During a recent visit to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Japan, I was enchanted by the beautiful white-walled townscape and the rich history and art it held. The serene atmosphere along the Kurashiki River, with its white-walled warehouses and willow trees, offered a truly unique and charming experience. Exploring the traditional buildings and modern shops, such as the Kurashiki Canvas and Kurashiki Denim stores, was a delight. The area was bustling with tourists. I spent an entire day enjoying myself in the history, art, and culture of this remarkable quarter and look forward to returning in the future.

It's amazing to hear about Shirakawago, located in Gifu Prefecture. It's not just a beautiful spot, but it offers so much more. The village's Gassho-style houses, with over 100 buildings of this style still standing, are truly remarkable. I enjoyed the experience the traditional Japanese scenery and rural ways of life there. The rich history of the area dating back to 7000 B.C. is truly awe-inspiring. The iconic gassho-style houses with their large thatched roofs resembling hands joined in prayer are such a beautiful representation of the village's unique culture.

Hachiji Koshoji Temple. It is a classic composition for this period. Nagoya, Aichi

A view of Nagoya from Kiso Mikawa for this Period only.

Here is an introduction to Takabocchi Plateau, located on the border between Okaya City and Shiojiri City next to Suwa in the Kankōchi Suwa area. Takabocchi Plateau spreads across gentle slopes and offers a 360° panorama amid vast nature. On clear days you can see Mt. Fuji, the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Northern Alps, the Southern Alps, the Central Alps, Mt. Ontake, and Mt. Norikura. The alpine plant rengetsutsuji (Rhododendron) was blooming bright red. Note: The Takabocchi Skyline is closed for winter from early December through late April.

It is said that the name "Fighting Dragon Nada" in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture comes from the Chinese poet Liangchuan Hoshiiwa, who visited this area at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, and when he saw the torrent stream flowing down through the rocky area, he imagined the dynamism of two giant dragons and chanted "Standing like a white wave cloud and singing water."

Kannonji Temple, located in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, is said to have been founded by Hodo Sennin in the 4th year of Yoro 720. It is also a famous temple called Hydrangea Temple, and many Worshippers come during the season. Famous hydrangeas, but Dharma is also Restrooms available.

Kankōchi Suwa!!! Introducing the Takashima Castle Festival! May 26, 2024 — held every year on the fourth Sunday of May. We held the 55th Takashima Castle Festival. This year, 19 acts performed on stage. There were hip-hop dance routines, traditional Japanese dance, taiko drumming, singers, cheerleading, and the Matsumoto Castle matchlock gun corps. The matchlock team left a powerful impression. Even in Japan, this is something you rarely see. The matchlock firearms date back about 430 years, and few groups still maintain and use functioning examples. The Matsumoto Castle matchlock gun corps preserves these guns and passes on the tradition. As a result, you can see matchlock demonstrations at events like those at Matsumoto Castle. The team brought several types of matchlocks. To an amateur eye, I saw two kinds: first a bantsutsu infantry gun, then a chūtutsu medium cannon. They fired blank shots in several formations. The blast was tremendous! At the end, a shooter from Suwa fired the chūtutsu. The sound ripped through the space where we stood. It was truly loud and spectacular!! There were taiko performances and children’s hip-hop dances, with families coming to watch. At the festival you could also buy food stalls and specialties from sister and friendship cities, and try tree climbing!!! Blessed with good weather, many citizens attended. If you have the chance to come to the Takashima Castle Festival, be sure to come and enjoy it!

Enjoy the best breakfast on a highland in Shinshu. Would you like to experience breakfast on a breezy plateau at 1,600 meters above sea level? Relax and savor a luxurious moment while gazing at the vast grasslands before you. ●Period July 1, 2024 (Monday) – September 30, 2024 (Monday) (Excluded dates / closed days: July: 4, 13–15 ｜ August: 10–18, 29 ｜ September: 5, 12, 14–16, 19, 21–23, 26 (as of June 13, 2024)) Limited to 20 people per day Reservation required ●Price 1,800 JPY (tax included) ●Hours 9:00 – 11:00 Booking & Venue Korobokkuru Hutte – A stylish café attached to a mountain hut – ●Address Nagano Prefecture, Suwa City, Kirigamine, Kurumayama-Kata TEL 0266-58-0573 ※ Please make reservations by phone directly. ※ Calls may be difficult to get through between 11:00 and 14:00. “Breakfast at Kirigamine: My Car Plan” Enjoy an elegant breakfast on the mountain hut terrace while looking out over the sweeping grasslands. This individual plan includes benefits such as a Kirigamine summer lift ticket and an original pin badge. ●How to Apply Korobokkuru Hutte TEL 0266-58-0573 ※ Please reserve by phone. ●Access ‣ About 30 minutes by car from Suwa lakeside, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture ‣ About 40 minutes by car from Chuo Expressway Suwa Interchange via Prefectural Route 40 (Kirigamine–Shirakabako Line) ※ Parking spaces are limited and you may not be able to park. Please note weekends and the season are very busy. ●Other ▷ Reservations accepted until noon the day before ▷ Same-day cancellations will be charged 1,800 JPY per person. ▷ Limited to 20 people per day ▷ Weekends and the season are very busy; reservations may fill up relatively early. ▷ Parking and breakfast service are on a first-come, first-served basis. ▷ Operations may be suspended due to severe weather. Special perks included! ★Perk 1: Round-trip Kirigamine summer lift ticket Perk period: July 13, 2024 – August 25, 2024 Lift operating hours: 9:00 – 16:00 ※ Lift may not operate in severe weather. Address: 13338-41 Kamisuwa, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Parking available (Kirigamine Ski Area parking, approx. 200 spaces) Access: About 5 minutes by car from Kurumayama-Kata, about 2 minutes by car from the Kirigamine Nature Conservation Center parking lot ★Perk 2: Kirigamine Plateau “Original Pin Badge” gift! Perk period: July 1, 2024 – July 12, 2024 and August 26, 2024 – September 30, 2024 ※ The badge shown in the photo is from 2022.

Katahara Hot Spring Hydrangea Village. It was a masterpiece. Gamagori City, Aichi Early June 2024

Kankouji Suwa!!! Kirigamine Highlands in Suwa city, Nagano Prefecture. Suwa proudly boasts this scenic spot where alpine plants bloom through the seasons. It is also known as Japan’s glider mecca 🛩️ At Kirigamine you’ll find one of the country’s top daylily (nikko-kisuge) colonies. This lily-family flower represents the highland in July, painting the green slopes with orange-leaning yellow blooms 🌼 Every July Kirigamine’s popularity causes traffic jams. In the hot season, enjoy a leisurely, elegant respite in this cool highland.

The Katsura River streams through the area of Yamanashi Prefecture. This river is Famous for sweetfish anglers as a fishing Spot one of the most the Kanto region. On the other hand, the current situation is that it is not known to the general public. I want more people to know about the Katsura River and sweetfish, which are local tourist resources. And I want to revitalize and promote the region. Squid, we have developed Specialty Products. In particular, this sweetfish sandwich is a rare product that you should try at least once. Sweet and spicy honeydew stew, confit with olive oil and garlic, It is a set of 3 types of fried foods that are fried and entwined with sauce.

I took an aerial view of Aragi Island from a bird's-eye view. Actually, it was shaped like this. Aragi Island, Aritagawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture * Flight permission from Aritagawa Town * Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Comprehensive Flight Permit has been obtained. * Flight plan report and flight log book have been prepared.

Gyoi-kō (Gyoikō) is a plant in the genus Prunus of the Rosaceae family. It is a Japanese-origin cultivated variety of satoyama cherry (satozakura) that originated from the Oshima cherry. The name has been seen since the mid-Edo period and comes from a color close to the light green of aristocratic robes. It is apparently also called “Misogi (purification).” The Gyoi-kō shown in this photo is the one at Akiba Shrine in Shimizu-cho, Suwa City. This shrine features several large zelkova trees and three small shrines at their roots, creating a very otherworldly atmosphere that seems like it could appear in a Ghibli film. Entering Akiba Shrine and going to the left rear, you will find this Gyoi-kō. This cherry blooms about two weeks later than Somei Yoshino and generally flowers around Golden Week. The timing is similar to that of yaezakura (double-flowered cherry). When the flowers first open, the petals are pale green even inside, and as they near the end of blooming faint pink streaks appear toward the center. Although the tree’s vigor has declined compared with the past, the sign says the average tree age is about 20 years. If you look closely, it was planted on May 25, 1975 (Showa 50), so it is 49 years old this year. Amazing, isn’t it! Unlike the famous pink cherries, its pale yellow-green color gives off a lovely hue. Every year I enjoy seeing yaezakura and this Gyoi-kō after the Somei Yoshino finish blooming. Answer! The phrase “light green colored cherry blossom,” which I posted in English on Instagram on January 18 of this year, referred to this Gyoi-kō at Akiba Shrine. Please take a look at the English post as well. Also, as far as I know, there is a green cherry that appears to be Gyoi-kō on the grounds of the former Suwa City Cleaning Center, now a Suwa City facility for recycling pruned branches. Because this is a Suwa City facility, if you go to recycle pruned branches in early spring and have a chance, please take a look. If you miss the Somei Yoshino bloom around April in future years, please consider adding Gyoi-kō to your list of blossoms to see. In particular, if you know of any unusual cherry trees in Suwa City or the six neighboring municipalities, or if you have other local information to share, please leave a comment. I will visit as many as possible! Suwa Tourism Association Instagram → @suwa_nagano Please follow us!

One at Ryutan Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture. The well-kept Japanese Garden was very beautiful.

One at Ryuunji Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is home to the world's largest Hannya Heart Sutra 16 meters wide × 4 meters high, which was Dedication by calligrapher Shoko Kanazawa. Squid may be hard to see in the photo, but when I actually saw it in front of me, I was overwhelmed by its size.

The name Gozaishi Shrine comes from the fact that Prince Satake Yoshitaka, the lord of Akita Domain, sat down to rest when he toured Lake Tazawa in the 3rd year of Keian 1650. Spot is a popular spot 🌌 for stargazing at night

Gozaishi Shrine Torii shrine gate The name Gozaishi Shrine comes from the fact that Prince Satake Yoshitaka, the lord of Akita Domain, sat down to rest when he toured Lake Tazawa in the 3rd year of Keian 1650. Spot is a popular spot 🌌 for stargazing at night

It is located in Maki Manoon Nature Park, Daisen City, Akita Prefecture Summerless Waterfall Fallen trees and you can feel the long age. It's a very cool place because I don't know summer.

Koshu Katsuragawa sweetfish stewed with honeydew and confit. The Katsura River starts at At the foot of Mt. and stream the county area of Yamanashi Prefecture. In particular, the Katsura River, which stream through Uenohara City, is an important Tourist Resources that can be proud of both inside and outside the city, stream the sight of the spectacular scenery that you see is magnificent. In addition, since the Edo period, sweetfish from the Katsura River has gained popularity among people traveling along the Koshu-kaido as a Specialties of Uenohara. This sweetfish, which was once lost due to the construction of the Sagami Dam, has been revived in modern times thanks to the hard work of the Local Katsura River Fisheries Cooperative. Even now, many anglers visit the Katsura River during the season, bringing liveliness to the city. Using the wonderful scenery of the Katsura River and Uenohara's Specialties of Sweetfish as an opportunity, we would like to deliver the charm of the city to even more people. I want to liven up the community. Specialty products have been developed from such thoughts.

A red Torii shrine gate ⛩️ gate photographed at Mt. Hotayama Soeiji Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture The weather was cloudy, but the darkness added to the silence On the way, we had Dango with a history of more than 150 years

Osaka Castle, also known as "Osaka-jo" in Japanese, is a five-story iconic symbol of Japan with a history spanning nearly 450 years. It stands as a testament to Japan's rich past and is a must-visit for travelers seeking to immerse themselves in the country's history and architectural wonders. This popular landmark attracts both local and international visitors year-round, offering a glimpse into Japan's fascinating past and captivating with its timeless beauty.

Sunset on Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture

Uji City, Kyoto Ujigawa cormorants are said to have already been practiced in the Heian period, and have a long history Impression when I saw it for the first time, it was 😌 a mysterious sight with a female cormorant being active I didn't know if flash photography was good for animals, so I dared to shoot without flash

A townscape that makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to Edo Narai juku, Nagano There was also a large Kiso Bridge nearby, and it was a 😌 place where you could feel the history

Water wheel in Shinno, Kamikawa-cho, Hyogo Prefecture It is said that it has existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum algae baikamo, which only lives in clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter a rural landscape rich in rich in nature and a beautiful original landscape that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Water wheel in Shinno, Kamikawa-cho, Hyogo Prefecture It is said that it has existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum algae baikamo, which only lives in clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter a rural landscape rich in rich in nature and a beautiful original landscape that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Water turbine in Shinno, Kamikawa, Hyogo It is said to have existed since before the 6th year of Genroku 1693, and 11 water wheels with a diameter of about 3 m are scattered in the waterway with abundant flow, and Ume Plum flower algae baikamo, which only live in Clear streams, can be seen nearby, and you can encounter Rich in nature rural scenery and beautiful original scenery that should be protected. There is 😌 a scene here that I want to visit many times in the past and connect from the history of the past to the future

Katakura-kan, nationally designated Important Cultural Property This day-use bathing facility lies about a seven-minute walk from Kamisuwa Station. One of Suwa’s most famous baths, it served as a filming location for the movie Thermae Romae II. The deep 1.1 m bath called the “Sen-nin-buro” (Thousand-Person Bath) is meant for standing while you soak, which often surprises visitors. Smooth river pebbles cover the floor of the large bath, pleasantly stimulating the soles of your feet. It’s an ideal bath for tired bodies and is refreshing even in the height of summer—recommended for visitors to Kamisuwa Onsen♨ Day-use bathing is available here, so please enjoy the historic architecture along with the bath! Search keywords → Katakura-kan Sen-nin-buro

Imagine a time when samurai ruled the land and constructed magnificent forts. Himeji Castle, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage site, is a sight to behold. Its most striking feature is the daitenshu, the main donjon. This impressive structure stands at 31.5 meters tall with five stories on the outside and seven interior floors, reaching a total height of 46.3 meters. The castle is surrounded by three smaller keeps connected by roofed passages, adding to its grandeur. Designated as national treasures, the donjons and watariyagura are a testament to Japan's rich history and architectural ingenuity.