Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku)
Vehicles are prohibited from passing through from 10:00 to 16:00 🚗⚠

Recently, the number of cars entering the post town during the restricted hours has been increasing.
This restriction is in place to protect pedestrians and the historic streetscape, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

Please park in the No.2 parking lot or the central parking lot along National Route 256.
The parking fee is 500 yen per day.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. 🌻

Photographed on August 9, 25.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on August 15, 25.
This is CAFE ANDON's homemade lemonade. 🍋

Photographed on August 15, 25.
CAFE ANDON's peach and lime Parfait. 🍑🍋‍🟩

The base is layered with sweet and sour framboise and peach sauce, vanilla crumble, lime panna cotta, heavy cream, and peach and lime confiture.
I put forest/ranch soft serve ice cream on top and decorated with peaches, vanilla crumble, raspberries and mint.

It is a very, very luxurious parfait. 😊

Photographed on August 15, 25.
CAFE ANDON's hot sandwich set, tuna & onion.

Photographed on August 15, 25.
After Prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store.
Chillax soda peach and peach & milk cake. 🍑

Photographed on August 15, 25.
It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
The wind chimes on the veranda had changed to the color of love.

【👒Summer in Gokase 2025 Photo Submissions — Spotlight 1👒】

We are featuring photos submitted to the "#Summer in Gokase 2025" contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account!

@goto0619
@niidome2110
@sakai_0808

Thank you for your submissions 😆✨
We are still accepting entries!!

How to enter (Submission period — through September 15)
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko) and post with the hashtags "#Summer in Gokase 2025" and "#Gokase" 📸
We look forward to your entries 🙇‍♀️✨

Photographed on August 15, 25.
It is a kazaguruma in front of the Otorii Gate of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
I took it around 7 o'clock in the morning.

I found a wind chime with a red thread.

#010

Long time no post!! Today I’ll introduce Tsuno Town’s fireworks display and river festival, held on Friday, August 22.

Tsuno Citizens’ Fireworks Display
Organized by the Tsuno Citizens’ Fireworks Display Executive Committee, this show launches from rice fields where the harvest is finished. No specific viewing areas are designated, so many watch from the concurrently held river festival site, while others enjoy clear views from farther away. The fireworks look different depending on where you watch, and about 3,000 shells will light up the night sky over Tsuno.
The highlight is that you can look down on the fireworks from the hillside parking lot of Tsuno Winery. Why not come for a fireworks experience you can’t usually have?

Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
Time: From 8:00 PM
TEL: 0983-25-5501 (Tsuno Winery)
If it rains, the event will be postponed to Sunday, August 24.

Tsuno Town River Festival
Held at the same time as the Tsuno Citizens’ Fireworks Display, this river festival is organized by the Tsuno Chamber of Commerce and Industry Youth Division. Food stalls line the Tsuno River Fureai Street beside Tono Shrine, and the event features plenty of fun stage programs for children.

Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM–9:00 PM
TEL: 0983-25-0200 (Tsuno Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Parking: Please use Roadside Station Tsuno.

On the day of the event, Tsuno Winery and the area around Tono Shrine are expected to be crowded with cars and visitors from about one hour before the fireworks launch. Please take care when you come.

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival and the End of the War Memorial Festival.

A Long-Awaited Hike up Mt. Shiraiwa 👟

From the 13th to the 17th, the town road Hon’yashiki–Hagisen reopened to regular vehicles, so I left my car at Gokasecho Highland Ski Area’s Ski Center and hiked up Mt. Shiraiwa 💪

Because the management road up to the ski area still prohibits ordinary cars, I first headed on foot for the Gobobatake trailhead ✨

About 30 minutes after starting, I reached the Gobobatake trailhead 💡
From there I set off on my long-awaited hike up Mt. Shiraiwa 😊

The trail was rough at first, but it was generally easy to walk and the cool weather made the climb comfortable ✨
At the summit I exchanged valuable information and learned about conditions on nearby peaks 👍

The photos show an asagi-madara butterfly and alpine wildflowers I encountered along the way 🥰
It felt great to hike Mt. Shiraiwa again and it was a refreshing experience 😆

On the stage of the red shrine,
The dancers danced slowly to the music.
The fan shimmered in the light,
It's like jumping the story into the night,
Telling tradition with steps, condensing a moment of eternity between light and shadow.

⛳ : Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura City, Japan
📷：#SONY A7IV

Photographed on August 9, 25.
Vacation at a teahouse on a mountain in the Precincts of Atago Shrine.
It is an amulet ice. 🍧
It is covered with Ume plum syrup and seems to ward off evil.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
Vacation at a teahouse on a mountain in the Precincts of Atago Shrine.
Lemon squash.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
It is the staircase of Success in life of Atago Shrine.
Without looking down, I climbed in one fell swoop.
Success in life is something that only God knows.

View from Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden

The queen of alpine plants, Lycaenidae, made me feel the summer of Hakuba.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
This is Bacon & Eggs from ZTTo morning.
Mu, a cube-shaped bread, is popular. 🍞

Photographed on August 9, 25.
It is a café latte at ZTTo morning, just a short distance from Nagatacho Station.
It is a morning specialty exhibition of "bread and espresso".

Photographed on August 9, 25.
This is the Suzu Araragi wind chime of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.

Photographed on July 9, 25.
This is the Suzu Araragi wind chime of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
This is the Suzu Araragi wind chime of Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.
I found a pink wind chime. 🎐

Photographed on August 9, 25.
It is the boar's eye of the Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.
It is said to bring amulets and good fortune.

Photographed on August 9, 25.
Prayer at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.
Unusually, there were no people, so I photographed the Main Shrine.

Today, I took a walk around Tokyo.
Prayer at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine.

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan videos, nice to meet you!
We are the Shimanto City Tourism Association in Kochi Prefecture.
Shimanto City lies in the southwest of Kochi Prefecture, bounded to the north by mountains around 1,100 meters high and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, making it a city rich in nature.
The city was formed in 2005 by the merger of the former Nakamura City and Nishitosa Village, and its name comes from the Shimanto River that runs through the city. On this account, we will deliver the many charms of Shimanto City to you. We look forward to sharing them with you!

■How to access Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
About a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Kochi Ryoma Airport
About 1 hour by limited express from JR Kochi Station

■Basic information about Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
The population is about 30,000 people (as of June 2025), making it the third most populous city in Kochi Prefecture. Forests cover about 91% of the city area, and the Shimanto River, which flows through the city, stretches 196 km without dams on its main stream. Known as “Japan’s last clear stream,” the city’s catchphrase is “a town that lives with the river.”

■History of Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
The former Nakamura area of Shimanto City is called “Tosa’s Little Kyoto.” About 550 years ago, Ichijo Norifusa moved south following the Onin War and laid out streets in a grid pattern modeled on Kyoto, and that urban design remains today. The town’s blend of culture, history, and nature creates a picturesque setting perfect for strolling.

■Recommended sightseeing spots in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
Chinkabashi (low-water crossing bridges)
・There are nine chinkabashi on the main stream, including Sada Chinkabashi and Iwama Chinkabashi
Activities
・Shimanto River sightseeing boats
・Canoeing and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding)
・Shimanto river barbecue
・Cycling
History
・Ichijo Shrine
・Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine
・Shimanto City Local Museum
・Hanka Tenmangu Shrine
・Kurosongu Shrine
Food
・Shio tataki (salt-seared fish)
・Biri katsuo (local skipjack tuna specialty)
・Bushukan chu-hai (citrus shochu highball)
・Ayu (sweetfish)
・Unagi (eel)
・River shrimp
・Gori (gori fish)

■Visit Shimanto City, where nature and culture live on
Shimanto City, where vast nature and historical culture come together, is an ideal destination to refresh both body and mind.
Come and seek the landscapes and experiences you can only find here.

We will continue to share the attractions of Shimanto City, so please follow us!

✨A Three-Day Holiday Packed with Events✨

The three-day holiday starts tomorrow 😁
Gokasecho is full of events 🎆

"Yaki Happy Fest" 🎤
Set in a hall styled after the Gokase Winery, this festival brings together delicious food, wine, and live music!
Celebrating the connection between Osaka and Gokase, the excitement begins with a pre-festival night. Come enjoy a relaxed, joyful time amid Gokase’s rich nature and a refreshing breeze.
Date and Time
Pre-festival: Friday, August 8, 2025, 5:00 PM–9:00 PM
Main festival: Saturday, August 9, 2025, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location
Hall styled after Gokase Winery

"Gokase Festival" 🎆
An annual celebration that colors the summer in Gokasecho!
Held in the Gokase Town Hall parking area, the festival draws large crowds with food stalls, stage events, and more. The finale lights up the night sky with fireworks. Let’s enjoy a summer evening in Gokase together!
Date and Time
Sunday, August 10, 2025, 3:00 PM–8:00 PM (fireworks start at 8:00 PM)
Location
Visitor parking lot at Gokase Town Hall

"Tenohira Gion Market" 👐
A heartwarming handmade market born from the idea that you can make a living doing what you love, even in the countryside.
Set around Gion Shrine, more than 20 unique stalls will offer handmade goods and tasty food. This year, artists who regularly sell at Kyoto’s "Hyakumanben Handmade Market" will make a special appearance!
Come to Gokase’s natural setting and find pieces that make your heart flutter.
Note: The venue may change in case of rain.
Date and Time
Monday, August 11, 2025 (public holiday), 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (postponed to August 12 in case of rain)
Location
Gion Shrine (Kuraoka, Gokasecho)

Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya Natsumōde 2025

On this day, glutton Kasai brings you fresh, hot-off-the-press information.
Have you heard of Natsumōde? This seasonal ritual offers a chance to savor an evening that avoids the daytime heat, letting you enjoy the cool dusk air, quiet atmosphere, and the shrine’s charming summer mood. Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya is holding a Natsumōde event!!!
During the festival, the shrine will be illuminated. Shrine maidens will perform kagura, local performers will present bugaku dances, the Shimosuwa Koyō High School brass band will play, and Tsugaru shamisen performances will take place each night from 19:00. On weekends, special attractions such as festival stalls and food trucks will appear!
For details ⇒ https://shimosuwaonsen.jp/event/21644/
Goshuin collectors, take note! Limited-edition Natsumōde goshuincho and special nighttime Natsumōde goshuin will be available at Akimiya during the event. A nighttime-only “Yo-Yo Omikuji” will be offered from 18:30 to 21:00 each day, so please come and enjoy!!! Fans made of bamboo will be distributed to visitors only. They are elegant bamboo hand fans perfect for the occasion 🎶
※ This is Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya, so please be careful not to confuse it with other shrines!

Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya Nighttime Natsumōde
◎ Period: Thursday, August 7 – Thursday, August 14, 2025
◎ Time: 18:30–21:30

◎ Shinano-kuni Ichinomiya Suwa Taisha (Shimosha Akimiya)
📍 5828 Shimosuwa-machi, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture
☎ 0266-27-8035 (Natsumōde inquiries)
◎ Homepage : https://suwataisha.or.jp/


Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya – Nighttime Natsumōde 2025
Gluttony Kasai is here to bring you fresh, hot-off-the-press news!
Have you heard of Natsumōde?
While the slow, lingering summer heat has its own charm, Natsumōde offers a chance to avoid the midday heat and instead enjoy the cool evening air, the quiet atmosphere, and the magical scenery of the shrine at night.
This summer, Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya will once again host this special evening event.
During the festival period, the shrine grounds will be beautifully illuminated, and visitors can enjoy sacred kagura dances performed by shrine maidens, traditional bugaku court dances by local performers, music by the Shimosuwa Kōyō High School brass band, and live Tsugaru shamisen performances.
On weekends, food stalls and kitchen cars will also make a special appearance.

Special Limited Items
• Limited-edition Natsumōde Goshuincho (temple seal book)
• Nighttime Natsumōde special Goshuin (temple seal)
• “Yo-Yo Omikuji” (balloon yo-yo fortune), available 18:30–21:00 during the event
If you are a Goshuin collector, you won’t want to miss this!

Dates: August 7 (Thu) – August 14 (Thu), 2025
Time: 18:30–21:30
Venue: Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya – Shinano-kuni Ichinomiya (First Shrine of Shinano Province)
📍 5828 Shimosuwa-machi, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture
☎ 0266-27-8035 (Natsumōde Inquiries)
* Homepage : https://suwataisha.or.jp/
・ Distributed to visitors only; a traditional hand fan made from bamboo, perfect for enjoying the summer evening in style 🎶
※ Please note: This event is held at Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya.