G Music Corps Regular Concert On Sunday, November 17th, the G Music Corps held a concert at Yumeyume Plaza TAC in Takachiho Town🎺🎶 The program was packed into four exciting parts😳💡 Under the baton of conductor Mitsutoshi Hasebe, the concert opened with a Disney medley. Familiar tunes arrived on a dynamic sound that made people move along before they knew it🤩👏 In the second part, dancers from Takachiho Town’s studio DACTCREW delivered an impressive performance to popular songs🪩💫 The third part recreated the original show’s format with a lively amateur singing stage😆🎤 Seven contestants from Gokase, Takachiho, and Kumamoto Prefecture sang joyfully to live wind ensemble accompaniment✨ A former real bell-ringer from the original program played the bell live, a trophy was presented to the winner, and the excitement peaked 🥳👏 The final fourth part featured guests trumpeter MAKOTO, drummer Kiyotaka Kuroda, and pianist Satsuki Imamura in a powerful, high-impact set😳✨ Audience members praised the event, saying things like "I’m glad I came; I never expected it to be this much fun" 🥹💕 G Music Corps, active both inside and outside the prefecture, delivered a wonderful performance that makes you want to cheer them on for the future. Great job to everyone involved❗

Sunset Village Exhibition✨ On Saturday and Sunday, November 16–17, the former Kuwanouchi Elementary School gym hosted the "Sunset Village Exhibition" and the "Small Sato Frost Month Festival," to much excitement 😆🎉 Creative works by local residents were on display, and visitors toured them with great interest 👀 On Saturday, November 16, food stalls and workshops drew lively crowds 😁 At the workshops, many people happily carried their finished pieces home, and seeing that made us happy too 😊

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession at Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ieyasu in Wakita Towns.

Have you all been feeling tired lately??? It may be a little early, but why not plan an evening with friends, partners, or family to see a nationally designated Important Cultural Property lit up? In December, we will illuminate Katakura-kan in Suwa for six days across three weekends (Dec. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22, 2024)! Katakura-kan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and served as a filming location for the famous hot spring film *Thermae Ro◯e* (title partially obscured in the original). Wild eel is actually in season right now, and there is a traditional cold 'doyō' period in January (寒の土用), which locals note. Here’s a suggested plan: 1. Enjoy eel in the Suwa–Okaya area 2. See Katakura-kan illuminated 3. Unwind and refresh from everyday fatigue and stress at Kamisuwa Onsen. Oh—don’t forget to book your accommodation! ・Period: December 7–8 (Sat–Sun), December 14–15 (Sat–Sun), and December 21–22 (Sat–Sun), 2024. ・Time: 17:00–20:00 * Bathing hours at Katakura-kan end at 20:00. Last admission is at 19:30.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. This is the residence of Shintomi Town 2-chome.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of the bell of Tong Towns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float from OteTowns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

【Diamond Fuji from Fujikawa Town Toya】 At exactly 7 o'clock, I took a picture of Diamond Fuji with a sea of clouds. You can see it one month earlier than Diamond Fuji in the lower heights.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of the Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Prayer at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine before work. A pigeon was eating rice on top of Isehikari. 🕊️🌾

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

The sugar maple tree in front of the Kamogawa City office has become 🍁 a nice color The tree was 🍁 planted in November 1993 to commemorate the sister city relationship between Kamogawa City and Manitowoc, Rice The bright orange leaves shine brightly under the autumn sky. It will continue to be loved by people as an important symbol of friendship and exchange between the two cities.

Photographed 11/22/24. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Shop: Christmas items🎄 Wreaths, patchwork pieces, postcards and more We have an expanding selection of cute items♪ About one month until Christmas🎄 Children are surely waiting for Santa Claus with excited hearts and eager anticipation🎅✨ At Roadside Station Iwanai, Taramaru and Beniko are dressed as Santa! Please take your time browsing the shop when you stop by

Photographed 11/23/24. I went to the 7th Koedo Kawagoe Imo Festival. Adult cocoa potato topping here in Wayama. On cold days, it's cocoa. ☕️🍠

Photographed 11/23/24. Near Hon-Kawagoe Station, the second Shanghai liquor store has opened. The lunch menu is extensive, and this time, it is fried chicken. I'm also curious about the shrimp fried rice. 😊

Photographed 11/23/24. I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. Mary Berry Strawberry Milk and Cookie Sandwich Strawberry & Chocolate. 🍓

Photographed 11/23/24. Yesterday, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinji Festival. It is a Shichi-Go-San shooting spot.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A wild festival float has just turned around.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A festival float is greeting the Sumiyoshi Pavilion.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The pigeon rings its Hyoshigi to signal the departure of the festival float. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a wild festival float that passes in front of Resona Coedo Terrace.

【Autumn leaves】Still in time! Beautiful Autumn leaves also seen in Kamogawa ★Early December Boso Peninsula is a place where you can enjoy "the latest Autumn leaves in Kanto". If you're thinking, "I missed the Autumn leaves," it's okay. On the Boso Peninsula, Autumn leaves are yet to come! Located near the border between Kamogawa City and Kimitsu City, Shiraiwa is known as the most beautiful Autumn leaves Famous landmarks in Okukiyosumi. The contrast between the pure white rock surface and the red of the Autumn leaves harmonizes wonderfully, creating a wonderful sight. "Fudo Falls" in the Shipogi district is a truly unexplored place There is a deep bamboo and Japanese cedar forests that cross Kiyosumi and enter the mountain road from the prefectural road. It is 10 meters high and 8 meters wide, and when there is a lot of water, the waterfall splits into two parts, the right is called the male waterfall and the left is called the female waterfall. Valleys are deep upstream, and you can enjoy the atmospheric scenery during the Autumn leaves period in early winter. Best time to visit Autumn leaves Late November ~ early December 2024 Location: Shiraiwa, Shipogi Fudo Falls, Kamogawa City Access (Car) Tateyama Automobile About 50 km from Kimitsu IC Access (Railway) JR Sotobo Line Taxi from Awa Tianjin Station about 9 km

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Festival floats greet everyone in Saiwai Town. The festival floats cannot be rotated, so they face the front.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. I stopped the festival float and greeted the crowd. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 11/18/24. LEC COFFEE's strawberry latte and pumpkin Mont Blanc. 🍓🎃🌰 Strawberry latte is another favorite menu. 😊 Congratulations on your fourth anniversary. ㊗️🎉

That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about! It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa. I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment. According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone! ◎ Koshido 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture ☎ 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/ That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product. He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on! ◎ KOSHIDO 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/