Fresh green at Unoko Falls 🍃 It feels like May has flown by in no time 😅 Saturday, May 31 in Gokasecho was a delightfully clear day 🌞 At this time of year, Unoko Falls has plenty of water and brilliant fresh greenery ✨ I was soothed by birdsong, the sound of the water, and the breeze 🥰 The light was just right, so I got some great photos 📷 When you walk down to the plunge pool, be careful—wet spots can be slippery, so watch your step 👣

★☆★The 26th Kyushu Tamaire Championship in Morotsuka★☆★ The 26th Kyushu Tamaire Championship will take place at Morotsuka Village Gymnasium on Sunday, June 29. The tournament will be held🌟 “Just a ball toss? Yet not just a ball toss.” The basket you aim for stands over 4 m high😮 Entries are open for the General Division and a Beginner Division for newcomers🔰. ※From 2025 onward there will be no Ladies Division; entrants should register in the General Division. ■Event Schedule Sunday, June 29, 2025 09:30 Opening Ceremony 10:00 Competition Starts 16:00 Expected Finish Venue: Morotsuka Village Gymnasium Participant Parking: Morotsuka Village Sports Park Baseball Field ■Inquiries For tournament matters: Morotsuka Village Board of Education TEL 0982-65-0072 For entry questions: Morotsuka Village Tourism Association TEL 0982-65-0178 ※Entry deadline: Friday, June 13. For applications and details, please check the Kyushu Tamaire Championship page on Morotsuka Navi. We look forward to many entries😊 About the Kyushu Tamaire Championship In 1990, the All Japan Tamaire Association (commonly AJTA) was founded in Wassamu, Hokkaido as a group promoting new sports that anyone can join easily. In 2000, AJTA Kyushu was established here in Morotsuka Village as the Kyushu branch of the All Japan Tamaire Association. Embracing AJTA’s tamaire spirit and promoting exchange with urban areas to revitalize the region, it continues as part of Morotsuka’s community development centered on the whole-village forest park. Today AJTA Kyushu consists of volunteers who cherish the tamaire dream. In addition to running the Kyushu Tamaire Championship (held every summer in Morotsuka Village) as a stepping stone to the national tournament, the association works to popularize this easy-to-learn yet deep tamaire sport as a recreational activity for village residents. About All-Japan Tamaire Rules The competition divides into two divisions, General and Beginner, to compete for the title of Kyushu Tamaire Champion. “All-Japan Tamaire” is a timed race in which teams of four to six players compete to place a total of 100 balls (99 Ajata balls and 1 Anchor ball) into the basket as quickly as possible. AJATA Rules: All-Japan Tamaire Championship Competition Regulations ●Basic Rules “All-Japan Tamaire” is a timed race in which teams of four to six players compete to place a total of 100 balls (99 Ajata balls and 1 Anchor ball) into the basket. 1. Teams must consist of four to six players; lacking even one person results in disqualification. 2. To prevent false starts, players begin facing backward. (Starter gun start) 3. Ajata balls must be placed first; the Anchor ball must be placed last. Placing it earlier causes disqualification. 4. Failing to put all 100 balls in the basket results in disqualification. 5. Using rods or other tools, or tossing from piggyback positions, will result in disqualification. 6. A ball resting on the rim of the basket is counted as safe. If an Anchor ball knocks a ball resting on the basket rim, it is still safe. 7. Anyone other than the players touching the Ajata balls leads to disqualification. 8. Other matters of match operation will be announced at the managers’ meeting. The above rules were officially adopted on April 15, 1996, and partially revised in 2010; all championship tournaments are conducted based on these Ajata rules. ●Participants Number of registered players: up to 8; number competing: 4 to 6 players Gender: mixed or single-gender teams accepted Age: Junior high school age and older (Teams composed only of junior high students are not permitted unless at least one adult participates on the team.) ●Equipment 1. Ajata Court Mark a 6 m diameter Ajata circle with line tape. Position the Ajata basket at the center. 2. Ajata Basket (approved) Height: 4 m 12 cm with steel base (association’s recording site lowest temperature −41.2°C) Basket diameter: 44 cm; depth: 44 cm (association location approx. 44° N) 3. Ajata Balls (approved) Outer fabric cover with resin particle filling • Ajata balls (99)…80 g ±2 g • Anchor ball (1)…250 g ±5 g 4. Ajata Shoes Indoor athletic shoes must be worn.

🌸"Gokase Hanami 2025" Voting Now Open🌸【Until Friday, June 6, 2025!】 Thank you all for entering "Gokase Hanami 2025"! We held a strict first-round screening by the tourism association staff and selected 12 entries from all submissions🙏✨ From these 12 entries, we would like you to vote to decide the final winners🤩👏 Among those who vote, 10 people will be chosen by lottery to receive local specialties from Gokasecho as a gift🎁💫 We appreciate your participation🙇‍♀️ Here is how to vote💡 【Voting period: Until Friday, June 6, 2025】 ⚠️You may vote by only one of the methods below, one time per account or one time per person. <If voting via Google Form> ・Go to the "voting form" using the URL below https://forms.gle/uBpw7C7xFDsDKBo2A... ・Enter your email address (required). You may optionally provide your name. ・Choose one of the 12 entries, check the box for that entry, and submit your response. ⚠️No login is required, but an email address is mandatory, so please note this in advance. <If voting via Instagram> ・Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... ・From the post with the hashtag #Gokase Hanami 2025 Voting, choose one of the 12 featured entries and send the photo number by direct message or comment✍ ⚠️If you do not follow our account, message exchange may be unreliable and you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please be aware. <If voting at a polling location> ・Vote at polling stations set up at Gokasecho Town Hall, Gokase Onsen Mori no Yado Kijiya, or the mobile vendor "Gokase Marche" truck. ・Choose one of the 12 entries, write the entry number, your name, and your email address on the voting slip, and place it in the voting envelope. Additionally, a polling station will be set up at Gokase Secondary Education School in collaboration with the Gokase Sakura Project, and students will also be participating in voting💪✨ ⚠️If your email address is missing or illegible due to poor handwriting, you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please understand. Please be sure to view the original posts by the entrants before you vote🤗 1 @sokoatari.urouro (photo 1) 2 @fowafuwarin5 (photo 2) 3 @ 920cherry71 (photo 3) 4 @_yuta610 (photo 4) 5 @1230fuukeinoturishi (photo 5) 6 @8215dr72 (photo 6) 7 @code_name_cross_fire (photo 7) 8 @sakai_0808 (photo 8) 9 @reoron001219 (photo 9) 10 @hisabou1958 (photo 10) 11 @landscape133_22 (photo 11) 12 @omilove.1203 (photo 12) We look forward to receiving many votes from everyone🥰

Sell the pumpkins you grew 🎃! Pumpkin contest participants wanted! 1 Application deadline: Friday, May 30, 2025 (Reiwa 7) 2 How to apply: Contact Takaharu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry by phone or apply via Google Form. 3 Distribution dates: Monday, June 2 to Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 9:00–17:00 4 Distribution location: Takaharu Town Tourism Association (inside JR Takaharu Station) 5 Seedling pots to be distributed: four varieties • Atlantic Giant (for ornamental use) • Fukuebisu (for eating) ・ Korinqui (for eating) ・ Butternut (for eating) Details about the pumpkin contest • Pumpkin drop-off: Thursday, September 11 to Saturday, September 13, 2025. Drop-off from 9:00 until 12:00. • Exhibition and sale: Saturday, September 13 to Monday, September 15, 2025 (public holiday), 9:00–16:00 ※The contest venue and drop-off location is Koubashira Park Jinmu no Yakata. ※The exhibition and sale on Saturday, September 13th runs from 13:00–16:00. ※All pumpkin entrants will receive a participation prize. ※Winners will receive special prizes. (There are many categories, including most entries, weight, color, and shape.) Google Form to apply↓↓ https://docs.google.com/.../1nB.../edit... -- Inquiries -- Takaharu Town Tourism Association 0984-42-4560

🍵 Yamashigi kama-iri tea 🍵 The delicious season for new tea 🍵 Kama-iri tea grown at Yamashigi Forest is ready! Yamashigi Forest is an old farmhouse set in woodland over 600 meters above sea level This farmhouse, more than 140 years old, prospered as a key transit point in the days before cars. Travelers and freight once moved along exposed ridgelines with good views rather than the low river valleys. We picked the tender new shoots that grew up strong at Yamashigi Forest and made them the traditional way to create this “Yamashigi kama-iri tea” 🍵 It is made only from the first flush. During Golden Week every tea-growing household turns its attention to picking the leaves. The few tea mills in the village run full time from morning to night. Yamashigi kama-iri tea was produced amid that bustle. The kama-iri tea arrives at your home as a “boxed” product that has never left Morotsuka once it was packed. (In reality it arrives in a bag.) Kama-iri tea is a method the people of Morotsuka have kept alive for generations. It was brought long ago from China and now survives in pockets across Kyushu. Apparently it makes up only about 0.02% of the tea distributed nationwide. The tea offers a gentle sweetness and a slightly toasty aroma. After the water boils, wait a moment before pouring, drink quickly, and from around the third cup the leaves open fully and the “kama-ka” aroma drifts out. Kama-iri tea is popular in Morotsuka Village but remains rare across the country. 🍵 You can buy it from the online shop Morotsuka Store, at the Donko-tei Storefront, or at Morokko House. ※Stock is limited, so please order early 🙇‍♀️

🌿New Tea Season🌿 The tea fields in Gokasecho are turning a vivid green😌🍵 The first and second photos show the house in Kuwanochi, in front of which the weeping cherry trees that we introduced in spring looked so beautiful📸✨ Against the fresh green of the remaining cherry leaves, the two-tone tea fields made an incredibly beautiful scene🥺👏 Fresh tea is arriving one after another at the Gokase Specialty Center, and the scent of new tea fills the shop🥰 Enjoy the fragrant, new tea leaves that make you feel as if you are standing right in the tea fields🍵✨

Shiraiwa Mountain Opening 🌸 Today (May 11), the Shiraiwa Mountain Opening was held at the Gokasecho Highland Ski Area Parking Center😊 A Shinto ceremony took place on the mountain, with organizers and other attendees praying for safety while enjoying the crisp mountain air👏 After the ceremony, those who wished began climbing toward the rhododendron colony💪 Azaleas, Okamenoki, yama-shakuyaku (mountain peony), and rhododendrons appeared to be in full bloom💡 ⚠ Notice ⚠ From May 12, Reiwa 7, the town road Hon-yashiki/Hagi Line and the Hagi Forest Road, which provide access to the Goboubatake trailhead (Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe), will be closed to all traffic until further notice due to road disaster recovery work. To reach Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe, please use the Ogawadake: Tenyabo trailhead (road subsidence, many falling rocks, rough road).

【🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 12 — 🌸】 The submission period finally ends today, Sunday, May 11. We’re showcasing entries to “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025,” currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.💪❤️‍🔥 @hanpenpen2022 @goto0619 (in no particular order) This time’s photos show the Akebono azaleas on Mt. Futagami and the white flowers in Kuraoka…what kind of flowers are those, I wonder?🤔 Everyone clearly knows well when and where different flowers bloom, and many have personal memories and attachments to these blooms. Those feelings seem to shine through in the photos — they’re truly lovely.✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” also ends today, Sunday, May 11!👏 If you meant to enter but haven’t yet, don’t miss the chance — submit before you forget!💡❗ ≪#How to Enter #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post a photo of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of photography (example: #March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... 【Period】From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️Other terms and conditions appear on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

🌳Old Farmhouse in the Forest Series🌳 Yamashigi Forest A 140-year-old farmhouse stands on a sky-high site at 650 meters above sea level. There are two buildings: Shitashigi, built in the Taisho era, and Nakashigi, built in the Meiji era. A gentle forest breeze 🍃 flows through, making this a pleasant place to be. Nearby you will find tea fields, bamboo groves, and orchards, and a variety of hands-on activities let you experience mountain village life. Capacity: 2 buildings, 15 people each, total 30 people Facilities: Goemon bath, kamado hearth, irori sunken hearth *The Goemon bath and kamado hearth are available only in Shitashigi.* ◎Experiences 📍Tea picking and pan-roasted tea making The tea fields in the valley have their picking season every May. Around that time, Yama Gakkou offers tours where you can pick tea and make pan-roasted tea. Pan-roasted tea grown in Yamashigi Forest is also sold as Yamashigi Tea at places such as Donko-tei and Morokko House. 📍Ume picking and ume preparations The two plum trees have long been indispensable to daily life. In Morotsuka, households prepare ume (plums) for year-round consumption. Learning these ume preparations is a popular part of the Yama Gakkou tours. Ume syrup and pickled ume are both big hits. 📍Yuzu harvesting and yuzu processing From autumn into winter, yuzu take center stage. Whether picked green or after they turn yellow, they each serve a wonderful purpose. This is another staple of the Yama Gakkou tours held at Yamashigi Forest. You can harvest yuzu, make yuzu kosho, take a yuzu bath, and more… Enjoy yuzu to the fullest with no part wasted. *For accommodations and experiences, please contact Morotsuka Village Tourism Association in advance.* Contact Morotsuka Village Tourism Association (Shiitake Hall 21) Phone number: 0982-65-0178

An article is introducing Gokasecho 👏✨ Please take a look 😆!

Josenji Temple with Azaleas in Bloom In spring, Josenji Temple bustled with many cherry-blossom viewers.🌸 Now the petals have fallen, and the weeping cherry trees with fresh green leaves are beautiful.✨ Azaleas bloom across the temple grounds, and the contrast between the new greenery and the vermilion flowers is delightful.😆

Koinobori Sports Day 🎏 & Azalea Festival 🌸 On May 5th, the event was held in District 8: Koinobori Sports Day and the Azalea Festival. Under a clear sky where koinobori raised by local volunteers drifted gracefully, the sports day took place in the morning.👟 The program offered activities that people of all ages could enjoy, and both adults and children competed with smiles.😆✨ In the afternoon, the venue moved to the gymnasium for a quiz contest and karaoke competition.🎤 The day ended with a much-anticipated raffle, and the whole event was lively from start to finish.😍

[May 3] Kurara Festival 2025 A Golden Week fast start💪💨 On May 3, Constitution Memorial Day, Kurakura Kurara in the former Kuraoka Junior High School hosted the Kurara Festival 2025🥳 The weather could not have been better that day☀️✨ The venue bustled with many food and drink stalls, fortune-telling, relaxation services, crafts, and a flea market. About 300 visitors came, making it a very lively day🤗🌟 Because it was quite warm, shaved ice was hugely popular🍧💕 (Adults seemed to prefer alcohol🍺?) In the courtyard, Nani.loa HULA studio performed hula dances🌺 A special guest performance featured the vice principal of Kuraoka Elementary School singing passionately, which electrified the crowd😆🔥 The raffle offered many luxurious prizes, and smiles were everywhere☺️✨ Although a new festival that started last year, Kurara Festival has already become a beloved event both inside and outside the local community👏💡 Everyone is already looking forward to next year💕

【🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photo Submissions Part 11 🌸】 It’s been a while, but we’re resuming introductions of the works submitted to “#Gokase Hanami 2025,” currently hosted on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account 🤩💫 @sayasyoto They submitted many photos of the rhododendrons at Mikasho Shrine and a rare bamboo called kikkouchiku.✨ They also showcased the beauty of the leaves remaining on the cherry trees after blooming.🌸🌿 Since we can, please enjoy comparing these with the cherry blossom photos we introduced earlier.☺️💕 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Now then, the long-running “#Gokase Hanami 2025” is finally in its final stretch.💪💡 The event runs through Sunday, May 11, so if you took flower photos in Gokase during Golden Week, please do submit them.🤗✨ ≪#How to Enter Gokase Hanami 2025 ≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post flower photos taken within Gokasecho to Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #date of photography (example: #March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: From Thursday, March 20, 2025, through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[Event Information] The 11th Nippo Coast Rock Oyster Festival 2025 is being held again this year! Unlike true oysters that peak in winter, rock oysters are at their best in summer! Enjoy large, rich, creamy rock oysters! Period: Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Sunday, August 31, 2025 (Hyuga City, Kadogawa Town, Nobeoka City = from May 1; Saiki City = from May 9) Organizers: Nippo Coast Rock Oyster Festival Executive Committee (Hyuga City Tourism Association, Kadogawa Town Tourism Association, Nobeoka Tourism Association, Tourism Town Development Saiki) Inquiries: 0982-29-2155 (Nobeoka Tourism Association) 🎁 Gift Campaign 🎁 During the period, dine on rock oysters at participating stores and submit the entry postcard with the participating store’s stamp to enter a drawing for luxurious prizes! 1st prize: Luxury spiny lobster set × 5 winners 2nd prize: Local premium gourmet set worth 5,000 yen × 4 winners 3rd prize: Local premium gourmet set worth 3,000 yen × 10 winners Entries are valid if postmarked by Monday, September 1. *This event does not include sightseeing facility stamps. *The lottery will be held after the event ends, and only winners will be contacted. ★⭐Introducing Nobeoka City Participating Stores⭐★ 1. Kitaura Rinkai Park Kakiya Address: 2501-60 Furue, Kitaura Town, Nobeoka City, Kitaura Rinkai Park Phone: 0982-45-3039 Hours: 11:00–15:00 (Last order 14:00) Closed: Every Friday *Hours may change due to weather and other conditions 2. Roadside Station Kitaura Restaurant Kaisenkan Address: 3337-1 Furue, Kitaura Town, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-45-3811 Hours: 10:30–16:00 (Last order 15:00) *Rock oysters available from May 12 Closed: New Year holidays 3. Fuku Fuku Address: 6-5 Shinmachi, Maru Building 1F, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-32-0629 Hours: 17:00–22:00 Closed: Every Sunday 4. Ajidokoro Kokugikan Address: 2-3-4 Kasuga-machi, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-32-5729 Hours: 11:00–15:00 (Last order 14:00) 17:00–22:00 (Last order 21:30) *Evenings on Fri and Sat only 17:00–22:30 (Last order 22:00) Closed: Every Monday *Open on national holidays and busy periods

#001 Hello! This is the Tsunocho Tourism Association. Tsunocho belongs to Koyu District in Miyazaki Prefecture and sits in the prefecture’s central region. To the east lies the Hyuga-nada Sea, and to the west stretch the ridges of MtOsuzuyama, one of Japan’s 200 famous mountains. Known as the “town of mountains, waterfalls, and fruit,” it’s rich not only in nature but also in agricultural, livestock, and marine products. On the Tsunocho Tourism Association account, we’ll share information to make you want to visit Tsunocho, so please follow along! For our first post, we’ll introduce what kind of town Tsunocho is, the key points we want to convey, and a bit about the Tsunocho Tourism Association. Access to Tsunocho By plane and by car Haneda to Miyazaki: about 1.5 hours; from Fukuoka: about 4 hours Itami to Miyazaki: about 1 hour; from Kumamoto: about 3 hours Fukuoka to Miyazaki: about 40 minutes; from Kagoshima: about 2.5 hours From Miyazaki Airport By JR Nippō Main Line to tsuno station: about 1 hour By car via the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway to Tsuno IC: about 1 hour 10 minutes What kind of town is Tsunocho? First, here’s an introduction to Tsunocho. Tsunocho has a total population of about 9,300 (April 2025) and is a town with very active agricultural and livestock production. The town is also working to revitalize the fishing industry through an onshore aquaculture initiative called the Fisheries Dream Future Project. Tsunocho preserves many historic sites, including the venerable Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine, listed in the Engishiki register of shrine names, and the Akagi Family Residence, a valuable house that served as lodging for feudal lords and government officials in the Edo period. Every year on August 1 and 2 the town holds its largest summer event, the Tsuno Shrine Summer Festival, when a golden mikoshi and four neighborhood taiko floats parade through town. Visitors come not only from within the town but also from other cities and prefectures. Town tree: ginkgo. Town flower: Osuzu winter orchid. Town bird: Japanese white-eye. A brief history of Tsunocho Next, a short look at Tsunocho’s history. The modern Tsunocho formed in 1889 (Meiji 22) when Tsuno Town and Kawakita Village merged to create Tsuno Village. Thirty-one years later, in 1920 (Taisho 9), Tsuno was established as a town, and in 2020 (Reiwa 2) it celebrated the 100th anniversary of its town status. The old village name Kawakita still appears today as a ward name. Tsunocho sightseeing spots Next are Tsunocho’s sightseeing spots. The town has many famous and lesser-known attractions. Here are two carefully selected highlights. 1. Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine Affectionately called Ichinomiya Shrine by locals and indispensable to telling the Miyazaki myths, Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine exudes a solemn atmosphere and feels powerful. Legend says that six years before Emperor Jimmu’s accession, he stopped in this area while moving eastward, prayed for national peace, safe seas, and lasting military fortune, and enshrined the deities here. The shrine’s principal deity, Ōkuninushi no Mikoto, is associated with blessings such as fertility, because he took many wives and fathered many children; recovery from illness, due to establishing medical practices and helping many people; and business prosperity, among other benefits. 2. Roadside Station Tsuno Opened in 2013 to help revitalize a town worn down by the 2010 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Roadside Station Tsuno showcases the agricultural town’s proud selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, and seafood. The station also sells original local products made from regional ingredients. The most popular item, the tomato twisted fry, draws repeat customers from both inside and outside the prefecture. Packed with Tsuno’s charms, Roadside Station Tsuno is well worth a visit. Tsunocho specialties and gourmet foods Next are Tsunocho’s specialty products and local cuisine. The town offers numerous specialty agricultural and livestock products. Here are three highlights. 1. Tomatoes Tsunocho offers an ideal environment for growing tomatoes. Tomatoes grown here benefit from the Osuzu Mountain Range’s water, the sea breeze from the Hyuga-nada Sea, and a mild climate, producing exceptional flavor. The town grows many varieties, including the much-sought-after Nigo 25 and the honey-sweet Furutika, so comparing varieties is a delight. 2. Grapes Tsunocho produces more than 30 grape varieties, including Shine Muscat, Sunny Rouge, and Kyoho. Recently, a variety called Suzuka, sometimes called the black muscat, has attracted attention for its refreshing muscat-like taste and aroma when you bite into it. 3. Tsuno Wine Speaking of grapes, Tsuno Wine is made from the grapes introduced above. Committed to using 100% grapes from Osuzu (around Tsunocho), these wines express the local terroir. A rosé made from the Campbell Early grape was selected for Wine Report’s “World’s Top 100 Wines” in 2004, and many other Tsuno wines have won domestic and international awards. Tsuno wines are so delicious they attract repeat visitors from abroad as well as within Japan. Tsunocho Tourism Association Finally, about our tourism association. We use social media to promote Tsunocho and handle everything from preparing to running local events. Recently, we have offered rentals for Osuzu Campground on MtOsuzuyama and electric bicycles. Through Cool Japan initiatives, we work to share Tsunocho’s charms and provide useful information to help visitors enjoy their stay. We appreciate your support!

🌸Spring Mountain School — Now Accepting Participants🌸 ~A casual hands-on experience in traditional pan-fried tea picking and hand-rolling🍵~ On Saturday, May 10th, we will hold a hands-on tour to make traditional pan-fried tea by hand-picking and hand-rolling the pan-fried tea that has long been handed down in Morotsuka Village. This rare tea, accounting for only about 0.02% of Japan’s production, invites you to try making it by hand-picking and hand-rolling in an atmospheric traditional house. 《Pan-Fried Tea Experience in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture》 ◎ How to make handmade pan-fried tea🍵 1. Tea picking Pick one bud and two leaves. Start at the tip of the new shoot and pick the second or third leaf from the top. 2. Initial pan-frying Heat the pan, add the fresh leaves, and stir-fry while mixing to prevent burning. Heat the pan until you hear a popping sound the moment the fresh leaves hit it. 3. Hand-rolling Spread the leaves on a mat to cool, then press down with your body weight and roll vigorously. If clumps form, break them apart (untangling the balls). 4. Drying and final frying With the heated pan, rub the tea leaves against the bottom of the pan with your hands while frying. As the moisture gradually evaporates and the leaves begin to dry, stop rubbing and dry the leaves while stirring them by hand so they do not burn. Why not take this chance to experience making pan-fried tea, something you rarely get to taste? We look forward to your participation 🤗 *For applications and more details, please check Morotsuka Navi.*

Akebono azalea Blooming from mid-April and, if the season is long, into early May, the Akebono azalea is a very large deciduous broadleaf shrub in the rhododendron family that grows on rocky cliffs above 1,000 meters. Among high-mountain azaleas, it is the earliest to bloom. It grows wild in clusters near the west trailhead of MtMorotsukayama, and the sight of vivid pink flowers carpeting the spring mountains is spectacular. The Akebono azalea colony on MtMorotsukayama is located about a five-minute climb above the west trailhead torii gate⛩️. Because you can enjoy it without a full-scale climb, many people from around Kyushu visit to see this nature🍃. The Akebono azaleas on MtMorotsukayama are coming into their best viewing period! Everyone, please come and enjoy the flowers😊

Akimasu Observatory ◎First Viewing Point Akimasu Observatory has a first viewing point and a second viewing point. At the first viewing point, the surrounding trees 🌳 have grown tall so the view is no longer clear, but you can enjoy a pleasantly open space♪ ◎Second Viewing Point This 1,000 m–high panoramic platform offers a full 360° view, letting you see from Nobeoka as far as Aso in the distance. On clear days you can also spot Hyuga-nada and Mt. Osuzu, and even the Asahi Kasei smokestack with the naked eye. Facing the direction of the rising sun, it also attracts visitors who come to watch the first sunrise of the year 🌄. *All photos were taken from the second viewing point.* (Photographer: Masahiro Aya) With little light from buildings and a clear sky, some visitors come to photograph the starry night 🌟. ◎Parking If you do not turn toward the viewing points and continue straight, you will find a parking area 🅿️ at the end. Why not come to Akimasu Observatory to capture seasonal panoramic photos 📷 throughout the year? 🤗

[🌸Gokase Hanami 2025 Submitted Photos — Part 10🌸] The entries submitted to the “#Gokase Hanami 2025” held on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account have reached a pause for now as of today💪🌸 The photo contest is still open, so please do submit your entries🤗✨ @_yuta610 @fowafuwarin5 @meiko_ryu @tokotan2._.2 (in no particular order) This time we received many night cherry blossom photos👏 Even with a step ladder or whatever I try, I can’t take good night photos at all — how do people manage to capture such beautiful night shots like these?🤔 They’re truly wonderful!!! We’ll post again when more featured works have been collected🤗💡 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#Gokase Hanami 2025 — How to Enter≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #date of shooting (example: #March 20)🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents when photographing.

🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photos, No. 9 🌸 We’re wrapping up the introductions to the entries submitted to “#Gokase Hanami 2025” on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account, with just one more installment to go 🥹 Thank you for so many wonderful submissions 👏✨ @8215dr72 @920cherry71 @omilove.1203 (in no particular order) We received breathtakingly beautiful photos that make you sigh 🥺💕 Many photos feature Josenji, but we also loved fresh perspectives such as shots of the cherry-tree-lined road taken from afar and weeping cherry trees reflected in car windows — truly lovely 😳💫 Yesterday we announced that Akebono azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best 💡 With the weather not looking great today or tomorrow, we worry they may not last, so if you can, please take photos and submit them to “#Gokase Hanami 2025” 🤗✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Enter “#Gokase Hanami 2025” Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #Date of shooting (for example: #March 20) 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Additional rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please read them carefully before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

Handmade Sendan Cutting Board This cutting board is made by the Morotsuka Village Forestry Research Group, known simply as Rinken. Rinken includes forestry workers and farmers who grow shiitake log trees themselves. Each piece carries the warm, handmade feel of the wood itself. You’ll notice beautiful grain and an amber sheen from the walnut oil finish. Use it to chop ingredients, then bring it straight to the table as a serving plate to brighten your meal — a truly versatile item. The material used is sendan wood. Morotsuka Village plants many cedar and cypress for building materials and konogi (sawtooth oak) for shiitake logs, so why choose sendan? The answer lies in sendan’s potential. While cedar can take 40 to 60 years to mature, sendan grows fast enough to be harvested in about 20 years. It also absorbs six times more CO2 than cedar during growth. Sendan is strong and easy to work with, and if it grows straight it becomes an ideal timber. Spotting sendan’s promise were members of the Fukuoka–Okawa Furniture Association, a cooperative in Fukuoka Prefecture. They not only make sendan furniture but also plant sendan trees in various locations. They visited Morotsuka Village through those planting efforts and forged a relationship with Rinken. Sendan furniture looks to the future and the environment. Why not try it in your home? Each small-size board varies in width, and designs range from classic to uniquely styled pieces. You’ll enjoy the excitement of opening it for the first time. ★You can purchase a handmade sendan cutting board from the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association (Shiitake no Yakata 21) or Morotsuka Store (online shop).🤗

[🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 Photo Submissions — No. 8 — 🌸] Lately, the Gokase Tourism Association has been featuring entries to the “#Gokase Hanami 2025” on its Instagram account, and only a few submissions remain to be showcased at this stage 😳 @taniyan1119 @tm21mt @tourism09wine @yaaaaaa.85 @naoki_photo.graphy @naomin168 @kurota_kurohei (In no particular order) Mixed in with Josenji Temple and the Harada family’s site, we received many heartwarming shots of local weeping cherry trees, adorable pet dogs, and bright red boke (flowering quince) berries ☺️💕 Thank you all so much for the many submissions ✨ We’re still accepting entries, so feel free to post your photos anytime 🤗 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#How to Enter #Gokase Hanami 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post a photo of flowers taken within Gokasecho. Add the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #the shooting date (for example: #March 20) to your Instagram post 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: From Thursday, March 20, 2025 until Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please read them before submitting. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[🌸Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 Entry Photo Showcase – Part 7–🌸] We continue to share entries submitted to the "#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025" held on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account🤗🌟 @sokoatari.urouro This collection captures many expressions of the weeping cherry tree at Josenji Temple😳✨Daytime, nighttime, from far, from near, from below… each perspective brings a totally different feel, and it’s fascinating👏! We won’t post tomorrow, but we still have many entries to show, so please stay tuned a little longer☺️🙏 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#How to Enter #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (example: #March 20)🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Entries, No. 6 🌸] It’s finally starting to get truly warm here. ☀️ Today we continue showcasing works entered in the “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” contest on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account. 💪💡 @smail_barm @taka_gr86rz @takataka0129 @thusandleavis (in no particular order) We received submissions of weeping cherry blossoms from Josenji, the Harada family, and Kijiya. 🌸✨ There’s also a photo of the cherry tree at Koshouji at the foot of Gokase Winery — it’s huge! 😳 What kind of entries will appear tomorrow? 🤗 Stay tuned!! The photo contest is still open for submissions. 🌟 Spring in Gokase isn’t just about cherry blossoms — please photograph various flowers and enter! 🥳 -------------------------------------------------------------------- [How to Enter the #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025] Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (for example: #March 20). 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries!] From Sunday, March 9 to Friday, December 5, we are holding two contests: the “MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest” and the “Pennant Design Contest.” Visit MtMorotsukayama and try capturing beautiful photos📷. ◆◇◆ MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest ◆◇◆ Spring brings blooming akebono azaleas🌸, summer brings refreshing breezes🍃, autumn showcases brilliant foliage🍂, and winter brings snow-capped peaks⛄ and rime ice. Which MtMorotsukayama do you love? Cherished as the site of the Tenson Korin (descent of the heavenly grandchild), a mountain of shugendo practice, and a place of devotion, MtMorotsukayama remains accessible even to beginner hikers. We look forward to your special photos📷 taken on MtMorotsukayama. Winning entries may be used as PR materials for next year’s mountain opening.♪ How to Enter 1) General Category Please check the Morotsuka Navi website → Kaze no Tayori → [40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries]. 2) Instagram Category Follow the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association account “Morotsuka Daily Calendar @morotsuka.tourism” on Instagram and post with the tag #MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest 2025. If you unfollow, we will not be able to contact you to deliver prizes, so please be careful. Winners may later be asked to provide high-resolution image files. Notes - If the subject of a photo is a person, obtain the subject’s permission for portrait rights. - Copyright for submitted works belongs to the organizer and may be used for village PR activities. - You may submit multiple entries, but only one winning entry per person is allowed. - Winning entries may be requested later in large original file size. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- ◆◇◆ Pennant Design Contest ◆◇◆ This is a cherished tradition of the MtMorotsukayama opening! Participants receive a wooden🌳 pennant as a gift🎁. For the first five editions up to the 40th, we offered the “Flowers of Morotsuka🌸 series.” From the 41st anniversary, we’re refreshing the design✨ The grand prize winner’s design will be adopted for mountain opening pennants from the following year onward. The only requirement is to use wood🌳 as the material. Design, shape, and color are all free! We welcome your fun and creative ideas💡♪ How to Enter 1) Web Please check the Morotsuka Navi website → Kaze no Tayori → [40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries]. 2) By Mail Write your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of your work, then mail your design drawing to the address below. Designs sent cannot be returned. Mailing Address 3068 Kajiwara, Morotsuka Village, Higashiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture 883-1301 Shiitake no Yakata 21 Attn: Pennant Contest Office Notes - Copyright for submitted works belongs to the organizer and may be used for village PR activities. - You may submit multiple entries, but only one winning entry per person is allowed. Winners will be entered into a drawing to receive wonderful prizes🎁✨ We look forward to many entries!!!

【🌸Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photos, No.5🌸】 We continue to steadily showcase works submitted to the Gokase Hanami 2025 contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account 🥳 @reoron001219 @sakai_0808 @sayasyoto (in no particular order) We received many photos of weeping cherry trees set against clear blue skies 🌸✨ Everyone’s framing is truly brilliant… we’re always amazed, wondering how they captured such scenes from any angle 😳👏 Although akebono azaleas and rhododendrons aren’t fully in bloom yet, they’re starting to open little by little 🤗 The photo contest runs until Sunday, May 11, so please keep those entries coming 🎶 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪How to Enter Gokase Hanami 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #shooting date (example: #March 20) 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take care to avoid accidents while shooting photos.

[Event Information] The Kyushu Three Great Spring Festivals “Odaishi-san” returns this year! 📆 Friday, April 18th–Sunday, April 20th, 2025 📍 Imayama Daishi (3998 Yamashita-cho 2-chome, Nobeoka City) 🚶‍♂️ 15 minutes on foot from Nobeoka Station 📞 Inquiries: Imayama Daishi Sponsorship Association (inside Nobeoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 0982-33-6666 ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 🚗 Parking Information 🚗 If you are coming by car, please use the Furukawa Riverside Free Parking Lot (capacity about 400 cars). From this parking lot to the Nobeoka Station West Exit highway bus stop, a free shuttle bus is available! [Operation Hours] Saturday the 19th: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Sunday the 20th: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Also, from the Imayama Daishi east approach, a shuttle taxi (¥200 per person) is convenient for getting to Imayama Daishi! [Operation Hours] Friday the 18th, Saturday the 19th, Sunday the 20th: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー This festival, filled with the prayers of the historic Kobo Daishi and the passion of local people, is a treasured tradition. On the final day, the daimyo procession parade brings the streets to life with spectacular costumes! Enjoy the unique hospitality and crafted displays that make Odaishi-san special! This year too, come and enjoy Odaishi-san with your family and friends✨ *For details, please see the Imayama Daishi website.* https://www.imayamadaisi.com//

【🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 4 🌸】 We are continuing to showcase works submitted to the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 event, which is currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. Today we bring you more entries every day🌟 @fowafuwarin5 @gokase_pan @hisabou1958 @kickcamp_with_jimny @landscape133_22 @madame.rururu (in no particular order) This time there are many night cherry blossom photos from Kijiya🌸🌙 We are very pleased to see Josenji and the Harada family’s weeping cherry trees captured from so many perspectives☺️💕 There are also striking shots of the red-and-white camellias blooming at the base of Josenji’s cherry trees✨It’s delightful to enjoy the charm of various flowers🎶 We are still accepting submissions, so please send yours in abundance🤗✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪How to enter Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and the photo date (for example: March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take care to avoid accidents while photographing.

Morotsuka-yama Keiryū no Sato Among the two campgrounds in the village, one is this Morotsuka-yama Keiryū no Sato (Morotsuka Mountain Stream Village). This nature-rich campground sits beneath Mt. Morotsuka, one of Kyushu’s 100 famous mountains. In spring, you can admire groves of Akebono azaleas about a 2–3 minute walk from the west trailhead of Mt. Morotsuka. Directly below the log cabins lies a riverside park adjacent to a valley with plentiful water. In summer, you can enjoy playing in the stream and fishing (a fishing permit is required). The campground features three five-person log cabins made from Morotsuka timber and a free campsite limited to three groups per day. It’s recommended for those who want a relaxed, peaceful camping experience.