Azumino, with its inland climate, does not see as much snowfall as the Sea of Japan side.

Protected by the Northern Alps, it is said to be less affected by typhoons and snow clouds.

In winter, the Northern Alps create a beautiful skyline where blue skies meet snow, a scenery unique to the season.

Crane roost in the frigid cold
In the frigid early morning, the roost of the cranes that spring up in the river mist is covered with frost.
The frost is dyed in the Sunrise and the cranes begin their activities

Red-crowned crane chirping
Tsugai red-crowned cranes chirp to confirm their love for each other

Mysterious Cute Dango Fish 🍡

As the name suggests, it has a round body like a dango and eyes with crisp eyes. With its tiny and adorable appearance, the dango fish captures the hearts of divers every year.
He is now an idol in the ❤️ diving world

During this season, when the appearance rate increases from winter to spring, social media is filled with photos of dango. There are a wide variety of colors such as red, green, and pink, and one of the One of the attractions is that they show different expressions as they grow! !️

Baby Dango Exclusive! Circle 👼 of Angels

Juvenile dango fish are only about 3~5 mm small. What can only be seen at that time of year is the pattern on the head called the "angel ring".

This white ring, exclusive to Baby Dango, disappears as it grows, making it Popular with camera divers! !️📷👍

Please look for winter idols ❤️

[Welcomed by 3,000 Hina Dolls 🎎]
Right now, at Omachi Onsenkyo’s Tateyama Prince Hotel, the Tate-Pri Theater Series No. 5 “Tateyama Hina Display of Crimson Lotus” is on show 🎎✨ It is open for anyone to visit until Thursday, April 3rd 😌 Also, Tateyama Prince Hotel offers a dinner plan for guests staying in Hakuba, timed to the circular bus that connects the Hakuba area with accommodations and restaurants in Omachi City 🚌🍽
For details, see below 🔽🔽🔽
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/90613/

“Kitagawa Onsen Moon Road”
Kitagawa Onsen Moon Road was selected as one of Japan’s One Hundred Famous Moon Views as a moon to be treasured for generations. For three days around the full moon, on nights when the moon shines especially bright, a lunar path—the Moon Road—appears as moonlight paints a path across the sea. This scene is unique to Higashiizu, where the town’s entire east coast faces the ocean. On the night of the full moon many visitors come with cameras to capture the view.
Experience a mysterious moment long spoken of in local legend: “If you pray on the Moon Road under a shining moon, your wish will come true…” Come and see it for yourself.

At Izu Kitagawa Onsen, a representative spot for viewing the Moon Road, the “Nekosai Day” event is held on every full moon. “Nekosai” refers to a fixed-net fishery, and Nekosai Day offers prayers for the safety and big catches of fixed-net fishermen, with free charcoal-grilled fish served to visitors. Enjoy this full-moon hospitality in Izu Kitagawa, Higashiizu. (In 2025, Nekosai Day begins on the full moon of February 12.)

For details about “Kitagawa Onsen Moon Road” and “Nekosai Day,” please check the Kitagawa Onsen Ryokan Association website.
https://www.hokkawa-onsen.com/mangetsu_nekosainohi

Sunrise rising from Lake Kussharo seen from Bihoro Pass
Before dawn, standing on the Bihoro Pass with a frigid wind of 20 degrees below zero
Sunrise rises over Nakanoshima Island on the frozen Lake Kussharo as the eastern sky begins to turn white
The coming light illuminates the wind and snow crests

Frost dyed in the Sunrise
Extremely cold dawn at 20°C below zero
The Sunrise dyes the misty ice of the Tsurui Village Snow River in Hokkaido red

Sunset in the village of Echichu Gokayama Aikura Gassho-zukuri
Aikura gassho-zukuri village in the snowy Gokayama of Echichu
When the sun goes down, night falls, and the houses are lit up
The lives of the people are still preserved here

Fuji at Dawn
View of Fuji over Lake Motosu from Lake Motosu Observation Park before dawn
The foothills are dyed orange, and the surface of the lake is also dyed orange
The sun is coming up soon

Snowy Morning
Morning of the snowy scenery of Takizawa Farm at the foothills of Mt. Yatsugatake, Nobeyama Highlands
The silver Yatsugatake and fresh snow-covered meadows are beautiful

The Koumi Line at the foothills of Mt. Yatsugatake
The JR Koumi Line is a Highlands line car that runs at the highest elevation point in Japan.
On the line connecting Kobuchizawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line to Komoro Station on the Shinano Railway
The section from Kobuchizawa Station to Shinano Kawakami Station goes at the foothills of Mt. Yatsugatake
The view from the Car window is also beautiful in the Highlands row Car section
Between Kiyosato Station and Nobeyama Station on the way Elevation there is a 1375m JR Railway Highest point crossing and
Nobeyama Station is the railway station at 1345.67m, the highest elevation in Japan.
The photo is in Goshodaira between Nobeyama Station and Shinano Kawakami Station
I took a picture of the small sea line going at the foothills of Mt. Yatsugatake.

This is the Nobeyama Highlands at the foothills of Yatsugatake Higashiyama
It is a highlands where the silver Yatsugatake spreads out in front of you

Fuji at sunrise seen from Lake Yamanaka Panorama
First, the summit of Mt. Fuji is dyed red by the Sunrise, and gradually it is dyed into the foothills
The peaks of the distant Southern Alps are dyed red and morning visits. It's a crisp morning.

New Spring Fuji seen from Oshino Hakkai
Frost remains in the shade, and it is a refreshing morning.

❄️ Welcome to the frozen Great Waterfall and Itajiki Valley — a winter-only spectacular ❄️ Hello. This is the Shosenkyo Tourist Association. We bring you “The Winter Charms of Shosenkyo Gorge”! Here, the frozen Great Waterfall and the river through Itajiki Valley weave a mysterious scene✨ It feels like a monochrome painting where time stands still🖤🎨

The colder and longer the low temperatures persist, the more the frozen falls and the crystal-clear river flow create a striking contrast, completing what is truly a “winter-only work of art.” This beauty is not just a must-see for photographers but a must-shoot spot!📸✨ Capture this special view with your camera and share winter at Shosenkyo Gorge on your social media!

❄️ A request for visitors ❄️
The ground in front of the waterfall is frozen and slippery. For your safety, please take great care while walking.

[Winter at Aoki Lake and Nakatsuna Lake ❄️✨]
On the middle day of a three-day holiday, Omachi City is sunny again today☀️ From the morning the Northern Alps were clearly visible, so I headed to Aoki Lake hoping to see the three Hakuba peaks across the water😊 The lake surface was slightly rippled, but the blue sky and the snow-capped Hakuba peaks were reflected on it🏔✨ At ao LAKESIDE CAFE, which just opened in 2024, you can enjoy meals and coffee time while taking in the lakeside view😌 Next door, Nakatsuna Lake is a spot for wakasagi (pond smelt) ice fishing🎣 In recent years warm winters have prevented the season from opening, but what about this year?
Activities in Omachi City 🔽🔽🔽
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/spot/spot_cat/cat02/

Today, Sunday, January 12, the 40th Donton-yaki festival was held at Atami Sun Beach.
This annual event is a long-standing tradition jointly organized by the ten neighborhood associations of the eastern and central districts.
This year too, residents and tourists gathered to circle the piled New Year decorations called an ‘onbe’.
At 11:00 a Shinto ceremony was performed by Chief Priest Amemiya of Kinomiya Shrine, and after the ritual the priest lit the fire. The ‘onbe’ blazed up vigorously as everyone prayed for health, academic success, prosperous business, and protection from fires.
The photos look a bit dark, but it was actually sunny!
Tourists who happened to pass by also stopped to watch this traditional New Year event.

Diving in winter?! ❄️⛄️

Did you know that you can enjoy diving in Japan all year round?
Of course, you can also dive in winter! ❄️✨

By wearing a dry suit, which is a suit in the winter when the body does not get wet, it is a perfect measure against the cold. You can comfortably venture in the sea even in the cold season! 👍😃

This photo shows the Popular "Drift Ice Diving" that can be experienced in Shiretoko, 🧊🧊 Hokkaido
Limited to February and March, this is a special experience where you can explore the mysterious world under the ice floe that you can't usually see! !️

Why don't you create unforgettable diving memories together in the sea of Japan, which is full of the charm of the four seasons?
All of our staff are looking forward to seeing you! ❤️

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💬 Let us know in 😃 the comments
Would you like to feel the charm of diving in the waters of Japan? 🌸🐠🐢
Tag your ocean-loving friends and plan your next adventure together!

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Let's 😍 enjoy the world of the sea together
Hokule'a Shonan offers hands-on courses that even beginners can participate in with confidence, a PADI certification program that allows you to qualify in three days, and special tours that allow you to fully enjoy the charm of the sea in all four seasons.

The Izu Peninsula, Manazuru Peninsula, and Shonan area can be participated in even on a day trip! Why don't you enjoy the beautiful scenery and encounters with creatures in the water with outstanding transparency?

Now it's time to take the first step towards an unforgettable diving experience! 🌸✨

This is really Tokyo! ?️
This is in 🏝️✨ the beautiful sea of Izu Oshima Island, Tokyo

In the rich sea brought about by the blessings of the Kuroshio Current, I met 🐢💙 a sea turtle swimming gracefully
How divine! !️
Let's experience it together! !️🤿

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💬 Let us know in 😃 the comments
Do you want to try diving in Japan? 🌸🐠🐢
Tag your ocean-loving friends and plan your next adventure together!

-------------------------------------

Let's 😍 dive together
Hokule'a Shonan offers hands-on diving that even beginners can enjoy with peace of mind, PADI certification courses that can be obtained in three days, and special tours that allow you to experience the charm of the sea in the four seasons unique to Japan.

You can participate in the Izu Peninsula, Manazuru Peninsula, and the Shonan Sea even on a day trip! Why don't you enjoy the beautiful sea scenery and encounters with creatures in the transparent underwater world?

Now it's time to take the first step towards an unforgettable diving experience! 🌸✨

Gokase Highland Ski Resort

I climbed up to Gokase Highland Ski Resort today to shoot some material📸❄️

At 7:00 this morning the temperature was a whopping -14°C🤣 It was such an odd kind of cold that it made me laugh🤷‍♀️ lol

That said, the slopes were in perfect condition ⛷️✨ The wind was light and the snow was powdery and dry 🤩

Local junior high students were here today as part of their school activities, and they were happily enjoying skiing and snowboarding 🥰

The view of the ski area under the blue sky is truly beautiful 🥹✨ It feels like another world, and staring at it makes you feel drawn in…😳

You can see the distant mountains stretching far away, and the view from Gokase Highland Ski Resort is exceptional 👏❗

Tomorrow, Saturday, January 11th, at 10:00 the long-awaited Paradise Course 1,000 m run finally opens 🤩 Can’t wait 💪

The Gokase Tourism Association is currently running the "Winter Gokase 2025" campaign on their Instagram account and collecting winter photos from the area 🤗

There are prizes, so when you visit the ski resort or travel there, please take lots of winter photos within safe limits and enter the contest 🙏✨

For details, see the post pinned to the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram profile page 💡

🌊 I can't believe there was such a place!
⬇️ Did you know that there is such an underwater world in the suburbs of Tokyo? ⬇️

Speaking of the sea, which can be reached in just one hour from Central Tokyo, there is a diving area in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Many people think of Okinawa when they think of diving in Japan, but Kanagawa Prefecture has 8 areas and 14 diving spots waiting for you!

You can also enjoy a day trip with diving + α.
It is also recommended to go out for a weekend stay.

📲 Swipe the slides to check out its charms! !️

Next time, we will introduce diving spots by area.
The first is a Special Feature on "Miyagawa Bay" on the Miura Peninsula!
It's the perfect Spot ✨ for beginners and experienced divers alike

Please look forward to it!

Wakamasu Bakery 🥖 @wakamasu_bakery (Instagram)

A beloved shop frequented by regulars, I visited Wakamasu Bakery. The bakery has run for three generations from the founder to the current owner, moving from the original Ina shop to Suwa, and has continued for 99 years!
Today, the owner and her father bake the bread together 🍞 Wakamasu began in Ina in the great-grandfather’s time, and the shop is linked to Nagano’s soul food, the gyūnyū pan (milk bread)!!!
Pop-up signs in the shop explain the products and highlight their commitment to domestic wheat and sudakito (sudaki sugar), a mineral-rich sugar made from 100% cane. Their beloved “Milk Ball” is famous, and many regulars come just for it 🥖
・A long-time favorite, the soft French-style roll filled with milk cream: the Milk Ball
・Owner’s pick: Cream Bread filled generously with homemade custard cream
・A recent hit: Croque Monsieur with homemade béchamel sauce, ham, and cheese
・Four kinds of sandwiches and two kinds of savory baked breads are available.

◎ Wakamasu Bakery
📍 4-11-10 Kogan Street, Suwa City
☎ 0266-52-3488
◎ Business hours: 8:00 – 16:00
◎ Business days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
◎ Homepage: https://www.instagram.com/wakamasu_bakery/

Regular customers are hooked on Wakamasu Bakery’s Milk Ball! The owner’s great-grandfather started Wakamasu Bakery in Ina. Wakamasu Bakery has been in business for 99 years. Later, the owner’s father moved the shop to its current location in Suwa. Today, the owner and her father bake the bread together.
Between you and me, Wakamasu Bread is connected to gyūnyū pan (milk cream bread).
Nowadays the owner uses domestic wheat and sudaki sugar (a Japanese sugar rich in minerals). She is particular about ingredients.
These are the regular offerings:
・Regular customers come for the Milk Ball.
・The owner’s recommendation is Cream Bread with homemade custard cream.
・A recent trend is the croque monsieur with homemade béchamel sauce, ham, and cheese.
・Four kinds of sandwiches and two kinds of cooked breads.

◎ Wakamasu Bakery
📍 4-11-10 Kogan Street, Suwa City
☎ 0266-52-3488
◎ Business hours: 8:00 – 16:00
◎ Business days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday
◎ Homepage: https://www.instagram.com/wakamasu_bakery/

[🍁 Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024 🍁 Results Announcement]

Thank you for waiting‼️
Here are the results of “Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” 🥳🎉

This time, the winners were chosen by votes from followers of the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account 👏✨

Thank you to everyone who voted 🙇‍♀️💕

Now, let’s announce the results👇👇👇

[🥇 Gold Prize] Unoko Falls
Instagram: @san.shimako.1105 (second photo)
[🥈 Silver Prize] Josenji Temple
Instagram: @gokase_pan (third photo)
[🥉 Bronze Prize] Shirataki
Instagram: @niidome2110 (fourth photo)

Unoko Falls, Josenji Temple, and Shirataki… these representative Gokase autumn-leaf spots each took home an award 👏❗

Each entry highlighted the beauty of the scenery and revealed expressions different from usual—truly wonderful work 🥹✨

Congratulations to all the winners㊗️🥳🎉

And to everyone who submitted entries, voted, and took part—thank you so much😭❤️‍🔥

The campaign is still ongoing as “Winter in Gokase 2025,” so please join us 🥰 We appreciate your participation 💫

Strawberry picking has begun—now you can easily enjoy it in Kanagawa too!

https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/theme_list/strawberry

With winter approaching, in preparation for the cherry blossoms and rape blossoms of Spring, the Shirakimine Highlands is now quietly resting.
Across the Ariake Sea, hazy in the distance is Mt. Unzen.
I have an empty Highlands all to myself.
Welcome to the special seats!

A belated Happy New Year to you.
We look forward to your continued support of Kanagawa Prefecture this year.

https://www.kanagawa-kankou.or.jp/

[Winter on the Rekifune River 2025]

The year 2025 has begun! Best wishes for the year ahead!

This winter feels colder than last year, and the Rekifune River running through the center of Taiki Town has frozen over a larger area than before.
Placed side by side with photos from the same time last year, it looks like a completely different river!
Being able to enjoy the sight of the river freezing is a unique pleasure of such a cold region.

Find Taiki Town tourist information here! ↓
https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp/

The 59th Suisen Festival flowering update is now available!
Blooming remains at about 50 percent, but the white petals are slowly increasing little by little🎵
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20250108

The 59th Onuma Hakodate Snow and Ice Festival, a major winter Events in southern Hokkaido that has been going on for many years, will be Held in again this year!
The jumbo slide made by cutting out the frozen Lake Onuma is Popular! !!
Please come and visit us!
【Date and time】
February 8 (Sat) 9 (Sun) 10:00~16:00
[Place]
Onuma Park Square (near 1023-1 Onuma-cho, Nanae Town, Kameda-gun, Hokkaido)