Hello everyone! In Okinawa, the temperature has dropped, and it is now ✨ the season when you can take a pleasant walk Speaking of the perfect spot for a walk, the Hanna Dam! It is a dam that features a beautiful design inspired by the ashlar cloth pile of Nakagusuku Castle. It is concerned about the conservation of the ecosystem, and you can meet gobies, shrimps, dragonflies, waterfowl, etc. There is also an observatory overlooking the dam and Kin Bay, so you can enjoy a relaxing time. A walk in the fresh air of water and greenery is sure to refresh you! Please come and visit us ♪

Regulars were visiting again today in front of Tokachigawa Onsen Daiichi Hotel! We also spotted a heart-shaped snow art nearby❣

Hakone Gora Park Christmas illumination "Forest Tunnel" now on display! In time for Christmas, the park’s event hall is featuring a Christmas tree illumination called "Forest Tunnel." This event runs through Monday, December 25th. From Tuesday, December 26th onward, the park will welcome visitors with New Year–themed decorations. For details, please visit the official website linked in our profile!

Public Interest Incorporated Association Sagamihara City Tourism Association Conquer Sagamihara!! We have launched a cycling page packed with classic courses and off-the-beaten-path routes! Sagamihara City Tourism Association has partnered with the cycling media Ring to introduce cycling routes for everyone from beginners to advanced cyclists aiming to enter races, and released a special site called "SAGAMIHARA RIDE." For details, please visit the official website via the link in our profile!

Atsugi Tourism Association in Kanagawa Prefecture also joined the Cool Japan video. We will keep sharing tourism information about Atsugi City, so please follow us!

Enjoy Kanagawa by bike! A route map that tours its rich natural beauty is now complete! The prefecture is promoting cycle tourism to invigorate local communities through sports, encouraging wide-area rides that make the most of the region’s abundant natural environment. We have developed 14 recommended cycling routes in collaboration with municipalities and local organizations, offering plans that take you by bike to Kanagawa’s appealing spots for gourmet food, sightseeing, and outdoor sports. For details, please visit the official website linked in the profile!

This is today's Tokachigaoka Observation Deck! Clear Tokachi skies 🌞 Daytime temperatures are around -2°C, but thanks to the sun it feels warmer than the thermometer shows. There are lots of little rubber ducks on the observation deck railing ❣️ They're so cute〜😳

NICE TO MEET EVERYONE WHO WATCHES COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! This is the Atsugi Tourism Association. Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture is a city with a population of 224,102 as of December 2023 Reiwa 5 located in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture, and is an area rich in nature through which the Sagami River, a first-class river, flows. Since there is a highway interchange, it is also characterized by good transportation access! The Atsugi Parking Area Atsugi PA, located on the way to Tokyo on the Tomei Expressway, is equipped with a smart IC that can be used 24 hours a day. In addition, Atsugi PA has a Japanese-style appearance inspired by a post town, and you can enjoy gourmet food unique to Atsugi City, such as fish set meals directly from Numazu Port. In this first post, we will introduce Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, as well as recommended sightseeing information! --- Things to do in Atsugi, Kanagawa --- ■Atsugi Onsen Town■ "Atsugi Onsen Town" includes Iiyama Onsen, Nanasawa Onsen, Hirosawaji Onsen, and Kabutoyu Onsen. Both hot springs are located in a mountain village about 30 minutes by car from Hon-Atsugi Station and the Atsugi Interchange on the Tomei Expressway, and are located in the back of Atsugi, surrounded by lush nature. The quality of the spring is a highly alkaline spring with beautiful skin. Why don't you spend such a luxurious time soaking in the hot water and enjoying gastronomy? ■Strawberry picking■ Strawberry picking can be enjoyed from late December to spring every year. Taste the ripe strawberries that are unique to freshly picked. The strawberry garden in Atsugi City is "all-you-can-eat for 30 minutes". You can also enjoy comparing different types of strawberries. Join your family and friends and enjoy delicious strawberries. Please be sure to make a reservation or confirmation by phone. Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays can be very crowded, so make your reservation as early as possible. For details, please contact each farm. * The price is "all-you-can-eat for 30 minutes" ● Depending on the growing conditions and reservation status, it may not be possible to pick strawberries even during the season. When you go out, please be sure to make a reservation or confirm by phone. ● Prices are subject to change. For details, please contact each farm. ■Iiyama Hakusan Forest Park■ It is a park with an area of about 33 hectares and beautiful nature in all four seasons. It spreads across Hakusan and Satoyama, and is adjacent to Iiyama Kannon, which is famous for cherry blossoms. Hakusan hiking trails and trail running trails are also available, so you can easily enjoy a walk. The summit of Mt. Hakusan is a spectacular spot where you can see all the way to Yokohama and Shinjuku! In addition, the cherry blossom plaza in the park is in full bloom around the end of March every year, and many people visit during the Atsugi Iiyama Cherry Blossom Festival. ■ Iiyama Kannon "Chokokuji" ■ Located in the middle of Mt. Hakusan, it is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect, which has been selected as one of the "50 Best Kanagawa Scenic Spots" and "100 Kanagawa Flower Spots". Kannon-do is designated as a tangible cultural property of Atsugi City, and the bell of the bell tower hall is designated as an important cultural property designated by the prefecture. The precincts show various colors depending on the season, and cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, daffodils, and maples are popular attractions. During the Atsugi Iiyama Cherry Blossom Festival, the cherry blossoms on the approach are in full bloom, and it is crowded with many cherry blossom viewers every year. One of the highlights is the 400-year-old "Inumaki Tree", which is designated as a natural monument of Atsugi City! ■Higashitanzawa Green Park■ An outdoor facility with a 3.5-kilometer-long athletic course spread out in the forest. There are 36 points that utilize the slopes of the mountain, such as log bridges and ropeways, and there are also points that young children can enjoy, so children and adults can use it with confidence. In addition, there is also an outdoor barbecue and a fishing pond center. You can also enjoy a walk on a mountain bike. ■Koganei Sake Brewery■ It is a sake brewery with a history of more than 200 years, which has been in business since 1818 in the late Edo period. It is also the only sake brewery in Atsugi City. "Daiginjo Sakarimasu" brewed by Koganei Sake Brewery won the Gold Award at the National New Sake Appraisal Competition for three consecutive years! ■Prefectural Nanasawa Forest Park■ It is one of the largest urban parks in Kanagawa Prefecture. Located at the foot of Higashitanzawa, you can enjoy nature throughout the year with cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, and autumn leaves. Forest therapy, art programs such as pottery, and hands-on programs such as nature observation are also held! There is also an outdoor barbecue area in the park, where you can enjoy barbecue empty-handed business period: March ~ November * Charged, reservation required, food can be brought in. ■ Ogama Benzaiten ■ Located in the upper reaches of the Osawa River, it is a benzaiten river goddess enshrined for begging for rain. The origin of the name "Ogama Benzaiten" is said to be derived from the fact that the waterfall basin resembles the bottom of the kettle. It is also popular as a power spot and a refreshing spot! ■ Tree Cross Adventure ■ A life-changing experience on a forest adventure that originated in France! It is a forest adventure park that originated in France and can be experienced in the size of one Tokyo Dome. You can enjoy a total of 10 courses, a 700-meter zipline, and one of the most high-level attractions in the Tokyo metropolitan area. There are some courses that can break your heart, where you can experience bouldering at a height of 15 meters, but there are also courses for beginners that you can easily try. After getting the hang of it up to the 1~5th course, the highlight of the park, the 173m zipline, will appear. In front of the zipline where you can't see the future and the scenery with the drop spreading out at your feet, your legs may be weak, but let's have the courage to jump out! You're sure to have a wonderful experience that will last a lifetime. ■Atsugi City Ogino Athletics Park■ It is a facility that is popular with locals as a base for sports and recreation. There is a heated pool that is open all year round, tennis courts where you can play at night, a gymnasium, a stadium, and more! At the entrance of the "Multipurpose Plaza" on the vast lawn, the "Iki Iki Health Plaza" is equipped with 12 types of health equipment. It is used as a place to build physical strength. In addition, in the wildflower garden in the park, flowers of the four seasons bloom, and it is also known as a flower attraction spot. Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is also known as the birthplace of the warlord Mori clan Mori-shi, and is also an area where remnants of historical figures and celebrities remain. It is also recommended to visit Atsugi City while following historical spots. Please visit Atsugi City and experience its charm! In the future, this account will continue to provide information on Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Thank you in advance!

'Eagle Watching Premium Tour' I joined a winter-only tour held at the Tokachi Nature Center! In light snow we traveled along the quiet Tokachi River while a guide from the Wild Bird Society explained what we were seeing. Besides Steller's sea eagles and white-tailed eagles, we spotted many other birds such as long-tailed tits, swans, and goosanders! Using binoculars and a spotting scope, we could clearly make out their features, which was truly moving ✨ Other participants brought cool, bazooka-like lenses for their cameras 😎 It was a highly satisfying 45 minutes. The tour runs only on Saturdays and Sundays through January 7. For details, please contact the Tokachi Nature Center. Contact 0155-32-6116 Tokachi Nature Center

Enjoy winter at Ecopa ⛄️ Packed with events unique to the season! [Event Period] December 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024 [Contact] 0155-32-6780 (Hokkaido Tokachi Ecological Park)

The hit series “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” has teamed up with Tomakomai’s famous sweet “Yoi Tomake”!! Sansei’s “Yoi Tomake” appears in a collaboration package!! 🥳🎉 On the side of the package, Tomakomai tourism ambassadors Uma Musume “Hokko Tarumae” and Tomachop appear together in a photo!! 💖 The inner package features a profile of “Hokko Tarumae,” so if you’re curious, please visit Tomakomai!! 📢⚡ Available at the Tomakomai Tourist Information Center as well! 🙋‍♀️ Uma Musume Pretty Derby Yoi Tomake Hokko Tarumae Ver. Price: 780 yen (tax included) Where to buy: Sansei and Tomakomai Tourism Association

This is an announcement about Sairinka for fiscal year R5. From this year, general visitors will be asked to pay a cooperation fee upon admission. We ask for your understanding and cooperation to help sustain future events. Junior high school students and older: 500 yen per person ※Guests staying at Tokachigawa Onsen facilities that are members of the Tourism Association, residents of Otofuke, and children in elementary school and younger are free. ※Residents of Otofuke must present an official ID showing their address. [Event period] Saturday, January 27, 2024 – Sunday, February 18, 2024 [Lighting hours] 19:00–21:00 [Location] Tokachigaoka Park [Parking] Available (about 100 spaces, free)

'Sairinka' perfectly recreated!! This piece, which reproduces every detail of Tokachigawa Onsen's major winter event 'Sairinka', was created by a sixth grader from Otofuke Town (at the time)!! 😳 The lights shift so magically they look like the real thing! A huge fan of Sairinka, they sketched the concept from second grade and finally completed it in the winter of sixth grade✨ This work overflows with love for Sairinka and is simply wonderful 😭 Still, the quality is just unbelievable—wow!! The creator is now a first-year junior high student, and we look forward to what comes next 😊

■━━━━━━━━━━□ ┃ New Product Information ┃ □━━━━━━━━━━■ New "Tomachop" goods have arrived!! ✨🥳 We have a large blanket, a lightweight, pleasantly textured bamboo cup that feels great to the touch, and five different masking tapes!! 👏 These items are useful in this cold season, and we can ship them to other regions, so please consider ordering if you’re interested!! 🙋‍♀️ For details, apply via the "Tomakomai Tourism Association" website through the "Tomachop Goods" banner! 💻

Introducing the posts of the "Izena Island Tourism Association" COOL JAPAN VIDEOS official social media account official account! The village of Izenason, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa and consists of three uninhabited islands. "Shimano Illumination 2023" will be held at Rinkai Fureai Park from December 9th. The harmony between nature and illumination is a must-see. ◆Shimano Illumination 2023◆ 【Period】2023/12/9〜2024/1/19

Preparations are underway for Tokachigawa Onsen’s major winter event, “Sairinka.” This time, the viewing platform is built in two tiers so visitors can enjoy the view from above 😊 Further details about Sairinka will be released later! [Schedule] Saturday, January 27, 2024 – Sunday, February 18, 2024 [Hours] 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM [Location] Tokachigaoka Park

Hello everyone, I’m Aoki from the Teshikaga Regional Revitalization Team ˙ᵕ˙ / The stamp rally in the Kawayu area starts tomorrow 🙋‍♀️´- The rally is split into the Mashu area and the Kawayu area. Collect stamps at participating restaurants in Teshikaga, submit your entry, and you could win wonderful prizes in a lottery 😍🎁✨ ⚠️Attention⚠️ Please note that the Mashu area and the Kawayu area have different event periods, so be careful 🙇🏻‍♀️

History and Cultural Heritage of Izena Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era ■ vol.3 “Sakata” Born into a farmer’s family, Machigani (also read as Matsukane) was industrious from childhood and devoted himself to rice farming and other agricultural work. One year, the island suffered a drought and the water in every paddy dried up, yet only Machigani’s rice field remained full of water. One story says that the island’s young women, who admired Machigani for his diligence and good looks, carried water to his fields every night. In reality, his fields were terraced, and a spring gushed from the upper terrace so that water continuously flowed down to the lower paddies, preventing them from drying out. While the other young men’s fields were larger in area, they lacked water and relied on prayers, Machigani’s smaller field prospered and the rice ears ripened. This suggests he was clever and resourceful. However, the island youths who envied his popularity accused him, saying “The reason his water never runs out is that he is stealing from other paddies,” and they heaped false charges of water stealing on him, criticizing him in chorus and even plotting to get rid of him. This is the “misunderstanding” described in vol.2. Feeling his life was in danger, Machigani decided to leave the island. This terraced field remains almost in its original form and still produces a continuous flow of water. It is now managed by the village board of education, and each year the island children’s association experiences rice planting through harvest there. (Suspended during the COVID-19 period.) At this site, a monument engraved with poems remains, composed by the miyārabi (island maidens) of the time who sang about Machigani after he left the island; the monument reveals that Machigani was both admired and loved by the island’s young women. Content of the monument “We wish we could have seen Machigani working more, wearing his short garment.” This poem expresses the maidens’ romantic longing for Machigani and their loneliness after his departure. *Machigani (Machigani) = the name of Shō En during his youth on Izena Island. *Kanamaru = the name Shō En used after leaving the island. *Shō En = the name he took when he became king. *Miyārabi = young women, maidens

History and Cultural Heritage of Izanami Island during the Ryukyu Kingdom Era Vol. 1 “Mihoso Place: Birthplace of King Sho En” This is the site of the former residence where the man who would become King Sho En of the First Sho Dynasty—known locally as Nishinumachigani (North Matsukane)—was born in 1415 in the village of Moromi, Izena Village. Three kuba (screw pine) trees, three fukugi (Garcinia) trees, and three stones stand within the grounds. One of those three stones is said to contain his umbilical cord buried within it. This site was constructed while Sho Shin—his son and the third king—was on the throne. Right next to this mihoso house is a well called Shiohira Gaa (Sunjagaa). In Okinawan dialect, gaa means well. The well believed to have been used as the newborn bath for Matsukane, later King Sho En, when he was born in 1415 remains as it was at that time. Because these places mark the site of the house where a future Ryukyu king was born, they are regarded as sacred and stand among Izanami Island’s most important places of worship.

🏒The 12th Women’s Japan Ice Hockey League 2023–24 SMILE JAPAN LEAGUE Takes Place🏒 From Thursday, November 23 to Saturday, November 25, the second phase of the Women’s Japan Ice Hockey League was held at the nepia Ice Arena in Tomakomai City!🏒 Both teams played fiercely without giving an inch, producing an intense match that fired up the fans as well!😆✨ If you have never watched an ice hockey game, we highly recommend you give it a try!!🙌 Tomakomai City is also home to a professional ice hockey team called Red Eagles Hokkaido!!🦅 They are currently competing in the Asia League Ice Hockey 2023–2024 regular season, so if you have the chance or are interested, please search for Red Eagles Hokkaido!!💻🖱

Taking a stroll through a village in Okinawa where the traditional landscape still remains is a lovely idea.

The birthplace of Shō En, founder of the Second Shō dynasty of the Ryukyu Kingdom: Izena Island Following Shuri’s Tamagusuku, Izena’s Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum and the family tomb of the royal house✨ Location: Izenason It is carefully preserved as a designated Important Cultural Property of the prefecture. Admission is free.

The inhabited island in the background is Izena Island, and the uninhabited island in the foreground is Yanaha Island.

A harvest prayer festival held in four hamlets on Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture In 2024, the festival is scheduled to take place in each hamlet on July 20, July 27, July 30, and August 3.

This morning Tokachigawa Onsen was lightly covered in snow ⛄ After the warmth from the day before yesterday, the country seems to have plunged into full winter cold. It is sunny now, but please be careful of frozen roads in the mornings and evenings.

🎄Only a little left of this year…🎍 There is just one month remaining this year 😞 The Tomakomai Tourism Association is selling the “Tomachop Desk Calendar 2024”!! 📅 You can slot it into the separately sold “Tomachop Wooden Stand” and display it!! ✨ How about this calendar for next year?? We are happily accepting regional shipping orders!! 🙋‍♀️ *＼!! Limited quantity available!! ／* [ Tomachop Desk Calendar 2024 ] 880 yen (tax included) ・A5 size (7 sheets) [ Tomachop Wooden Stand ] 880 yen (tax included) ・Length 220 mm × Height 35 mm × Width 25 mm ・Groove width approx. 2 mm, depth approx. 15 mm ・Material: Natural wood (sourced from Hokkaido)

Bibai City Local History Museum What is indispensable for knowing the current Bibai is "history" and the only originality. There are many things in the city that you can feel, see, and experience history, but if you visit the city after knowing it a little deeper, I am sure that the way you feel, the way you see, the situations that convince you, and the questions you have will change. When you visit the Bibai City Local Historical Museum, you can learn about coal mining, life, and culture from the time before it was called Bibai, and it is a facility that allows you to feel the future from the present a little. This page is not so much an introduction to the museum as it is an introduction to a part of the history left in the museum. Bibai, which was called by the Ainu place name Pipa o i where there are many river pearl oysters, has been called Bigai since the "Bikai Soot Field Survey Report" by geologist Benjamin Smith Lyman, and by the time the Tunda soldiers were deployed, it was pioneered to Numagai Village a translation of Ainu place names and then to the current Bibai. When it was commonly used with Bigai, it was planned to open the Kabado Sorachima Shindo Kabado Road and Dodo Tsukigatamine Extension Line, an important road connecting Sorachi and Kabado Shuji, and construction began the day after the completion of the Kamikawa Temporary Road National Route 12. Both works were excavated by the prisoners of the Prison Guard, and although it was quite difficult, such as connecting the swamps in the marshland with a straight line and transporting soil and gravel by hand, it was completed in one year from the start of construction, and after that, the Tunden soldiers were deployed the year after the migration began and the Numagai Village was established, and the number of carpenters and laborers who started the construction of the Tunda Barracks increased, and the number of permanent residents increased, and commerce prospered. After the disbandment of the Tuntian soldiers, the number of migrant farmers increased and agricultural development progressed, and the development of the Bibai coalfield was promoted by exploratory excavation mainly in the survey area of the American geologist Benjamin Smith Lyman. With the opening of the Iida Bibai coal mine in Taisho 2 and the opening of the railway the following year, the town of Gaji, a coal mine urban area, was born, and at the time of the opening of the railway, all kinds of shops such as inns, restaurants, bathhouses, barbershops, etc. were lined up, and the number of houses comparable to the number of houses in the Bibai city area of the previous year was built in the upper reaches of the Bibai River. Subsequently, Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mine acquired the company and became more than 10,000 employees. In the Showa era, the Mitsui Bibai Coal Mine was born through the acquisition of the Japan Oil Koju Coal Mine, which was located in the current Minami-Bibai Town, by Mitsui Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd., one of Japan's two largest conglomerates. In terms of the amount of coal produced by coal mine in Japan, Mitsubishi Bibai and Mitsui Bibai were among the top 10 coal mines, and Bibai was the only one in Japan to have two huge coal mines in the top 10 in terms of production per municipality. The Mitsui Bibai Coal Mine was closed in Showa 38 and the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mine was closed in Showa 48, but at its peak, the area at the foot of the eastern mountain was in a state of no night castle, which is why it was called the coal city coal city Bibai.

Ramsar Convention Registered Wetland Miyajima Swamp At 4 a.m. in mid-April, on a chilly early morning when the sun had not yet risen, people from inside and outside the city gathered with telephoto cameras slung over their shoulders. The fields are spread out around, and the Kabado Mountains in the background are shining white with residual snow, and Miyajima Swamp is located in such a place. Migratory birds fill the sky. In spring and autumn, Miyajima Swamp is covered with about 60,000 migratory birds in the morning. Miyajimanuma in Bibai City is the northernmost and largest transit point in Japan, and before leaving for Siberia, they pick up the fallen ears around the swamp to store energy. Since it is a globally valuable environment, it became the 13th Ramsar wetland in Japan on November 18, 2014. In the early morning, the Magan fly out all at once to the surrounding rice fields in search of the fallen fir, which is their food. This is called "roosting", and the appearance of Magan taking off as if peeling off the surface of the water is impressive. Magan covers our heads. It is also worth seeing the "roosting" in which the roosting magan returns to the swamp in the evening in a V-shaped formation from the rice field. The 2017 movie "Living Things" also uses the roosting of the magan. The best time to see Magan is in spring and autumn, with the peak of spring in late April and the peak of autumn in late September. In addition to magans, you can observe waterfowl such as swans, long-tailed ducks, and whooper swans. There is also an observation hut and a blindfolded wooden fence, so be sure to visit once.

Coal Mine Memorial Forest Park Former Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mining Facility As you head towards the mountains from the Bibai intersection, you will see something like a red steel tower flickering from the top of the trees. This place, surrounded by nature, is called "Coal Mine Memorial Forest Park" The red steel tower is a coal mining heritage pit winding tower, and there are two towers about 20 meters high. In fact, the logo of our association is also based on the B of BIBAI and this pit turret. There are many towns in Sorachi that flourished from coal mining. The Coal Mine Memorial Forest Park is a park that utilizes the heritage of the former Mitsubishi Bibai coal mining facility. Today, the pit tower, the switching station that managed the power supply, and the raw coal pocket remain. A 170-meter-deep pit was built at this site in the 12th year of the Taisho era, and at that time it had a reputation as a modern model pit in Japan. In the early Showa period, the amount of coal produced exceeded 1 million tons per year, making it the largest coal mine in the entire coal mine of Mitsubishi Mining. After that, it continued to develop after World War II, but due to a change in energy policy from the Showa 30s, the Mitsubishi Bibai Coal Mine was closed in July of Showa 47, and with the closure of the mine, the Bibai Railway, which ran from Bibai Station to Tokiwadai, also closed the curtain of its 60-year history. The pit turret and raw coal pocket were selected as a modernization industrial heritage designated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in November 2019. At the request of the Yasuda Tsuyoshi Sculpture Museum Arte Piazza Bibai and the world-renowned sculptor "Yasuda Tsukura", three new sculptures have been installed in the park since July 30. The works on display were "Myōmu" in front of the pit tower, "Ishinki" in the pit opening and closing station, and "Fubuki" in front of the raw coal pocket The collaboration between coal mining heritage and art further enhances the atmosphere. It can be a day when red shines in the blue sky, a cloudy day, a starry sky, or a snowy location with a pure white location. Why don't you visit once?

Haskap hunting In the idyllic countryside surrounded by nature, there is a haskap field with dark purple berries that bear fruit like bells. Bibai City is the production area of "haskap", which boasts the highest harvest in Japan, and you can enjoy haskap picking experience at many farms in the city during the season of June ~ July. Haskap, which is famous as a healthy fruit, contains a lot of vitamins, calcium, iron, etc., and is said to be effective in preventing anemia, sensitivity to cold, eye strain, as well as spots and freckles, and was once prized as a "fruit of immortality and longevity" in Ainu culture. Haskap, a precious fruit grown only in a limited area of Hokkaido, is also called the "phantom fruit" or "pearl of the north." The haskap hunting experience is held for about one month from the end of June every year.