Photographed 1/10/25. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Taken with a mobile phone at Okayama Korakuen. Enlargement is recommended. Nature's colors were beautiful, and the moss on the stones and the color of the lawn over the pond were exactly the colors of winter. It is one of my favorite pieces where you can feel the sunset in the cold air as if illuminating your cheeks

【❄️ Winter Gokase 2025 Photo Submissions — Part 5 ❄️】 Today we continue to showcase photos submitted to the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram event “#Winter Gokase 2025” 🙌✨ @photo_ay_umi Here is another photo taken at Gokase Highland Ski Resort ⛷️💫 The subject and photographer were perfectly in sync, producing images that look like scenes from a commercial—simply wonderful 🤗💕 Thank you for your submission 🙇‍♀️ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gokase Town is covered in a snowy landscape this morning ☃️ The wind is howling and it’s really cold 😂 Road conditions are poor, so when you head out to shoot photos please use proper studless winter tires or chains and take care to stay safe and enjoy yourself without overdoing it 🙏 How to enter Follow the Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko) and post with the hashtags “#Winter Gokase 2025” and “#location of the photo (e.g., #Unoko Waterfall)” 📸 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account→https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... ※There is a risk from snow accumulation and icy roads. When taking photos, secure your safety and take care to avoid accidents ⚠️

It is a five-story pagoda located on Mount Haguro, Yamagata Prefecture. The towers towering over the snowy scenery all around are a piece that closes the winter scenery.

Shot at a rare time when it snowed in the local area. I felt that the harmony of Autumn leaves and snow was very beautiful.

Photographed 1/24/25. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Samurai-specific Osaka Castle Guides Private tours in armor More than 400 years later, Yukimura Sanada has not forgotten his debt of gratitude and remains loyal. 『恩義を忘れ、私欲を貪ぼり、人と呼よべるか！？』 "Can anyone be called a human being who forgets his debt of gratitude and only thinks well of himself!?" #osakacastle #samurai #Bushido #yukimurasanada #katana

Photographed 1/24/25. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

A photo of the first snow piled up in Kyushu this year

【❄️Introducing Photos Submitted to Winter Gokase 2025 — Part 4❄️】 Today we present photos submitted to the Winter Gokase 2025 contest, currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account 🫡🎉 @_aymiii_photo @eco9syu_sekiryo @photo_ay_umi *Order is random* From Gokase Highland Ski Resort we received delightful, humorous shots and beautiful images that convey the joy of snow 😆🎶 Thank you for your submissions 😌💕 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gokase Town has seen a touch of snow again since yesterday ❄️ It’s cold and icy roads are worrying, so going out can be daunting, but we also welcome photos taken in your own yard — capture a lovely winter scene and feel free to submit it 🤗✨ <How to Enter> Follow the Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko) and post with the hashtags “#Winter Gokase 2025” and “#Photo location (e.g., #Unoko Falls)” 📸 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account → https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... *There are risks such as heavy snow and icy roads. Please ensure safety and take care to avoid accidents while shooting⚠️

It's a nice day today. Have a nice day, everyone. Cappuccino and chocolate chunk scones. The heart latte art is cute, isn't it? 😊🩷

The sword is the soul of the samurai; it cannot be sold even if it starves to death. Bushido made the sword a symbol of his power and valor. From an early age, one is taught how to use a sword. He started with a wooden sword, and when he reached the age of 15, he was allowed to carry a serious weapon. At that time, he became aware of his self-respect and sense of responsibility for carrying a dangerous weapon in the street. remember that one step outside the doorway is the world of death. #katana #samuraisword

Photographed 1/25/25. LEC COFFEE's black latte and chocolate Basque cheesecake. Chocolate and black latte go very well together. 😊

【❄️Winter Gokase 2025 Photo Contest — Featured Entries Vol. 3❄️】 This is the third installment of our series showcasing entries posted to the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram for the “#Winter Gokase 2025” contest.💡 We’re excited to share more photos today!😆👏 @yamabico_san @aiaiaiaiaiaiai77 @conne.hikariconect @gokase_entertainment ※In no particular order Many submissions captured the quiet atmosphere and beautiful snowy scenery.😌❄️ Thank you for your entries.👏 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- We’re delighted to see the number of entries steadily growing.😊✨ Thank you all so much for your continued support.🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️ With about one month left until the entry deadline, please feel free to photograph any winter scenes you love and submit them.🤗💕 How to enter Follow the Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko) and post your photo with the hashtags “#Winter Gokase 2025” and “#photo location (for example: #Unoko Falls)”.📸 Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account → https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/... ※There may be hazards such as deep snow or icy roads. Please ensure your safety and take care to avoid accidents when photographing.⚠️

Photographed 1/25/25. LEC COFFEE's Limited Time Chocolate Basque Cheesecake. Kumquat sauce and strawberry sauce go well with chocolate. 🍊🍓

Running sideways through icicles This is being Held in in Yokose Town, Saitama Prefecture 【Icicles of Ashigakubo】It is a festival. It runs until the end of February, and now is the best time to visit 🤤. 【Held in date】 Lit up Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 17:00-20:00 　　　　　(Advance reservation is required on Saturdays and Sundays) Fee 500 yen (junior high school students and above) 　　　300 yen (elementary school students) 　　　Free for preschoolers * Persons with disabilities discount (certificate presentation): 100 yen discount each Car parking: Roadside Station Ashigakubo 100 cars free of charge Please come and 🚶 enjoy the winter in Yokose Town

Photographed 1/25/25. This is LEC COFFEE's black latte. It's very, very beautiful latte art.

Photographed 1/25/25. This is Hanachozu of Chuin.

Photographed 1/23/25. It is Hanachozu of Happiness Inari Alley.

A landmark of Sapporo City, Hokkaido standing in the clear winter air Former Hokkaido Government Office Building While urban development is progressing, it is an important place that does not change its appearance even after renovation work and shows what it was at that time

The poster for the Tsukigase Bumekei Ume Plum Festival in 2025 (Reiwa 7) has been completed! Every year, the poster photo is based on the gold prize winning work of the photo contest held during the Ume Plum Festival. We hope that many will come to this year's Ume Plum Festival, take many photos, and leave memories with Tsukigase! Starting with the marathon Spring the Tsukigase, there are also a lot of events such as the Township Fureai Festival, Sencha Festival, Haiku Contest, and Nara Akira Works Exhibition, which is the most Ume Plum Spring in Romantopia Tsukigase! At the teahouse, which is only open during the Ume Plum Festival, there are many flavors that can only be encountered at that time and place, such as Tsukigase Specialties Tsukigase hot pot, country Udon noodles, boar hot pot and Ume Plum soft serve ice cream, charcoal-grilled grass mochi and Ume Plum Swiss roll! I hope you will have many smiles this year as well! All the members of the Tsukigase Tourism Association are preparing hard and waiting for you!

Photographed 1/21/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Learn Zen in a class of making Japanese sweets and Enjoying Wabicha with wield the brush. Zen / Wagashi Yokan, which came to Japan along with Zen, was refined over many years to become a complete Japanese confectionary in the Edo period. Zen / Tea Ceremony The tea ceremony was a type of tea ceremony in which Zen ideas were added to the tea ceremony, resulting in the creation of wabicha (a type of tea ceremony). Zen / Calligraphy Calligraphy is a way of practicing Zen with a brush, or in other words, a way of writing calligraphy in a state of unmindfulness. ZEN is basically searching for the truth of who you are. #Zen #kanji #traditional

Photographed 1/24/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

SAMURAI Armor Samurai fought fair and square in one-on-one battles, which was the samurai way of fighting. During this time, it was not acceptable for the adversary to initiate a fight. If they did, they were considered "cowards. #osakacastle #samurai #calligraphy #katana

Red-crowned crane dance The Tsurui-Ito red-crowned crane Sanctuary in Tsurui Village, Hokkaido Japan is a Base point for the Wild Bird Society to promote the conservation of red-crowned crane and its habitat, and There are a feeding station and a nature center. At feeding sites, feeding is carried out from November to March, when food for red-crowned cranes is scarce. From 2~30 minutes before the feeding time, you can observe the Scenes of Red-crowned Cranes flying and their behavior such as chirping.

Running through with Mt. Fuji in the background This is one photo taken from Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. I managed to capture Dr. Yellow and Mt. Fuji. I was scared because I didn't come out of the clouds until 5 minutes before the day of the event, but I'm 😁 glad I was able to take a safe picture

Photographed 1/21/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

[❄️ Introducing Photos Submitted to Winter Gokase 2025 — Part 2 ❄️] Today we continue showcasing photos submitted to the Winter Gokase 2025 campaign, currently hosted on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account 🤩🎉 @moko.m This entry, like the others, captures everyday winter life in Gokase Town. Each warm photo seems to carry the cheerful voices of children, and viewing them brings joy 🥰✨ Thank you for your submission 👏 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have more submissions to share, so we’ll introduce them little by little 🤗 When submitting, a few people posted using the kanji “五ヶ瀬” for the title “Winter Gokase 2025.” We wondered if those were intended as entries, but please be careful when submitting in the future ⚠️ Use the hiragana “ごかせ”! The correct title is “Winter Gokase 2025” written as 「冬のGokase 2025」!! How to enter (Submission period — through February 28) Follow the Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko), and post with the hashtags “#冬のごかせ2025” and a tag for the photo location (for example: #Unoko Falls) along with your photo 📸 ※Snow and icy roads can be hazardous. Ensure safety when shooting and take care to avoid accidents ⚠️

Currently, the winning works of the 2024 Lake Onneto Photo Contest are on display in the Inside the Facility of Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. Please come and see the wonderful work that captures the four beautiful seasons of Lake Onneto!