An oasis 🌻 of buildings Artificial flowers can also be enjoyed and healed. What a strength that does not wither. You can enjoy it 😊 for a long time until September 16th Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Dai Nagoya Building Shot on iPHONE 11 PRO 26mm JAPAN Aichi 2024/7

Nishi-Izu Town Yamabikoso The wooden school building that became the Closed School was re-Use as a Accommodations. It boasts a Local abundant hot water Hot Spring and, a bathtub and Hot Spring outdoor pool. You can feel the warm warmth of the old days. ■Address 150 Osawa-ri, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka ■ Phone 0558-58-7153

The other day, I set out to discover a new walking course in the former Toyoda Village area, so I walked from JR Iiyama Line kaesa station to lotus station. I started at 6 a.m. while the air was still a bit cool, before it got hot. Listening to stories from staff born or living locally, I walked along the Chikuma River, through villages, and along paths surrounded by rice fields. I crossed the newly built Kanakura Kabeta Bridge and also admired it from below. Since I usually only drive over that bridge, the views felt fresh. Along the way I passed IiyamaLine trains about three times and was reminded how well walking, railways, and scenery go together. The walk took about three hours including breaks. There are still things to improve, but this looks like a refreshingly pleasant course!

🐋 Prayer for the opening of the sea and the safety of the sea The long-awaited summer has arrived ✨ At two beaches in Mikuni Town, Fukui Prefecture, a sea opening ceremony was held 🌅 to pray for safety Use also conducts water rescue drills to protect the safety of all users, and the Bathing in the sea season is in full swing! 🏖 Mikuni Mr./Ms. Set Beach ・ The shallow and wide beach is Popular with Families! ・ Marine sports are popular 🏄 ・ Held in Mikuni Fireworks Festival on 8/11 Sun! ⁡ Famous as a Spot to watch the sunset. 🏖 Hamachi Beaches ・ It features beautiful sandy beaches and highly transparent seawater! You may be able to observe the fish. ・ In the vicinity, there are plenty of leisure facilities such as Echizen Matsushima Aquarium and Shibamasa World This year is expected 😖 to be hotter than last year You can come to cool off or play to your heart's content! Be sure 🍽️ to stop by the surrounding Sightseeing spots This summer, I'm coming to visit the sea of Mikuni~ ☺️ ࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶࿐·˖✶ In the middle 💘 of the charm of Fukui Prefecture Check out our past posts!

🌸 Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024 — Results Announcement 🌸 Thank you for waiting‼️ Here are the results of “Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2024” 🥳👏 We received a total of 116 votes this time ✍️✨ Thank you so much for all your votes 😌 Now for the results 👇👇👇 🥇 Gold Prize @gokase_pan — Rain and the Night at Josenji Weeping Cherry Tree 🥈 Silver Prize @sakai_0808 — Nighttime Hanami Camp at the Waterfront Park 🥉 Bronze Prize @niidome2110 — Evening at Josenji Weeping Cherry Tree Congratulations to all the winners㊗️🥳🎉 And thank you to everyone who participated and submitted entries 🙏✨ By the way…… We’ll soon announce a photo contest on Instagram themed around summer in Gokase 😳💡 Please join us again 🥰

Right now in Suwa City, nikko kisuge are in bloom on Kirigamine. Hydrangeas are in full bloom around the city. There are hydrangea viewing spots throughout the city. In Suwa City, Shoganji Temple is even nicknamed Hydrangea Temple. During this rainy season, why not head out with an umbrella to enjoy the hydrangeas as they change their beautiful sevenfold colors? Even in the rainy season, you can savor the unique charm of Japan during this time of year 🎶

【Inage Seaside Park】 Inage Seaside Park is a comprehensive park with a length of about 3 km and an area of about 83 hectares, located on the coast of Tokyo Bay, in front of Kaihin New Town. In the park, you can enjoy Japan's first artificial beach "Inage-no-hama", Chiba City flower museum, swimming pool, sports facilities, yacht harbor, and all four seasons. 〇Inage-no-hama It is the first artificial beach built in Japan to recover the sandy beach of Inage Coast that was lost due to land reclamation. Today, this sandy beach has been renovated into a white sand beach and is popular as a place of relaxation for citizens. In addition, a new "wooden deck extending to the sea" with a length of 90 meters and a width of 10 meters has appeared, so everyone can easily enjoy a walk on the Ocean. Chairs and tables are set up at the end of the wooden deck, and if you bring in drinks and snacks purchased from the Kitchen Car, you can feel like a Ocean café. It is lit up at night and you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere. 〇Inage Seaside Pool INAPOO A new complex pool with a retro-modern concept that can be enjoyed by men and women of all ages. The concept is retro-modern, which is a fusion of nostalgia and newness. In addition to the conventional pool content, we offer a variety of Activities such as large playground equipment, paid seating where you can relax more slowly, and a restaurant. In 2024, it will open on Saturday, July 13! 〇Inage Yacht Harbor A yacht harbor where you can enjoy the sea breeze with the new Central Tokyo in the background. Held in various events such as yacht experience sessions that beginners and parents and children can participate in, purse seine fishing visiting the sites, and standup paddleboarding classes. 〇Flower Museum We are currently in the process of renewing it. The atrium building and greenhouse building, which will be the center of the museum, will be renovated as Facilities where you can Fun the fusion of conventional flower and plant exhibitions and digital technology. Currently, the surrounding garden and rest building are open to the public free of charge. As of July 1 〇small planet CAMP＆GRILL You can enjoy sustainable glamping facilities that coexist with the Nature environment. It is equipped with safe facilities that are great for women and children who are new to the outdoors, so you can spend your time comfortably. We also offer BBQ using freshly picked ingredients from Chiba. There is also a Day trip plan that allows you to stop by casually, Restrooms available customers who come to the beach or pool can easily enjoy it as if they were stopping by a café. 〇The Surf Ocean Terrace A seaside restaurant with a view of the sea and sky. A superb view of Tokyo Bay spreads out in front of you. Fun on the seaside terrace with spacious sofas for food and drinks. You can also overlook the sea from the calm atmosphere of the store, which uses plenty of wood.

Summer lurks in everyday life

Summer Traditions Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine with the sound of wind chimes Photo taken on July 6, 2024

Mario Ice Season 🍨 ∩ '∀' ∩ Waai

Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen National Park Mt. Takabocchi Highlands Overview Mt. Takabocchi Highlands sits in the eastern part of Shiojiri City on gently sloping terrain. From the summit’s 360-degree viewpoint, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Northern Alps, Lake Suwa, the Southern Alps, and Mount Fuji. Seasonal Highlights <Spring–Summer> The highland is popular for easy observation of diverse alpine plants such as rhododendron (Renge tsutsuji) and geranium (Hakusan fuuro). From early summer to autumn, grazing dairy cows create a pastoral, otherworldly landscape. <Autumn–Winter> From mid-October, you can often see majestic sea-of-clouds formations. Camping and Outdoor Activities Since 2021, responding to the recent outdoor boom, growing workation demand, and increased interest in environmental protection, outdoor initiatives have begun, including development of camping areas so visitors can enjoy the highland in many ways. Visitor Notes for Mt. Takabocchi Highlands There are no water facilities such as cooking water taps, so please bring your own water. Toilets are available, and vending machines sell drinks including water. Basic Information Recommended Seasons June (rhododendron), June–October (cow pasturing), late October–December (sea of clouds) Address Kataoka, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture Access Access to Mt. Takabocchi Highlands 13 km from Shiojiri IC *Closed for winter roughly early December through late April For car navigation *Gake no Yu Route Search for Gunjo-kaku (〒399-0071 6114-235 Kataoka, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture Tel: 0263-58-2140). It is about 7 km and a 15-minute drive from Gunjo-kaku. *Higashiyama Route If “Mt. Takabocchi Highlands” is not registered, use Higashiyama Community Center (Tel: 0263-56-2485) as a landmark for the Takabocchi entrance from Japan National Route 20. Address: 869-4 Former Shiojiri Higashiyama, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. Parking First Parking Lot (adjacent to Kusakazuba racing field, free) Second Parking Area (Toppouguchi, free) Toilets Available at the First Parking Lot and the Second Parking Area Contact 0263-88-8722 (Shiojiri City Tourist Information Center)

July 7 (Sunday) Sunset Village Kids Festa – Tanabata Festival– On Tanabata day, July 7, the Sunset Village Creation Promotion Council and the Childcare Support Center teamed up to hold the Sunset Village Kids Festa – Tanabata Festival – in the Wind Hall at Gokase Winery👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🎋✨ True to the Wind Hall’s name, the wind blew strongly, but the sky was perfectly clear and blazing sunny—a day with no better weather🥵☀️ That didn’t bother anyone: the children were full of energy💪✨ A water play area was set up at the venue! Kids blasted water pistols in the pool, sent all kinds of bubbles into the air, and played with water-balloon yo-yos… the fun continued from morning until the event ended, always packed and lively🔫👏 On stage, children moved their bodies to music in a rhythmics session, sang together at a mini concert, and listened intently to picture-book readings and a panel theater. A special collaboration with the local wind ensemble, G Music Band, brought an electrifying hula dance that thrilled the crowd🥳🙌 There were also hands-on experiences with wind and percussion instruments and the koto, and the children were ecstatic to touch live instruments they rarely get to try🎺🎶 Vendors lined up, including BLANCO Ice Cream from nearby Yamatomachi, offering drinks and treats for kids and adults and fun lottery games. The place was bustling🌭🥤🍧 Upstairs in the cool Wine Hall, Midori Kakuda’s photo exhibition and photo session were held, capturing many lovely and new scenes of Gokase in beautiful shots📸✨ On the same floor, a nursing room and a rest area provided considerate support for visitors with small children🍼💕 In the afternoon, everyone wrote wishes on tanzaku and tied them to the bamboo. The once bare bamboo became brightly decorated, creating a very atmospheric scene😌 The children’s heartfelt, unique wishes felt cleansing to the heart🥹✨ The venue was arranged with parents’ comfort in mind, and the children, who had played to their hearts’ content and ended up soaked from head to toe, left wearing satisfied smiles😊🥰👏 Places and opportunities where children can laugh and play freely are precious😳✨ It was a perfect day, and I hope many more wonderful events like this will be held in the future👍👍👍

The night at Mt. Takabocchi Highlands — famously known as "Japan's top photo spot" — feels different in a whole new way! Look at this photo!! What an utterly beautiful view You'd be missing out if you don't see it in person! Whether you go with family, friends, or a partner, an unforgettable moment awaits everyone! You just have to go now~

Although the rainy season makes the outdoors dark, the hydrangeas stand out brilliantly! This is Jokoji Temple in Kaminishijo, Shiojiri City, also famous as the rhododendron temple.

Arch of the Milky Way Shot in Tsumekizaki 2024.07.05 The three images are combined into a panorama.

Daikichi, the boss who is taking a nap with a rock as a pillow What kind of dreams are you dreaming about? 🐻💤

Today, Saturday, July 6, three bathing beaches in Atami City opened for the season simultaneously. At Atami Sun Beach, officials attended a safety prayer ceremony led by Kinomiya Shrine. After the safety prayer ceremony, swimming began at 9:00. Handheld fireworks were given as gifts to the children who gathered. Please enjoy the sea in Atami this summer as well! Beach opening period / Saturday, July 6, 2024 – Sunday, August 25, 2024 Atami Sun Beach: Higashikaigancho, Atami City Nagahama Beach: Kamitaga, Atami City Ajiro Onsen Beach: Shimotaga, Atami City * The Atami Sun Beach Water Park runs from Saturday, July 13, 2024 to Sunday, August 25, 2024.

Fireworks at Nagashima Sparland Fireworks festivals in various places have a long interval between launches, but the fireworks here are intensive for about 30 minutes without a break, and I am always excited! Furthermore, since this is an amusement park, it is attractive to take pictures with Roller coasters. Mie Prefecture Kuwana City Nagashima Town

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Shopping and Souvenirs: Baba House Baba House sits on the grounds of Miyazaki Sabou. Here you can buy Miyazaki Sabou tea and sweets from Baba Club. Contact 4805-4 Kuwanochi, Gokasecho, Nishiusuki District, Miyazaki Prefecture 882-1202 Phone: 0982-82-0211

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Mountaineering and Trekking] Karasudake Karasudake sits at the northern tip of the Kuwanouchi district The summit offers a full 360-degree view where you can take in sweeping scenery Each May, the azalea festival is held

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Hiking and Trekking: Kabakidake Rising at the heart of the Kuwanouchi district, the mountain is known locally as Shiroyama, or Castle Mountain, because an ancient mountain fortress called Kabakidake Castle once stood there. It is cherished by the local community. With Mt. Masugata to the east as its backdrop, the mountain offers wide views to the west, south and north. Its shape—easy to defend but hard to attack—has made it famous as the representative mountain of Kuwanouchi.

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Mountaineering and Trekking] Mt. Masugata Mt. Masugata in the Kuwanochi area The summit offers a full 360-degree panorama, with views of the Aso mountain range, Kuju mountain range, Mt. Sobo, Mt. Unzen Fugen, and the gorge of the Gokase River all visible at a glance. You can also see a sky full of stars at night, but be aware that the trail to the summit is rugged and there are no streetlights.

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Mountaineering and Trekking] Gionyama This mountain is said to be the birthplace of Kyushu, first emerging from the sea as the current Kyushu rose from tectonic movement, and fossils dating back 430 million years have been excavated here. During the mountain opening season, you can enjoy flowers such as the fully blooming akebono azaleas. Some sections require using ropes to advance.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture — Usu-daiko Dance The Usu-daiko dance performed at the autumn grand festival of Gion Shrine was once offered on the lunar calendar date of September 9, so it is also called the "kunchi dance," and it has been passed down for more than 400 years. It is said to have begun when members of the defeated Taira clan, driven from Kyoto and wandering in exile, reached the mountain hamlet of Shiiba on their way to safety and, while remembering the glittering capital, danced in the village of Kuraoka. The dance shows a poised, dignified movement within its grace, evoking the hearts of people from the capital, and it is offered each year at Gion Shrine’s autumn festival. <Legendary Events>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the first year of Bunji (1185), near the end of the Genpei conflicts, remnants of the Taira clan who were defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-ura fled into the interior to evade the Genji pursuit. They reached the village of Kuraoka and, on their way to Mt. Shiiba, left the weak, women, and children in the mountains near Kuraoka Hakki because of the steep, treacherous roads. In Genkyu 2, the Kamakura shogunate did not ease its pursuit of the Taira remnants and ordered Nasu Daihachiro Munenaga to hunt down the clan that had fled into the Kyushu Mountains. Receiving the order, Nasu Daihachiro's party entered Kuraoka intending to head for Shiiba, and finding the Taira fugitives in Kuraoka lacking the will to fight, they staged a dance of shared company to comfort them after the long journey, setting aside the victors' arrogance to show compassion for the defeated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dance described above became the foundation of the Kuraoka Usu-daiko dance, which, after cycles of prosperity and decline and several relocations over the ages, is said to have survived in its present form. Dancing to the beat of drums and bells, performers display dignified movements within an overall elegance. In recent years, the Gion Shrine Usu-daiko Dance Preservation Society, with the cooperation of children from Gokase Nature School and local parishioners, has carried on the dance. Schedule for the Usu-daiko dance: every year on October 9.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Kuraoka Staff Technique The Kuraoka staff tradition follows the Ōkuruma school, said to be a martial art founded by Marume Kurando (one of the four greats of the Shinkage tradition) from the Higo Sagara domain. Also called Shinkage Ōkuruma Musō-ryū, documents show the earliest mention of Kuraoka in the early Edo period. After that, the art passed through Mamimahara and Omae in Shiiba Village before returning to practitioners in Kuraoka at the local end of the line. Kuraoka staff techniques use two kinds of staff: the long staff, 6 shaku 2 sun (about 188 cm), and the short staff, 3 shaku (about 91 cm). The forms are basically defensive. There are over thirty paired forms, including long staff versus short staff and staff versus sword. Forms that employ the sword are commonly called shiraha (white-blade). The Kuraoka Staff Preservation Society offers a shiraha dedication at the summer grand festival of Gion Shrine and provides instruction to students at Kuraoka Junior High School.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Murono Yoi Kagura The Murono Yoi Kagura at Mikasho Shrine is said to have been handed down during the Meiji era from the Iwato Kagura lineage, specifically the Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura and the Furudono Shrine Kagura. The sake-straining dance has become a merry performance portraying a farming couple. In the mid-Meiji period, Minosuke Kai, the first head of the Murono district, brought kagura from Furudono to the Konpira-yama festival, central to the Murono and Akatani districts, and passed it down to the present day. The tradition once died out, but it was reformed when kagura was requested for the Tsuhana Tunnel breakthrough ceremony in 1972 (Showa 47). Murono Yoi Kagura schedule: the second Saturday in December

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Kuraoka Gion Kagura Kuraoka Gion Kagura is a kagura preserved at Kuraoka’s Gion Shrine. Its origins are said to trace back to dances performed in the broad courtyard of the ancient Kogamure Shrine recorded in the Engishiki. In Genryaku 2 / Juei 4 (1185), after the Heike clan’s defeat at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, members of the Heike fled through the Kyushu mountains and reached Kuraoka, then pressed further into the remote mountains toward Shiiba. At that time, court entertainments and sacred music from Kyoto—gigaku, gagaku—and Ise-style kagura that the Heike brought with them blended into the existing local kagura, and over time this fusion developed into a distinctive form. The kagura’s sound is said to have been shaped by a drum made from the trunk of a walnut tree grown in the hidden recesses of Mt. Shiraiwa, stretched with deerhide taken from the remote mountains and bound at both ends with hemp twine; a flute made from bamboo with holes bored in it; and graceful, capital-style rhythms and hand clapping. These elements combined into the unique musical pulse of the Kuraoka kagura. In July 2023, the Kuraoka Gion Kagura Preservation Society revived this ancient kagura drum. Kuraoka Gion Kagura schedule: mid-July (Gion Shrine), early October (Gion Shrine), mid-November (Amanatsu Shrine)

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts: Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura Kuwanouchi Kagura is believed to have begun in the early Meiji era. A surviving costume is dated Meiji 3, and the shrine’s relocation to Habu in the same year suggests the kagura started around that time. The masks used are mainly the hannya mask, more frequently employed than in other kagura, and the performance is characterized by a faster tempo. The whole community works together to pass the tradition to future generations, putting great effort into training successors. In spring and autumn, the kagura is offered at the Kuwanouchi Shrine grand festival. In January, a night-long kagura dedication prays for a bountiful harvest and the well-being of residents. Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura Schedule…Every year on the second Saturday of January

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Furutono Shrine Kagura During the Muromachi period, local jinkagura and Iwato kagura were offered together here for rites, but through several revivals Ise kagura became blended in, producing a slower-tempo (roku-choshi) kagura that continues to the present day. The origin of this kagura is the “Amano-Iwato Opening,” and it was performed to pray for a bountiful harvest and household safety. From Taisho 6 (1917) it also included prayers to calm fires; today it additionally includes traffic safety prayers, and a night kagura festival is held every January. Furutono Shrine night kagura schedule…mid-January

Traditional Performing Art of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Ara-Odori (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) The Ara-Odori of Gokase is a style of elegant festival dance that was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on January 8, 1987 (prefectural designation: May 15, 1962). In February 2021, a group of 41 nationwide “furyu odori” (elegant festival dances), including Gokase’s Ara-Odori, was selected as a candidate for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. A nomination dossier was submitted to UNESCO in March of the same year, and the dances were officially inscribed on November 30, 2022. “Furyu odori” embodies the spirit of flamboyance and eye-catching elegance. Performers wear elaborate costumes and carry decorative props as they dance to songs and the sound of flutes, drums, and small gongs. Across Japan, 42 furyu odori entries (covering 25 prefectures and 43 municipalities) are designated National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. In Miyazaki Prefecture, Gokase’s Ara-Odori is the only designated example. These dances carry prayers from local communities for protection from calamities, memorials for the dead, prosperous harvests, and rain. Villagers of all ages take part during festivals and annual events. Each locality’s history and natural environment are reflected in its performance, and the dances serve as a vital source of community energy. The Ara-Odori of Gokase is said to have begun in the Tensho era (1573–1592) when Sakamoto Iga no Kami Masayuki, lord of Sakamoto Castle (upstream of the Mikasho River), started the dance to raise his troops’ morale before going to war. Later, in the Keicho era (1596–1615), his grandson Sakamoto Yamashiro no Kami Nyudo Kyukaku established a ritual code for offering the dance to the guardian deity Futakami Daimyojin (now Mikasho Shrine). At that time, it is said that a successor from the temple called shinbochi oversaw funerary rites, and a monkey kept at the temple was also made to join the dance. One theory holds that the dance originated in Sakamoto, in Ōmi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture). However, the Nisshu Takachiho Kokon Jiran-ki (collected in Volume 4 of the Hyuga Local Historical Materials) records that descendants of Sasaki Rokkaku Takayori from Ōmi fled to Takachiho and served the Mitai clan; their descendants later took the names Saho, Sakamoto, and Masaki. The Sakamoto mentioned here is not the Sakamoto of Sakamoto Castle but the Sakamoto from Mukoyama to Kanegase, a separate lineage with its own origins distinct from the Minamoto, Oogami, or Fujiwara clans. Ara-Odori schedule: every year on the fourth Sunday of September