📍 Hakone Owakudani Owakudani is located in the Hakone area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Owakudani was formed by an Eruption about 3,000 years ago. It is one of the few spots in Japan where you can feel the earth alive up close with the smell of sulfur and the smoke that rises. On this day, there were a few clouds, but since the Elevation of Owakudani is high, I was able to see Mt. Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi very beautifully without obstruction. Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

📍 Tama River Sengen Shrine The shrine is located a 2-minute walk from Tama River Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, Tama River Line, Meguro Line, Namboku Line, and Mita Line. The God of worship is the god who protects the mountain greenery, Princess Kibana Sakiya. This photo shows the entrance to the shrine (approach to the temple). Since it was the Time Slot / Time of Day when the sun was setting, the photo created a solemn atmosphere. The sunset that you can see at the end of the climb is very beautiful, and it is one of my favorite shrines. 【！ Caution! Please refrain from destroying the scenery of the shrine, polluting it, or causing inconvenience. Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

📍 Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore A sophisticated space and exterior that matches the image of the fashionable city of Daikanyama. It was also a time when the light was particularly beautiful, so I was able to take wonderful photos. There is a café as well as a bookstore, so I was able to spend a relaxing time. There are quite a wide variety of books on sale, such as design, painting, photography, sports, Car, etc., and you can enjoy it even if you are not a book lover. Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

📍 Mt. Gotokuji It is a temple of the Soto School in Setagaya Ward. Gotokuji Temple is famous for its many beckoning cats. If you just bought a beckoning cat, don't leave it here and take it home without Squid. (laughs) Of course, they are cute, but the number of beckoning cats is so large that it is a spectacular sight. In the Precincts, there are mini beckoning cats not only here but also in various places, which was fun like finding a hidden mouse at a certain theme park! Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

Photographed on March 8, 25. LEC COFFEE's black latte and tiramisu.

View from a commercial facilities in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City. Godaigo's "MONKEY MAJIK" streamed into my brain.

Today, in Mishima City. It's so warm. Genbeegawa (Genbee River) and Hasunumagawa (Hasunuma River) (March 13, 2025)

Photographed on March 8, 25. This is LEC COFFEE's black latte. It's a stunning latte art. I like it. 😊

Choukokuji Temple during the fresh greenery season. Looking at the Buddha statue that emerges in the green light reflected in the hall is refreshing.

Busan Shrine dyed in the color of snow This is Busan Shrine in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture. It is dyed in a snowy landscape and becomes 😊 a mysterious space

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association. We will now share plenty of reasons to fall in love with Morotsuka Village in northern Miyazaki Prefecture. First, let us introduce Morotsuka Village. ◆◇◆About Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◆◇◆ Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture, sits nearly in the center of the Kyushu Central Mountain Range. About 90% of the village area is forest. There is almost no flat land; 84 small settlements dot the mountain slopes. Under the slogan of building a forestry-centered village, Morotsuka has promoted village development by protecting mountains, creating forests, and living in harmony with nature while benefiting from the forest. This is a village that lives with the forest, thinking not only about themselves but also about one another and not only about the present but about children and grandchildren. ◆◇◆Access◆◇◆ * About two hours by car from Kumamoto Airport * About two hours by car from Miyazaki Airport * From Miyazaki Airport take the train to JR Hyuga City Station (limited express about 65 minutes), then a route bus runs from Hyuga City Station to Morotsuka Village. If you use train and route bus, take the JR Nippo Main Line to JR Hyuga City Station, then a Miyazaki Kotsu route bus to Morotsuka village center, "Morotsuka," which takes about 90 minutes. * Please board a bus bound for "Kamishiiba" or "Tsukahara." (For route bus details, check the Miyazaki Kotsu website.) ※For current traffic restrictions, please check the Morotsuka Navi Website. ◆◇◆Tourist Spots in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◆◇◆ ■Ecomuseum Morotsuka Shiitake Hall 21 This facility houses the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association office and Restaurant Donkotei. It used to be a place to learn about shiitake, but it has been renovated as a tourist information and community space. Across the Hotaru Bridge, on the opposite bank, stands the main statue of Kunugi Jizo carved from a sawtooth oak more than 100 years old. You can walk down to the river to enjoy a boxed lunch or play in the clear stream. ◇◆◇Accommodations in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◇◆◇ ■Tenku no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park Perched around 800 meters above sea level in nature-rich Morotsuka, Tenku no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park offers log houses and a campsite. From the Hyuga direction the road is a single lane each way, so drivers who are not used to mountain roads can still feel at ease. The park features an athletic course, grass skiing, and putter golf, so families with young children can enjoy themselves together. A scenic cross-country course nearby makes for a pleasant, leisurely walk amid nature. The popular Akimasa Observatory, known for its views, is about a five-minute drive. We recommend rising early to watch the sunrise; with luck you may see a sea of clouds. Spring bursts with flowers, summer brings lush greenery and cool highland air, autumn ignites in brilliant foliage, and winter offers quiet days with occasional snow flurries. It’s a place to savor the changing seasons and relax in nature. ■Morotsukayama Mountain Stream Village One of the village’s two campgrounds is Morotsukayama Mountain Stream Village. Morotsukayama, one of Kyushu’s 100 famous mountains, towers here amid rich nature. Nearby is a river park next to a water-rich gorge, where you can enjoy river play and fishing in summer (fishing requires a permit). ■Forest Folk House Yamashigi Forest The Forest Folk House consists of two historic houses: "Shitashigi," built in the Taisho era, and "Nakashigi," built in the Meiji era. You reach them by climbing a winding mountain road, yet these homes once served as a transportation hub before roads and cars existed. Today they serve as an experiential exchange facility where city visitors and mountain residents deepen ties through farm work. Perched high as if touching the sky, the site preserves nostalgic scenes such as an irori hearth, a goemon bath, and a wood-fired stove. ■Forest Folk House Series These traditional houses let you fully enjoy the breath of nature. Surrounded by mountains, with the warmth of wood, the scent of earth, and a communal irori hearth, Morotsuka’s forest folk houses offer a relaxed pace and a restful place to experience human–nature coexistence. [List of folk houses] ・Yamashigi Forest ・Heida no Sato ・Sakura no Tsubone ・Yoshiya ◇◆◇Local Specialties of Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◇◆◇ ■Shiitake Shiitake cultivated using 100% log-grown mushrooms from rich forests certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage. Morotsuka Village proudly offers these flavorful, aromatic log-grown shiitake—please savor them. ■Mori no Hyakkamitsu (Forest Wildflower Honey) This honey comes from Japanese honeybees cherished by Morotsuka’s honey hunters. Natural beekeeping in the mountains draws nectar from a wide range of flowers. The honey the bees diligently collect—called "mori no hyakkamitsu" or wildflower honey—is highly nutritious with a rich taste and aroma. A single bee produces only about a spoonful of honey in its lifetime, making it very precious. ■Yomogi Dango (Mugwort Rice Dumplings) Fresh yomogi gathered from the mountains, nurtured by clean air and water, are made into yomogi dango using traditional methods. These treats are a countryside-only luxury, full of yomogi fragrance and filled with expertly kneaded sweet bean paste. ■Mountain-Processed Foods Women’s associations active across the scattered mountain settlements prepare goods in local workrooms every day. They transform mountain-harvested ingredients into the village’s delicious products—miso, yuzu pepper, konnyaku, dressings, and more. We will continue to share the charms of nature-rich Morotsuka Village—stay tuned!

I took a picture of Nagasaki-kunchi held in Nagasaki City at a venue called Ryokusho. I took this photo because I wanted to be able to feel the power I felt with my eyes in the photo.

Breather Save Spot Save Spot in the Central Tokyo that can be seen from Shibuya, don't you 🍀 wonder what lies ahead* ゚

Jewel night view of Tokyo The night view of Tokyo seen from Shibuya Suka Squid, this city, which is always diverse and dazzling, will shine ✨ even brighter in the future

Photographed on March 8, 25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. I have a cold, and I am in bed. It's the change of seasons, so please take care of your body. 🤒

Tokyo Tower and Kawazu cherry blossoms 📸 This is the Kawazu cherry blossoms taken from the front of Azabudai Hills in Tokyo. Tokyo is in Best time to visit. It is crowded with many foreigners.

Nice to meet you all! This is the Chofu City Tourism Association Secretariat. Chofu City is located in the southeastern part of the Tama district, almost in the center of Tokyo, Located in 15 kilometers from the Shinjuku Vice Central Tokyo. It is a city full of charm where you can enjoy "movies", "Jindaiji Temple", "Ge no Kitaro", "fireworks", "Tama River", etc., where the charm of nature and the city are fused. ==Introduction to Chofu City== ■Jindaiji Temple The Jindaiji Temple area, blessed with abundant greenery and spring water, is loved as a place of relaxation. Jindaiji Temple is known as one of the one-of-the-best ancient temples in the Kanto region, and its Minamoto is said to have been founded by Manku Shoujin in the Nara period. Precious temple treasures such as the bronze Buddha Statue of Buddha (late Asuka period), which was designated as a national treasure in the 2017 (Heisei 29), are enshrinement. In front of the gate, there are tea houses where Worshippers can relax, and Specialties Jindaiji Temple Soba noodle stores. ■The city where Water Manga was born Chofu City is the "city where Water manga was born" where Shigeru Water, an honorary citizen of Chofu City, the creator of "Ge no Kitaro", lived for more than 50 years. Shigeru Water is loved and affectionately received by many citizens, so he was awarded the title of honorary citizen in 2008 (Heisei 20). You can meet Kitaro and his friends in various places in the city. ■ The City of Movies During the heyday of Japan films in the 1955 (Showa 30) era, in addition to Daiei and Nikkatsu, Chofu Film Studios Co., Ltd. (now around Tama River 2-chome), an independent production company, produced movies at three locations, and Chofu was likened to "Hollywood of the East." The film industry flourished in Chofu because of the Nature environment, which is suitable for both period and contemporary dramas, and because of the abundance of clean water, which is indispensable for film development. Chofu City, where about 40 film and video companies are still concentrated, has grown as a "movie town" and is used as a location for many movies and dramas. ■Chofu fireworks Chofu fireworks held in on the Tama River. In fact, it has a long history, and the first time it was held in was in Showa 8. After that, the history of the Chofu City Fireworks Festival began in Showa 57. Approximately 10,000 fireworks that are launched non-stop color the night sky of Chofu and are popular as Chofu Specialties Fun will Broadcast Tourist Information on Chofu City at COOL JAPAN VIDEOS!

This is Momo Minamoto Township! It was started by the people of the Kine district to liven up the area, and now as many as 2,000 weeping peaches are blooming. In the center, a pond and a weeping peach is projected, and those who visit it Gari a voice of admiration. The best time to visit seems to be mid-April next year. Ena City, Gifu Prefecture "Kineshi Weeping Momoen" *Last year's photo

Photographed on March 8, 25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on March 8, 25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Today at breakfast, I visited Mr. 168. It is a soy milk and onion egg sandwich. It's freshly made. All of the Taiwanese breakfasts look delicious, so I get lost every time. 😊

The Kawazu cherry blossoms in Kawazu Town were 🌸 in full bloom This is a row of Kawazu cherry blossoms that are in Best time to visit in Kawazu Town, Shizuoka Prefecture. Please 😊 visit to see the 4km long Kawazu cherry blossoms

Photographed on March 8, 25. It is a weeping Ume plum from Naritayama Kawagoe Betsuin. It is in full bloom. 🌸

Photographed on March 8, 25. This is Hanachozu of Chuin.

Original scenery of Japan Aso's crossing along the Okuaizu-Tadami River River fog streams thinly on the surface of the river, and mountains approach the village behind the rice fields, and fog rises Japan's Farming villages continue to protect small rice paddies inherited from their ancestors How many more years can we see?

Photographed on March 8, 25. It is the red Ume Plum of the Middle Hospital.

Manda Pit is also hugely popular as a cosplay photo spot! Arao City's symbol Manda Pit In 2015 (Heisei 27) it was registered as part of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution World Heritage. The Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution—iron and steel, shipbuilding, and coal mining—represent the first successful spread of the Industrial Revolution from Europe to the non-Western world. Between the mid-19th century and the early 20th century, Japan achieved rapid industrialization in just over half a century. Now preserved as valuable industrial remains, Manda Pit has newly become extremely popular as a cosplay photo location!! Many cosplayers and photographers use the site. Visitors and staff alike find themselves captivated by the authentic costumes and makeup. Here are some precious off‑shot photos. When a shoot starts, the site feels different from the Manda Pit we usually see as staff, and that gives us a strange, wonderful feeling. Manda Pit is perfect for cosplay photography, offering everything from striking action shots to nostalgic scenes. You’re sure to get photos you’ll love—highly recommended. We look forward to your visit. Information Filming requires advance reservation and a photo shoot application form. Please download the application form from the Arao City website. For changing rooms and luggage storage please use the Manda Coal Mine Museum (paid). This also requires advance reservation. Please contact the Manda Coal Mine Museum for room availability. Manda Coal Mine Museum: Phone 0968-64-1300 If you have any questions, please contact Manda Pit Station. ◆ Manda Pit Station 〒864-0001 200-2 Haramanda, Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture ◆ Phone: 0968-57-9155 ◆ FAX: 0968-57-9156 ◆ Closed: Mondays (the following day if Monday is a holiday), and during the New Year holidays ◆ Hours: 9:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.) ◆ Admission fees: Manda Pit ruins / Adults: ¥410, High school students: ¥310, Elementary and junior high students: ¥210, Preschool children: free ◆ Access: Bus / 8 minutes from JR Arao Station ◆ Parking: 5 large buses, 3 medium buses, 72 passenger cars #Kumamoto #World Heritage #World Cultural Heritage #Miike Coal Mine #Manda Pit #Manda Coal Mine Museum #cosplay #photo spot #Arao City website

Photographed 3/1/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Exploring Japan goes beyond just stunning landscapes; it’s a journey steeped in rich traditions. Experiencing traditional Japanese style tea ceremony and making Wagashi with friends in Kimono or Yukata is just a wonderful experience which I will remember my whole life. This is the other side of cool Japan beyond the Natural beauty and mouth watering food. We enjoyed it in Asakusa area of Tokyo.

Zoom in on Tokyo Station at night! Zoom in Tokyo Station !