant project.*

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Reihoku Town’s municipal status, the 37th Reihoku Jatto Festival took place 🎊 Last weekend, the Reihoku Jatto Festival and the Dragon Boat (Peiron) Races were held successfully, drawing many visitors to Reihoku Town ✨ Spectacular fireworks launched right overhead 🎆, fiercely competitive Peiron races and hands-on Peiron experiences 🌊 energized the crowd, and the two days flew by in no time‼️ (By the way, this post’s author joined the festival for the first time this year, participating as both festival staff and a Peiron paddler. I was truly amazed by the close-up drama of the fireworks and the exhilarating rush of paddling a Peiron boat 👀) If you couldn’t make it this year, please come to the Reihoku Jatto Festival next year 🔥

Local keychain 4th edition now on sale! The 4th edition features Arao’s local mascot, Majakki☆彡 You’ll find Majakki biting into an Arao pear and Majakki reenacting the Toten Festival, and many more designs! Each piece comes with a variety of stands, so they double as acrylic stands in a 2-way keychain(^O^)／ Nine designs in total On sale at Marugoto Arao Product Center! Please stop by ♪ Marugoto Arao Product Center Business hours 11:00–16:30 Closed every Monday (if a holiday, closed the following weekday)

The World Cultural Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution” Card Rally 2025 is now underway! July 1 (Tuesday)–September 30 (Tuesday) World Cultural Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution” Card Rally 2025: 38 cards in all Event period: July 1, 2025 (Tuesday)–September 30, 2025 (Tuesday) Celebrating the 10th anniversary of World Heritage registration! Set off on an adventure through eight prefectures and 11 cities! The industrial revolution that laid the foundations of modern Japan took place from the late Edo period through the Meiji era. The factories, mines, and shipyards that served as its stages remain across the country as the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution, now listed as a World Cultural Heritage. We are holding a special program to enjoy these history-rich industrial sites: the World Cultural Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution” Card Rally 2025! At the designated component sites and related facilities, you can collect cards featuring illustrations of things and people closely connected to the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. Collect the normal cards available at each facility and get a rare card! Collect specific cards to receive limited-edition cards and premium card holders (quantities limited). From young children to history-loving adults, this event offers both learning and collecting fun. Plus, add the official LINE account as a friend, and a robot named Gear-kun will appear to help you collect cards via LINE! With Gear-kun you can check your digital card collection and easily make inquiries about the card rally via LINE, making it very convenient! This summer, enjoy exploring industrial heritage sites while encountering the passion and technology of the late Edo through the Meiji era. For details, please check the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution 10th Anniversary Special Site.” Inquiries about the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution World Heritage Council: 099-286-2363 Inquiries about the card rally (general) Organizing Office: 050-2030-7388 Normal card pickup locations — 8 prefectures, 11 cities nationwide Hagi Reverberatory Furnace Guide Hut [Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Emisugahana Shipyard Guide Hut [Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Obanayama Tatara Museum [Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Shigetsuki Park Ticket Booth (Site of Hagi Castle) [Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Shoin Shrine Treasure House Shiseikan [Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture] Shoko Shuseikan (Former Shuseikan Foundry Site) Slope [Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture] Former Kagoshima Spinning Mill Engineer’s House (Ijinkan) [Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture] Sekiyoshi Local Products Center [Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture] Nirayama Reverberatory Furnace Guidance Center Reception [Izunokuni, Shizuoka Prefecture] Hashino Iron Mining Information Center or Iron History Museum [Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture] Sano Tsunetami and the Miezu Naval Arsenal Site History Museum or Saga Castle Honmaru History Museum [Saga City, Saga Prefecture] Gunkanjima Museum or Kosuge Shu Shipyard Site [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Gunkanjima Digital Museum [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Nagasaki Port Terminal [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Takashima Coal Museum [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Takashima Kita-kei Mine nearest bus stop [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Gunkanjima Museum [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] World Heritage Visitor Center [Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture] Miyahara Pit [Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture] Manda Pit Station [Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture] — located inside Manda Pit Station. Coal mine train shelter [Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture] ※Installed inside the paid area of Manda Pit; on rainy days, after checking your mine entry ticket, staff at the Manda Pit entrance will hand it to you. Omuta City Coal Industry Science Museum [Omuta, Fukuoka Prefecture] Ryujokan [Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture] Former Main Office Viewing Area, Imperial Ironworks, Yawata [Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture] Ongagawa Water Source Pump Room Information Center (inside Nakama City Community Exchange Center) [Nakama, Fukuoka Prefecture] Manda Pit Station 200-2 Haramanda, Arao City, Kumamoto 864-0001 Phone: 0968-57-9155 Closed: Every Monday (if a holiday, the following weekday), December 29–January 3 Manda Pit site tours: Adults 410 yen, high school students 310 yen, elementary/middle school students 210 yen Manda Pit Station exhibition room and DVD screening room tours: Free Parking: Free Bus-only parking [5 large, 3 medium] 72 standard car spaces A motorcycle-only parking area is also available https://diginal.co.jp/card_rally/...

The third edition of our local keychains has been on sale to great acclaim since July! For this edition, none other than Kumamon has come to Arao City! Kumamon appears with Arao City’s attractions and local specialties! Each design includes a stand, so the keychain doubles as an acrylic stand — a 2-way keychain (^O^)／ Nine varieties in total Available at Marugoto Arao Local Products Center! Please stop by ♪ Marugoto Arao Local Products Center Business hours 11:00–16:30 Closed every Monday (if a public holiday, closed the following weekday)

Kikuchi Tourism Association offers bicycle rentals. Recently, more people have been using them. This time, we introduce the popular destination, Kiki Castle. Kiki Castle is a mountain fortress built by the Yamato government in the late 7th century, about 1,350 years ago. A prefectural excavation uncovered valuable remains, including the foundations of 72 buildings, a former reservoir, and earthwork embankments. You can also see reconstructed buildings on site. At Onko Soseikan, exhibitions and videos explain Kiki Castle’s history and structure in detail. Excavations have continued since fiscal 1967 to the present. In terms of area, the site is about 12 times the size of the Tokyo Dome. The grounds are very spacious, making them ideal for a walk. Our staff actually visited by electric-assist bicycles. We reached Kiki Castle from Kikuchi City Furusato Sosei Citizen Plaza in about 20 minutes. There are some slopes, but electric-assist bicycles make riding easy. On the site is a café called Kuri to Sora that sells sweets made with Japanese chestnuts. The Mont Blanc soft-serve is especially popular. Please stop by the café to relax during your trip. You can enjoy scenery you don’t usually see. When you visit Kikuchi City, please enjoy a bicycle journey.

Thank you for waiting!! This year again, a fresh-picked corn sale will take place at Kaigobaru Vegetable Fields (kaigobaru yasai batake). Corn you harvest yourself tastes exceptional. Come enjoy the flavors of summer with everyone!! Date: Saturday and Sunday, July 5–6, 2025, 9:00–15:00 *Held in light rain; ends when sold out* Location: Kaigobaru Vegetable Fields (Kaba 1828) Price: On sale — 150 yen per ear What to bring: Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, plastic shopping bags, small change Contact: Kaigobaru Hometown Lovers Association 090-7534-2621: Ikematsu (hours 9:00–17:00) Notes: - If you’ll harvest corn, we recommend clothes that can get dirty, work gloves, and rubber boots. - Bringing an eco bag is also recommended. - No advance registration required. - Held in light rain (in bad weather sales may be limited to produce only). - The event ends when stock runs out. Kaigobaru Vegetable Fields (next to Arao Olive Village)

"Arao Tideland Day" Commemorative Tideland Wildlife Observation Event Saturday, July 5, 2025 Arao Tideland is home to many creatures such as crabs and hermit crabs. Come and learn the names and characteristics of tideland wildlife you don't usually see. Date and time: Saturday, July 5, 9:30 AM–12:00 PM (Registration from 9:00 AM)※Canceled in case of severe weather Backup date: Sunday, July 6 Location: Arao Tideland Waterfowl and Wetland Center Participants: Families including elementary and junior high school students Capacity: First 15 groups, free of charge What to bring: Rubber boots, work gloves, water bottle, hat (for heatstroke prevention), writing materials How to apply: Apply by phone Application start: Monday, June 2, from 9:00 AM Contact and application: Secretariat of the Arao Tideland Conservation and Wise Use Council Phone: 0968-63-1386 (Environmental Conservation Division)"

Shiyama Shrine "Wish-Setting Festival: Passing Through the Chino-wa (Ring of Miscanthus)" Friday, June 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM [Ritual] From 10:00 AM on Friday, June 13, 2025 [Chino-wa Crossing] From Friday the 13th until 4:00 PM on Sunday the 15th At Shiyama Shrine on the 13th, the Wish-Setting Festival and the Great Purification of Midsummer will take place. Anyone may attend the shrine ritual on the day. If you visit Shiyama Shrine 20 to 10 minutes before the ritual begins, you can receive a katashiro (paper human) for the katashiro ceremony. In the katashiro ceremony, write your name and age on the paper doll (hitokata), breathe on it and stroke it, transfer and cleanse half of this year’s sins and impurities, and pray for good health and a safe summer for the rest of the year. For vehicle katashiro, write the owner’s name and the vehicle number, stroke the vehicle body or key to cleanse impurities and misfortune, and pray for safe driving. When you leave the katashiro at Shiyama Shrine, prayers for good health and traffic safety will be offered at the Wish-Setting Festival. From the 13th until 4:00 PM on the 15th, the Chino-wa Crossing will be held. Pass through the large ring made of kaya (miscanthus) leaves to cleanse the sins and impurities of the past six months, and pray for health and safety for the remaining six months—this traditional event is part of the midsummer Great Purification observed at many shrines across the country at the year’s midpoint. Shiyama Shrine 818 Oshima, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture 864-0057 Phone: 0968-62-1390 A 15-minute walk from Arao Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line

The 2nd Yamaga Waguri Sweets Fair [Trade Show] has begun! Yamaga City is the largest chestnut-producing area in western Japan. This season brings sweets made with those “Yamaga waguri” chestnuts. At each of 11 shops, you’ll find new items not sold last autumn or upgraded versions of previous offerings. Chestnut lovers, please visit each shop. Also, if you complete the survey, you’ll be entered into a draw to win “chestnut goods” and more. Pick up a brochure and be sure to apply. Event period: June 1, 2025 (Sunday) to June 30, 2025 (Monday) Search for “Yamaga waguri”!!

SUP Experience Event in Tomioka 2025 Held✨ On Saturday, May 31, a safety prayer ceremony for a safe summer at sea and the SUP Experience Event in Tomioka 2025 took place at Tomioka Beach 👏 Blessed with good weather, all participants enjoyed stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) on the day 🏖️ There’s nothing like the exhilaration of standing on a board and paddling across the sea! We plan to hold the event again next year, so be sure to join us 👍 Tomioka Beach, selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment’s Top 100 Clear Beaches, offers exceptionally transparent waters and makes a great sunset spot 🌅 Be sure to include it in your summer plans ❤️

The Inko Hyotan Festival (Gion Festival) will be held again this year. The "Inko Hyotan" is a protective charm from Yasaka Shrine, a subordinate shrine within Omiya Shrine, enshrining the deity who soothed the epidemic that spread through Yamaga during the Edo Period. During the Inko Hyotan distribution period, limited Goshuin from Yasaka Shrine will be available, along with bamboo charms for health and epidemic prevention, ofuda, five-color hyotan charms, and pet charms. Please come and visit. ＿＿＿＿＿ ● Location Omiya Shrine (196 Yamaga, Yamaga City) ● Distribution Period Tuesday, June 10, 2025 – Sunday, June 15, 2025 ● Time 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ※Open until 8:00 PM on the 15th ■ About Sunday, June 15 Food stalls will be open from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. (The flyer stated "from evening," but the start time was changed to 11:00 AM.) Two kamishibai performances will be held: ① 5:30 PM – ② 6:30 PM ※In conjunction with the Inko Hyotan event, a limited Goshuin has been issued (June 1 – June 30). ※A limited number of items is available each day.

Higo Green Melon, a specialty of Kikuchi City, is now in season! Higo Green Melon grows larger than ordinary melons, with thicker, very tender flesh. It also contains plenty of water and juice, with a sugar content of 14 degrees or higher. Higo Green Melon is in season from late April through early July. It is mainly produced in Shichijo Town, Kikuchi City. Shichijo Town is blessed with clear spring water selected among Kumamoto’s Top 100 Famous Waters, such as Maekawa and Shimizu springs. Rich in minerals and oxygen, this water helps grow delicious melons. Producers tend the melons every day without rest, which ensures careful attention and results in sweet melons with beautifully netted rinds. Higo Green Melons are mainly sold at Roadside Station Shichijo Melon Dome in Shichijo Town. All melons sold at the Melon Dome undergo strict sugar tests with an optical sensor. Only melons that meet the sugar level of 14 degrees or higher are displayed for sale. Introducing Kikuchi’s proud specialty, the Higo Green Melon! To share this deliciousness and charm with many people, we have planned a special hands-on program! Title “Play Sommelier and Judge Sweetness♪ Sugar Level Challenge & Ultimate Melon Parfait Making in Kikuchi” In this program, you will make a parfait lavishly using Higo Green Melon. The melons used for the parfait are specially managed for the event date. Therefore, you will taste perfectly ripened, sweet melons on the day. We will use a generous half melon per parfait, making it satisfying to eat and great for photos. We will also top the melon with rich milk soft serve from Toride Farm. Garnishes will include strawberries grown in Kikuchi. Why not try making an original melon parfait you can’t find anywhere else? In addition to making the parfait, each participant will receive one whole melon to take home so you can enjoy it with your family. The take-home melon will be measured with the sugar sensor on site. You will be asked to guess the sugar level of the melon you selected. Those who guess the exact sugar level will receive a prize. We look forward to your participation♪ Please make reservations by scanning the photo QR code. Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 14–15, 2025 (20 participants per day) Time: 10:00–12:30 Place: Roadside Station Shichijo Melon Dome Participation fee: 7,700 yen per person Contact Kikuchi Tourism Association Address: 1273-1 Kumafu, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture 861-1331 TEL: 0968-25-0513

This is my first Yamaga Lantern Festival. I didn't do any homework, and I went with a crazy piece of equipment with a tripod pear 85mm single focal length. I vowed to bring a telephoto lens with me this year.

In 2024, I went to see the Yamaga Lantern Dance for the first time. The dancers dancing in matching costumes with lanterns made of Washi paper on their heads were very nice.

Tailor Ride Experience on the Arao Tidal Flats! Come and enjoy the Arao tidal flats with their beautiful scenery, sea breeze, and ocean scent. Ride a “tailor,” a vehicle used in Ariake Bay, and experience driving across the Arao tidal flats! A tailor is a rototiller fitted with a cargo bed, used for nori farming and clam harvesting. You can also enjoy observing creatures like crabs and hermit crabs! Advance registration is required for this experience! Registration opens on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Don’t forget your rubber boots!!! Meeting place: Arao Tidal Flats Waterfowl and Wetland Center Duration: About 50 minutes from the pre-ride briefing to disembarking (ride time about 10 minutes each way) Fees: Adults (high school students and older) 1,000 yen, junior high and elementary school students 600 yen, preschoolers free. Children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian. How to apply: Apply by phone to the Arao Tidal Flats Waterfowl and Wetland Center ☏0968-57-7444 Registration start date: Thursday, May 8, 2025 One application covers up to six people per representative, and you cannot change the scheduled date after applying. Please apply again if you need a different date. ・Please bring rubber boots. If you do not have rubber boots, you will not be allowed to ride the tailor. ・The event will proceed in light rain but will be canceled in severe weather. If lightning occurs, the event will be canceled even during the activity.

At the Arao Omoyai Civic Flowerbed, rose viewing events take place twice a year in spring and autumn! Location: Beside Arao City Oshima Purification Center (Oshima 4-chome 1-73, Arao City) Admission: Free Opening hours April to September 7:00–18:00 (Roses typically bloom from late April through June) October to March 7:00–17:00 (Roses typically bloom from late October through November) Notes for visitors There are no restrooms on the grounds. Be careful: the ground can become muddy in rainy weather. Access Due to the extension work on the Ariake Coastal Road, the entrance and exit for the Omoyai Civic Flowerbed will be changed from January 9, 2024 (Reiwa 6) for the time being. Please take care when visiting. Follow the directions on the on-site information boards for passage.

Introducing Arao’s local specialties If you’ve come all the way to Arao, you’ll want to take home a souvenir or keepsake that you can only find here. Here are Arao’s signature specialties and some tasty local treats worth trying. Shodai-yaki pottery Perfect for interiors and everyday tableware alike Shodai-yaki, a pottery tradition passed down in Arao for about 400 years, is made from high-quality clay dug from the foothills of Mount Kodai, east of Arao City. Its style combines the high artistry recognized as a traditional Japanese craft with a rustic charm that enhances food and flowers, making these pieces very popular for daily use. Alongside large plates and vases, you’ll find teacups and coffee cups in abundance. Find the piece that speaks to you. Shodai-yaki kilns in Arao City ・Shodaiyaki Fumoto-gama, master: Yasuaki Inoue Fumotoaza Furuhata 1728-1, Arao City TEL:0968-68-0456 ・Shodai-yaki Shirohei Kiln, master: Nobuaki Kijima Oshima 25-3, Arao City TEL:0968-62-0538 ・Kodai-yaki Sueyasu Kiln, master: Eisuke Sueyasu Fumoto 1712-2, Arao City TEL:0968-68-0058 ・Shodai-yaki Naka-Dera Kiln, master: Kousei Nishikawa Kaba 1192, Arao City TEL:0968-68-7326 ・Shodai Mizuho Pottery, master: Rui Fukuda Kamihirayama 914, Arao City TEL:0968-66-2380 ・Kodai Hontani Chihiro Kiln, master: Tomohiro Maeno Kawatou 2131-74, Arao City TEL:0968-68-6459 https://arao-kankou.jp/sightseeing/specialty/#:~:text=%E8%8D%92%E5%B0%BE%E7%89%A9%E7%94%A3%E9%A4%A8-,%E3%81%BE%E3%82%8B%E3%81%94%E3%81%A8%E3%81%82%E3%82%89%E3%81%8A%E7%89%A9%E7%94%A3%E9%A4%A8,-%E7%89%A9%E7%94%A3%E9%A4%A8%E3%80%81%E5%B0%8F...