An article is introducing Gokasecho 👏✨ Please take a look 😆!

Josenji Temple with Azaleas in Bloom In spring, Josenji Temple bustled with many cherry-blossom viewers.🌸 Now the petals have fallen, and the weeping cherry trees with fresh green leaves are beautiful.✨ Azaleas bloom across the temple grounds, and the contrast between the new greenery and the vermilion flowers is delightful.😆

Koinobori Sports Day 🎏 & Azalea Festival 🌸 On May 5th, the event was held in District 8: Koinobori Sports Day and the Azalea Festival. Under a clear sky where koinobori raised by local volunteers drifted gracefully, the sports day took place in the morning.👟 The program offered activities that people of all ages could enjoy, and both adults and children competed with smiles.😆✨ In the afternoon, the venue moved to the gymnasium for a quiz contest and karaoke competition.🎤 The day ended with a much-anticipated raffle, and the whole event was lively from start to finish.😍

[May 3] Kurara Festival 2025 A Golden Week fast start💪💨 On May 3, Constitution Memorial Day, Kurakura Kurara in the former Kuraoka Junior High School hosted the Kurara Festival 2025🥳 The weather could not have been better that day☀️✨ The venue bustled with many food and drink stalls, fortune-telling, relaxation services, crafts, and a flea market. About 300 visitors came, making it a very lively day🤗🌟 Because it was quite warm, shaved ice was hugely popular🍧💕 (Adults seemed to prefer alcohol🍺?) In the courtyard, Nani.loa HULA studio performed hula dances🌺 A special guest performance featured the vice principal of Kuraoka Elementary School singing passionately, which electrified the crowd😆🔥 The raffle offered many luxurious prizes, and smiles were everywhere☺️✨ Although a new festival that started last year, Kurara Festival has already become a beloved event both inside and outside the local community👏💡 Everyone is already looking forward to next year💕

【🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photo Submissions Part 11 🌸】 It’s been a while, but we’re resuming introductions of the works submitted to “#Gokase Hanami 2025,” currently hosted on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account 🤩💫 @sayasyoto They submitted many photos of the rhododendrons at Mikasho Shrine and a rare bamboo called kikkouchiku.✨ They also showcased the beauty of the leaves remaining on the cherry trees after blooming.🌸🌿 Since we can, please enjoy comparing these with the cherry blossom photos we introduced earlier.☺️💕 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Now then, the long-running “#Gokase Hanami 2025” is finally in its final stretch.💪💡 The event runs through Sunday, May 11, so if you took flower photos in Gokase during Golden Week, please do submit them.🤗✨ ≪#How to Enter Gokase Hanami 2025 ≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post flower photos taken within Gokasecho to Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #date of photography (example: #March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: From Thursday, March 20, 2025, through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[Event Information] The 11th Nippo Coast Rock Oyster Festival 2025 is being held again this year! Unlike true oysters that peak in winter, rock oysters are at their best in summer! Enjoy large, rich, creamy rock oysters! Period: Thursday, May 1, 2025 – Sunday, August 31, 2025 (Hyuga City, Kadogawa Town, Nobeoka City = from May 1; Saiki City = from May 9) Organizers: Nippo Coast Rock Oyster Festival Executive Committee (Hyuga City Tourism Association, Kadogawa Town Tourism Association, Nobeoka Tourism Association, Tourism Town Development Saiki) Inquiries: 0982-29-2155 (Nobeoka Tourism Association) 🎁 Gift Campaign 🎁 During the period, dine on rock oysters at participating stores and submit the entry postcard with the participating store’s stamp to enter a drawing for luxurious prizes! 1st prize: Luxury spiny lobster set × 5 winners 2nd prize: Local premium gourmet set worth 5,000 yen × 4 winners 3rd prize: Local premium gourmet set worth 3,000 yen × 10 winners Entries are valid if postmarked by Monday, September 1. *This event does not include sightseeing facility stamps. *The lottery will be held after the event ends, and only winners will be contacted. ★⭐Introducing Nobeoka City Participating Stores⭐★ 1. Kitaura Rinkai Park Kakiya Address: 2501-60 Furue, Kitaura Town, Nobeoka City, Kitaura Rinkai Park Phone: 0982-45-3039 Hours: 11:00–15:00 (Last order 14:00) Closed: Every Friday *Hours may change due to weather and other conditions 2. Roadside Station Kitaura Restaurant Kaisenkan Address: 3337-1 Furue, Kitaura Town, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-45-3811 Hours: 10:30–16:00 (Last order 15:00) *Rock oysters available from May 12 Closed: New Year holidays 3. Fuku Fuku Address: 6-5 Shinmachi, Maru Building 1F, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-32-0629 Hours: 17:00–22:00 Closed: Every Sunday 4. Ajidokoro Kokugikan Address: 2-3-4 Kasuga-machi, Nobeoka City Phone: 0982-32-5729 Hours: 11:00–15:00 (Last order 14:00) 17:00–22:00 (Last order 21:30) *Evenings on Fri and Sat only 17:00–22:30 (Last order 22:00) Closed: Every Monday *Open on national holidays and busy periods

#002 Tsunocho has about 50 restaurants and confectionery shops. This is the first installment of our gourmet series: a long‑standing yakiniku and Chinese restaurant with 45 years of history. ~ Founded in 1980: a Chinese restaurant beloved by the townspeople ~ Seikouen This place exudes a classic, established feel and is the town’s only combined yakiniku and Chinese restaurant, now celebrating 45 years. The restaurant was already well known in Tsunocho, but after being featured on a Miyazaki TV program in 2024 it gained popularity from outside the town, and these days it’s often fully booked. The must‑try dish at Seikouen is Taiwan ramen!! You might wonder, “Taiwan ramen?” but it’s truly delicious. It’s loaded with garlic chives that make it even better. You can choose the spice level, but if you’re sensitive to heat, this ramen is still recommended. Set A comes with a small bowl of rice and three gyoza, while Set B includes mini fried rice and three gyoza. They also offer many Chinese dishes such as Tenshin‑han and mapo don. The yakiniku is, of course, excellent too. If you’re curious about the flavors or visiting Tsunocho, be sure to stop by. Hours 11:00–13:15 17:00–19:15 Closed Tuesdays (occasional irregular holidays) Parking About 10 spaces Phone 0983-25-1746 Instagram @seikouen_1980

#001 Hello! This is the Tsunocho Tourism Association. Tsunocho belongs to Koyu District in Miyazaki Prefecture and sits in the prefecture’s central region. To the east lies the Hyuga-nada Sea, and to the west stretch the ridges of MtOsuzuyama, one of Japan’s 200 famous mountains. Known as the “town of mountains, waterfalls, and fruit,” it’s rich not only in nature but also in agricultural, livestock, and marine products. On the Tsunocho Tourism Association account, we’ll share information to make you want to visit Tsunocho, so please follow along! For our first post, we’ll introduce what kind of town Tsunocho is, the key points we want to convey, and a bit about the Tsunocho Tourism Association. Access to Tsunocho By plane and by car Haneda to Miyazaki: about 1.5 hours; from Fukuoka: about 4 hours Itami to Miyazaki: about 1 hour; from Kumamoto: about 3 hours Fukuoka to Miyazaki: about 40 minutes; from Kagoshima: about 2.5 hours From Miyazaki Airport By JR Nippō Main Line to tsuno station: about 1 hour By car via the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway to Tsuno IC: about 1 hour 10 minutes What kind of town is Tsunocho? First, here’s an introduction to Tsunocho. Tsunocho has a total population of about 9,300 (April 2025) and is a town with very active agricultural and livestock production. The town is also working to revitalize the fishing industry through an onshore aquaculture initiative called the Fisheries Dream Future Project. Tsunocho preserves many historic sites, including the venerable Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine, listed in the Engishiki register of shrine names, and the Akagi Family Residence, a valuable house that served as lodging for feudal lords and government officials in the Edo period. Every year on August 1 and 2 the town holds its largest summer event, the Tsuno Shrine Summer Festival, when a golden mikoshi and four neighborhood taiko floats parade through town. Visitors come not only from within the town but also from other cities and prefectures. Town tree: ginkgo. Town flower: Osuzu winter orchid. Town bird: Japanese white-eye. A brief history of Tsunocho Next, a short look at Tsunocho’s history. The modern Tsunocho formed in 1889 (Meiji 22) when Tsuno Town and Kawakita Village merged to create Tsuno Village. Thirty-one years later, in 1920 (Taisho 9), Tsuno was established as a town, and in 2020 (Reiwa 2) it celebrated the 100th anniversary of its town status. The old village name Kawakita still appears today as a ward name. Tsunocho sightseeing spots Next are Tsunocho’s sightseeing spots. The town has many famous and lesser-known attractions. Here are two carefully selected highlights. 1. Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine Affectionately called Ichinomiya Shrine by locals and indispensable to telling the Miyazaki myths, Hyuga Province Ichinomiya Tsuno Shrine exudes a solemn atmosphere and feels powerful. Legend says that six years before Emperor Jimmu’s accession, he stopped in this area while moving eastward, prayed for national peace, safe seas, and lasting military fortune, and enshrined the deities here. The shrine’s principal deity, Ōkuninushi no Mikoto, is associated with blessings such as fertility, because he took many wives and fathered many children; recovery from illness, due to establishing medical practices and helping many people; and business prosperity, among other benefits. 2. Roadside Station Tsuno Opened in 2013 to help revitalize a town worn down by the 2010 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Roadside Station Tsuno showcases the agricultural town’s proud selection of fresh vegetables, fruits, and seafood. The station also sells original local products made from regional ingredients. The most popular item, the tomato twisted fry, draws repeat customers from both inside and outside the prefecture. Packed with Tsuno’s charms, Roadside Station Tsuno is well worth a visit. Tsunocho specialties and gourmet foods Next are Tsunocho’s specialty products and local cuisine. The town offers numerous specialty agricultural and livestock products. Here are three highlights. 1. Tomatoes Tsunocho offers an ideal environment for growing tomatoes. Tomatoes grown here benefit from the Osuzu Mountain Range’s water, the sea breeze from the Hyuga-nada Sea, and a mild climate, producing exceptional flavor. The town grows many varieties, including the much-sought-after Nigo 25 and the honey-sweet Furutika, so comparing varieties is a delight. 2. Grapes Tsunocho produces more than 30 grape varieties, including Shine Muscat, Sunny Rouge, and Kyoho. Recently, a variety called Suzuka, sometimes called the black muscat, has attracted attention for its refreshing muscat-like taste and aroma when you bite into it. 3. Tsuno Wine Speaking of grapes, Tsuno Wine is made from the grapes introduced above. Committed to using 100% grapes from Osuzu (around Tsunocho), these wines express the local terroir. A rosé made from the Campbell Early grape was selected for Wine Report’s “World’s Top 100 Wines” in 2004, and many other Tsuno wines have won domestic and international awards. Tsuno wines are so delicious they attract repeat visitors from abroad as well as within Japan. Tsunocho Tourism Association Finally, about our tourism association. We use social media to promote Tsunocho and handle everything from preparing to running local events. Recently, we have offered rentals for Osuzu Campground on MtOsuzuyama and electric bicycles. Through Cool Japan initiatives, we work to share Tsunocho’s charms and provide useful information to help visitors enjoy their stay. We appreciate your support!

🌸Spring Mountain School — Now Accepting Participants🌸 ~A casual hands-on experience in traditional pan-fried tea picking and hand-rolling🍵~ On Saturday, May 10th, we will hold a hands-on tour to make traditional pan-fried tea by hand-picking and hand-rolling the pan-fried tea that has long been handed down in Morotsuka Village. This rare tea, accounting for only about 0.02% of Japan’s production, invites you to try making it by hand-picking and hand-rolling in an atmospheric traditional house. 《Pan-Fried Tea Experience in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture》 ◎ How to make handmade pan-fried tea🍵 1. Tea picking Pick one bud and two leaves. Start at the tip of the new shoot and pick the second or third leaf from the top. 2. Initial pan-frying Heat the pan, add the fresh leaves, and stir-fry while mixing to prevent burning. Heat the pan until you hear a popping sound the moment the fresh leaves hit it. 3. Hand-rolling Spread the leaves on a mat to cool, then press down with your body weight and roll vigorously. If clumps form, break them apart (untangling the balls). 4. Drying and final frying With the heated pan, rub the tea leaves against the bottom of the pan with your hands while frying. As the moisture gradually evaporates and the leaves begin to dry, stop rubbing and dry the leaves while stirring them by hand so they do not burn. Why not take this chance to experience making pan-fried tea, something you rarely get to taste? We look forward to your participation 🤗 *For applications and more details, please check Morotsuka Navi.*

Akebono azalea Blooming from mid-April and, if the season is long, into early May, the Akebono azalea is a very large deciduous broadleaf shrub in the rhododendron family that grows on rocky cliffs above 1,000 meters. Among high-mountain azaleas, it is the earliest to bloom. It grows wild in clusters near the west trailhead of MtMorotsukayama, and the sight of vivid pink flowers carpeting the spring mountains is spectacular. The Akebono azalea colony on MtMorotsukayama is located about a five-minute climb above the west trailhead torii gate⛩️. Because you can enjoy it without a full-scale climb, many people from around Kyushu visit to see this nature🍃. The Akebono azaleas on MtMorotsukayama are coming into their best viewing period! Everyone, please come and enjoy the flowers😊

Akimasu Observatory ◎First Viewing Point Akimasu Observatory has a first viewing point and a second viewing point. At the first viewing point, the surrounding trees 🌳 have grown tall so the view is no longer clear, but you can enjoy a pleasantly open space♪ ◎Second Viewing Point This 1,000 m–high panoramic platform offers a full 360° view, letting you see from Nobeoka as far as Aso in the distance. On clear days you can also spot Hyuga-nada and Mt. Osuzu, and even the Asahi Kasei smokestack with the naked eye. Facing the direction of the rising sun, it also attracts visitors who come to watch the first sunrise of the year 🌄. *All photos were taken from the second viewing point.* (Photographer: Masahiro Aya) With little light from buildings and a clear sky, some visitors come to photograph the starry night 🌟. ◎Parking If you do not turn toward the viewing points and continue straight, you will find a parking area 🅿️ at the end. Why not come to Akimasu Observatory to capture seasonal panoramic photos 📷 throughout the year? 🤗

[🌸Gokase Hanami 2025 Submitted Photos — Part 10🌸] The entries submitted to the “#Gokase Hanami 2025” held on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account have reached a pause for now as of today💪🌸 The photo contest is still open, so please do submit your entries🤗✨ @_yuta610 @fowafuwarin5 @meiko_ryu @tokotan2._.2 (in no particular order) This time we received many night cherry blossom photos👏 Even with a step ladder or whatever I try, I can’t take good night photos at all — how do people manage to capture such beautiful night shots like these?🤔 They’re truly wonderful!!! We’ll post again when more featured works have been collected🤗💡 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#Gokase Hanami 2025 — How to Enter≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #date of shooting (example: #March 20)🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents when photographing.

🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photos, No. 9 🌸 We’re wrapping up the introductions to the entries submitted to “#Gokase Hanami 2025” on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account, with just one more installment to go 🥹 Thank you for so many wonderful submissions 👏✨ @8215dr72 @920cherry71 @omilove.1203 (in no particular order) We received breathtakingly beautiful photos that make you sigh 🥺💕 Many photos feature Josenji, but we also loved fresh perspectives such as shots of the cherry-tree-lined road taken from afar and weeping cherry trees reflected in car windows — truly lovely 😳💫 Yesterday we announced that Akebono azaleas and rhododendrons are at their best 💡 With the weather not looking great today or tomorrow, we worry they may not last, so if you can, please take photos and submit them to “#Gokase Hanami 2025” 🤗✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Enter “#Gokase Hanami 2025” Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #Date of shooting (for example: #March 20) 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Additional rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please read them carefully before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

Handmade Sendan Cutting Board This cutting board is made by the Morotsuka Village Forestry Research Group, known simply as Rinken. Rinken includes forestry workers and farmers who grow shiitake log trees themselves. Each piece carries the warm, handmade feel of the wood itself. You’ll notice beautiful grain and an amber sheen from the walnut oil finish. Use it to chop ingredients, then bring it straight to the table as a serving plate to brighten your meal — a truly versatile item. The material used is sendan wood. Morotsuka Village plants many cedar and cypress for building materials and konogi (sawtooth oak) for shiitake logs, so why choose sendan? The answer lies in sendan’s potential. While cedar can take 40 to 60 years to mature, sendan grows fast enough to be harvested in about 20 years. It also absorbs six times more CO2 than cedar during growth. Sendan is strong and easy to work with, and if it grows straight it becomes an ideal timber. Spotting sendan’s promise were members of the Fukuoka–Okawa Furniture Association, a cooperative in Fukuoka Prefecture. They not only make sendan furniture but also plant sendan trees in various locations. They visited Morotsuka Village through those planting efforts and forged a relationship with Rinken. Sendan furniture looks to the future and the environment. Why not try it in your home? Each small-size board varies in width, and designs range from classic to uniquely styled pieces. You’ll enjoy the excitement of opening it for the first time. ★You can purchase a handmade sendan cutting board from the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association (Shiitake no Yakata 21) or Morotsuka Store (online shop).🤗

[🌸 Gokase Hanami 2025 Photo Submissions — No. 8 — 🌸] Lately, the Gokase Tourism Association has been featuring entries to the “#Gokase Hanami 2025” on its Instagram account, and only a few submissions remain to be showcased at this stage 😳 @taniyan1119 @tm21mt @tourism09wine @yaaaaaa.85 @naoki_photo.graphy @naomin168 @kurota_kurohei (In no particular order) Mixed in with Josenji Temple and the Harada family’s site, we received many heartwarming shots of local weeping cherry trees, adorable pet dogs, and bright red boke (flowering quince) berries ☺️💕 Thank you all so much for the many submissions ✨ We’re still accepting entries, so feel free to post your photos anytime 🤗 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#How to Enter #Gokase Hanami 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post a photo of flowers taken within Gokasecho. Add the two hashtags #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #the shooting date (for example: #March 20) to your Instagram post 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: From Thursday, March 20, 2025 until Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please read them before submitting. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[🌸Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 Entry Photo Showcase – Part 7–🌸] We continue to share entries submitted to the "#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025" held on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account🤗🌟 @sokoatari.urouro This collection captures many expressions of the weeping cherry tree at Josenji Temple😳✨Daytime, nighttime, from far, from near, from below… each perspective brings a totally different feel, and it’s fascinating👏! We won’t post tomorrow, but we still have many entries to show, so please stay tuned a little longer☺️🙏 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#How to Enter #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (example: #March 20)🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Entries, No. 6 🌸] It’s finally starting to get truly warm here. ☀️ Today we continue showcasing works entered in the “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” contest on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account. 💪💡 @smail_barm @taka_gr86rz @takataka0129 @thusandleavis (in no particular order) We received submissions of weeping cherry blossoms from Josenji, the Harada family, and Kijiya. 🌸✨ There’s also a photo of the cherry tree at Koshouji at the foot of Gokase Winery — it’s huge! 😳 What kind of entries will appear tomorrow? 🤗 Stay tuned!! The photo contest is still open for submissions. 🌟 Spring in Gokase isn’t just about cherry blossoms — please photograph various flowers and enter! 🥳 -------------------------------------------------------------------- [How to Enter the #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025] Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (for example: #March 20). 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.

[40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries!] From Sunday, March 9 to Friday, December 5, we are holding two contests: the “MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest” and the “Pennant Design Contest.” Visit MtMorotsukayama and try capturing beautiful photos📷. ◆◇◆ MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest ◆◇◆ Spring brings blooming akebono azaleas🌸, summer brings refreshing breezes🍃, autumn showcases brilliant foliage🍂, and winter brings snow-capped peaks⛄ and rime ice. Which MtMorotsukayama do you love? Cherished as the site of the Tenson Korin (descent of the heavenly grandchild), a mountain of shugendo practice, and a place of devotion, MtMorotsukayama remains accessible even to beginner hikers. We look forward to your special photos📷 taken on MtMorotsukayama. Winning entries may be used as PR materials for next year’s mountain opening.♪ How to Enter 1) General Category Please check the Morotsuka Navi website → Kaze no Tayori → [40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries]. 2) Instagram Category Follow the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association account “Morotsuka Daily Calendar @morotsuka.tourism” on Instagram and post with the tag #MtMorotsukayama Photo Contest 2025. If you unfollow, we will not be able to contact you to deliver prizes, so please be careful. Winners may later be asked to provide high-resolution image files. Notes - If the subject of a photo is a person, obtain the subject’s permission for portrait rights. - Copyright for submitted works belongs to the organizer and may be used for village PR activities. - You may submit multiple entries, but only one winning entry per person is allowed. - Winning entries may be requested later in large original file size. -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- ◆◇◆ Pennant Design Contest ◆◇◆ This is a cherished tradition of the MtMorotsukayama opening! Participants receive a wooden🌳 pennant as a gift🎁. For the first five editions up to the 40th, we offered the “Flowers of Morotsuka🌸 series.” From the 41st anniversary, we’re refreshing the design✨ The grand prize winner’s design will be adopted for mountain opening pennants from the following year onward. The only requirement is to use wood🌳 as the material. Design, shape, and color are all free! We welcome your fun and creative ideas💡♪ How to Enter 1) Web Please check the Morotsuka Navi website → Kaze no Tayori → [40th MtMorotsukayama Opening Commemoration “Special Project” — Two Contests Now Accepting Entries]. 2) By Mail Write your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of your work, then mail your design drawing to the address below. Designs sent cannot be returned. Mailing Address 3068 Kajiwara, Morotsuka Village, Higashiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture 883-1301 Shiitake no Yakata 21 Attn: Pennant Contest Office Notes - Copyright for submitted works belongs to the organizer and may be used for village PR activities. - You may submit multiple entries, but only one winning entry per person is allowed. Winners will be entered into a drawing to receive wonderful prizes🎁✨ We look forward to many entries!!!

【🌸Gokase Hanami 2025 — Featured Photos, No.5🌸】 We continue to steadily showcase works submitted to the Gokase Hanami 2025 contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account 🥳 @reoron001219 @sakai_0808 @sayasyoto (in no particular order) We received many photos of weeping cherry trees set against clear blue skies 🌸✨ Everyone’s framing is truly brilliant… we’re always amazed, wondering how they captured such scenes from any angle 😳👏 Although akebono azaleas and rhododendrons aren’t fully in bloom yet, they’re starting to open little by little 🤗 The photo contest runs until Sunday, May 11, so please keep those entries coming 🎶 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪How to Enter Gokase Hanami 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: #Gokase Hanami 2025 and #shooting date (example: #March 20) 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take care to avoid accidents while shooting photos.

[Event Information] The Kyushu Three Great Spring Festivals “Odaishi-san” returns this year! 📆 Friday, April 18th–Sunday, April 20th, 2025 📍 Imayama Daishi (3998 Yamashita-cho 2-chome, Nobeoka City) 🚶‍♂️ 15 minutes on foot from Nobeoka Station 📞 Inquiries: Imayama Daishi Sponsorship Association (inside Nobeoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 0982-33-6666 ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 🚗 Parking Information 🚗 If you are coming by car, please use the Furukawa Riverside Free Parking Lot (capacity about 400 cars). From this parking lot to the Nobeoka Station West Exit highway bus stop, a free shuttle bus is available! [Operation Hours] Saturday the 19th: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM; Sunday the 20th: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM Also, from the Imayama Daishi east approach, a shuttle taxi (¥200 per person) is convenient for getting to Imayama Daishi! [Operation Hours] Friday the 18th, Saturday the 19th, Sunday the 20th: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー This festival, filled with the prayers of the historic Kobo Daishi and the passion of local people, is a treasured tradition. On the final day, the daimyo procession parade brings the streets to life with spectacular costumes! Enjoy the unique hospitality and crafted displays that make Odaishi-san special! This year too, come and enjoy Odaishi-san with your family and friends✨ *For details, please see the Imayama Daishi website.* https://www.imayamadaisi.com//

【🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 4 🌸】 We are continuing to showcase works submitted to the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 event, which is currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. Today we bring you more entries every day🌟 @fowafuwarin5 @gokase_pan @hisabou1958 @kickcamp_with_jimny @landscape133_22 @madame.rururu (in no particular order) This time there are many night cherry blossom photos from Kijiya🌸🌙 We are very pleased to see Josenji and the Harada family’s weeping cherry trees captured from so many perspectives☺️💕 There are also striking shots of the red-and-white camellias blooming at the base of Josenji’s cherry trees✨It’s delightful to enjoy the charm of various flowers🎶 We are still accepting submissions, so please send yours in abundance🤗✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪How to enter Gokase Flower Viewing 2025≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and the photo date (for example: March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take care to avoid accidents while photographing.

Morotsuka-yama Keiryū no Sato Among the two campgrounds in the village, one is this Morotsuka-yama Keiryū no Sato (Morotsuka Mountain Stream Village). This nature-rich campground sits beneath Mt. Morotsuka, one of Kyushu’s 100 famous mountains. In spring, you can admire groves of Akebono azaleas about a 2–3 minute walk from the west trailhead of Mt. Morotsuka. Directly below the log cabins lies a riverside park adjacent to a valley with plentiful water. In summer, you can enjoy playing in the stream and fishing (a fishing permit is required). The campground features three five-person log cabins made from Morotsuka timber and a free campsite limited to three groups per day. It’s recommended for those who want a relaxed, peaceful camping experience.

Tenkuu no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park Perched at about 800 meters above sea level in nature-rich Morotsuka Village, Tenkuu no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park features log houses and a campsite. The road from the Hyuga direction is a single lane one-way for much of the route, so drivers who are not used to mountain roads can feel at ease. The park offers an athletic course, grass skiing, and putter golf, so families with young children can all enjoy it together 😆. A scenic cross-country course nearby makes it perfect for a leisurely walk while soaking in nature 🍃. The popular Akimasa Observatory, known for its spectacular views ✨, is about a five-minute drive. Getting up early to watch the sunrise is recommended, and with luck you might even see a sea of clouds. Enjoy spring when flowers bloom 🌸, summer greenery and the coolness of higher elevations 🌳, fiery autumn foliage 🍂, and quiet winter with drifting snow ⛄. It’s a place to savor the ever-changing seasonal scenery and relax in nature. The village has two campsites, and Ikenokubo Green Park is one of them.

🌸 Gokase Cherry Blossom Photos 2025 — Featured Entries #3 🌸 We’re continuing our daily showcase of works submitted to the Gokase Cherry Blossom 2025 contest on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account. @bluesea12067 @code_name_cross_fire We received a wonderfully diverse set of entries.🤩 Scenes include the spring mountains and historic buildings tucked deep in Kuwanouchi, a moss-and-cherry blossom pairing, and cherry trees framed from a winery-style hall.🤗 Everyone enjoys hanami in their own way, and it’s such fun to see the variety.😆💕 Thank you to everyone who entered.🙇‍♀️ We’re still accepting submissions, so please capture your own way of enjoying hanami and enter the contest.🤗✨ -------------------------------------------------------------------- How to Enter Gokase Cherry Blossom 2025 Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken in Gokasecho on Instagram with two hashtags: #GokaseCherryBlossom2025 and #date of shooting (for example: #March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... Period: Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take care to avoid accidents while shooting photos.

[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Photos Vol.2 🌸] We’re back with another big batch of entries to the “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” contest now running on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account. We’ll be sharing many of the submissions today.💪🌟 @1230fuukeinoturishi These nostalgic shots capture not only the classic weeping cherry at Josenji Temple but also everyday cherry blossom scenes from the Kuraoka area.🥺 The photographer’s sensibility that turns your eyes not only to the cherry trees but also to the charming mountain flowers is something to admire and learn from…🙏✨ We’ll be featuring entries every day for a while, so please stay with us.🙇‍♀️ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪#How to Enter: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 ≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho. Add the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (for example: #March 20) to your Instagram post. 🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️ Please take full care to avoid accidents when photographing.

[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 1 🌸] We are sharing entries submitted to the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.🫡✨ So many lovely entries arrived, and we’ll be showcasing them one after another.👏 @_yuta610 @a2o_yoshino @aaatkt6 (in no particular order) Photos feature the cherry blossoms at Josenji, the Harada family residence, Kijiya, and Mikasho Shrine.💡 The daytime blossoms and the night cherry trees are both truly beautiful.🥹💕 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ≪How to Enter the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 Contest≫ Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and the shooting date (for example: March 20).🤳❤️‍🔥 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... [Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025, through Sunday, May 11, 2025 ⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html... ⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while shooting photos.

🌳2025 Yamagakko Registration Open🌳 “Yamagakko” means pretending to go to school while spending the day playing in the mountains. Not so long ago, when children walked an hour or two to school, their love of play remained unchanged. They walked to school through mountains and along rivers, places that were their everyday playgrounds full of wonder. They would lose track of time chasing birds 🕊️ or discovering tasty greens 🌱. At times like that, back at school “Aitsu wa dongyashita tsuna?” “Yama gakkō shocchaga” (I wonder why that kid isn’t here) (Maybe they’re out playing in the mountains) were the sort of conversations you’d hear. These are the joyful memories many people once shared.✨ The ecotour “Let’s Do Yamagakko in Morotsuka!” takes its cue from those mountain school days and offers a chance to encounter the rich, untouched nature 🍃 and the everyday lives of the people who live there. Would you like to set off on a Morotsuka-only journey that lets you fully experience the forest life honored as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage? [2025 Program — 8 Courses] 🌸Spring Traditional hand-plucked, hand-rolled kama-iri tea making: Saturday, May 10 🍃Summer Climb Mt. Kurodake in summer to see the “flower that brings happiness,” kirengeshoma: Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 🍂Autumn Get a head start on autumn flavors!! Chestnut gathering: Sunday, September 4 🍂Autumn Harvest summer vegetables and make pizza: Sunday, September 14 🍂Autumn Make local konnyaku: Saturday, October 4 🍂Autumn Yuzu picking and making yuzu kosho: Saturday, November 22 ⛄Winter Harvest seasonal shiitake from log-grown trees and make shiitake pizza: Sunday, December 14; Sunday, January 18, 2026; Saturday, February 14, 2026 ⛄Winter Handmade washi paper and mitsumata workshop: Sunday, March 8, 2026 ***************************************************************** ※For tour details, please check Morotsuka Navi.

Donko-tei A restaurant attached to the village information hub Shiitake Hall 21🍽️ Enjoy Morotsuka’s unique flavors made from seasonal mountain produce😋 *Please note: closed every Wednesday.* Every month on the 7th and 8th we hold the "Morotsuka Naba🍄 Days" event The numbers 7 and 8 read as "naba," giving the event its name, Morotsuka Naba🍄 Days, held monthly! What is naba🍄? In Morotsuka, shiitake mushrooms are called "naba." At Morocco House, Special Products Sales Office, dried shiitake go on sale at discounted prices, and at Donko-tei we offer shiitake-related specials and services✨ If you love shiitake, come to Morotsuka Village on the 7th and 8th!

Hidden Cherry Blossom Spots in Kuwanochi 🌸 Yesterday, Monday, April 7, the weather turned warm with a gentle breeze and clear skies☀️ It was truly a perfect day for hanami🌸🍡 When people think of cherry blossoms in Gokasecho, the Sanga area is especially famous, but Kuwanochi also hides some lesser-known blossom spots😌✨ Photos 1–3 show the cherry trees you see on the left just before you reach the top of the hill where the road from National Route 218 turns toward Yuhinosato Bridge and meets Prefectural Route 8📸 Two large, pale-pink cherry trees stand between tea fields and a vast blue sky stretching as far as the Aso caldera🌸 It’s the kind of serene satoyama landscape that takes your breath away🥹✨ This place seems to be a well-kept secret with many devoted fans🤭💕 Photos 4–5 show the cherry tree by a private house you’ll find right after descending the lane beside the fire station along Prefectural Route 8📸 A magnificent weeping cherry stands out against a carpet of rapeseed flowers at its feet and the bright blue sky behind it. It’s a vivid, springlike scene🤗✨ Beside it, vivid purple magnolia blooms in profusion, making this spot a joyful celebration of spring🤩 Finally, photos 6–8 show the cherry at Koshoji Temple📸 You have to view it from a bit of a distance to take in the whole tree — it’s very large😳✨ The pure white petals contrast beautifully with the red-and-white mottled camellias planted in front. The sight is stunning and powerful; this cherry tree is well worth a visit🙏💡 That brings us to the entrance of Kuwanochi and ends the cherry tree tour for now😌 Please tell us about your favorite cherry trees too✨ A note on the private houses I featured: these are private properties, so when viewing, please do not enter yards or make loud noises. Observe good manners to avoid bothering neighbors🙇‍♀️ Now, rain is forecast for this Thursday — will the blossoms be gone then? 🥲 It’s a little sad, but that fleeting beauty is part of their charm🫶 Cherry-blossom showers are poetic; let’s enjoy them to the fullest while they last🌸

🌸Bloom Update🌸 Cherry blossoms are now at their best across Morotsuka Village. Many cherry trees have opened at Ikenokubo Green Park, making it a perfect day for hanami. Everyone, please come and visit us 😆