The last few days have been warm. What's going on with Lysichiton camtschatcensis? I was curious and went to the swamp along Poppo's road on the Old Karikachi Line track. It seems that it was still a little early, but there were pretty flowers blooming nearby. Soon, Lysichiton camtschatcensis will also be there.

I visited Kino no Mori Coffee in Otofuke, Hokkaido ☕️ They offer authentic siphon coffee and dishes made with local ingredients, all prepared with love for Otofuke. This time I tried the "Taiyō Atsu-Atsu Napolitan" (literally "Sun — piping-hot Napolitan") — plenty of local seasonal vegetables and chewy, wide noodles coated in a rich tomato sauce; it was so delicious I couldn't stop eating! They also offer curry, skillet pizza, the Kino sandwich, and dessert items like hotcakes 🥞 • Address: 6-1 Kino Odori Nishi, Otofuke, Kato District, Hokkaido • Phone: 0155-65-0640 • Hours: 10:00–20:00, closed during the New Year holidays • Parking: 45 spaces -

When you visit go sightseeing in the Kawazu cherry blossoms town of "Kawazu Town" and Please enjoy the exquisite gourmet of Kawazu Town! This time, I would like to introduce "Deai Chaya". ・ Eat original products Our stores' original boar soup, matcha dango set, matcha cream anmitsu, etc. are popular. Souvenirs are also waiting for us with a variety of original products only available to Our stores, from local products to Adult black sesame sweets. ◆Detailed Information◆ 【Spot name】Deai Chaya 【Address】Nashimoto, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, 382-1 Nashimoto, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number: 0558-35-7604 【Business hours】9:00~14:00Meal~17:00Shop 【Regular holiday】Not opens 【Parking lot】Yes

For the rehearsal of the birch sap water collection experience that will start the day after tomorrow, we will do a final check of the flow at the site. I was worried because it snowed the day before yesterday, but thanks to the warmth today, I was relieved by the sap that oozes out when I make a hole in the birch. It seems that it was still a little early for full-scale collection, and the sap that came out was about 50 ml in one hour. From now until the end of the week, the daytime temperature is forecast to exceed 10 degrees Celsius, so I think the amount of collection will stabilize. The birch sap water collection experience will be held from the 5th Friday to the 14th Sunday of this month, and reservations can be made even the day before. If you are interested, please join us. In addition, those who are only interested in visiting are welcome. * If there are no participants, there will be no event, so please contact the tourism association in advance. For details, please contact the Shintoku Tourism Association [0156-64-0522].

Yokohama City OTABISHO Yokohama Noh Theatre Opens at Landmark Plaza! — A gallery and shop to enjoy Noh and Kyogen casually — Yokohama Noh Theatre is closed for a major renovation and will remain closed for two and a half years until June 2026. During the closure, to introduce Noh and Kyogen to as many people as possible, we are opening a space introducing Noh and Kyogen, OTABISHO Yokohama Noh Theatre, at Landmark Plaza in Minato Mirai. This is the first time in the country that a Noh and Kyogen introduction facility has been located inside a shopping mall. Visit the easily accessible Landmark Plaza to experience Noh and Kyogen up close. Event Overview Date, Time and Venue Sunday, April 14, 2024 12:15 — Procession (Haji-style Satokagura, Namamugi Hayashi Preservation Society, Ushigome Lion Dance Preservation Society) Route: In front of Sakuragicho Station — moving walkway — Sakata Seed Garden Square 13:00 — “Sanbasan / Sanbaso” starring Chiyonojō Shigeyama and Mannojō Nomura, among others Venue: Landmark Plaza 1st floor, Sakata Seed Garden Square

Hello to all viewers of Cool Japan Videos! This is the Shimoda Tourist Association. Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, sits at the southern tip of the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture. With a population of about 20,000 as of January 2024, Shimoda is known for its beautiful scenery framed by sea and mountains. ◇◆◇◆Introducing the history of Shimoda City◆◇◆◇ Shimoda played a historically important role as the place that led Japan to open to the world. Known as the landing site of Perry, the Shimoda Kaikoku Museum preserves and shares that historical background and is a must-see spot. ◇◆◇◆Sightseeing spots to visit in Shimoda City◆◇◆◇ Surrounded by the sea and mountains, Shimoda offers many recommended attractions. In this first Cool Japan Videos post, we briefly introduce some of them. ・Shimoda Underwater Aquarium This aquarium uses a natural Shimoda inlet, and its grounds equal roughly the size of one Tokyo Dome, where you can encounter a variety of marine life. You can observe creatures raised in environments close to nature right before your eyes. ・Shirahama Ohama Beach (Shirahama Beach) With emerald-green, clear water and beautiful white sand, this beach ranks among Japan’s most beautiful bathing beaches. Nearby shores offer marine activities such as surfing, sea kayaking, and diving. ・Ryugong Grotto This cave features a roughly 50-meter-diameter skylight and a mystical atmosphere, making it a popular power spot. Viewed from above, the cave’s heart-shaped formation makes it a photogenic spot. ・Perry Road This road was walked by Perry’s delegation when the Black Ships arrived in the late Tokugawa period. It retains a retro historical charm and is a popular sightseeing spot. ・Shirahama Shrine The oldest shrine in the Izu district with a history of 2,400 years, it is a sacred spot known for blessings related to matchmaking and improving love fortunes. ・Black Ships Tour Boat and Izu Cruise Board the Black Ship “Sasukehana” for a scenic cruise of Shimoda Port from the sea. ・Roadside Station Kaikoku Shimoda Minato From the terrace you can enjoy panoramic views of Shimoda Port. The shop offers many local souvenirs, especially abundant seafood including splendid alfonsino. ・Mt. Negata Nature Park Accessible via the 540-meter ShimodaRopeway, the park’s observation deck offers sweeping views of Shimoda Port. You can also enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the grounds. ◇◆◇◆Local specialties and gourmet food in Shimoda City◆◇◆◇ Shimoda City in Shizuoka Prefecture is blessed with fresh seafood. Seafood dishes are popular, and items such as igenda miso hot pot, kinme croquette, sanma sushi, tokoroten, spiny lobster, splendid alfonsino, and hijiki seaweed are specialties you should try when visiting Shimoda. ◇◆◇◆Events and festivals in Shimoda City◆◇◆◇ Shimoda hosts a variety of popular festivals, events, and gatherings throughout the year. Here are some of Shimoda’s well-known festivals. ・Shirahama Sea Festival Summer Fireworks A fireworks display held at Shirahama Ohama Beach; in 2023, 1,173 shells of sea fireworks were launched. ・Shimoda Taiko Festival A festival associated with Shimoda Hachiman Shrine that dates back about 400 years, featuring more than 14 taiko floats and portable shrines parading through Shimoda. ・Tetsutsu Fireworks The traditional hand-held tetsutsu fireworks performed at Kawachi Suwa Shrine in the Inabusawa District are handmade using methods passed down through generations. ◇◆◇◆Enjoy the wonderful scenery of Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆◇◆◇ Shimoda offers lush natural attractions, historical sites where you can feel Japan’s past, plentiful leisure facilities, rich marine activities, and welcoming inns and hotels to soothe your travel fatigue. Shimoda’s charms are abundant. We will continue to bring you recommended information about Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, so stay tuned!

Spend a blissful time in the beautiful town, Kawazu Town When you visit surrounded by the nature of the sea and mountains, and the Accommodations in the town! The lodging I would like to introduce this time is "Mutsumi-an, a Japanese dog lodging where you can stay with your dog". ・ Dog Run "Dog Square" is about 200 tsubo in size! You can play while looking at Sagami Bay and part of Izu Nanashima in the distance. Fun meals include Izu seafood, mountain food, Izu seafood, Kinmedai sea bream, local fish sashimi, and Wagyu beef shabu-shabu with your dog. ◆Detailed Information◆ 【Spot name】You can stay with your dog Wami no Dog Lodging Mutsumi-an 【Address】Mitaka, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, 777-7 Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number 0558-32-1700 Check-in/Check-out is 4:00 p.m., Check-out 10:00 a.m.　 [Total number of rooms] 5 【Pick-up/drop-off】No pick-up/drop-off 【Parking lot】8 cars

◆Gensuke Turnip Greens Harvesting Experience & Pickling Workshop◆ When it comes to Shinshu pickles, nozawana is famous, but in Minami Shinshu the pickles made from Gensuke turnip greens are the local favorite. Exposed to frost, these greens develop a unique crunch and a pleasant sweetness that make for delicious pickles. Be sure to try Gensuke turnip greens, a winter staple of Minami Shinshu. [ Gensuke Turnip Greens Harvesting Experience ] The flow of the Gensuke turnip greens harvesting experience is as follows. 1. Check in at Toyooka Travel Time ↓ 2. Drive by private car to the field ↓ 3. Harvesting experience (you harvest yourself) ↓ 4. Return to Toyooka Travel Time for weighing and payment Recipes are available for those who would like one. ■Period November 27 (Monday) – December 20 (Wednesday) New registrations are closed. Available until supplies run out. ■Registration place and time Registration place: Toyooka Travel Time Registration hours: 10:00–15:00 ■Fee 200 yen per 1 kg ■What to bring Kitchen knife / String to tie the turnip greens ■How to reserve Advance reservation is required, so please contact us with your desired harvest date. Toyooka Travel Time (Toyooka Village Tourism Association) Hours: 9:00–18:00 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 TEL: 0265-49-3395 FAX: 0265-49-3396 On the day, registration, weighing, and payment will be handled at Toyooka Travel Time. [ Gensuke Turnip Greens Pickling Workshop ] Under the guidance of experienced staff, you can harvest, pickle, and take home your turnip greens. They will carefully teach you pickling methods and tips for making delicious pickles. ■Date Sunday, December 3 ■Registration place and time Registration place: Toyooka Travel Time → Please pay at registration. Registration hours: 12:30–13:30 ■Schedule 1. Check in at Toyooka Travel Time (12:30–13:30) ↓ 2. Drive by private car to Tamurabara field (harvest field) ↓ 3. Harvesting experience (you harvest yourself) ↓ 4. Move to Daichi, the Agricultural Support Center (pickling workshop location) ↓ 5. Pickling workshop ■Pickling workshop location Toyooka Village Agricultural Support Center Daichi Processing Experience Room (the workshop lasts approximately two hours) 3128-1 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 ■Harvesting location Tamurabara field ■Fee 2,700 yen per participating group (one barrel), which includes 3 kg of cut turnip greens for pickling If you want to harvest more than 3 kg, an additional 200 yen per kg will be charged. ■What to bring Kitchen knife / Kitchen gloves / Rubber boots / 15-L pickling barrel (if you do not have one, barrels are available for 1,000 yen each) Rain gear as needed depending on the weather ■How to reserve Advance reservation is required. Reservations are accepted up to the day before the experience. For reservations and inquiries: Toyooka Travel Time (0265-49-3395 FAX: 0265-49-3396)

From April 2, 2024, we will change the tourist information center’s opening hours as follows. • Opening: 9:30 (previously 9:00) • Closing: 18:00 (unchanged) Accordingly, the rental bicycles’ pickup time will change from 9:00 to 9:30. Thank you for your understanding. #Tomakomai #Rental Bicycles

◆Vegetable Harvest Experience◆ Enjoy filling a bag with seasonal vegetables throughout the year. You may eat the vegetables you harvest in the field. This value-packed plan lets you taste vegetables at their freshest. 【 Details 】 ※Reservations are currently being accepted※ Reservations are prioritized. Same-day reservations are also possible. Please contact us by phone. ■Period ● Early July to late January (held in light rain) ■Reception time and duration ● Reception: 10:00–14:00 ● Duration: About 1 hour ＝Notes＝ ・Please complete reception at least 10 minutes before your reservation time. ・If you are late for your reservation time, we may be unable to accommodate you. ■Fees (tax included) Admission + Vegetable Harvest Experience Fee ① Admission Fee Adults (15 years and older) 300 yen per person ※Free for junior high school students and younger ② Vegetable Harvest Experience Fee For regular cars (up to 10 passengers) and kei cars (up to 4 passengers), please use from one bag per vehicle. ● Small bag 500 yen ● Medium bag 1,000 yen ● Large bag 1,500 yen (Bag size reference: plastic bag S, M, LL) See “About the Vegetables” for the vegetables you can harvest. ＝Notes＝ ・We prepare 2–3 kinds of vegetables for harvesting, but harvest times may shift due to weather and other conditions. ・You cannot specify which vegetables you will harvest. Thank you for your understanding. ・Harvestable vegetables will be announced at reception on the day. ■Large vegetables (additional charge) Large vegetables that do not fit in a bag will incur an additional charge. Prices will be provided at reception on the day. Extra-charge vegetables must be paid for separately at the farm, so please prepare small change. Large vegetables = Chinese cabbage, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon The above large vegetables are priced at market value. ■Vegetable Grilling Kit (tax included) You can sample the vegetables you harvest in the field. (Usage time: about 1 hour per group) One set 1,000 yen ＝Contents＝ Outdoor gas stove / cutting board / knife / seasonings such as salt and pepper / chopsticks and plates for each person / garbage bags ＝Notes＝ ・This kit is for grilling vegetables for tasting. Bringing other food is not permitted. ・No drinking water is available at the farm. (Please bring your own.) ・Water for handwashing is provided. ・Please take any brought garbage home with you. ・Alcohol consumption and other brought food at the farm are strictly prohibited. ■Flow on the day ① Reception (Toyotabi Time) / Payment (prepayment) ② Move to the farm ③ Vegetable harvest experience (vegetable grilling available for those who wish) ④ Disband on site ＝Notes＝ ・All transfers are by private car. ・If you wish to purchase additional items at the farm, only cash payments are accepted on site. ■What to bring ・Shoes that can get dirty or rain boots ・Gloves for harvesting (work gloves, etc.) ・Towel ・Drinks ・Rain gear (in case of rain) ※Harvesting requires both hands. You cannot harvest while holding an umbrella. ■Other ・There are no restrooms at the farm. Please be aware in advance. ・Please park at the farm following staff instructions. ・If farm management determines that the harvest experience is difficult for any reason, we may, regrettably, cancel the activity. ■Meeting place & Contact Toyotabi Time (Toyooka Village Tourism Association) Hours: 9:00–18:00 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 TEL: 0265-49-3395 Email: toyotabi@nagano-toyooka.jp 【 About the Vegetables 】 List of vegetables available by season No vegetables can be harvested from January to May, so the experience is not available then. Because cultivated varieties change with that year’s weather and other factors, you cannot specify which vegetables will be harvested. Please contact Toyotabi Time directly for the actual cultivation status. ■Summer (June–August) Lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, bell pepper, zucchini, okra Eggplant, corn, potatoes, onions, daikon radish, carrots, parsley, shiso, watermelon ■Autumn (September–November) Cucumber, bell pepper, zucchini, okra, eggplant, pumpkin, spinach, komatsuna, bok choy Lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato, daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, long green onion ■Winter (December) Chinese cabbage, long green onion, carrots, Gensuke turnip greens, spinach, komatsuna, bok choy (Gensuke turnip greens are a pickling green popular in Minami Shinshu.) 【 How to Reserve 】 Same-day guidance is possible, but reservations are prioritized. We recommend booking in advance as we may not be able to accommodate you on the day. ■By phone 0265-49-3395 Reception hours 9:00–18:00 ■Online reservation Vegetable picking web reservation page ■Cancellation fee There is no cancellation fee. Please be sure to contact us by the reserved time on the day.

◆E-BIKE Rental Bicycle◆ Rent an E-BIKE and enjoy cycling. E-bikes offer a more natural pedaling feel than conventional electric bicycles and make hills effortless! With an E-BIKE, you can fully enjoy the scenery in the open air. We also offer guided courses, so please inquire. ■ Special campaign: enjoy rental bicycles plus fruit and vegetable picking!! If you reserve a rental bicycle together with vegetable picking or peach picking, the rental bicycle fee will be 50% off. Please check the detailed pages on the Toyooka Travel Time website for the contents of the harvest experiences. You can also make reservations from the website. When reserving a rental bicycle, please write in the “comments” field that you are also reserving a harvest experience. eBIG.SEVEN Size M ■ Recommended height: 155–175 cm ■ Vehicle weight: approx. 20 kg ■ Equipped with a powerful motor that makes the weight barely noticeable *Available for reservation: 5 units ePASSPORT CC 400 EQ Size S ■ Recommended height: 160–175 cm ■ You can place a basket or bag on the rear rack ■ This is a city-style model that makes mounting and dismounting easy *Available for reservation: 2 units ePASSPORT CC 400 EQ Size XS ■ Recommended height: 150–165 cm ■ A smaller size recommended for women ■ A stylish bike that’s perfect for Instagram-worthy photos *Available for reservation: 3 units Reservations are accepted via the Toyooka Travel Time website or by phone. Bicycles may be unavailable due to reservation status or event participation. Please check the Rental Bicycle Calendar for details. Contact 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 Toyooka Travel Time, Toyooka Village Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association) 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)

◆2024 Bamboo Shoot Harvesting◆ You can harvest bamboo shoots that herald the arrival of spring. Beginners welcome! Farmers will patiently teach you how to dig from the very beginning. The well-maintained, spacious bamboo grove makes it safe and enjoyable even with children. The bamboo shoots come from moso bamboo, a species that grows only in the southern part of Nagano Prefecture. Fine bamboo shoots! Aim at the base and swing once! If you wish, we can prepare grilled bamboo shoots from what you harvest. Toyo Terrace parking lot serves as the grilled bamboo shoot venue. Plunge freshly harvested bamboo shoots, still in their husks, into bamboo charcoal! We use bamboo charcoal—made by burning bamboo—as the heat source for the footbath! They finish grilling in 15–20 minutes!! They steam to a delightful doneness. A sweet aroma, like grilled corn, fills the air! A portion of the shoot tip becomes especially delicious! [ Details ] Participation is by advance reservation only. Depending on reservation status, same-day registration may be possible. Please call to inquire. ■Reservation start April 6 (Saturday) from 9:00 AM ※Please note the reservation period may change depending on bamboo shoot emergence. Rising fertilizer costs and the aging of the grove owners have made it difficult to maintain the groves. Therefore, to cover labor and maintenance costs, we introduced an admission fee starting in fiscal 2023. For details, see the section “Admission Fee + Bamboo Shoot Harvesting Fee.” ■Period April 17 (Wednesday) – May 6 (Monday) Rain or shine ※The schedule above may change depending on bamboo shoot growth. ■Reservation times Four sessions per day ① 9:00 AM ② 10:30 AM ③ 1:00 PM ④ 2:30 PM =Notes= The grove owner will meet you at each reservation time. (Follow the owner’s car in your private vehicle to the grove.) Please complete check-in at least 10 minutes before your reservation time. If you are late for your reservation, we may be unable to accommodate you. ■Admission Fee + Bamboo Shoot Harvesting Fee (tax included) ●Admission fee: 300 yen per person (junior high school students and older) The amount you harvest per standard automobile (including kei cars) affects the fee as follows. ・Harvest 10 kg or more → Admission fee waived ・Harvest 5–10 kg → Admission fee 100 yen For details, see the Admission Fee Quick Reference. ●Bamboo shoots: 450 yen per kg We will provide one harvest bag per standard automobile (including kei cars) at reception. ■About harvest bags One harvest bag is issued per group. If a bag becomes full at the grove and cannot hold all your bamboo shoots, we will provide an additional bag on site. If you want to split your bamboo shoots into separate bags to take home, please inform reception at payment. Additional bags are sold for 50 yen each. ■About rice bran One bag of rice bran is provided per harvest bag. (One bag of rice bran is enough to remove bitterness from about 15 kg of bamboo shoots.) If your measured total exceeds 15 kg, we will provide additional rice bran bags (one per 15 kg). If you split your bamboo shoots and need more than one rice bran bag, please request them at payment. Additional bags are sold for 50 yen each. ■Domestic travel accident insurance You may opt to enroll in domestic travel accident insurance. If you wish to use it, please request it at reception. 500 yen per person (tax included) ■For parties arriving in two or more private cars We will settle fees per group based on one standard automobile (up to 10 seats) or one kei car (up to 4 seats). Do not use extra cars; please leave them in the Toyo Terrace parking lot. Please check here for payment instructions. ■What to bring / Wear ・Work gloves ・Boots or other shoes that can get dirty ・Clothes that are easy to move in ・Rain gear (in case of rain) ・Bags to divide bamboo shoots (only if needed) ■Grilled bamboo shoots (optional) We offer a service to turn your harvested bamboo shoots into grilled bamboo shoots at Toyo Terrace. If you wish, please harvest a separate, smaller bamboo shoot specifically for grilling, apart from the ones you take home. Toyo Terrace provides bamboo charcoal; toss husked bamboo shoots boldly into the charcoal, steam for 15–20 minutes, and they’re ready. Freshly harvested shoots have less bitterness at the tip and can be eaten as-is without blanching if grilled. The bamboo charcoal grill is free to use, so give it a try. Bamboo shoots become noticeably more bitter about an hour after harvesting. Even if you take them home and try to grill them, the bitterness may be too strong to enjoy. Please savor the freshly harvested grilled bamboo shoots available only here. ■Meeting place / Contact Toyo Terrace (Toyooka Village Tourism Association) Hours: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture 399-3202 TEL: 0265-49-3395 ■How to reserve Reservation start: April 6 (Saturday) from 9:00 AM Please wait a little longer until reservations open. ●Phone reservations 0265-49-3395 (Reception hours 9:00 AM–6:00 PM)

The 81st issue of Atami de Asobo, the magazine that introduces restaurants, souvenir shops, and other businesses in Atami City, has been published. This free paper is packed with ways to enjoy Atami. It features 74 recommended spots, including trending eateries and shops offering special deals, Japanese, Western, and Chinese restaurants, safe nightlife venues, day-use hot springs, and specialty stores. This issue also includes a special feature titled "Retro Atami Time: Savoring the Past at a Historic Western-Style Restaurant." Copies of Atami de Asobo are available from the Atami City Tourism Association, the Atami Tourist Information Center (Lusca Atami station building, 1st floor), the Atami Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other local shops, so please pick one up.

When you visit go sightseeing in the Kawazu cherry blossoms town of "Kawazu Town" and Please enjoy the exquisite gourmet of Kawazu Town! This time, I would like to introduce "Kappo Ishida". ・ Feel free to enjoy the taste of a long-established inn We will prepare a Japanese course meal that makes the most of the season. The dining place is a completely private room, so you can spend a relaxing time. If you wish, we will also accept meals in a separate room with an open-air bath. Our stores will serve meals using the facilities of a long-established inn. ◆Detailed Information◆ 【Spot name】Kappo Ishida 【Address】Yatsu, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, 226, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number: 0558-32-1001 【Business hours】Inquiries due to reservation system 【Regular holiday】Reservation required 【Parking lot】Yes Other By reservation only required.

Spend a blissful time in the beautiful town, Kawazu Town When you visit surrounded by the nature of the sea and mountains, and the Accommodations in the town! The lodging I would like to introduce this time is "Japanese-style pension Ginsen". ・ The beach is also nearby, and the Fee is the same all year round except for the year-end and New Year holidays and Obon. 3 minutes walk from Kawazu Station. Two baths are natural hot springs and can be reserved. Dinner is a Japanese set centered on fresh local fish. ◆Detailed Information◆ 【Spot name】Japanese-style pension Ginsen 【Address】Kawazu-cho Hama, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture 183-2 Phone number: 0558-32-0955 Check-in/Check-out is 3:00 p.m. and check-out 10:00 a.m. [Total number of rooms] 8 【Pick-up/drop-off】No pick-up/drop-off 【Parking lot】3 cars

Hello to all COOL JAPAN VIDEOS viewers! This is the Shinshu Suzaka Tourism Association! Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, home to a population of about 50,000, is located in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture, about 90 minutes by car from Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Suzaka City has a long history, flourishing in the Silk industry from the Meiji era to the early Showa period, and in the city you can see storehouses and merchant houses with big wall construction that retain the remnants of that time. We will send out recommended information full of the natural beauty of Suzaka City and the charm of historical buildings on COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, so please look forward to it. ==Must see tourist spots in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture== Here are some recommended sightseeing spots in Suzaka City. Please use it as a reference for sightseeing in Suzaka City! ・Garyu Park In Garyu Park, you can enjoy about 600 cherry blossom trees that have been selected as "100 best cherry blossom viewing spots". Other flowers such as iris, wisteria, azaleas, and hydrangeas also decorate the park, and you can feel the beauty of nature throughout the year. ・Suzaka City Zoo The zoo in Garyu Park has about 50 species and 230 animals. There are events that can only be experienced here, such as "Capybara Onsen" and "Night Zoo Expedition", and "Digital Animal Park for Everyone" established by Sudaka Cable TV, where you can watch several kinds of animal videos live-streamed 24 hours a day. ・ 100 selections of waterfalls in Japan "Yonago Great Falls" The road collapsed due to a typhoon in the first year of Reiwa and was closed, but the road was opened in May 2023. Located in the southeastern part of Suzaka City, Yonago Falls is one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan, with two waterfalls Fudo Falls and Gongen Falls that fall in a straight line down the caldera cliffs of Mt. Hyakumei and Mt. azumayasan straddling the border with Gunma Prefecture. ・Kura townscape In the Edo period, Suzaka City, where the domain office of the Suzaka clan "Hori clan" was located, flourished as a jinya town. It flourished in the Silk industry after the Meiji era, and there are many warehouse-making buildings that show the prosperity of that time. Why don't you go around the townscape with the Kura townscape walking map? ・Minenohara Plateau It is a plateau with an altitude of about 1,500 meters ~ 1,600 meters overlooking the Northern Alps and Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu. In the summer, you can enjoy highland sports such as tennis, golf, and trekking as a summer resort, and in the winter, it is a ski resort that entertains many people. ・Suzaka Art Park This facility is located on the south side of Garyu Park. It is a general term for three facilities: the World Folk Doll Museum, the Suzaka Print Museum, the Hiratsuka Unichi Print Museum, and the Historical Building Park, where you can experience history, culture, and art. During the Hinamatsuri season, the World Folk Doll Museum also hosts popular events such as "30-tiered decorations" and "Thousand Dolls Festival", and the Suzaka Print Museum exhibits "Tiered and Hanging Hina Decorations". ・Sekiya Onsen Yukku LAND It is a hot spring facility with a panoramic view of Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu and the night view of Suzaka City and Nagano City. There are 9 bathhouses, 4 saunas, restaurants, freshly baked bread factories, and other substantial facilities. ==Beloved events and festivals in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture== ・Garyu Park Sakura Festival It is a cherry blossom festival held in Garyu Park, and in 2024 it will be held between April 1 Mon ~ 21 Sun, 2024. You can also enjoy the fantastic scenery by lighting up the cherry blossoms at night. ・Kattakata Festival It is a historic festival that will be held for the 46th time in 2023 and is a summer tradition in Suzaka City. Giant "Ryu Mikoshi" and dancers exhaling white smoke parade through the streets of Suzaka City. ==Specialty Products of Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture== Suzaka City is rich in delicious specialty products loved by the locals, such as fresh fruit, miso, soba noodles, and oyaki. In particular, Shine Muscat, apples, grapes, etc. are cultivation, and their sweetness and freshness leave the name of the fruit kingdom "Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture" wanted. It is also popular as a thank-you gift for Furusato Nozei tax payment. ==Enjoy the best trip in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture== Suzaka City in Nagano Prefecture welcomes you with its beautiful nature, rich history, and delicious local cuisine. Spending time in Suzaka City will be an irreplaceable memory for everyone. We will send out recommended information about Suzaka City, so thank you!

Today marks the end of March. Spring is finally arriving in Tokachi.🍀 On clear days, the ridgeline of the Hidaka Mountains is sharply visible from Tokachigaoka Observation Deck. The Hidaka Mountains are scheduled to become a national park around this summer, and if designated it will be Hokkaido’s seventh and the largest national park in Japan by area.😮 Why not enjoy the majestic Hidaka Mountains from Tokachigaoka Observation Deck? The views of the Tokachi River and the Tokachi Plain are wonderful too.😊 The observation deck is about a 5-minute drive from the Tokachi River hot spring district.

I visited Daichi no Takumi at Tokachigawa Onsen. It happened to be the 29th when I visited, and since the 29th is Meat Day, they were holding a steak fair! You can enjoy steak at 29% off 😊 Today's recommended menu item “Mirai Memuro Beef Shank Steak” Rice, soup, salad, and pickles come as a set. (I ate the salad before I could take a photo...) The meat was light but flavorful, and it was very delicious! The portion was generous and I left very full 😊 It seems to be held on the 29th of every month, so please consider going. *The menu is from March 29, 2024.* - Shun no Yasai to Yakiniku Daichi no Takumi Otofuke, Tokachi, Tokachigawa Onsen Kita 13-chome 1-19 TEL 0155-67-1129 Hours 11:30–14:00 (last order) 17:30–21:00 (last order) Closed Thursdays

I went to the preview of "Takutetsukinoko Tan" that will open on Saturday, April 6th. Takutetsukinoko Tan is a facility where you can enjoy the harvesting experience of raw wood shiitake mushrooms operated by the Hokkaido Takutetsu Bus that runs in Shintoku Town. This place is the predecessor of the Takutetsu Bus, which ran between Shintoku Town and Shikaoi Town and Kamishihoro Town Town and was abandoned railway lines in 1968 Showa 43, where Minami Shintoku Station of the Hokkaido Takushoku Railway was located. The fact that the Takushoku Railway also transported lumber and other materials was also an opportunity to start raw wood shiitake mushrooms. Therefore, in addition to exhibiting photos from the railway era, there is also a corner where equipment and documents are displayed in the facility. It is located 1 minute from National Route 38 and about 1.5 km from JR Shintoku Station, and it is about 5 minutes away if you rent a bicycle free in front of the station, so please stop by. Also, the cute mushroom tan station master "Mushroom Tan" is also waiting for you to come~! #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Tourism Association #Takutetsu Mushroom Tan #Station Master Mushroom Tan #Harvest Experience #Haraki Shiitake #Mushroom #Hokkaido Takushoku Bus #Hokkaido Takushoku Railway

Fukinoyama rises to 550 meters near the border between Matsuzaki and Nishi-Izu towns, northeast of Matsuzaki town center and alongside Mount Chokuro of the Amagi range. At the summit stands Hozoin, a Soto Zen temple founded as a sacred esoteric site by Kukai (Kobo Daishi) in the 3rd year of the Dado era; it was originally called Fukino Jizo Mikkyoin. In the Muromachi period it flourished as a great sacred site with 88 branch temples, but it later fell into decline and was revived by the monk Iwanaka. During the Bunki years (1501–1504), Seian, the fourth head priest of Fumon-in in Kawazu, converted from Shingon to Soto Buddhism, and the temple gained the name Hozoin from that time. The temple grounds are densely wooded, featuring the largest cedar in Minami-Izu, estimated at about 400 years old (6.5 m in circumference, 34 m tall), and a 150-year-old Oshima cherry tree. Along the approach, more than 180 stone statues known as "field Buddhas" line up in a rare sight. The moss-covered stone figures of Dainichi Nyorai, Yakushi Nyorai, Amida Nyorai, Jizo, Kannon, Kobo Daishi and others have a quietly desolate air, as if chanting the impermanence of human life. The site is also the 7th sacred stop on the Izu Yokomichi 33 Kannon pilgrimage.

In the western and southern parts of the Izu Peninsula, widespread deposits from ancient submarine volcanic eruptions are found. After a long era of submarine volcanism, the whole of Izu uplifted and emerged onto land, and subsequent erosion sculpted the landscape we see today, allowing us to view beautiful internal structures that would originally have remained buried underground. Among the submarine volcanic deposits, volcanic ash and pumice that settled on the seafloor preserved features such as bedding and, over long periods, lithified into rock. These stones became valued as a soft, easily worked, and heat-resistant building material known as Izu stone, and until around the early Showa period they were quarried and shipped from various parts of Izu. Muroiwa Cave was a quarry that operated from the Edo period until 1954 (Showa 29), and it remains one of the few places where visitors can see the site largely as it was in those days.

Along about six kilometers from the mouth of the Nakagawa River, which runs through the center of Matsuzakicho, to Osawa Onsen, roughly 1,200 Somei-yoshino cherry trees are planted, creating a famous cherry-blossom spot that reaches full bloom from late March to early April. You can also enjoy it together with the concurrently held flower fields in rice paddies. During the blooming season, the evening cherry blossoms are lit up, and the reflection of the trees in the Nakagawa River creates a magical scene.

On about 30,000 square meters of fallow rice paddies, seeds of six flowers—African marigold, borage, baby snapdragon, daisy, poppy, and cornflower—are sown. From mid-February each year they bloom in sequence, turning the whole area into a vast flower field that delights every visitor and has come to represent Matsuzakicho. Within the flower fields, lifelike scarecrows resembling people and animals, a Flower Field Shrine (a torii made of flowers), and a foot bath are installed. From May 1 to May 5 during Golden Week, visitors may pick flowers free of charge. From late March to early April, you can also enjoy the cherry tree-lined Nakagawa River—about 6 kilometers and roughly 1,200 trees—making the site a lively attraction each year.

When you visit go sightseeing in the Kawazu cherry blossoms town of "Kawazu Town" and enjoy the exquisite gourmet food of Kawazu Town! This time, I would like to introduce "Robata". ・ A cup of fresh seafood as a snack Not only the snacks, but also the sashimi is fresh and delicious! ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Robata 【Address】322-5 Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Kawazu Town Sasahara Phone number: 0558-32-2220 【Business hours】18:00~24:00LO23:00 【Regular holiday】Closed on Sundays 【Parking lot】Yes

Spend a blissful time in a beautiful town surrounded by sea and mountain nature, Kawazu Town When you visit, and lodging nights in the town! The lodging I would like to introduce this time is "Minshuku Fukumaru". ・ We will provide sincere dishes centered on Ise shrimp 10 ~ May and seafood caught at home in June ~ September. ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Minshuku Fukumaru 【Address】Yatsu, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, Kamo-gun, Yatsu, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture 533-5 Phone number: 0558-34-1650 Check-in/Check-out is 2:00 p.m. and check-out 10:00 a.m.　 [Total number of rooms] 4 【Pick up and drop off】Consultation required 【Parking lot】2 cars

【Open to the public once every 33 years】Hattasan Choukokuji Temple 3 days from March 16 ~ 18, 2024. Once every 33 years, the secret Buddha, the eleven-sided Kannon statue, was opened to the public. Harashichigo Kanseon Bodhisattva, which was called the guardian Kannon of Hara Nanago, has been worshipped by people since ancient times. During the three days of the open to the public, many people crowded with prayers. In addition, the main hall has been designated as an important cultural property of Japan as a valuable building that preserves the architectural style of the Muromachi period. This year also marks the 500th anniversary of the reconstruction of the main hall.

When you visit go sightseeing in the Kawazu cherry blossoms town of "Kawazu Town" and enjoy the exquisite gourmet food of Kawazu Town! This time, I would like to introduce "Nanadaru Ikkyu Chaya". ・ Proud soba noodles and Udon noodles, boar hot pot using Amagi boar, Udon noodles stewed boar ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot name】Nanadaru Ikkyu Tea House 【Address】Nashimoto, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, 380-6 Nashimoto, Kawazu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number: 0558-36-8928 【Business hours】11:00~16:00 【Regular holiday】Not opens 【Parking lot】Yes

Notice of Maintenance Closure of Todaisetsuso 4/1~7 Tomraushi Onsen Higashitaisetsusou will be closed on the following schedule due to maintenance work. Use of lodging and day trip bathing will not be possible. 【Closed period】 ・Monday, April 1, 2024 ~ Sunday, April 7, 2024 7 days #Hokkaido #Tokachi #Shintoku Town #Shintoku Tourism Association #Tomuraushi Onsen #Tomraushi Onsen Higashitaisetsusou #Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group National Park #Unexplored #Secret hot spring #Secret lodging #Closed days

Spend a blissful time in a beautiful town surrounded by sea and mountain nature, Kawazu Town When you visit, and lodging nights in the town! The lodging I would like to introduce this time is "Reset". ・Doggie and family lodging　 Relaxing forest bathing dogs with delicious air and water in nature can run around to their heart's content and spend a fulfilling time. It is a lodging for one group or only one group per day. Even if you are not used to traveling with dogs, you can rest assured. ◆ Detailed information ◆ 【Spot Name】浬世人 reset 【Address】196-4 Sawada, Kawazu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Phone number: 0558-34-1690 Check-in/Check-out is 3:00 p.m., Check-out 11:00 a.m.　 [Total number of rooms] 5 【Pick up and drop off】Consultation required 【Parking lot】3 cars

This year’s Sairinka also featured a stall by Menya Bouzu. I loved the soy sauce ramen I had at Sairinka, but this time I tried the spicy miso 😊 It’s spicy but addictively tasty! I couldn’t stop sipping the soup 😊 In addition to soy sauce and spicy miso, they offer salt, miso, and mildly spicy miso, and they also have horumon ramen! It would be fun to come back and try every variety! Menya Bouzu Main Shop 12-11-1 Odori, Otofuke TEL 0155-42-2202 Hours: Mon 11:00–14:00 Tue–Sun 11:00–14:00 17:00–19:45 last order Closes when the soup runs out Closed irregularly