The 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Stroll” sightseeing route creation workshop was held🎊
Last week on August 21, the second workshop was held in Reihoku to develop a sightseeing walking route so visitors can enjoy the town’s literary spots and heritage as new tourism resources✨
Held with the aim of revitalizing tourism “together with local people,” the second session proved a rich time in which the more we dug, the more literary treasures of Reihoku we uncovered👏 In particular, participants were treated to a carefully delivered, realistic walking-tour-style guided explanation by Mr. Kanzaki, the president of the Guides Association, who projected images as he spoke. This gave everyone a renewed understanding of the local area and created a lively atmosphere♪

The next workshop, the third session, is scheduled for Thursday, September 25 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM‼
We plan an enjoyable workshop full of activities that delve more deeply into literature and the history of Reihoku, so please join us👀
*We will open recruitment for participants on our website in early September.*

We are also collecting ideas and insider information from those who cannot attend the workshops to help shape the walking route. Please take part in our survey via the announcements section on our website!

Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎ 0969-31-1136
*This workshop is being held as part of the Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy Project for fiscal year Reiwa 7.*

"Akariyanse"
Around October, it takes place centered on Ukon House, the Kitamaebune Shipowners' Residence.
The event lights up the area around Ukon House with LED candles and andon lanterns.
The fantastic lights decorate Kono Kitamaebune Shipowners' Street, letting visitors enjoy an atmosphere different from usual.

I can post about one of Nagano Prefecture’s top fireworks festivals again this year thanks to the businesses that sponsored the event, the fireworks artists, everyone who bought tickets, and the local people of the Suwa region! Thank you so much!!

The event takes place in Suwa City every year on August 15. With help from the organizing committee, we received fireworks photos from the Suwa Lake Festival Fireworks over the Lake.🎆
Because Lake Suwa sits in a basin surrounded by mountains, the echoes and shockwaves are incredible! It’s an intensity you absolutely can’t experience anywhere else!!!
If you’ve never been or have been curious, please come visit Lake Suwa next year✨ We look forward to seeing you!!!

https://suwako-hanabi.com/

Summer Memories of Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture

On August 14, the Kodai Torch Fire Festival took place in Ogata Town, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture.
At 7:30 p.m., torches were lit all at once, and the lights of the torches prepared by the local community rose up in a dreamlike display across the area around Harajiri Falls and the Ogata rice fields.

Flame sculptures made from torches that depict torii gates and stone bridges are also beautiful.
Upstream from Harajiri Falls stands the stone Harajiri Bridge, and the sight of torches glowing on the stone bridge is very beautiful.

■■■ Access to central Bungoono City ■■■
About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture
About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station in Oita Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station in Oita Prefecture

■■■■■■■■■■■■
Tourism and recommended spots in Kyushu, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture
■■■■■■■■■■■■

We will take a guided tour of some of the Annual Grand Festivals scheduled for 25/10/14 (Tue), 15 (Water), and 16 (Thu) at Ishioka Shrine and Isono Shrine.

Walk through the autumn Halle day with a knowledgeable guide.
Please enjoy the splendid Cypress trees sculptures of Mizuju, flowers, birds, wind and moon, human figures, gold and silver thread sewing, and a gorgeous festival rituals with many lanterns flickering in the early morning.

Tour guide Hajime Kono

[Request for participation]
・ Application for those who can walk the number of km displayed on each tour menu
(Walk through Traditional Japanese straw raincoat for the whole process)
・Please check the flyer for the number of applicants and groups.
・ This itinerary assumes those who plan to stay at Hotels near JR Iyo Saijo Station.

【Menu and Fee】
Please check from the image.
Combinable.
Contact us for details.
Time is indicative.
Those who make a reservation will be mailed a separate travel condition form and application form.

【Reservations and Inquiries】
Saijo City Tourism and Products Association
Ehime Prefectural Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 3-201　
Person in charge: Tamai, Fujita
〒793-0030　
798-1 Omachi, Saijo-shi, Ehime
TEL:0897-56-2605　
FAX:0897-47-3733

Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street runs along the Shiokaze Line. Here stands the Ukon House, a Kitamaebune shipowner’s residence designated as a Japan Heritage site. The building I’m introducing this time is the Western-style house a few steps up from the Ukon House. What view opens up from the second-floor veranda? That’s a surprise to enjoy when you visit.
.
When you come to the Ukon House, be sure to climb up to the Western-style house on Kitamaebune Shipowners’ Street for a different experience—the unique scenery you can only see here awaits you.
https://www.minamiechizen.com/en/feature/64468/

The Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025 will be held again this year on Saturday, October 25 and Sunday, October 26, 2025!
The venues are in Obama City, home to Obama Castle and Goseyama Castle. This is the largest castle-related event in Fukui Prefecture, bringing together castle enthusiasts and organizations from inside and outside the prefecture.

From Mihama Town, the Sakaki-Kunikiyo Castle exhibit will be on display!

In addition, four routes are offered as coordinated tours under the “Historical Exploration Bus Tours” program. These will be full days of conversation with local curators, so please be sure to apply.

Echizen-Wakasa Castle Festival 2025
Date
Saturday, October 25 to Sunday, October 26, 2025
Venue
・JA Fukui Prefecture, Obama Branch
└ Booths by castle organizations and sales of limited goods such as castle stamps (goshuin)
・Obama City Comprehensive Welfare Center (Sun Sun Home Obama)
└ Keynote lectures and talk sessions
・Wakasa History Museum, Fukui Prefectural Museum
└ Hands-on booths and panel exhibits

For details, please see the linked page.

https://fukushiro.com/etizenwakasa_oshirofes2025/

#012
Tsunocho is home to about fifty restaurants and confectioneries.
This is the third installment in our gourmet series! Here we introduce a long-established Japanese and Western confectionery shop loved both inside and outside the town.


~Founded in 1950, a taste that recalls Tsunocho~
Kashiho Kikuya

Kikuya is a long-standing Japanese and Western confectionery shop founded in 1950 by the family of my childhood friend. It continues to be loved by both local residents and visitors from outside the town. Kikuya makes many well-known sweets.

First is the wagashi called “Ichinomiya,” which people associate with Kikuya. The name comes from the town’s representative sightseeing spot, Tsuno Shrine, formally the ichinomiya of Hyūga Province. The moist cake contains white bean paste and cream, combining the best of Japanese and Western tastes. Other confections that remind people of Tsunocho include Tsuno Station, Tsunayahime, and Kinfugu Monaka.
Why use names derived from Tsunocho? The owners say they want recipients to think, “This is from Tsunocho,” or “How nostalgic.” Indeed, someone who left the prefecture and receives one of these sweets after years would likely feel nostalgic. Such treats exist in Tsuno.
These days, customers come from within the town, from other towns, and even from other prefectures specifically to buy these sweets. In addition to regular items, Kikuya also makes custom birthday cakes featuring character designs.
That, too, is one reason the shop remains beloved.
Kikuya’s confections are also sold at the station café inside the tourism association office. They make excellent gifts for loved ones or people who have helped you.


Hours
9:00–18:00
Sundays 14:00–17:00

Closed
Irregular holidays

Parking
About 10 spaces

Phone
0983-25-0127

Address
〒889-1201
4939 Kawakita, Tsunocho, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture (in front of Akagike Residence)

Tsumago juku
Car is prohibited 🚗⚠ from 10:00~16:00

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of cars entering the Shukuba during the Time Slot / Time of Day when traffic is prohibited.
It is prohibited for the safety of pedestrians and the protection of the historical landscape, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

Please park along National Route 256 at the second Car or the central Car Car.
Fee Car parking is 500 yen per day.

Here are some recommended experiences.

Tokachi-Honbetsu Town has a large temperature difference between day and night and long hours of sunshine, making it ideal for growing high-quality beans.

Why not try your hand at making tofu, an essential healthy food on Japanese tables, in Japan's leading bean-producing town?

On this tour, you will join local farmers' wives in making tofu using traditional methods, and then make a salad using okara, the pulp left over from tofu production, ensuring that every part of the soybean is utilised.

Tofu is a healthy food that also promotes beautiful skin.

Through agricultural experiences, we want people to meet producers they would not normally encounter, learn about the care and intentions behind the ingredients, and taste the flavours of the local cuisine. We also hope these experiences will lead to new discoveries and values, helping people enjoy a healthier and richer diet.

If you are interested, please apply at the following URL.

Tokachi-Honbetsu is a town where the wide temperature swings and long hours of sunlight allow cultivation of high-quality beans.

In Japan’s top bean-producing town, why not try making tofu, a healthy staple of Japanese dining? On this tour, you will work alongside local farmers’ wives to try time-honoured tofu-making methods, then prepare a salad using okara, the pressed soybean pulp left from making tofu, so that every part of the soybean is used without waste.

Tofu supports health and also contributes to beautiful skin.

These farming experiences let visitors connect with producers they normally could not meet, learn the intentions behind the ingredients, and taste the region’s food. Through the experience, we hope participants discover new insights and values that lead to a healthier, more fulfilling diet.

If you are interested, please apply via the URL below.

https://slow-life-hokkaido.com/tour/tofu-making-and-bean-rice-cooking-in-honbetsu/

On the stage of the red shrine,
The dancers danced slowly to the music.
The fan shimmered in the light,
It's like jumping the story into the night,
Telling tradition with steps, condensing a moment of eternity between light and shadow.

⛳ : Tsuruoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kamakura City, Japan
📷：#SONY A7IV

The Saijo City Tourism Exchange Center has started selling the 25th edition of the Saijo Festival poster and calendar.

【25th edition Saijo Festival poster vertical / horizontal】
B1 (728×1030mm) size

Product price: 400 yen (tax included) / piece
Image 1 Portrait
Image 2 Horizontal

【FY25 Saijo Festival Calendar】
A2 (610×425mm) size

Product price: 1,300 yen (tax included) / part
Image 3 Calendar

Both products are sold at the following locations:
Saijo City Tourism Exchange Center (798-1 Omachi, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 793-0030)
In.

Imajō-juku is a post town that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period.
Its stone-paved streets and rows of white-walled houses evoke history and offer a tranquil ambiance.
It holds high cultural value and has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Hands-on tourism is plentiful, including soba noodle-making experiences and guided town walks.
Nearby you will find a museum, cafés, and lodging in renovated traditional houses, where you can enjoy a graceful time steeped in history.

Access
A five-minute walk from Happy Line Fukui Imajō Station / a 10-minute drive from the Hokuriku Expressway Imajō IC

https://www.minamiechizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/imajojuku-guidemap-en.pdf

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan videos, nice to meet you!
We are the Shimanto City Tourism Association in Kochi Prefecture.
Shimanto City lies in the southwest of Kochi Prefecture, bounded to the north by mountains around 1,100 meters high and to the south by the Pacific Ocean, making it a city rich in nature.
The city was formed in 2005 by the merger of the former Nakamura City and Nishitosa Village, and its name comes from the Shimanto River that runs through the city. On this account, we will deliver the many charms of Shimanto City to you. We look forward to sharing them with you!

■How to access Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
About a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Kochi Ryoma Airport
About 1 hour by limited express from JR Kochi Station

■Basic information about Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
The population is about 30,000 people (as of June 2025), making it the third most populous city in Kochi Prefecture. Forests cover about 91% of the city area, and the Shimanto River, which flows through the city, stretches 196 km without dams on its main stream. Known as “Japan’s last clear stream,” the city’s catchphrase is “a town that lives with the river.”

■History of Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
The former Nakamura area of Shimanto City is called “Tosa’s Little Kyoto.” About 550 years ago, Ichijo Norifusa moved south following the Onin War and laid out streets in a grid pattern modeled on Kyoto, and that urban design remains today. The town’s blend of culture, history, and nature creates a picturesque setting perfect for strolling.

■Recommended sightseeing spots in Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture
Chinkabashi (low-water crossing bridges)
・There are nine chinkabashi on the main stream, including Sada Chinkabashi and Iwama Chinkabashi
Activities
・Shimanto River sightseeing boats
・Canoeing and SUP (stand-up paddleboarding)
・Shimanto river barbecue
・Cycling
History
・Ichijo Shrine
・Fuwa Hachimangu Shrine
・Shimanto City Local Museum
・Hanka Tenmangu Shrine
・Kurosongu Shrine
Food
・Shio tataki (salt-seared fish)
・Biri katsuo (local skipjack tuna specialty)
・Bushukan chu-hai (citrus shochu highball)
・Ayu (sweetfish)
・Unagi (eel)
・River shrimp
・Gori (gori fish)

■Visit Shimanto City, where nature and culture live on
Shimanto City, where vast nature and historical culture come together, is an ideal destination to refresh both body and mind.
Come and seek the landscapes and experiences you can only find here.

We will continue to share the attractions of Shimanto City, so please follow us!

Bokumaisen Shipowners Street⚓

Bokumaisen Shipowners Street is a historic lane centered on the Ukon and Nakamura families, who amassed great wealth as coastal cargo ship owners.
Eleven cities and towns with connections to the Bokumaisen shipping tradition have been designated a Japan Heritage site.👏
In Minami-Echizen Town’s Kono area, the cultural properties that form the Japan Heritage story include the Ukon House, the Former Ukon Residence Western-Style House, and the Nakamura Residence.

Each residence is open to the public.
Inside the Ukon House, exhibits recreate merchant life and display materials that introduce the trade routes of the time, creating a space history lovers will relish.
Perched on the hill behind the main house, the Former Ukon Residence Western-Style House was built as the Ukon family’s villa and is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. You can spot modern touches throughout the building.
The Nakamura Residence is a large-scale shipowner estate featuring a distinctive layout and a three-story tatami room.
Every building shows careful craftsmanship, and each offers a different architectural style to explore.

Enjoy the unique landscape shaped by the lifestyle and livelihoods of Kono in Minami-Echizen Town.
You can feel the romantic history of the Bokumaisen shipowners who bravely made their living on the vast Sea of Japan.

Address: 2-15 Kono, Minami-Echizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture
TEL: 0778-48-2196
Opening hours: 9:00–16:00
Closed: Wednesdays and December 29–January 3
Access
By car
(From the Kansai and Chukyo regions)
・About 20 minutes via Route 305 from the Hokuriku Expressway Nanjo Smart I.C.
・About 40 minutes from the Hokuriku Expressway Tsuruga I.C., head north on Route 8, take the Echizen–Kono Shiokaze Line, then Route 305.

(From Ishikawa and Fukui)
・About 20 minutes via Route 305 from the Hokuriku Expressway Nanjo Smart I.C.
・About 30 minutes from the Hokuriku Expressway Takefu I.C., head south on Route 8, then take Route 305 from the Sakurabashi intersection.

By train
From Happy Line Takefu Station or Echizen Railway Takefu Station, take the Fukutetsu Bus Ojiho–Kono Line for about 40 minutes, or a taxi for about 30 minutes.

Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya Natsumōde 2025

On this day, glutton Kasai brings you fresh, hot-off-the-press information.
Have you heard of Natsumōde? This seasonal ritual offers a chance to savor an evening that avoids the daytime heat, letting you enjoy the cool dusk air, quiet atmosphere, and the shrine’s charming summer mood. Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya is holding a Natsumōde event!!!
During the festival, the shrine will be illuminated. Shrine maidens will perform kagura, local performers will present bugaku dances, the Shimosuwa Koyō High School brass band will play, and Tsugaru shamisen performances will take place each night from 19:00. On weekends, special attractions such as festival stalls and food trucks will appear!
For details ⇒ https://shimosuwaonsen.jp/event/21644/
Goshuin collectors, take note! Limited-edition Natsumōde goshuincho and special nighttime Natsumōde goshuin will be available at Akimiya during the event. A nighttime-only “Yo-Yo Omikuji” will be offered from 18:30 to 21:00 each day, so please come and enjoy!!! Fans made of bamboo will be distributed to visitors only. They are elegant bamboo hand fans perfect for the occasion 🎶
※ This is Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya, so please be careful not to confuse it with other shrines!

Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya Nighttime Natsumōde
◎ Period: Thursday, August 7 – Thursday, August 14, 2025
◎ Time: 18:30–21:30

◎ Shinano-kuni Ichinomiya Suwa Taisha (Shimosha Akimiya)
📍 5828 Shimosuwa-machi, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture
☎ 0266-27-8035 (Natsumōde inquiries)
◎ Homepage : https://suwataisha.or.jp/


Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya – Nighttime Natsumōde 2025
Gluttony Kasai is here to bring you fresh, hot-off-the-press news!
Have you heard of Natsumōde?
While the slow, lingering summer heat has its own charm, Natsumōde offers a chance to avoid the midday heat and instead enjoy the cool evening air, the quiet atmosphere, and the magical scenery of the shrine at night.
This summer, Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya will once again host this special evening event.
During the festival period, the shrine grounds will be beautifully illuminated, and visitors can enjoy sacred kagura dances performed by shrine maidens, traditional bugaku court dances by local performers, music by the Shimosuwa Kōyō High School brass band, and live Tsugaru shamisen performances.
On weekends, food stalls and kitchen cars will also make a special appearance.

Special Limited Items
• Limited-edition Natsumōde Goshuincho (temple seal book)
• Nighttime Natsumōde special Goshuin (temple seal)
• “Yo-Yo Omikuji” (balloon yo-yo fortune), available 18:30–21:00 during the event
If you are a Goshuin collector, you won’t want to miss this!

Dates: August 7 (Thu) – August 14 (Thu), 2025
Time: 18:30–21:30
Venue: Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya – Shinano-kuni Ichinomiya (First Shrine of Shinano Province)
📍 5828 Shimosuwa-machi, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture
☎ 0266-27-8035 (Natsumōde Inquiries)
* Homepage : https://suwataisha.or.jp/
・ Distributed to visitors only; a traditional hand fan made from bamboo, perfect for enjoying the summer evening in style 🎶
※ Please note: This event is held at Suwa Taisha Shimosha Akimiya.

We will hold the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop🎊

On Thursday, August 21, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association will host the 2nd “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourism route creation workshop♪
Based on feedback from the first session, we will consolidate and refine the tourism walking route into a single plan!
It’s perfectly fine to join for the first time, so if you’re interested in tourism guiding or community development, please join us✨

Date and time: Thursday, August 21, 1:30 PM–3:30 PM
Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture)
👉To register, go to the Notices section on the homepage in our profile👀
Registration deadline: Friday, August 15

Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, Ogata
☎ 0969-31-1136
*This workshop is held as part of the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Subsidy project.*

A bell that tells the time.

Under the blue sky, the old wooden lookout tower is a landmark of Koedo Kawagoe.

Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

The large taiko drums of Osaka Shinden (Sekichaya, Onoshiba, Shimo-Kusao three districts) will parade through each neighborhood and begin entering the shrine one after another from around 6:00 p.m.✨
Watch as nearly one-ton taiko drums are carried through town; the thunderous sound and the sight of them being hoisted are not to be missed! In the morning, children’s taiko will also enter the shrine.☺

🏮Osaka Shinden Bon Odori🥁
Venue: Izumo Taisha Osaka Branch Shrine
Date: Saturday, August 9 (canceled in severe weather)
Contact: Izumo Taisha Osaka Branch Shrine Office (📞072-285-2431)

Hello everyone!
Today, I would like to introduce 🎶🎶🎶 a tour organized by the Minami Town Tourism Association

For two days from October 12, 2025 [Sunday], in the Hiwasa area of Minami Town,
"Minami Town Hiwasa District History and Culture Trip Yakuo Temple Special Inner Worship & Autumn Two Major Festivals" will be held in 😄

In addition to seeing the stall drum "Chosa" of the Hiwasa Yawata Shrine Autumn Festival, the dedication blowtube fireworks at Akamatsu Shrine, you can participate in the special inner worship of the 23rd temple of the 88 Shikoku sacred sites, Yakuo Temple! !!
Please 🎵😆 enjoy the autumn hiwasa full of historical atmosphere

For more information on the tour and how to apply, please see the flyer!
We look forward to your participation!

* This tour is for women only.

✨ \ New Articles / ✨
A fantastic temple floating on the lake, Ukimido in the Temple of the full moon in Shiga Prefecture.
A popular photo spot 📸 where the superb view of Lake Biwa and historical romance intersect
Why don't you take your time to experience an extraordinary space surrounded by silence with videos and photos?

[Sakai City Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property] The Purification Ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shukuin Tongu ✨

🗓️ Date and time: Friday, August 1, 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
📍 Location: Sumiyoshi Taisha Shukuin Tongu (Shukuincho Higashi 2-1-6, Sakai Ward)

The Purification Ritual at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shukuin Tongu, known as the Aranigo Great Purification Ritual (aranigo no ooharae shinji), was once held on the last day of the sixth month of the old lunar calendar and is now observed on August 1. On that day the mikoshi (portable shrine) of Sumiyoshi Taisha is welcomed to Sakai and the ritual is performed at Igai-bori in the Shukuin Tongu.
This ceremony oversees the act of purification, the very essence of the Sumiyoshi Festival and the mikoshi procession. It forms a vital foundation of faith and everyday culture for the people of Sakai, making it an extremely valuable rite.

Don’t miss this rare, once-a-year opportunity! 🙏

This is a festival with a history of over 100 years in which young people carry taikodai (drum floats) through the neighborhood while singing and dancing Kawachi ondo and Goshu ondo.✨
Drums over three shaku (about 90 cm) are placed on carrying poles and carried by groups of about 20 to 30 people as they parade. A distinctive feature of the procession is that people sometimes ride on the drums during the march.👀

🥁 Fukumachi Summer Bon Dance 🥁
Location: Atago Park
Date: Saturday, August 2
Schedule: ・5:00 PM–around 5:40 PM: Procession into Atago Shrine
・Neighborhood parade
・8:00 PM–8:30 PM: Drum hanging performance
・10:00 PM: Bon dance ends

Mihama Station (originally named Kawaraichi Station at opening) began operation when the Obama Line opened in the Taisho era. Over time, the area in front of the station changed through development. At the Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle Historical Museum, photos—mainly from the Showa period—look back at Mihama Station’s appearance.

Scenes in front of Mihama Station
Exhibition period: Saturday, July 19, 2025–Monday, October 13, 2025 (public holiday)
Opening hours: 9:00–17:00 (last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Venue: Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle Historical Museum rest space, 25-2 Sakaki, Mihama Town
Closed: Every Monday and the day after public holidays
Admission: Adults 100 yen; Children 50 yen (junior high school students and younger). Group discount applies for 20 or more people.
Inquiries: Tel. 0770-32-0050

Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum is holding its "Summer Vacation Workshop" again this year! Why not learn about the history of Kuniyoshi Castle by making a Kuniyoshi Castle papercraft and an original castle red-seal stamp?

Summer Vacation Workshop 2025

1. Let’s make a Kuniyoshi Castle papercraft
Date and Time: July 27 (Sun), August 3 (Sun), August 10 (Sun), August 11 (Mon, public holiday), August 17 (Sun)
Morning sessions from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Capacity: 3 families/groups per session (children up to junior high must be accompanied by a guardian)
Materials Fee: 500 yen (one kit per group)
Bring: Scissors, craft knife, cutting mat (if available)
2. Make your own original castle red-seal stamp
Date and Time: July 26 (Sat) to August 31 (Sun), 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Note: Offered every day during the above period except museum closed days
Eligibility and Fee: Open to all museum visitors!
Materials Fee: 100 yen (one backing sheet)
Bring: Nothing (feel free to come empty-handed!)
Registration: Accepted anytime
Note: Registration accepted until 4:30 PM
Common Information for 1 and 2
Location: Wakasa Kuniyoshi Castle History Museum, 25-2 Sakaki, Mihama Town
Closed: Every Monday
Admission: Adults 100 yen, Children 50 yen (junior high school and younger)※Group discount for 20 or more people
Inquiries: Phone 0770-32-0050

A workshop to create a sightseeing walking route for “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” was held🎊 and we are conducting a survey!

Last week on July 23, a workshop was held to devise a sightseeing walking route that lets visitors enjoy “Reihoku’s Literary Treasures,” aiming to make the town’s literary spots and heritage into new tourism resources✨
Nine local and non-local participants who know the area well joined and engaged in lively discussions.
Students, local residents, and travel industry professionals who attended offered ideas from their different perspectives, making it a very valuable time👏
The next workshop, the second session, is scheduled for Thursday, August 21 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, so please join us👀
*Recruitment for participants is planned to be announced on our website in early August*

We are also collecting ideas and useful information for route planning from those who cannot attend the workshop.
Please check the notice on our website from the profile of this account!

Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (General Incorporated Association), Ogata ☎0969-31-1136
*This workshop is being held as part of the 2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant project.*

📢 Sakai Tourism Concierge Recommended✨
"🌿Experience history and culture at Sakai Risho no Mori!🌿"

📍Sakai Risho no Mori is a museum where you can experience the culture associated with Sen no Rikyu and Akiko Yosano.🔍 It’s full of attractions that delight both children and adults!

🔍Learn history with quizzes!
You can get closer to the lives of Sen no Rikyu and the history of Sakai through quiz-style learning.
Here you can enjoy learning with all five senses through exhibits and videos—things you won’t find in history textbooks.

🍵Experience the tea ceremony’s wabi-sabi spirit at a site linked to Sen no Rikyu!
Sakai is the hometown of Sen no Rikyu. In this place you can enjoy an authentic tea ceremony experience while sensing the spirit of chadō that Rikyu cherished. Learn the heart of wabi-sabi and find a peaceful moment in a tranquil tea room. It’s a special experience that reveals the depth of the tea ceremony alongside history.

🛍 Shop at Sakai En-an for Sakai souvenirs!
Items that reflect Sakai’s traditional crafts make perfect souvenirs.
You’ll find many easy-to-use products blending tradition and modern design.
Be sure to find goods that perfectly match your style!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Enjoy cultural experiences the whole family can share♪

Chowa Town Nakasan-do Eitai Jinba Service Station (Reception Hut)

Please do not litter

In Chowa Town and the Ueda area, instead of a "litter-free Jizo" there is a "litter-free little monk"?
It quietly stands in the parking area of the Eitai Jinba Service Station (Reception Hut) near Wada Pass.

This place was originally established by Kaseya Yohei of Edo Gofukucho, and it is said that, to ease the hardships of travelers crossing the pass, free porridge, campfires, and fodder for horses and people were offered.

#Chowa Town #Nagano Prefecture #Nakasendo #Wada-juku #Eitai Jinba Service Station #litter-free Jizo

"Noh Prayer and Japan Sword Culture◆The 5th Sakashiro Chikuma Yabu Noh Pre-Workshop"

We will Held in a Workshop to enjoy the "5th Sakashiro Chikuma Yabu Noh Funa Benkei" scheduled to be Held in at the Sakaki Town Cultural Center on Saturday, August 23rd!
It is a two-hour event filled with various things such as Japan swords and Noh, Buddhism and Noh, Kanze-ryu Noh play master Chitoshi Matsumoto's explanation of the highlights of "Funabenkei" and the experience of the work of the sword.

Held in ∶ 7/20 (Sun)

Place: Sakaki Town Iron Exhibition Hall

Hours: 10 a.m. to noon

Participation fee: 1,000 yen (including admission fee)

Updated August 8, 2025
The night kagura has been canceled due to a rain forecast for the day.
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Ontake-style Okuhata Kagura Night Kagura
A night kagura organized by Okuhata Kagura will take place at Mie Town Station Square.
Also joining will be Nakae Iwato Kagura, a tradition from the Hano district of Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and a meeting kagura performance is planned.

Date and Time: Saturday, August 9, 2025
3:00 PM–9:00 PM
*Canceled in case of rain*
Location: Mie Town Station Square

❚ Okuhata Kagura
Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Oita Prefecture
An Ontake-style Iwato kagura handed down from Ontake Shrine (Kiyokawa Town) to the Okuhata district of Mie Town. The dances consist of 33 pieces.

■■■ Access to central Bungo-Ono City ■■■
About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture
About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture
About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture

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Introducing sightseeing and recommended spots in Kyushu, Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture
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