Amidst the gentle rain, the silhouette of a majestic mountain looms over the serene Lake Hibara, creating a breathtaking backdrop. As I sit by the lake’s edge, the tranquil atmosphere envelops me, turning this moment into something truly unforgettable. The tiny islands in the distance adds a touch of magic, making the scene feel like a painting come to life.

[Notice] From November our hours change to winter hours! Thank you for always visiting Roadside Station Iwanai. We appreciate your support. Our facility will be open from November 1 through April 20 of the following year. Opening hours are 9:00 to 17:00. The facility is closed every Monday. ※If Monday is a public holiday, the following Tuesday will be closed. Please note that the stamp rally stamps will follow the same hours and closed days stated above. We look forward to welcoming you during the winter season 😊 Roadside Station Iwanai🐟

[Limited to 500 copies] Tomioka Castle “Gojoin” 70th Anniversary Edition Now on Sale! This year marks the 70th anniversary of Reihoku’s municipal status, established on January 1, 1955 (Showa 30). To commemorate the anniversary, a special Tomioka Castle Gojoin 70th Anniversary Edition will be sold in a separate limited release of 500 copies, apart from the regular Gojoin on sale now.🎊 During the Shimabara–Amakusa Uprising, Tomioka Castle served as a government stronghold and withstood two major assaults by the rebel forces led by Amakusa Shirō Tokisada. Through a desperate defense, the castle avoided capture. The Gojoin of the impregnable Tomioka Castle is said to bring the blessing of “not falling.”👀 Please purchase yours at the Reihoku Town History Museum.✨ Price: 500 yen per sheet (set of two: regular edition plus 70th anniversary edition — 700 yen) Number available: First 500 copies (sales end when sold out) Sale starts: Sunday, October 26, 2025 from 10:00 AM — the day of the Castle Festival! Sales location: Reihoku Town History Museum Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM) Closed: Every Thursday (if a holiday, closed the following weekday) Phone: 0969-35-0712 Please note: mail-order sales are not available. For inquiries, contact Reihoku Town History Museum (☎0969-35-0712) or Reihoku Town Hall Commerce and Tourism Division (☎0969-35-3332). The same notice is also available on the official Reihoku Town Hall website.

Announcing the Tomioka Castle Festival on the radio! We will promote the “Reihoku Town 70th Anniversary: 9th Tomioka Castle Festival,” held on Sunday, October 26, on FM Kumamoto’s program “Ii Tabi Kumamoto Tourism School.” 📻 The broadcast airs on Thursday, October 23, from 18:08, so please tune in. 👂 Also, be sure to check the quoted post below for more on the castle festival. 👀‼️

Daishizan Seidaiji Temple to Echizen Daibutsu! There was a big Great Buddha and many stone statues! The three of us tried desperately to count the numbers, but in the end there were so many that I couldn't figure them out lol 😆.

[Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Kicks Off Today!] The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will run for five days from Thursday, October 9 through Monday, October 13 (a national holiday), with six kilns across Reihoku and Amakusa City participating. For photos of preparations and the new works being readied for the tour, please see our past posts from visits to each kiln. The forecast looks favorable for those five days, with plenty of sunshine expected. Please take this opportunity to visit, enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the coastal scenery of the Amakusa West Coast 🌊🌅. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ [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 ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama (Tenjiku Gama will not participate) Amakusa City: Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies run at the same time! • A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points📱 • A stamp rally with a chance to win products from your chosen kiln (entry forms are available at each kiln📃) Inquiries: Secretariat of the Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (within Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Introducing Participating Kilns / 06 Takahama-yaki Juho-gama The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (a public holiday), with six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City serving as venues. 😊 During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and special discount sales will take place, so please take this opportunity to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the scenery of the Amakusa West Coast. 🌊🌅 (Note: Tenjiku Gama will not participate. 🙇‍♀️🙇) 🍁🍁🍁 Introducing the participating kilns / Heading south along the Amakusa West Coast brings you to the Takahama area. Takahama-yaki Juho-gama is a kiln that forms part of the Ueda family’s history; the Ueda family served for generations as village headmen in this area. In the Meiji era, grape cultivation thrived in the Takahama district, and the area became widely known for “Takahama grapes.” The town was once described as being covered in vines. Though grape growing faced extinction at one point, the local promotion association’s efforts revived it, and you can now see grape trellises across the region. Takahama-yaki Juho-gama is well known for its mirumon (seaweed motif), but the kiln’s painted grape designs also keep Takahama’s history alive. By the time the Autumn Kiln Tour takes place, the grape harvest will already be over, but it is delightful to reflect on the area’s past while admiring the grape motifs on the pottery. From Thursday, October 9 to Sunday, October 12 during the event, Ueda Family House, adjacent to Juho-gama, will host a workshop by illustrator Yoko Koda, along with food and craft stalls. Please see the posted images for details. 📍Takahama-yaki Juho-gama 598 Takahama Minami, Amakusa-cho, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2804 TEL: 0969-42-1115 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (public holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: 〈Reihoku〉Uchida Sarayama ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama (Note: Tenjiku Gama will not participate.) 〈Amakusa City〉Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies run at the same time! ※A digital stamp rally linked to the Kumamoto Health Points program 📱 ※A stamp rally offering a chance to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Inquiries: Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (within Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Introducing participating kilns / 05 Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9th to Monday, October 13th (holiday), using six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City as venues 😊 During the event you can see new works on display and buy items at discounted prices, so please take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪ (Tenjiku Gama will not be participating 🙇‍♀️🙇) 🍁🍁🍁 Introducing the participating kilns / Odatoko lies south along the Amakusa West Coast at the point where the road bends toward the sea. Perched to overlook a calm shoreline popular with divers and kayakers, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln stands here. Previously known and loved as Amakusa Karatsu Jurō Kiln, it has reverted this autumn to its former name, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln. The exhibition room displays pottery reflecting the distinct personalities of the married couple. Mr. Kameyama Go trained in Karatsu, famed for Karatsu ware, while his wife, Sanae Kameyama, studied ceramics at the pottery college in Arita. Even within Saga Prefecture, Karatsu and Arita ceramics differ greatly in materials and characteristics — clay or stone, pottery or porcelain. Mr. Go’s pieces attract the eye with striking forms and tranquil, nature-like patterns woven from clay and glazes. The lines on his pottery, reminiscent of classical Karatsu motifs, embody a ‘‘beauty of subtraction.’’ Ms. Sanae uses a blue pigment called gosu to paint modern, expressive designs by underglaze before applying glaze. Her work carries a warm charm that brings a smile to the viewer’s face. Although they work with opposite materials, the couple’s distinct styles complement each other. These works arise precisely because Amakusa offers both types of materials. The exhibition room, filled with vessels nurtured by Amakusa’s nature, radiates an unexpectedly rich harmony. Please pick them up and savor their world. 📍Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln 426 Shimoda-minami, Amakusa-cho, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2802 TEL: 090-5081-1316 🗺️ The back of this year’s kiln tour flyer has been renewed! Based on the Amakusa West Coast map illustrated by Sanae, please head out and enjoy the kiln tour by car 🚗 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9th – Monday, October 13th (holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: 〈Reihoku〉 Uchida Sarayama ware, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshugama (Tenjiku Gama will not be participating) 〈Amakusa City〉 Takahama-yaki Juho-gama, Amakusa Karatsu Gozakameyama Kiln (Jurō Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rally events will take place simultaneously! ※A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto Health Points 📱 ※A stamp rally where you can win products from the kilns you visit (entry forms are available at each kiln 📃) Inquiries: Secretariat of the Amakusa Ceramic Stone Research and Development Promotion Council (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Featured Kiln / 04 Unshū Kiln The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (public holiday), with six kilns in Reihoku and Amakusa City serving as venues. During the event you can enjoy new works on display and for sale, plus special discounted sales. Take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅. (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate.) 🍁🍁🍁 Featured Kilns / Unshū Kiln sits in a small seaside settlement where you can hear the surf, roughly halfway along the road that leads to the Tomioka Peninsula in Reihoku. One late-summer day I visited the kiln owner, Ms. Miyoshi, a friendly person who always carries a light, cheerful air. For this Autumn Kiln Tour, alongside Unshū Kiln’s staple vessels, you will see works using the vivid red cinnabar (shinsa) pigment, a color believed since the Jomon Period to ward off evil. Also noteworthy are charming pieces inspired by Amakusa sea urchins. They appeared a few years ago and have returned for this Autumn Kiln Tour after a long absence. During the exhibition the kiln will sell succulents including cacti, and offer painting-on-ware experiences. Please drop by—unexpected encounters and discoveries await you. 📍Unshū Kiln 2829 Tomioka, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2507 TEL: 080-5254-7915 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (public holiday) 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Venues Reihoku: Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate) Amakusa City: Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Goyama Kame Kiln (Juro Kiln) 🍁 Two stamp rallies run concurrently! • A digital stamp rally eligible for Kumamoto health points📱 • A prize-entry stamp rally to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms available at each kiln📃) For inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

[Reihoku Town 70th Anniversary WEB Photo Contest 🎊] To coincide with the “9th Tomioka Castle Festival” on Sunday, October 26, Reihoku Town will hold a WEB Photo Contest celebrating the 70th anniversary of the town’s incorporation📸 This year marks the 70th year since Reihoku Town was founded. Under the theme “The Charms of Reihoku Town,” we are seeking photos that capture the town’s appeal — abundant nature, local dishes and specialties, historic buildings, everyday life, people’s smiles, and more! Photos taken since January of this year are eligible, so pictures from the Reihoku Jatto Festival or the Tomioka Castle Festival are welcome. Smartphone photos are fine! Capture a scene that moved you and submit it! Cash prizes are available👀! 📸[Open Category] High school students and older Grand Prize (1): 10,000 yen + Reihoku Town specialty products worth 5,000 yen; Special Prize (2): 3,000 yen + Reihoku Town specialty products worth 5,000 yen; Runner-up Special Prizes (up to 4): Reihoku Town specialty products worth 5,000 yen 📸[Junior Category] Elementary and junior high school students Grand Prize (1): 5,000-yen book voucher; Special Prize (2): 3,000-yen book voucher 📸[Eligible Photos] Photos taken from January 2025 through the Tomioka Castle Festival day on October 26, 2025 📸[Submission Deadline] Tuesday, November 11, 2025 📸For submission details, please check the photo contest special website. (You can find the link in the announcements section on our company website in the profile.) We look forward to many entries📸 🏯[Contact] Reihoku Jatto Festival & Tomioka Castle Festival Executive Committee, Photo Contest Section (inside Reihoku Town Chamber of Commerce) E-mail: pc@amakusa-kankou.com

Notice: Reihoku Town 70th Anniversary of Municipal Status — 9th Tomioka Castle O-shiro Festival 🏯 The “Reihoku Town 70th Anniversary of Municipal Status — 9th Tomioka Castle O-shiro Festival” will be held at the Tomioka Castle Hyakken Dote on Sunday, October 26, 2025‼️ Stage events will feature local performing arts plus Kaoru Yumi, famous for her role as Kagero Ogin in Mito Komon, a performance by the Ashikita Teppo-tai, a Chinese face-changing show, and an appearance by Kumamon 🐻. Around 30 tents and food trucks will line the venue, bringing together delicious treats from inside and outside the town♪ Other hands-on activities include the “Tomioka Castle 🏯 and Amakusa West Coast Walking 🌅,” the Kumamoto Maru trial voyage ⛴️, and a pearon (dragon boat) experience 🚣. If you want to take part, please make an advance reservation early! The Tomioka walking tour and pearon experience are eligible for the Kumamoto Health Points program ❣️ A photo contest 📷 (cash prizes available ✨) will run at the same time. There are separate categories for general and junior entrants♪ Come and enjoy autumn in Reihoku Town‼☺️ We look forward to seeing you🙌 For details about the O-shiro Festival, please visit the Reihoku Town website. Period: Sunday, October 26, 2025 Venue: Tomioka Castle Hyakken Dote Contact: Reihoku Jatto Festival / Tomioka Castle O-shiro Festival Executive Committee (Reihoku Town Hall Commerce and Tourism Division Tel 0969-35-3332 Reihoku Chamber of Commerce Tel 0969-37-1244)

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Featured Kiln / 03 Mugen Kiln The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (national holiday), with six kilns across Reihoku and Amakusa City participating. During the event you can view and buy new works and enjoy discounted sales, so please take this opportunity to visit and enjoy Amakusa ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅. (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate.) 🍁🍁🍁 Featured Kiln Introduction / Tucked quietly in the satoyama of Reihoku, Mugen Kiln stands serene. From the pieces created by kiln owner Seiko Tanaka, you sense an unwavering dedication to beauty. When asked about that source, she showed us the neatly arranged collection of seashells. As a child, during the Obon season she began collecting sakuragai and benigai shells found on the local shore during the spirit-floating ceremony, becoming captivated by the mysterious shapes and colors that nature creates. Tanaka’s remark — “Truly beautiful things in this world are those without calculation, like these” — left a strong impression. It seems the core of Mugen Kiln’s unique worldview breathes from that sentiment. We hope you will pick up Tanaka’s carefully crafted ceramics and feel their charm firsthand. Unpesticided vegetables and potted flowers will also be on sale during the period. 📍 Mugen Kiln 588-1 Shirakio, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2506 TEL: 080-1703-6886 ________________________________ 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 (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not participate) 〈Amakusa City〉 Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Goyama Kamegama) 🍁 Two stamp rallies run concurrently! ※ A digital stamp rally qualifying for Kumamoto Health Points📱 ※ A stamp rally to win items from your chosen kiln (entry forms available at each kiln📃) Inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (within Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Introducing Participating Kilns / 02 Kobo Kaze The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9th through Monday, October 13th (a public holiday), with six kilns across Reihoku and Amakusa City serving as venues.😊 During the event, new works will be exhibited and sold, and discounted items will be available, so please take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa Ceramics and the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅. (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not be participating.🙇‍♀️🙇) 🍁🍁🍁 Introducing the participating kilns / Kobo Kaze continues to make pottery in a more than 130-year-old traditional farmhouse surrounded by nature. The studio began full-scale pottery activities in 2006. For this feature, the studio owner, Mr. Hayashida, demonstrated a hand-building technique known as himodzukuri, one of the methods that does not use a potter’s wheel. Himodzukuri involves stacking clay rolled into cord-like strands and shaping them as they accumulate. Mr. Hayashida skillfully forms black clay into these cords and stacks them slowly and deliberately. Watching him work feels like time itself is moving gently, and it soothes the viewer. When firing pieces in a carbonization kiln, Kobo Kaze leaves the exterior unglazed to highlight the natural gradations created by the way flames touch the surface, bringing out the clay’s inherent texture. A transparent glaze is applied to the interior to ensure everyday usability. The result is a simple, unpretentious elegance. During the event, visitors can also find bamboo dragonfly crafts, wooden goods, homemade sweets, loaves of bread, and jams for sale. 📍Kobo Kaze 598 Takahama Minami, Takahama, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2503 TEL: 0969-35-2041 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast 🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9th – Monday, October 13th (public holiday) Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues: 〈Reihoku〉 Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not be participating) 〈Amakusa City〉 Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Goyama Kame Kiln) 🍁 Two stamp rallies run concurrently! ※ A digital stamp rally for Kumamoto Health Points (smartphone) ※ A stamp rally offering a chance to win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms available at each kiln 📃) Inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (inside Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

Amakusa West Coast🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour — Introducing Participating Kilns / 01 Uchida Sarayama Pottery The 36th Amakusa West Coast Autumn Kiln Tour will take place over five days from Thursday, October 9 to Monday, October 13 (a public holiday), with six kilns across Reihoku and Amakusa City welcoming visitors😊 During the event you can enjoy new works on display and for sale, plus discounted items. Please take this chance to visit and enjoy Amakusa Ceramics along with the Amakusa West Coast scenery 🌊🌅♪ (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not be participating 🙇‍♀️🙇) 🍁🍁🍁 Introducing the Uchida Sarayama Pottery, which carries on a porcelain-making history that began around 1650 and continued for about a century. For this Autumn Kiln Tour, we recommend a new piece using the “iro-itchin” (colored itchin) technique: itchin motifs painted in a blue inspired by the Amakusa West Coast sea. Though itchin looks charming, it represents delicate skill and careful effort. The blue itchin patterns stand out beautifully against the white ground — a piece you should pick up and examine closely. Also not to be missed are Uchida Sarayama Pottery’s classic zodiac figurines. Sales begin each year with the Autumn Kiln Tour. Next year’s zodiac is the horse. We photographed a veteran painter with 20 years’ experience at work. Watching the unglazed horses come to life through the brush is a stirring sight. The zodiac figurines cycle every 12 years, and Uchida Sarayama Pottery prepares a new mold each time, applying designs suited to the era. They produce as many as three thousand pieces. Through these zodiac figurines, they aim to convey the distinctive whiteness of Amakusa Toseki. 📍Uchida Sarayama Pottery 554-1 Uchida, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture 863-2505 TEL: 0969-35-0222 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ The 36th Amakusa West Coast🍁 Autumn Kiln Tour Period: Thursday, October 9 – Monday, October 13 (public holiday) 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Venues 〈Reihoku〉Uchida Sarayama Pottery, Kobo Kaze, Mugen Kiln, Unshū Kiln (Note: Tenjiku Pottery Kiln will not be participating) 〈Amakusa City〉Takahama Ware Juhogama, Amakusa Karatsu Juro Kiln (Juro Kiln) 🍁Two stamp rallies will run simultaneously! • A digital stamp rally that counts toward Kumamoto Health Points 📱 • A stamp rally where you can win products from your chosen kilns (entry forms available at each kiln 📃) Inquiries: Amakusa Pottery Stone Research and Development Promotion Council Secretariat (Reihoku Town Hall, Commerce and Tourism Division) TEL: 0969-35-3332

🍁Autumn Leaves in Teshikaga🍁 The peak season for autumn colors in Teshikaga generally runs from early October through late October. It is the most comfortable time of year, with relatively stable weather. It’s also perfect for outdoor activities, so come and visit Teshikaga!! 📸🍁🚣🗔️🤩 https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/mountain-climbing-teshikaga-2/...

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

This photo was also taken at the Flower Culture Garden. Various wind chimes were displayed everywhere. The tone was so pure that even I, who usually listen to music while shooting, involuntarily took off my earphones. It is a piece of confidence that I used as much as I could use the techniques that I could use in the shooting.

Photographed at the Flower Culture Garden. I was fascinated by the contrast between the yellow of the sunflower and the green of the praying mantis. Two shots of insects and flowers that have become difficult to see in modern times. I envy you when you think that it used to be full of such scenes.

[Notice] Iwanai Bar-Hopping Tournament 🍺 Starts Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 7:00 PM Event flow ⇩ ・18:15 — Registration at the plaza in front of the Iwanai Regional Culture Center Exchange your ticket course voucher for the course map ・19:00–20:30 — Bar-hopping starts 🍺 Visit the four venues listed on the course map♪ ・20:30 — "Grand Lottery" A grand lottery will be held at the plaza in front of the Iwanai Regional Culture Center! The grand prize is a shared dining voucher worth 100,000 yen for participating stores❗️❗️ 1st prize is a dining voucher worth 50,000 yen 2nd prize and below will also receive luxurious prizes Advance tickets (4,000 yen) are sold at the following locations ⇩ 1. Participating bar-hopping venues (listed on the flyer) 2. Iwanai Chamber of Commerce 3. Iwanai Tourism Association (Roadside Station Iwanai) 4. Iwanai Rakza 5. Kaneta Yoshida Kamaboko Shop Thank you in advance 🙇 Organizer: Iwanai Restaurant Association

I took a picture of my son at the Himawari venue in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Notice] Event Information♪ Kids Iwanai Water Park🏖️ This year it takes place on the same day as the second day of the Dotou Festival! ★ Date and Time ・Sunday, August 3, 10:00–15:00 ★ Venue Iwanai Regional Cultural Center Marine Park Postal Code 045-0003 51-7 Bandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai District, Hokkaido ★ Eligibility Up to third-grade elementary school children accompanied by a guardian * Please do not take your eyes off your child. * We cannot take responsibility for accidents that occur without a guardian present. Changing tents will be provided on the day Please bring a change of clothes and a towel We look forward to welcoming everyone♪

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!!

This is a summer recommendation from the Saikai City Tourism Association in Nagasaki Prefecture♪ This year’s rainy season ended early, and a string of extremely hot days has followed. Here are Saikai City spots to help you beat that heat. ◎ Tsugane-Otoshi Waterfall Address: Yukinoura Kadori, Oseto, Saikai City※After passing Shinko-ji in Yukinoura village, you will see a signboard. 〇 Free admission, restrooms available ♪ Tsugane refers to the mud crab; the name comes from the sight of crabs being swept down with the falling water. There is no plunge pool; water slams onto the rocks and creates a natural mist shower♪ ◎ Yukinoura Seaside Park Address: 615-14 Shimokamagō, Yukinoura, Oseto, Saikai City 〇 Open all day, free admission; restrooms and hot-water showers (100 yen per use) available. ※No open flames allowed ♪ The white sandy beach stretches about 400 m and is perfect for rockpooling and surfing♪ ◎ Yanaginohama Seaside Park Address: 2394 Taira Sotogō, Oseto, Saikai City 〇 Free admission; restrooms, hot-water showers (100 yen per use), and changing rooms available. ※No open flames allowed ♪ This seaside park borders a very shallow sea that reveals a vast mudflat at low tide. It’s ideal for summer beach fun and enjoyable for both young children and adults♪ ◎ Saiwomono River Park Address: Yukinoura Saiwomono, Oseto, Saikai City 〇 Free admission, restrooms available.※No open flames allowed ♪ Recommended for those who prefer rivers to the sea!※Please be careful of sudden deep spots and rising water levels. ◎ Nanatsugama Cave (Seven Cauldrons Limestone Cave) Address: 2541-1 Nakaura Kitagō, Saikai Town, Saikai City 〇 April–September 9:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30) October–March 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30) Admission: Adults ¥800, Junior high ¥400, Elementary ¥200, Preschool ¥100 (group discounts for 20+ people) ♪ The cave maintains a temperature around 15°C year-round, making it especially cool in summer♪ We also recommend the “cooling platform” that uses the cave’s breeze and the “cold footbath” that uses chilled water♪ Saikai City is full of spectacular views, historic sites, and hidden gems♪ Come and enjoy Saikai City this summer♪

🐻🤎 Montbell Club Friend Fair Yokohama 2025 🐻 Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Sakuhomachi and Koumi booths! We showcased the high-altitude Lake Shirakoma, the mysterious moss forests carpeted with moss, and Yachiho Kogen, where you can enjoy nature through all four seasons—offering a full taste of Shinshu’s great outdoors.🌲✨ We were delighted that you picked up delicious local specialties and tourism brochures.😊🤍 Sakuhomachi and Koumi in Shinshu are perfect spots for a summer cooling getaway. We hope to meet you again amid Shinshu’s natural beauty.🌲🍁

Midsummer in Teshikaga Spots you should definitely visit 🚌🎶 📍Wakoto Peninsula (Lake Kussharo) ___________________________ This area is often filled with people trying canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding. You’ll frequently see friendly large dogs enjoying the water with their owners, which makes the scene feel wonderfully heartwarming 🐶🛶✨ Of course, just strolling is perfectly fine. You can find yourself mesmerized by the clear surface of the water and breathe in deliciously fresh air—this beautiful nature alone satisfies all your senses. Be sure to fully enjoy Teshikaga’s nature 🦕💖 https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/wakoto/...

Squid eaten on the veranda in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture is the best. This is summer in Japan

[Shinshu Sakuhomachi Nature Immersion Day Tour] 🍃🌿 \A day trip to soothe you in the great outdoors/ Event Date: Sunday, August 3 Highlights ✔︎ Walk around the moss-covered, mystical forest at Shirakoma Pond🌳 ✔︎ Tour a long-established sake brewery with tasting experience🍶 ✔︎ Lunch featuring local flavors: yamame fish rice bowl and soba set🐟🥢 ✔︎ Enjoy shopping at the Roadside Station Visitor Center✨🛣️ Departure and Return Locations ・Sakudaira Station, Asama Exit ・Roadside Station Yachiho Kogen Visitor Center ➡️If you live nearby, meeting and dispersing at the Roadside Station is convenient! Price: 9,900 JPY per person (tax included), includes lunch What to bring: comfortable walking shoes, rain gear Capacity: 25 people (minimum operation 15 people) Refresh your body and mind as you savor nature’s gifts with all five senses🫧 This charming day tour is perfect for making summer memories🌱 How to Apply / Inquiries Chikuma Kanko Co., Ltd., Saku Head Office Sales Phone: 0267-62-1000 (Hours: 10:00–17:00) ※Closed: Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, and during the New Year holidays Please join us with your family and friends.

Shinano Road in the rain Bushu Highway Furuya Valleys "Otome Falls" I went there looking for a superb view in the rainy season ☂️! I have visited the Yachiho Highlands and Shirakoma Pond in Sakuho Town many times The atmosphere on a rainy day was good, so I visited to enjoy the Valleys and Fresh greenery. The stream of the waterfall and the fresh greenery are beautiful, and the rain creates a special feeling of the secluded beauty of the Valleys. Recommended!

In Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture, for some reason, there are many historical sites and legends related to the era of the "Minamoto Hei War". Among them, today I would like to introduce "Yamabuki Shrine". Yamabuki Shrine is a small shrine located in the mountains of Nakayama Town, Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture. It is said that this shrine was built to mourn Yamabuki Gozen, who supported the warlord Kiso Yoshinaka who was active in the Battle of Kurikara Pass during the Battle of Minamoto Taira with Tomoe Gozen. Kiso Yoshinaka raised his martial order in the Battle of Minamoto Hei, but he was accused of rebellion and defeated by Minamoto no Yoritomo. At this time, Yamabuki Gozen was left in the capital of Kyoto due to illness. When Yamabuki Gozen learns of Kiso Yoshinaka's death, he falls to Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture, relying on the connection that Kiso Yoshinaka was Iyo Mori. Yamabuki Gozen, who landed in Kaminada, Sokai Town, Iyo City, was unable to walk on his own due to illness, and his vassals tried to cross the mountain by pulling him on bamboo sticks. The Slope in the Midori district of Sokai Town, Iyo City, is called "Hikizaka", the top of the mountain is called "Tsukitaku" because he hid himself with a shield and spent the night, and the place where Gozen is said to have died and changed to a death costume is called "Costume Change Place". Local people, naïve and kind-hearted, built a five-ring pagoda as a tomb to mourn the deceased. Furthermore, in 1892 (Meiji 25) (1892), Local volunteers commissioned Choshu carpenters, who had been skilled in erecting shrines and Temple in Ehime and Kochi, to build the Yamabuki Shrine in order to prevent the Tradition and the five-ring pagoda from being treated poorly. A small shrine that you might overlook when driving in a car. Both the shrine and the pagoda are covered with moss and stand quietly and quietly. The origin of Yamabuki Gozen is unknown, but there is a theory that she was a princess of a wealthy family in the Hajigawa region of Ozu City. At the time of her birth, she was called Yamabuki Gozen, the princess of Yamabuki, because there were many Yamabuki blooming in the garden. In addition, it is said that she was a stool woman (servant, meaning beautiful woman) of Kiso Yoshinaka, but there is also a theory that she was his wife. The life of a beautiful and strong female warrior who was tossed around by the turbulent world is still being told in various parts of Japan. *Yamabuki Shrine* Address: Sareiya, Nakayama-cho, Iyo-shi, Ehime Business hours: Free prayer Car parking lot: None * If you park on Car shoulder of the road, please be careful of Car passage.

At Nametsu Oodaru in Shichikashuku, Karita District, Miyagi Prefecture A dog who is curious about the boy who runs from the back