Photographed on 12/28/24.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed 12/24/24.
One character of hope in Kawagoe City in 2025 (Reiwa 7) is "叶".
May your wishes come true.

Photographed 1/1/25.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. It's like New Year's and it's gorgeous. 🎍✨

Photographed 1/1/25.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed 12/30/24.
It is the New Year's Torii (shrine gate) gate of Kawagoe Hachimangu.
Prayer today was very crowded.

Nagashima Spa Land New Year's Eve fireworks 🎆

Happy New Year 🙇 ♀️
This year, we started with fireworks.

Best regards again for one 🙇 year

I did First Pilgrimage to the Shrine.
It is Kawagoe Kumano Shrine at 7 o'clock in the morning.

Happy New Year! 🎍
Best regards again this year.
It is a giant ema of the Year of the Snake of Kawagoe Hachimangu.

Here are the 9 best of 2024.
(1) (2) Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu
(3) New Year's Torii (shrine gate) gate of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine
(4) (7) Cherry blossoms on the Shingashi River
(5) Giant Ema of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine
(8) Hydrangea of Kawagoe Hachimangu
(9) Red thread wind chime at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine
Thank you for your patience this year.
Best regards for next year. Happy New Year. 😊

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
The festival float of Senba Jiro Yasuya in Senba Towns visits Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

[❄️ Winter in Gokase 2025 ❄️] Until Friday, February 28, 2025!

Yes — winter too!! Instagram Campaign 🥳✨

After following the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko), post a wintery photo taken in Gokase town on Instagram with these two hashtags: #Winter in Gokase 2025 and #Date and place of the photo (for example: #Unoko Falls) 🤳❤️‍🔥

One winner will receive a Gokase specialty product every day during the campaign period 🎁✨
Plus! The best entries will receive a gift set of Gokase specialties 🤩👏

Entries you post may be featured on the Gokase Tourism Association’s social media and other channels 💡

[Period] From Monday, December 30, 2024 to Friday, February 28, 2025

⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering.
https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html

⚠️Please take care to avoid accidents while photographing.

------------------------------------------

…Actually, the voting period for “Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024” is still underway, so I thought mixing them might be confusing and planned to announce this after the New Year, but…

I really want you to post New Year photos too 🥺🙏!!! I couldn’t wait and posted early 😂

We look forward to many beautiful winter photos of Gokase ☃️💕 Please keep the entries coming — thank you 📸🙏

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
Greeting the Towns Hall, it is a festival float of Imanari no Suzume.

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a festival float of Iemitsu in Shintomi Town 1-chome.

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a true festival float of Sugawara Road in Sugawara Towns.

Year-end Greetings

Everyone, were you able to finish your work for the year safely😌? Some of you might not care about New Year’s at all😂

We at Gokase Tourism Association and the Gokase Specialty Center will, out of our own convenience, be closed for the year-end and New Year holidays as follows.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Monday, December 30>
Cafeteria: closed
Shop and produce: open mornings only
<Tuesday, December 31 – Thursday, January 2>
Closed
<Friday, January 3>
Cafeteria: opens at 11:00
Shop and produce: opens at 10:00
<Saturday, January 4 onward>
Regular business hours resume
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gokase Tourism Association will also be closed from Tuesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 2.
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

We have also compiled the January events we know about so far into a calendar to help you plan outings for next year🤗

And there’s more! We are accepting votes for “Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko
). We would be delighted if you and your family take your time over the New Year to pick photos and vote🥺✨
We truly appreciate your support🙇‍♀️‼️

We will be open tomorrow, so this is one day early, but… 🤣
Thank you very much for your support this year. We look forward to your continued support next year.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve🤩👋✨

*We’ll say it again: we are open through tomorrow. Just kidding*

We are now accepting entries for the 2nd Tsubetsu Photo Contest!
Why not capture Tsubetsu’s charm with photos taken in Tsubetsu Town?
Please see the second image and the Tsubetsu Tourism Association website for entry details.
We have posted the five winning photos from the previous contest here. Alongside these spectacular Tsubetsu vistas, we look forward to seeing various other photos of Tsubetsu!

Yesterday, when I was taking a walk in Kawagoe, I went to Tatsumi Udon noodles.
I put hot Jade on the toriten bukkake.
The ginger works and it's delicious.

【First sunrise with vines】

／
Let's worship the first sunrise with Tsurunoshin at the Izumi City Crane Observation Center!
(Notice of special early morning opening)
＼

Start a new year with the congratulatory combination of "First sunrise and cranes"!
The Izumi City Crane Observation Center is open from 6:30 a.m., but on January 1 (New Year's Day), the Izumi City mascot character "Tsuru no Shin" will also appear with the first sunrise!

We will also sell salt musubi, fish soup, and Soba noodles from "Tsurushu" and "Machijiman".
In addition, those who visit the museum on the day of the event will receive a "Crane Observation Center-New Year's Day Limited Can Badge"!
This year, we will also have a "fluffy kite making experience that anyone can make".
Please come and visit us.
* Thereare a limited number of original can badges and kite making. Thank you for your understanding.

ttps://www.izumi-navi.jp/events/post-3165/

——————————
■Izumi City Crane Observation Center
【Location】〒899-0435 Kagoshima Prefecture Izumi City 2478-4
[Phone] 0996-85-5151
【Use fee】Adult 220 yen (160 yen), elementary and junior high school students 110 yen (50 yen)
* Fee for groups of 20 or more people
* Admission fee is free for the person and one caregiver upon presentation of each physical, rehabilitation, and mental certificate.
* Those who have paid the entrance fee and their Car passengers are exempt from the admission fee to the Crane Observation Center.
【Regular holiday】Opening Open throughout the year (Opening period: November 1st ~ 2nd Sunday of March)
【Hours】9:00~17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
【Car parking lot】172 passenger cars, 20 large buses

——————————
■ About crane tourism in Izumi City (2024 (Reiwa 6) degree crane wintering ground Use adjustment)
Period: Friday, November 1, 2024 ~ Sunday, March 9, 2025
【Time】06:30~16:30
* During the period, you can specially Use the rooftop of the Izumi City crane observation center at 06:30 ~ (admission fee required)
　Be sure to take a look at the sight of the cranes taking off in the early morning.
* However, on the day of the following "Crane Feather Count Survey" by the students of the Crane Club, you will not be able to enter the area where the crane wintering grounds Implementation Use adjusted, including the Crane Observation Center, until 09:00 a.m.
・Sunday, January 12
【Details】ttps://www.ramsar-navi.jp/news/detail/1f88200f-15cd-4cd0-896c-c312021cbb2e
——————————
■ How to visit cranes during the Use adjustment Implementation period
(1) Please refer to the above link and come to the "Crane Observation Center" through the designated routes.
* Other routes are subject to use adjustment, so please refrain from passing.

(2) Please pay the "Entry Fee (Wintering Area Environmental Conservation Cooperation Fund)" at the Toll station installed at the Car Observation Center parking lot and receive an admission pass.
【Admission Fee】
　Automobile or less: 1 car per day 1,000 yen
　Automobile or less: 1 car per season: 3,000 yen
　Microbus 1 car per day 3,000 yen
　Large bus 1 car per day 5,000 yen
* "Normal Automobile and below" includes taxis, motorcycle Car, and walking.
* Those who have paid the entrance fee will be free of charge for admission fee to the crane observation center.

■ Those who want to go to the East Reclamation and observe the cranes
(3) At the Crane Observation Center, please take a 3-minute lecture on the purpose of Use adjustment and how to get to the East Reclamation.

(4) Enjoy Visiting the site at the East Reclamation by taking the designated routes indicated in red by private Car or the ultra-compact BEV "C+pod" limited to two units.
　In addition, single-lens cameras and binoculars are available for rent in limited quantities Thereare.

(5) There is a "Crane Observation Hyde (Bird Observation House)" in the designated route of the East Reclamation, so we recommend that you park your Car there and Car Visiting the site from Hyde. Visiting the site at your leisure without startling the cranes.

(6) Finally, disinfect the cars (tires) at the crane observation center.

* [Those who only wish to borrow a single-lens camera or binoculars free of charge] will also take the lecture Same as above.
*Bring your own with your ID.
* Bring your own SD card if you wish to take home the shooting data of the single-lens camera.
——————————

The latest Information, such as Events during the Use Adjustment Period, will be introduced on the Izumi Ramsar Navi Home Page as needed.

🎍 Izumi City Izumi Station Tourist Specialty Products Hall "Hiraisato" Year-end and New Year business hours 🎍

This is a notice about the change in business hours during the year-end and New Year holidays of the Izumi City Izumi Station Tourist Specialty products Museum "Hiraisato".

🌅December 30 (Mon) 8:30~19:00 (Regular business)
🌅December 31 (Tue) 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
🌅 ︎ January 1 (Wed) Closed
🌅 ︎ Thursday, January 2 9:00-19:00 (shortened business hours)
* From Friday, January 3rd, it will be open as usual (8:30-19:00).

Use the Hirai Car parking lot can be used 24 hours a day, but it is expected to be crowded during the year-end and New Year holidays. If you Use the Shinkansen, please Use the JR Car parking lot.

📍Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku) (December 28th, 1:30 PM)

It has started to accumulate⛄❄
JR and buses are operating as usual for the time being.

This is GLIN COFFEE Honkawagoe Pepe store.
Ono Buncha × GLINCOFFEE This is a premium matcha latte with a sansho scent from the Kawagoe tea series. Aroma of sansho is very nice.
The Honkawagoe Pepe store is closed today. It's a shame because it's a restaurant that I liked. 😭

\"Izumi Waku Waku Stay Plan" Tour Plan/

Enjoy Izumi City in Kagoshima Prefecture, which has many famous landmarks, such as the wintering ground of No.1 in Japan, the largest Samurai residences at the foot of Izumi, one of the largest in Japan!
We are selling the travel product "Izumi Waku Waku Stay Plan" where you can experience the charm of Izumi.
Bus tour around various experience programs in Izumi City!
Whether you are in Izumi City or outside the city, please take this opportunity to enjoy the Izumi experience program!

▼ A trip to the dance of cranes illuminated by the Sunrise and a warm and delicious breakfast
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025 ~ Sunday, January 26, 2025
Fee: 7,000 yen~15,000 yen
Details: ttps://izumi-kankou.main.jp/portfolio/stayplan2024_plan5/

▼ Dance of cranes illuminated by the Sunrise Izumi and Nagashima enjoy plan to enjoy delicious food
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025 ~ Sunday, January 19, 2025
　　　Saturday, February 1, 2025 ~ Sunday, February 2, 2025
Fee: 11,000 yen ~ 38,000 yen
Learn more: ttps://izumi-kankou.main.jp/portfolio/stayplan2024_plan6/

▼ Yutari Orenji Olle Sunrise illuminates the dance of cranes and a warm and delicious breakfast
Date: Saturday, February 15 ~ Sunday, February 16, 2025
Fee: 7,500 yen
Learn more: ttps://izumi-kankou.main.jp/portfolio/stayplan2024_plan7/

Planning and Implementation
Kagoshima Prefecture Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 2-279
Izumi City Tourism Specialty Products Association
Domestic Travel Business Handling Manager Yutaka Ouchiyama
Location: 715-16 Kamisabuchi, Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture
Phone: 0996-79-3030 (Weekdays 9:00~17:00)

The early-spring tradition at Tateyama Station East Exit, the “Hana no Kamakura” flower kama- kura, has begun! It is cared for daily and reaches its best display from February through March. We hope you can feel the arrival of spring in Tateyama.

Kami‑Suwa Onsen Winter Stay Campaign

Believe it or not, this is the ninth year! The Kami‑Suwa Onsen Winter Stay Campaign is back! Twelve ryokan and hotels belonging to the inn association offer carefully selected premium plans at great savings!!!

★ Great deals on stays
1. As a return gift for Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) from Suwa City, accommodation vouchers usable at Kami‑Suwa Onsen ryokan and hotels (from ¥10,000) have been set up, so please make a smart tax donation via your preferred travel site this winter and enjoy the savings.

2. A drive plan from NEXCO Central Japan called Hayatabi bundles a ¥10,000 universal accommodation voucher with roughly 50% off highway tolls. You can apply via the NEXCO Central Japan website.
Product name: Kami‑Suwa Onsen Drive Plan with Universal Accommodation Voucher

★ Guests who stay during the campaign period will be entered into a prize draw
Prize A: Accommodation subsidy voucher worth ¥10,000 usable at Kami‑Suwa Onsen【50 winners】
*Delivered as two ¥5,000 vouchers Valid through January 31, 2026 (planned)

Prize B: Admission tickets to the Suwa Lake Fireworks Festival on August 15, 2025【15 pairs, 30 people】
*Seating planned in front of the Suwa Lake Geyser Center

We hope this campaign encourages you to favor Kami‑Suwa Onsen! The onsen’s warm feeling after bathing really lasts!!! (A foodie, Kasai, speaking personally...) Refresh yourself in Suwa to shake off the fatigue of 2024 and start 2025 happily and energetically♨

Kasai the Foodie’s Recommended Winter Sightseeing Course
・Taste tour of the five Suwa breweries ⇒ Stay at Kami‑Suwa Onsen ⇒ New Year’s visit to Suwa Taisha ⇒ Suwa region’s midwinter eel tradition

★ Official Kami‑Suwa Onsen Winter Stay Campaign Website

https://kamisuwa-onsen.com

More details are available there, so please check it out!

Here’s tourist information for Nagiso town!

📍 Kakizore Valley (Kakizore Keikoku)

Among the many gorges along the Kiso Road, this one is said to be especially beautiful. Massive granite boulders that fill the deep valley create stunning waterfalls, rapids, and pools.
The water’s beautiful emerald green never becomes muddy, even after rain.
In spring you can enjoy azaleas and rhododendrons, and in autumn the leaves turn brilliant colors.✨

Generally, visitors start from JR Junikane Station and follow a nature trail for 4.5 km to Ushigataki Falls, then continue farther along a forest road. For a short walk, the roughly 300 m promenade from Koiji Suspension Bridge to Ushigataki is recommended. The view of Ushigataki, where the main flow of the Kakizore River plunges through carved granite, is spectacular.
A 40-minute walk along the forest road brings you to viewpoints with refreshing views of Kirigataki, and you can also see Nijiga Falls and Kaminari Falls.

We ask for your cooperation with a maintenance contribution.
Please deposit it in the brown post box located at the entrance to Kakizore Valley.

Access
- By car: about 10 minutes from National Route 19 at the "Kakizore Valley Entrance" signal. Two free parking lots available.
- By JR: Get off at JR Nagiso Station and take a taxi for about 25 minutes.
Get off at JR Junikane Station and walk about 1 hour (taxis are not regularly available).

Other information
- Flush toilets are available at each parking area.
- Vending machines are located near the parking areas.
- You can download a brochure (map) from the Nagiso Town Tourism Association official website "Burari Nagiso."

Requests
- Camping, barbecues, and similar activities are prohibited within Kakizore Valley.
- Please take your trash home with you.
- Do not approach the river during rain or when water levels are high.
- If you play in the river, please take every safety precaution and enjoy responsibly.

The 3rd Hosono Highlands Yamayaki Experience

🏔 What Hosono Highlands Is Like 🏔
Hosono Highlands spreads across the slopes of Mt. Amagi, which erupted between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago. The plateau covers about 125 hectares—roughly the size of 26 Tokyo Domes—and offers a majestic expanse of grassland. It is said to be a treasure trove of flora and fauna nurtured by volcanic terrain.
In spring, you can forage for mountain vegetables such as bracken amid fresh greenery. In autumn, vast stands of golden susuki (silver grass) create a spectacular display. From the summit you can see Sagami Bay and the Izu Islands, where meadow and seascape combine into a unique panorama.

Inatori Hosono Highlands has been recognized among the 100 Grassland Villages We Want to Preserve for the Future for the value of local knowledge, awareness, and skills accumulated through long interaction between people and nature.
Hosono Highlands conducts an annual yamayaki (controlled burn) to maintain the grassland. During walks you can observe grass-cutting work performed in preparation for the burn.
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🔥⛰ What “Yamayaki” Means ⛰🔥

Yamayaki is an essential annual practice to keep Hosono Highlands as open grassland.
By burning overgrown grasses and shrubs, the area is prevented from turning into forest, and the burned vegetation returns nutrients to the soil to sustain a rich grassland.

This yamayaki has continued every year at Hosono Highlands since the Edo period.

Because the plateau borders neighboring Kawazu Town, preventing fire from spreading across boundaries is critical, and the work must address elevation changes and steep slopes, so seasoned experience and

advanced fire-management know-how are required.
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● Event Overview

Yamayaki is an activity necessary to keep Hosono Highlands as grassland and has continued annually since the Edo period.
As a first trial in February 2023, we opened the yamayaki on a very limited basis and offered it as a guided tour for observation.
To help more people learn about this tradition in greater depth, we will hold the Yamayaki Experience again in 2025.
Please come and witness the overwhelming sight of the landscape ablaze.

● Event Schedule — Saturday, February 8, 2025
Date and time: Saturday, 2/8, 10:30–15:30 (scheduled)
10:30: Assemble and register at Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2
11:00: Yamayaki viewing (guided yamayaki explanation, lunch provided)
14:00: Post-yamayaki walk (guided)
15:30: End of program and dismissal (Program order may change depending on yamayaki progress; please understand in advance.)
Meeting/registration location: Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2 (parking spaces available)
➡ On the day of the yamayaki, general vehicles are not allowed into Parking Lot No. 1. Please park at the foothill Parking Lot No. 2.
There is no public transportation to the venue. Please use your own means of transport to access the site.

Participation Conditions
・Capacity is limited to 30 participants.
・Participants who are junior high school age or younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
・Please apply only if you fully understand the safety notes and on-site hazards.

Participation Fee
3,500 yen per person. Includes admission, consumption tax, local guide, lunch, insurance, and grassland management fee (1,000 yen).
※The participation fee is payable on site on the day of the event.
※We will contact you by email in advance and on the day about the event. Please note you cannot apply without an email address.

How to Apply
Please apply by entering the required information on the Higashiizu Town Tourist Association event page.
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot
Or call the Higashiizu Tourist Association (TEL: 0557-95-0700) to register by phone.

● Notes and Precautions
About Participation in Work
This event is for observing the yamayaki. You may not take part in fire-starting or other operational tasks.
Cancellation Decisions
Yamayaki may be canceled on the morning of the event due to weather conditions (wind, humidity, rain, etc.). If yamayaki is canceled, this event will also be canceled. There are no substitute events. Please register only if you accept these cancellation conditions.
What to Wear on the Day
Yamayaki is a very dangerous operation, and flying embers or smoldering debris may be present.
Please wear flame-resistant clothing with minimal exposed skin.
All activities at the site are outdoors, so please prepare for cold weather.
Guide Language
Guidance is provided in Japanese only. Thank you for your understanding.

Cancellation Policy
If the event is canceled or you cancel, we will charge cancellation fees as follows.

If yamayaki itself is canceled due to severe weather (strong wind, dry conditions, rain, etc.), no payment will be charged.
If you cancel for personal reasons:
・Cancellation on the day or the day before → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
・Cancellation two days or more before → 0% cancellation fee.
・No-show without notice → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
*We may also claim actual communication costs or other damages where applicable.
For cancellations due to unavoidable events such as disasters, please contact the organizer.

If the organizer cancels for reasons other than weather, we will consult with participants and refund an appropriate amount.


Items to Bring
・Flame-resistant (fire-retardant) and warm clothing
・Clothes you don’t mind getting stained by sparks or soot
・Well-broken-in shoes
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a festival float of Nasori in Nandori Towns.

Photographed 10/20/24.
It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival.
In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a festival float of Yorimitsu in Mikubo Town.
Actually, there are still many photos of the Kawagoe Festival.

We sincerely apologize for previously providing the wrong TV broadcast date. The relevant article has been removed.
Please check the broadcast schedule for Hokkaido Television Broadcasting (HTB) program “Machin no on-chan” in the image for confirmation.

The second broadcast is now scheduled for Thursday, January 9 of the new year.
What was originally planned as a five-week run has been extended to seven weeks!
From the start of the new year through mid-February, on-chan will be walking all around Tsubetsu Town!
Please be sure to watch! (o▽n)

By the way, the first episode is available on YouTube. Please search for “Machin no on-chan.”

[Notice]
Year-end and New Year business hours for Roadside Station Iwanai

Dec 28 (Sat) 9:00–17:00
Dec 29 (Sun) 9:00–17:00
Dec 30 (Mon) Closed
Dec 31 (Tue)–Jan 3 (Fri) Closed for the Year-end and New Year holidays
Jan 4 (Sat) 9:00–17:00

That is the schedule 😊
Thank you.

Also, Jan 6 (Mon) will be a closed day.
Please be careful not to mistake the dates.