[Currently in Production] This year at the Woody Summer School, participants will be creating wooden tractors. The summer Woody School is like a 2-night, 3-day camp focused on making wooden crafts. This marks the 32nd edition of the event this year, which has been loved by many for many years. The woodworking instructor is currently making parts for the participants to use. In fact, it seems that one instructor is making parts for 20 tractors all by himself! 😳 Last year, we solidified ideas for this year's project and by December, we had produced a prototype. After fine-tuning while looking at the prototype, the drawings were completed by March this year, and in April, they were beautifully drafted in CAD. Since May, we have been in the process of making parts. Many innovations have been implemented to create parts with precision, and we were shown how this round contour is cut using this tool. The molds used for making wooden parts are also made of wood. The rounded board was created by gluing together four thin boards and applying pressure to bend them. We were constantly amazed by the skillful manipulation of various tools to create intricate parts during the workshop tour. To everyone planning to participate in the Woody School, please look forward to the day! ✨️ #Woodworking #Woody Summer School #Parts Production

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, July 19th, the "Makubetsu Summer Festa 2026" will be held to celebrate summer in Makubetsu Town😊 At the venue, you'll find fun attractions, a bouncy dome, and stalls offering delicious local gourmet food🎵 Additionally, the Chamber of Commerce Youth Division will host a grand lottery with luxurious prizes, including JTB pair travel vouchers🎁🎁 The festival will conclude with approximately 3,000 beautiful fireworks lighting up the night sky🎆 Bring your family and friends and come join us at the venue🤗 🔶Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM *In case of rain, the event may be postponed to Monday, July 20th (holiday). 🔶Venue: Makubetsu Undo Park Special Venue 🔶Contact: Makubetsu Town Office Economic Department Commerce, Industry and Tourism Division TEL 0155-54-2111 (Weekdays 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM) http://www.makubetsu.jp/kankobussankyokai/?p=8782...

Taken on July 1, 2026. This is the love fortune slip from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Taken on July 1, 2026. This is the Aitai fortune slip from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed on July 15, 2014. These are the matchmaking wind chimes from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Yesterday was the annual festival at Yasaka Shrine. We prayed for good health, had our heads bitten by the lion's head, and were fanned by Tengu-sama with a fan. We received cucumbers and amulets.

Kodai Fire Festival ❚ Held on August 14, 2026 The Kodai Fire Festival will take place in Ogata Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture. The lights of the kodai (small torches) will emerge fantastically from the area around Harajiri Falls, illuminating the Ogata Plains. 【Event Date】Friday, August 14, 2026 ※Postponed by one day in case of bad weather 【Location】Around Harajiri Falls and the Ogata Plains ※Traffic regulations will be enforced from 18:30 on the 14th. Please follow the instructions of the staff. 【Ignition Time】19:30, simultaneous ignition 【Number of Lights】Approximately 10,000 【Flame Sculpture Exhibition】 Around the venue, local residents will create unique torii gates and stone bridges with torches, showcasing their beauty in a competition. 【Contact for Event Inquiries】 Ogata Branch, Bungoono City, Phone: 0974-42-2111 Harajiri Falls Roadside Station Co., Ltd., Phone: 0974-42-4140 ❚ What is the Kodai Fire Festival? A traditional event passed down since the Edo period. Its origins are unclear, but it is said to be related to the memorial for the Bon festival, the wish for a good rice harvest, and the memorial for victims of uprisings that occurred during the Edo period.

Today, I visited Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The wind chime for tying bonds on the bench has changed to a sky blue color. I was in high spirits because Spain won.😊🎐

Event Announcement📣 On July 19 (Sunday), the 15th Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway Festival will be held😊 For nearly 100 years since 1910, this public railway has been running through Rikubetsu Town. After its closure in 2006, it was reborn in April 2008 as a tourist facility where visitors can experience actual train operations! To promote this historic "Rikubetsu Railway" and encourage more people to ride and experience it, we are hosting this event🎵 On the evening of July 18, about 2,000 fireworks will light up the summer night sky🎆 In conjunction with this, a special fireworks train will be operated, allowing passengers to enjoy the fireworks from inside the diesel train!! Passengers will receive local specialty products from Rikubetsu Town as a gift. Reservations are currently being accepted🚂 (Note: Fireworks train → Capacity 32 people, 1,500 yen) Additionally, stage shows featuring street performers and music performances by Backyard Music are also planned‼ During the stage event on July 19, we will welcome the popular Yoshimoto Kogyo comedians "Slim Club and Denjin Band" for a comedy stage performance. Moreover, in the "Special Train Experience Ride," we will extend the ride experience, which is usually limited to the station premises, as a special train for this event to Koi-yamagata Station in the suburbs. Those wishing to ride can register on the day of the event. (Note: Special train → Adults 500 yen, Elementary school students 300 yen) Don't miss this rare opportunity for a unique experience😍 Other activities include horseback riding experiences, a bingo tournament with a chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2, and dance performances by elementary school students from Rikubetsu, among various programs planned🎁🎁 Many vendors will also be present, so we invite everyone to come together and join us🤗 🔶 Date and Time <Pre-festival> July 18, 2026 (Saturday) 18:00–20:30 <Main Festival> July 19, 2026 (Sunday) 10:00–16:00 🔶 Venue <Pre-festival> Midori-machi Soccer Field <Main Festival> Inside Rikubetsu Railway Station & Multipurpose Square in front of the station 🔶 Fireworks Train Applications & Inquiries Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway Festival Executive Committee Office (Rikubetsu Town Hall, Industrial Promotion Division) TEL: 0156-27-2141 https://www.rikubetsu.jp/kanko/event/tetsudoumatsuri/...

Taken on July 1, 26. Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, this is a wind chime symbolizing the connection of the engawa (veranda). I'm curious about 🇪🇸🆚🇫🇷.

Taken on July 1, 2014. This is the matchmaking wind chime from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. I found a red thread wind chime.

On a summer day with light rain continuing, Kobe Meriken Park was a sight to behold. The fine rain fell and stopped intermittently, and the raindrops resting on the white petals that had fallen due to the wind were beautiful.

I love my hometown so much✨️ I want you to know its charm.

The "2026 Artisan Summer Asparagus Fair" starts on Tuesday, July 21! This year, 26 restaurants will participate!! Using the summer bounty of Engaru Town, "Engaru Nyokki-zu Summer Asparagus," participating restaurants will offer original dishes created with creativity and ingenuity at the "Asparagus Fair." This year, 26 restaurants are participating. Be sure to enjoy the original dishes at many establishments. When you order asparagus dishes, there will be special benefits at each restaurant, and you also have a chance to win "1 kg of Summer Asparagus" or "common meal vouchers for participating restaurants" for 30 lucky winners through a lottery! The event will be held from Tuesday, July 21, to Thursday, August 13! 🎶

Visiting Ichinomiya-ji in Kagawa Prefecture during the summer, aside from the usual pilgrimage, what I look forward to the most is the traditional summer event, the "Cucumber Blessing." As I step into the quaint temple, the first thing that catches my eye is the neatly arranged boxes of vibrant green cucumbers. Each cucumber is tied with a wish paper bearing the names and ailments of the devotees, creating a scene that is both novel and filled with a sense of sacred ritual. People firmly believe that through the master's spiritual power, they can temporarily entrust their internal pains and misfortunes to the cucumbers. Standing in front of the master's hall, I watch the devotees earnestly writing their wishes, with the rising incense and the deep, resonant chanting filling the air, even the summer cicadas seem to quiet down in this moment. The serene energy makes one naturally calm, and I silently pray for health and peace for myself and my family with my hands together. After the ceremony, these cucumbers, which carry the ailments of many, will remain at the temple, where they will be collectively buried in the Cucumber Mound. As the cucumbers naturally decay in the soil, the tormenting pains and misfortunes will also fade away into the earth. This seemingly simple tradition is wrapped in the most sincere and profound hopes of people for their health. For me, the Cucumber Blessing at Ichinomiya-ji is not just a special travel experience; it is a summer memory intertwined with the warm humanity and ancient beliefs of Shikoku.

Taken on July 1, 2024. These are the enmusubi wind chimes from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. 🎐

In Memuro Town, at Memuro Shrine, during the summer, it is beautifully decorated with flower water offerings, wind chimes, and pinwheels. Recently, there was a fireworks festival, and it was said to be illuminated as well.

Taken on July 1, 2014. These are the matchmaking wind chimes at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Enjoy the coolness of summer in the great outdoors! Here are some highland activities to try! <Don't forget to tap the "save mark" if you want to look back later!> 1. SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) in Shinshu Shinmachi If you want to fully experience the nature of Nagano City, SUP in Shinshu Shinmachi is highly recommended! Enjoy a leisurely walk on the water while taking in the beautiful seasonal scenery and refreshing atmosphere. With guided tours available, even beginners can feel at ease! 2. Forest Adventure Nagano Let's soar into the sky over Nagano! A thrilling glide 150m above the lake! Breathe in the refreshing winds of Nagano City and embrace the great outdoors!✨ With attentive support from instructors, everyone can enjoy themselves safely! 3. Togakushi Campground A refreshing campground surrounded by white birch forests, adjacent to Togakushi Farm. It's perfect for outdoor schools and family camping in the midst of nature. With over 350 auto camping sites (free sites), it's one of the largest in Japan! Facilities include cooking areas, outdoor stoves, hot showers, flushing toilets, and a shop. You can also enjoy river play in the stream flowing through the site. 【Operating Hours】April 25, 2026 - November 4, 2026 (tentative) From 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (for day camp use) 【Reservations】Available by phone or through the official website 【Closed】Winter break 【Parking】Available (free) #Experience #Activities #Highland #Nagano City #Nagano Tourism

Taken on July 1, 2014. These are the matchmaking wind chimes at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Taken on July 1, 2026. Kawagoe Kumano Shrine features a summer prayer water offering for love.

When it comes to summer in Japan, it's all about sweet and cold wagashi (Japanese sweets). Enjoying sweetened beans set in jelly or agar while wearing a yukata is a delightful summer tradition for young girls. The photo features a summer limited menu from Kanou Shoujuan, which has branches nationwide but is rooted in its local area.

Taken on July 1, 2026. This is the summer prayer water for love at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.🌻🏮

(2026-07-11) Night View of Light Trails on Mount Fuji Climbing Path One of Life's Unfinished Shots Photography of Light Trails on Mount Fuji Climbing Path This time, I took on the challenge At Yamanakako Hanano Miyako Park, I struggled surrounded by fog Just around 2:00, as we were starting to pack up, I thought, "Wait? I can see it" So we changed locations and resumed shooting. I managed to capture something :)

Taken on July 1, 2026. This is the chawa (ring of reeds) at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

Shiraito Falls in Karuizawa offers a stunning view, with water flowing like white threads, bringing a sense of calm just by watching it. It's a wonderful memory where I could relax in the cool air, and I would love to visit again.

Taken on July 2, 26. This is the pudding and black latte from LEC COFFEE.

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture. I captured the image of a girl quietly gazing at a small stream enveloped in soft light on a summer night. The scenery created by the shrine, which has watched over people's prayers for centuries, and the fantastical lights swaying by the waterside represents a beautiful summer landscape unique to Japan. I felt that the time spent in tranquility, allowing the heart to be clear, is also an important charm of the Japanese summer.

The Gion Festival, passed down in Okegawa City, Saitama Prefecture. The photo captures a girl savoring a fruit candy chosen from a stall amidst the sounds of festival music. Dressed in a yukata, she walks with her family through the festival, and the moments of excitement in front of the stalls create summer memories in Japan that transcend generations. It encapsulates the warmth of the festival that the local people have continued to protect and the innocent joy of children.

Hokuto Pro Wrestling The matches of Hokuto Pro Wrestling will be held in Nishiokoppe Village again this year!! There's no doubt it will make the summer even hotter. Monday, July 27 Doors open at 18:00 / Matches start at 19:00 At Nishiokoppe Village Community & Sports Hall (📍It's an indoor sports facility behind Secoma) Adults (high school students and above): Advance tickets 2,000 yen / At the door 2,500 yen Elementary and junior high school students: Free *Preschool children must be accompanied by a guardian. 🍺🍖🍺🍧🍺 Food and drinks will be available at the venue!! (Grilled chicken, miso curry oden, shaved ice, beer, other alcoholic beverages, soft drinks) Miso curry oden will be available From 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, even for those who are not watching wrestling! *After the doors open, only ticket holders can purchase oden *One egg will be complimentary with each ticket🥚 🎫🎫🎫🎫🎫🎫 Tickets are on sale now! For inquiries, please contact 090-8631-0781 (Kikugawa). It seems there will also be a time for kids vs. wrestlers! We look forward to your attendance. This project is supported by the Nishiokoppe Village Beautiful and Livable Vitality Village Development Subsidy. #Hokuto Pro Wrestling #Match #Hokuto Wind #Crane Mask

After visiting Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I stopped by LEC COFFEE. Their popular pudding is firm and very delicious. 🍮