The world meets Sakai’s strength. Collaboration project with the Jellyfish Pavilion is underway!✨

In Sakai City, Sachiko Nakajima (musician, mathematics researcher, and STEAM educator) is serving as producer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo’s signature pavilion “Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion,” and, using the Expo as an opportunity, we will promote Sakai’s appeal at home and abroad.✨
*Search for “Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion”!*

🔍 For details on events and initiatives, please see the Sakai City website.🪼

A morning view of Azumino with the Northern Alps in sight
Mount Jonen stands clearly visible
I imagine many climbers are pushing on toward the summit today as well
This is the view from Ohisama Road 😄

Mihama Town Lake Center presents a special summer evening event, the Fireworks Cruise.
This luxurious cruise lets you relax on the deck of a battery-powered tour boat and enjoy the fireworks from the Summer Festa Mihama 2025 in a quiet, comfortable setting.

Fireworks Cruise
Date and Time: Saturday, July 26, 2025
・Doors open 7:00 PM
・Departure 7:45 PM
・Fireworks start 8:00 PM
・Expected finish around 8:30 PM

What the cruise offers
・A battery-powered tour boat for a quiet, low-vibration, comfortable cruise
・Up-close viewing of powerful fireworks from the deck
・A chance to enjoy a clear night sky and stars
・Includes an original cake and a drink from Five Lakes Café

Capacity and Fees
・About 20 participants aged elementary school and up (lottery if applications exceed capacity)
・Adults: 5,000 yen
・Elementary school students: 2,500 yen (must be accompanied by a guardian)

Application Period
・Saturday, June 28, 2025 to Sunday, July 13, 2025
・Apply via the dedicated form (if you cannot access the form, please contact us directly)
https://forms.gle/S4wSU7w29DT4HBga6
※Lottery results will be announced to successful applicants only after the application period ends.

Notes
・The cruise is scheduled to end at around 8:30 PM.
・Only beverages (including alcohol) may be brought on board.

Contact
Mihama Town Lake Center
Address: 24-4-1 Hayase, Mihama Town
Phone: 0770-47-5960

Good morning.
This is Azumino, greeting a wonderfully refreshing morning.
The Northern Alps are clearly visible.

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

Summer in Japan is very hot, and it is quaint to visit the riverbed to escape the summer.

Photographed on July 1, 25.
It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Hello everyone, this ☺ is Kitahiroshima Town in the northwestern part of Hiroshima Prefecture!
We, the Kitahiroshima Town Tourism Association, will broadcasting the charm and latest information of our town.
Thank you for 💛 following and sharing

【What kind of town is Kitahiroshima Town?】 】

In the northwestern part of the Hiroshima Prefecture, in the West China Mountains Elevation 300 Meter to 800 Meter
It is located almost in the center of the Geihoku region, which extends to the basin Highlands, and borders Shimane Prefecture to the north.
Fresh greenery in Spring, Clear streams in summer, Autumn leaves in autumn, and Winter sports in winter are crowded with tourists.
Since ancient times, it has flourished as a relay point connecting Sanyo and Sanin, and in the Middle Ages, it was also a production area of iron sand.
In addition to the many ruins of the Sengoku Warlord Mori clan (Mori-shi) and the Yoshikawa clan,
Folk performing arts such as Kagura and Dengaku, beech forests, Wetlands, flora and fauna, etc.
It is a town where precious and majestic Nature spreads Nature and rural culture is alive.

I want to know more about Kitahiroshima Town! I want to go! For those who say,
Please see ✨ the "Roundabout, Kitahiroshima" Home page and each social media

＼ ✨💠After the Hydrangea Festival💠✨ ／
Starting today, July 2nd, hydrangeas are floating in the monument tank at Izukyū Shimoda Station rotary.💠🫧
The hydrangeas were carefully pruned by the staff in charge of Shimoda Park, and they will remain on display until Wednesday, July 16th.
Even hydrangeas that have passed their peak in the park look fresh and beautiful when floated on the water!
There are especially many blue hydrangeas, which stand out against the summer sky and give a very refreshing impression.🌿🩵
If you are nearby, please stop by and take a look!

*Only authorized personnel have pruned or collected plants within Shimoda Park.
Please refrain from cutting or taking plants from the park.*

■Paella Cooking Experience■

This plan invites you to try making paella with support from a specialist certified by the All Japan Paella Federation.

The venue, Notanohira CampGround, lies deep in Toyooka Village. Far from populated areas, it is a quiet campground set beside the clear Abukawa River.

Relax and refresh to the green trees and the gentle murmur of the river, and enjoy making paella together in a lively atmosphere!

[Plan Details]
■Season
Late April through October

■Meeting Point
Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)

= For those using car navigation =
toyooka travel time
Address: 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture TEL 0265-49-3395
If the above address does not appear, please set Toyooka Village Central Nursery School as your destination
and come to that location.
Toyooka Village Central Nursery School Address: 12368 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village TEL: 0265-35-4953

■Capacity
10 people (minimum operating number: 5)
If you wish to participate with fewer than 5 people or more than 10 people,
please contact us to discuss arrangements.

■Price (tax included)
For groups of 5 to 10 participants: 5,500 yen per person
If you wish to participate with a different number of people, please contact us.

[Contact: Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)]
・By phone: 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
・Inquiries via website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Course Details and Schedule (approximately 4 hours)
1) Gather at toyooka travel time 11:00 (payment)

2) Travel to Notanohira CampGround 11:00–11:45 approximately
※Please travel by private car.

3) Arrive at Notanohira CampGround around 11:45

4) Paella making experience and meal 11:45–15:00 approximately

6) Local dismissal at Notanohira CampGround around 15:00

■About the Plan
[About Notanohira CampGround]
It is about a 40-minute drive from the center of Toyooka Village.
Far from populated areas, you can enjoy a leisurely time amid green trees and the river’s murmur.
Please travel to the campsite by private car.

[About the Paella Cooking Experience]
Participants will make paella with guidance from a certified paellero (paella chef) accredited by the All Japan Paella Federation.
Specialists from the Japan National Paella Contest Team, members of Paella Mania Cup winning teams, and other authentic paella experts will teach you, offering a special hands-on experience.

[Combining with Other Activities]
It is possible to combine this plan with other activities.
We particularly recommend pairing it with the Pothole Tour, where you can enjoy river play at one of Japan’s largest pothole sites.

[Clothing]
・Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for active movement
※You may use the changing room and lockers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association before and after the tour.
※For an additional fee, showers are available at the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility.
(300 yen)

■How to Inquire and Apply
Please apply by phone or via the inquiry form on the website.
Phone: toyooka travel time 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
Website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is possible until 6:00 PM four days before the experience date.
Cancellations after that time will incur a 100 percent cancellation fee.

■Pothole Tour■

Deep inside Toyooka Village, at the foot of Mt. Kimen, you can enjoy river play at one of Japan’s largest potholes.

Dive headfirst into a plunge pool or float and relax.

Refresh yourself to the fullest in the emerald-green summer stream.

Our guide staff will support you. You may join with children.

We recommend combining this with a paella-cooking experience at Nodaira Campground!

【Plan Details 】
■Season
Around July to early September
※If you prefer dates outside the above period, please consult us.

■Meeting place
General Incorporated Association Toyooka Village Tourism Association (Toyooka Tabi Jikan)

＝ For those using car navigation ＝
《Toyooka Tabi Jikan》
Address: 12407 Kamiine, Toyooka Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture
TEL 0265-49-3395
※If the above address does not appear, set your destination to Toyooka Village Central Nursery School and come to that location.
《Toyooka Village Central Nursery School》 Address: Kamiine 12368, Toyooka Village TEL: 0265-35-4953

■Capacity
8 people (minimum number to hold tour: 2 people)
※If only one person or more than eight people wish to participate, please consult us.

■Price (tax included)
Per person: 5,000 yen
※If you use the showers at Nodaira Campground, an additional 500 yen per person is required.

■Course details and schedule
① Meet at Toyooka Tabi Jikan
9:30 (payment)

② Travel to Nodaira Campground
Around 9:30–10:10
※Please travel by private car.

③ Arrive at Nodaira Campground
Around 10:10

④ Walk to the pothole area
Around 10:15–10:45

⑤ Stream walk and river play at the pothole
Around 10:45–12:15

⑥ Return to Nodaira Campground and dismiss on site
Around 12:45

■About the plan
【About Nodaira Campground】
It is about a 40-minute drive from the center of Toyooka Village.
Leaving populated areas behind, you can enjoy a relaxed time surrounded by green trees and the sound of the river.
Please travel to the campground by private car.

【About the pothole “Daimyojin Fuchi”】
In Abukawa Gorge there is one of Japan’s largest giant potholes, measuring seven meters in diameter.
A pothole forms when stones on the riverbed rotate in the current and gradually carve into the bedrock over long years.

【Can be combined with other activities】
You can combine the pothole tour with a paella-cooking experience or a guided cycling tour. Please inquire for details.

【Clothing and items to bring】
● Quick-drying clothing (recommended: garments with minimal skin exposure) e.g., rash guard
● Change of clothes
● Shoes that can get wet (recommended: those that do not come off easily) e.g., marine shoes
※You may use the changing rooms and lockers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility before and after the tour.
※For an additional fee, showers at Nodaira Campground are available (500 yen).
※For an additional fee, showers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility are available (300 yen).

■Inquiries and reservations
Please apply by phone or via the inquiry form on the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website.

Phone number: Toyooka Tabi Jikan 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
Website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/pothole-tour/

Photographed on July 1, 25.
It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed 6/29/25.
Among the more than 2,000 rim musubi wind chime, only one There are wind chime with red thread. Every day, the location changes.
If you find it, you may find something good.

Tokachigawa Onsen district has welcomed its fifth winery in the area, Tokachigaoka Winery, which opened on April 18th.

Each grape cluster is tended carefully over time, grown organically while daily efforts keep pests under control.
Basked in sunlight, the grapes develop high sugar levels and a perfect balance of acidity.
Inside the shop, paid tastings of Otopuke Roman are available (with cheese snacks), so be sure to give them a try.😊

We also sell cheeses that pair well with wine, Aizawa Winery’s Sacherella and Ryunosuke, Memuro Winery’s Yorokobu, Tokachi Wine’s Jewel of Tokachi, and Tokachi Makiba no Ie Winery’s Yusui.

Please stop by when you visit Tokachigawa Onsen.🤗

● Access: about 20 minutes by car from Obihiro Station
About 30 minutes by bus from Obihiro Station Bus Terminal (get off at Michi-no-Eki Garden Spa and walk about 5 minutes)

● Inquiries: Tokachigaoka Winery TEL: 0155-67-1981

At the National Bihoku Hillside Park (Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture), the hydrangeas that color the early summer in Japan are in Best time to visit! ✨

About 100 varieties and 10,000 "hydrangeas" planted in the Hiba-no-Sato hydrangea garden and Japanese cedar trees are in Best time to visit! Best time to visit is expected to continue until early July.

Hydrangea flowering status (as of June 29)
【Name】Hydrangea
【Flowering state】Best time to visit
【Flowering period】Mid-June ~ mid-July *Best time to visit is ~early July
【Flowering place】Hiba no Sato, Hydrangea Garden, Japanese cedar trees
Number of units: Approx. 10,000 shares

【Place】National Bihoku Hillside Park
【Address】4-10 Mikkaichi Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture
【Contact】National Bihoku Hillside Park TEL 0824-72-7000

Click here for details▽
https://www.shobara-info.com/news/5133

Meeting the "Flower That Brings Happiness," Kirengeshoma — Summer Hikes up Mt. Kurodake

Around Obon, the elusive Kirengeshoma begins to bloom quietly in the mountains 🌼
Listed as Vulnerable (Category II) on the Ministry of the Environment’s Red List and thrust into the spotlight by an NHK morning drama, this flower is said in local lore to bring happiness to those who see it.

Kirengeshoma once grew in large colonies around Morotsuka Village and Mt. Kurodake, but its numbers have drastically declined due to deer browsing.
Now, it survives only in limited areas where local residents continue conservation efforts.

Mt. Kurodake is designated an Important Habitat by Miyazaki Prefecture, and besides Kirengeshoma it shelters many rare Kyushu mountain plants and wildlife, making it a precious natural treasure.

On this hiking tour, local guides will accompany you, pointing out rare plants and offering nature interpretation so you can fully savor the rich forest.

🟡 Tour Overview: Mt. Kurodake Hike
📅 Date and Time: Saturday and Sunday, August 23–24, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
📍 Meeting Point: Obarai Community Center (escort from Shiitake no Yakata 21 available)
🎒 Eligibility: Ages 3 and up (minimum 4 participants to run / maximum 10)
💰 Fee: Adults ¥5,000 / Children ¥4,000 (lunch and guide fee included)
📝 Registration Deadline: Saturday, August 16

Hike Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ (suitable for beginners to intermediate hikers)
🌱 Please wear comfortable clothing and hiking boots or non-slip athletic shoes.

A special summer day to meet the elusive flower.
We look forward to your participation!

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival.
It is a rim musubi wind chime. 🎐

It is a thatched circle of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

I was able to capture the scenery that makes me feel the old-fashioned atmosphere of Japan in the photo.

I was able to make good use of the front bokeh and photograph Nagahama Castle, which has an overwhelming presence.

I had an errand and early in the morning, and when I left the house at about 5 o'clock, I was able to take a picture of Hikone Castle standing against a golden background caused by the sunrise.

The Northern Alps taken from inside a car.
The cars don't stop, and I can't get this view out of my head when I pass the tracks.

Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture Ikuta Shrine

Ikuta Shrine. Marriage Water Lottery.

I was so fascinated by the scenery immersed in water that I hurriedly pulled up.

Warm compassion in a single skewer

The owner of the storefront who stopped by suddenly. When you ask for mochi, they ask you how much you favorite, such as the amount of mitarashi and kina flour. A shop where you can talk kindly and cheerfully to school trip students, feel the care for customers, and enjoy mochi and smiles.

Today, it's the Great Exorcism of Xia Yue.
It is a thatched circle of Kawagoe Hachimangu.

Azumino’s summer tradition returns this year with the Azumino Fireworks Festival
It will take place on Thursday, August 14th🎇
Look out for a special star mine celebrating the 20th anniversary of Azumino city’s incorporation❗️
Last night’s test launch lit up Azumino’s night sky♪
Please look forward to it😁

The sacred tree that protects Kobe
This photo was taken at Ikuta Shrine in the city of Kobe. Tucked away in the hustle and bustle of the city, this place was like a different world, and the sacred tree that hung there gave me a sense of mysterious power.

Today, June 30, is the last day of the Hydrangea Festival 💠✨
How did you find the hydrangeas at Shimoda Park?
If you have favorite photos, please join our Instagram photo contest 📸💜
To enter, follow the official Shimoda City Tourism Association Instagram and post with these two hashtags: "#Izu Shimoda Onsen Hydrangea Festival 54" and "#Japan’s No.1 Hydrangea Garden 54" — that’s all!
Winners will receive prizes to help them fully enjoy Shimoda 🎁👏

Follow us on Instagram from here 👇
https://www.instagram.com/shimoda_kanko/

Don’t forget to check the blog, too 👀!
https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20250630

Would you like to come and see a festival that has been around for almost 300 years? The Sawara Festival is a festival held in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture for three consecutive days from July 11 to 13, 2025. It is a very powerful festival with 10 huge festival floats dragging around the town. Songs and dances are also performed at the same time. Held in from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The stalls of the many is also Stalls, so you can enjoy it all day long.
Access from Narita International Airports is to take the Keisei Main Line to Keisei Narita Station, Transfer at Narita Station on the JR Narita Line, and Get off at Sawara Station.