Event Announcement📣 From August 1 to August 3, the Hokkaido Balloon Festival takes place in Kamishihoro Town😊 This hot air balloon competition was first held in Japan in 1974!! A colorful array of balloons gathers from across the country to compete🎵 You can also enjoy tethered balloon rides, live music, and local gourmet food😍 On the experience flights, you can ride the balloon of Horon-chan, Kamishihoro Town’s character, the fairy of sky and land!! 📌Date and Time: August 1–August 3, 2025 📌Location: Kamishihoro Town Aviation Park and surrounding areas 📌Hot Air Balloon Competition Flight Schedule 8/1 → Morning competition 5:30, Afternoon competition 15:30 8/2 → Morning competition 5:30, Afternoon competition 15:30 8/3 → Morning competition 5:30, Flight curtain call (free flight) 15:30 📍On the night of 8/2 at 19:00, enjoy the balloon glow, where burners light up the balloons!! A rainbow of balloons will color the summer sky🎵 For details, please see the official Hokkaido Balloon Festival website. 📍On 8/1, a summer evening fireworks show will be held in Kamishihoro Town from 20:00😍 Bring your family and friends and come join us🤗 Other event information is posted on the Tokachi Hare website event page, so please check the homepage. https://hbf.jp//

📸✨[Ajisai Festival Instagram Photo Contest Results Announced!]✨📸 Thank you for all your entries! We have finally selected 31 prizewinning works🎊 From the many impressive submissions, here are a few highlights💐✨ All winning entries are now posted on the Shimoda City Tourism Association website! Please take a look👇🔗 (The winning works are listed at the bottom of the page. Scroll to the end to check them out🙇‍♀️) https://www.shimoda-city.info/ajisaiphoto...

Photographed 7/26/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Only one out of 2,000 pieces There are a red thread wind chime. The location changes every day.

A workshop to create a sightseeing walking route for “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” was held🎊 and we are conducting a survey! Last week on July 23, a workshop was held to devise a sightseeing walking route that lets visitors enjoy “Reihoku’s Literary Treasures,” aiming to make the town’s literary spots and heritage into new tourism resources✨ Nine local and non-local participants who know the area well joined and engaged in lively discussions. Students, local residents, and travel industry professionals who attended offered ideas from their different perspectives, making it a very valuable time👏 The next workshop, the second session, is scheduled for Thursday, August 21 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, so please join us👀 *Recruitment for participants is planned to be announced on our website in early August* We are also collecting ideas and useful information for route planning from those who cannot attend the workshop. Please check the notice on our website from the profile of this account! Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136 *This workshop is being held as part of the 2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant project.*

Photographed 7/26/25. Prayer at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. It is a rim musubi wind chime. 🎐

Photographed 7/26/25. It is a demonstration of the Kawagoe clan arquebus.

Photographed 7/26/25. It is Koite Water of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine. It is a Kawagoe million light summer festival specification. 🏮

Yesterday was the Kawagoe Million Lights Summer Festival. 🏮

Hello. I'm Minamoto ☺️ The hot days continue, but Shosenkyo Gorge feels cool with its abundant greenery. It's a great season to soothe yourself with forest bathing while listening to birdsong and enjoying the green 🌳🍃. As the babble of the mountain stream and the powerful rush of Senga Falls fill the air, walk the well-maintained path that threads between the rocks and feel the strength and gentleness of nature all around you. Enjoy the thrill of passing beneath a large overhanging rock face and the beauty of the greenery reflected on the water ✨ The entire Shosenkyo area is a power spot that cleanses the mind and body ♪ After your walk, please enjoy shopping and dining in the Takiue Area, the Crystal Road. 😊 All our staff look forward to welcoming you from the bottom of our hearts.

July 25, 2025 Pothole Tour Although the weather threatened to cancel the event, a clear blue sky appeared by the time the tour began. The sight of children repeatedly diving into the sunlit, sparkling plunge pool was especially memorable. We would be very happy if this became a wonderful summer memory for your family. Thank you very much for joining us. ✴︎About the Pothole Tour✴︎ This plan takes you deep into Toyooka Village to enjoy stream hiking and river play at one of Japan’s largest pothole sites. A guide with professional outdoor first-aid qualifications will support your experience. The tour is scheduled to run through early September. We are still accepting reservations, so please feel free to contact us. You can find tour details on the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/pothole-tour/...

🌸Shinyan and Nyanko’s Layered Stamp Rally Tour 🌸 Extended due to popular demand!! Event period Friday, August 1, 2025 – Friday, October 31, 2025 Extended period Friday, August 1, 2025 – Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Join Shimanto City Tourism Association’s official characters, Shinyan and Nyanko, for a stamp rally that lets you enjoy Shimanto City! This isn’t just any stamp — these are layered stamps. As you stack each stamp, by the end…ta‑da! A single piece of art appears✨ Turn your completed sheet into a postcard! It’s perfect as a travel keepsake or a gift for friends💌 Why not create your own Shimanto art? How to enjoy — it’s super easy♪ 1. Get a stamp sheet! → Sheets are distributed in limited numbers at each facility. If one place runs out, another might still have them! 2. Stack and stamp five stamps! → Stamps 1–5 share the same design in either area. The final image is the same even if you don’t stamp in order! 3. Once all stamps are in place, a cute Shinyan art piece is complete🎨 → You can take it home as a postcard✨ 4. Show your completed sheet and… → The first 500 visitors receive an original cotton tote bag as a gift🎁 Two areas — start anywhere you like Stamp spots form one design across the Nakamura Area and the Nishitosa Area. Because stamps 1–5 are common, collecting them in either area yields the same final image♪ Nakamura Area🐾 1. Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio — Admission required A facility where you can learn about the creatures of the Shimanto River. With dragonfly and insect specimens and displays of fish from the Shimanto River basin, it’s fun for adults and children alike! Hours: 9:00–17:00 (Closed Mondays) 2. Shimanto River Sightseeing Boats (Yakatabune) — Boarding required Three sightseeing boat operators participate; whichever operator you board will stamp your sheet. Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the beautiful Shimanto River♪ Hours: 9:00–16:00 (Advance reservation recommended) 3. Shimanto City Local Museum — Admission required A castle-shaped museum on a small hill. Learn Shimanto City’s history and culture, and take in city views from the tower for a castle‑lord feeling! Hours: 9:00–17:00 (Closed Wednesdays) 4. harenoba cafe n2 (Cafe N2) — Purchase or dine required Located around the middle of Tenjinbashi Shopping Street, it’s the perfect stop to rest during sightseeing. Hours: 11:00–18:00 (Closed Mondays) 5. Shimanto City Tourism Association — Cotton bag pick‑up location — Visit required A hub for travel information on Shimanto City and the Hata Region. They offer rental bikes (¥1,000 and up) and discounted sightseeing boat tickets! Hours: 8:30–17:30 (Open year‑round) The Nakamura town center is easy to explore by rental bike, so you can take a leisurely stroll and collect stamps! Nishitosa Area🐾 1. Roadside Station Yotte Nishitosa — Visit required A popular spot with local specialties and souvenirs. Enjoy grilled natural ayu (sweetfish) from the Shimanto River and sweets made from local ingredients — ideal for a break or shopping! Hours: 7:30–18:00 (No holidays during the event period) 2. Shimanto River Station Canoe Hall — Purchase, experience, or stay required A facility offering canoe experiences, SUP, and rafting, with an adjacent campsite so you can fully enjoy the outdoors! Hours: 8:30–17:30 (No holidays during the event period) 3. Iwami Chaya (near the sinking bridge!) — Visit required Right next to Iwami Sinking Bridge, this spot sells homemade bento and unique handmade goods made by locals. Fans should also check out the “Shimanto River” monument by Hiroshi Miyama with parking available! Hours: 10:00–15:00 (Closed Mondays) 4. Hotel Seira Shimanto — Stay or day‑use hot spring required In addition to lodging, the hotel has a restaurant and day‑use hot spring, perfect for soothing travel fatigue. At night, the stargazing guide by the star attendant is highly recommended! Hours: 9:00–17:00 (Open year‑round) 5. Shimanto River Furusato Guide Center — Cotton bag pick‑up location — Visit required The Nishitosa tourist information desk located right by the station. You can also rent Rinrin Cycles here! Hours: 8:30–18:00 (Closed Wednesdays) Driving is recommended in Nishitosa! Enjoy a scenic drive along the Shimanto River while taking in nature♪ Note: Opening days and hours may vary. Please check each facility’s website for the latest information. (Information current as of July 2025) Key point! Stamps 1–5 share a common design, so collecting them across Nakamura and Nishitosa will still complete the same image! (For example: either Nakamura’s Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio or Nishitosa’s Roadside Station Yotte Nishitosa for stamp 1 is fine) When you collect all the stamps… 🎉 The first 500 participants will receive ＼an original cotton tote bag／ Show your completed stamp sheet at one of the following locations👇 • Nakamura: Shimanto City Tourism Association • Nishitosa: Shimanto River Furusato Guide Center This cute, exclusive bag features Shinyan artwork and is only available here🐾✨ Who are Shinyan and Nyanko? Shinyan and Nyanko are local cat characters of the Shimanto City Tourism Association. There are five cats in total, each inspired by the Shimanto River’s nature, traditional fishing methods, and local culture. In this stamp rally, those Shinyan cats appear together as art♪ 🎨 Character designs are by Junya Inoue, a popular manga artist from Shimanto City and a tourism ambassador (best known for BTOOOM! and Kaiju Jieitai). Come play around Shimanto City with the Shinyan cats! Don’t just press stamps — enjoy the fun of layering them to complete the art. Explore nature, history, food, and adorable characters on a Shimanto City tour. We’re sure your very own special piece will take shape✨ We look forward to your participation!

Today, we visited CAFE ANDON. It is a café latte and campagne. It fits very, very well.

July 25 — Atami Offshore Fireworks Festival 🎆 Thank you for attending the first fireworks festival of this summer! Before the fireworks, we held a stage event in the Waterside Park called “Play in Atami! Play with Fireworks!”, with energetic performances by chiitan☆bombers, Kamen Joshi, and TOMOCA RIRIKA Yuuri to liven up the crowd! https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/8/...

Photographed on June 28, 25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Event Announcement📣 The annual beer garden “Tarunama Beer Aya” returns to Honbetsu on Saturday, July 26th 🍺 Along with beer, a wide selection of alcoholic drinks such as chu-hai and sake will be available 😊 Local foods will be lined up so you can enjoy gourmet bites with your drinks 🎵 The program is packed with attractions, including a performance by the Yoshitsune Taiko drummers and a HIPHOP dance show by local children!! A raffle may award luxurious prizes like travel vouchers and hot-spring hotel stays 🎁🎁 Grab a beer and beat the summer heat with us～🎵🎵🤗 Date and Time: Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 15:00 Venue: Parking lot in front of Honbetsu Town Hall Contact: Honbetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry TEL: 0156-22-2529 https://www.town.honbetsu.hokkaido.jp/sightseeing/fes/details/beerfes.html...

Isehara Daijingu Grand Summer Festival The 49th Grand Summer Festival will take place at Isehara Daijingu this weekend. This year’s theme is “Stand Out! — HARE, KE, and BAE —” Hare, the sense of special, out-of-the-ordinary moments, Ke, the everyday traditions rooted in the community, and Bae, those picture-perfect scenes that make you reach for your camera. The theme expresses a wish to bring out the best in everyone and every place involved in the festival. Don’t miss the many art and dance performances on stage. Venue Isehara Daijingu Date and time Saturday, July 26, 2025, 2:40 PM–8:00 PM Sunday, July 27, 2025, 3:00 PM–8:00 PM Bring the whole family and enjoy!

Otofukecho pairs perfectly with dusk 🌄 The wide sky and endless fields make it a truly charming town 🍃 It’s also nice to stop by during a leisurely drive 🚗

Photographed on June 28, 25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Notice of the Oyama Jazz & Latin Friendship Concert The annual Oyama Jazz & Latin Friendship Concert will be held again this year. Jazz and Latin rhythms will echo at the foot of the historic sacred peak, Oyama. This is a one-of-a-kind experience where beautiful nature and music weave together. Date and time: Saturday, October 18, 2025 — doors open at 12:00, performance starts at 13:00 Venue: Noh Theater, Administrative Office, Oyama Afuri Shrine Access: From Isehara Station North Exit, bus stop No. 4 (bound for the Oyama Cable), get off at “Shamukyoku Iriguchi” and you’re right there Admission: Adults ¥1,500 (advance) / ¥1,800 (at the door); Junior and Senior High School Students ¥500; Elementary school children and under free Take this chance to enjoy Oyama sightseeing along with the concert and come to Isehara! Bring your family and friends and feel the breeze of jazz and Latin music. For details, please check the official website https://afri-jazz.info/schedule/20251018/...

Photographed 6/29/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Held in "Kimono Week in Hagi" in 2025 with an extended period! Hagi is a town with a Traditional charm that still retains the townscape of the Edo period. "#Kimono Week in Hagi" is an Events where you can wear a "kimono" that suits the townscape and enjoy walking around the town. This Events, which started in 2006, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. To commemorate this, we are preparing various projects. Stay tuned! ■Held in period October 1, 2025 (Water) ~ November 15, 2025 (Sat) ■Held in Facilities in the Hagi Castle Town area, Hagi Museum, Hagi and Meirin Gakusha School, and other facilities in the city This autumn, why don't you go on a kimono-filled Hagi trip? 👘🍂 Details will be updated on the website of the Hagi City Tourism Association from time to time!

Photographed on July 9, 25. Light up of the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine rim musubi wind chime. I forgot to take a picture of the wind chime at the edge of the northern approach to the temple, so if I have a chance, I will go back and take a picture.

Event Announcement 📣 On Saturday, July 26, Tokachi–Shimizu Town will host the Seiryu Festival 😊 This beloved event returns for its 47th year!! The stage program is packed with YOSAKOI dance, jazz dance, and performances by Shimizu and Mikage Middle School brass bands, among others!! A bingo tournament and a fun prize drawing could award luxurious prizes!? You can also ride in and see working vehicles such as aerial work platforms and patrol cars on display!! The Chamber of Commerce Women’s and Youth Divisions, the Shimizu High School Sanroku Club, and local restaurants will host booths so you can enjoy regional gourmet treats 🎵 📌Date and Time: Saturday, July 26, 2025, 12:00–20:30 📌Venue: Event plaza next to JR Tokachi-Shimizu Station *In case of severe weather, the event will be postponed to the following day 📌How to participate in the prize drawing Only those who purchase the advance “Lucky Coupon with Lottery Ticket” usable at the Chamber of Commerce Youth Division booth are eligible. 📌Inquiries Seiryu Festival Executive Committee (Shimizu Town Chamber of Commerce) TEL: 0156-62-2208 It’s been hot lately, so please take care of your health and enjoy the summer festival 🤗 https://www.town.shimizu.hokkaido.jp/section/08/details/47.html...

August 9th "Mugikansai" festival celebrates the wheat harvest! 🌾 In Otofukecho, the town with Japan’s highest wheat production, the wheat harvest thanksgiving festival "Mugikansai" will take place. The festival runs simultaneously at three venues: Roadside Station Otofuke, the wheat fields of Miura Farm, and Roadside Station Garden Spa. You can touch, see, taste, and enjoy wheat in many hands-on experiences. A stamp rally will also be held! Please come and join us 😊

Photographed on July 9, 25. It is the Otorii Gate gate of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine and the "clouds on the ground" that appear from time to time.

Photographed on July 9, 25. Light up of the edge musubi wind chime of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Here you will find a world of black, gold, and dreamlike lacquer art It is called the Azumino Takahashi Setsuro Memorial Museum Setsuro Takahashi is a lacquer artist who represents the contemporary craft art scene Building on the traditional chinkin (gold inlay) technique, he created a unique lacquer art style using a method called yarigane On the grounds you can also see the former Takahashi family house from the mid-Edo period You can also enjoy a chinkin hands-on experience 😀 For details, please visit the official website http://azumino-bunka.com/facility/setsuro-museum/...

The hot days keep coming… Azumino is topping 30 degrees… On days like this, you might want to relax while gazing at a cool, clear mountain stream on the riverbed of the Nakabusa River flowing from the Northern Alps with a book you’ve been meaning to read and a cup of coffee… At the tourist information center in front of JR Oito Line Hotaka Station, borrow a cafe BOX and enjoy an Azumino picnic 😄 https://reserve.489ban.net/client/azumino-e-tabi/0/detail/850669...

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Reihoku Town’s municipal status, the 37th Reihoku Jatto Festival took place 🎊 Last weekend, the Reihoku Jatto Festival and the Dragon Boat (Peiron) Races were held successfully, drawing many visitors to Reihoku Town ✨ Spectacular fireworks launched right overhead 🎆, fiercely competitive Peiron races and hands-on Peiron experiences 🌊 energized the crowd, and the two days flew by in no time‼️ (By the way, this post’s author joined the festival for the first time this year, participating as both festival staff and a Peiron paddler. I was truly amazed by the close-up drama of the fireworks and the exhilarating rush of paddling a Peiron boat 👀) If you couldn’t make it this year, please come to the Reihoku Jatto Festival next year 🔥

[Feel the Festival Atmosphere at Kimu!] When I visited the Forest Museum Kimu after a long time I found festival booths spreading out! Handmade by Kimu staff, there were goldfish scooping, a shooting gallery, and a fishing corner, with stuffed animals welcoming visitors. With temperatures in Hokkaido topping 30°C, don’t forget to stay hydrated while you play. ***** Friday night, July 25th, is Culture Night! The museum stays open late from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Admission is free for everyone during these hours. At 5:30 PM there will be a concert by the Nishiokoppe Junior High School brass band. At 6:30 PM the puppet-theater group Doremi will perform. For inquiries, contact the Forest Museum Kimu. TEL: 0158-87-2600 We look forward to your visit. #Nishiokoppe Village #Hokkaido #Forest Museum Kimu #Summer #Festival booths #Culture Night