We will hold the 4th “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourist route creation workshop 🎊 On Wednesday, November 19th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association will host the 4th “Amakusa Reihoku Literary Walk” tourist route creation workshop♪ This session will use the proposed tourist walking routes developed from ideas and discussions in previous workshops to finalize the route🔥 A recap of sessions 1–3 is included, so drop-in participation for this workshop is perfectly fine! If you are interested in literature, history, tour guiding, or community development, please feel free to join us ✨ Date and time: Wednesday, November 19th, 2:00 PM–4:00 PM Venue: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association, 2nd floor (4535-1 Kozufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) Registration deadline: Monday, November 17th 👉 Please check the announcements section on our website to apply! This workshop is held as part of the FY2025 Kumamoto Future Creation Startup Grant program. Contact: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association Secretariat, Ogata TEL: 0969-31-1136 E-mail: info@amakusa-kankou.com

Yuzu Picking Volunteers Wanted! We are recruiting yuzu picking volunteers in Fujikawa Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, one of the leading yuzu-producing areas in the Kanto region. Come and try it for yourself!

Shiojiri-juku Location: Shiojiri City, Shiojirimachi The old Nakasendo route that crossed Misawa Pass, Ono-juku and Ushikubi Pass from Shimosuwa-shuku was abolished in 1613 (Keichō 18). From 1614 (Keichō 19) the Nakasendo was rerouted via Shiojiri Pass and the new Shiojiri-juku was established. The town layout work was overseen by Ogasawara Hidemasa, lord of Matsumoto Domain. He laid out the new Shiojiri-juku in an east–west plan southwest of the old post town. The honjin was one of the largest on the Nakasendo, and the post town also featured a noticeboard area and a Matsumoto Domain checkpoint. Plots in the post town were typically three to four ken wide. By 1843 (Tenpō 14) the town had 166 households, including 75 inns — the largest number among the 26 post towns of Shinshu, due to its position at a road junction below Shiojiri Pass. Major fires in 1828 (Bunsei 11) and 1882 (Meiji 15) destroyed much of the town, but the Ono family house, a National Important Cultural Property, still evokes the town’s former appearance.

Blue sky This is a morning photo of Kozu Coast in Odawara.

[Special offer for Michihigashi residents: “Use and Revive” Kawayu Stay Discount — Winter plan now on sale!] This winter, revive your body and spirit with a budget-friendly stay at Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga. The “Use and Revive” Kawayu Stay Discount (Winter), available to residents of Michihigashi, went on sale on October 20 at three properties affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association. As autumn ends and the calm of winter approaches, why not stay at Kawayu Onsen during the deep cold and come back refreshed? Kawayu Stay Discount (Winter) ・Eligible period Weekdays and Sundays from Sunday, November 2, 2025 through Sunday, March 29, 2026 ・Eligible area Residents of Michihigashi: Kushiro, Nemuro, Okhotsk, and the Tokachi region ・Participating properties Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, Kawayu Kanko Hotel, KKR Kawayu (members of the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association) *Oyado Kinkiyu will be closed from November for the time being and is not eligible. ・Discount amount Adults ¥2,000, children ¥1,000 (no limit on consecutive nights) ・How to book Via each property’s official website, by phone, etc. This offer ends when the budget runs out, so neighbors, please take advantage of it. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/syukuhakuwariwinter25/...

[Kawayu Visitor Center Lecture Announcement 📣] Tomorrow, Saturday, 10/25, Professor Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, who has conducted long-term research in this field, will give a lecture titled "Why is Lake Kussharo so shallow? The secrets of Mount Atosanupuri revealed by the latest research." The venue is Kawayu Visitor Center and admission is free. We look forward to your visit ⛰️✨ Lecture "Why is Lake Kussharo so shallow? The secrets of Mount Atosanupuri revealed by the latest research." We will welcome Mitsuhiro Nakagawa, Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Date: Saturday, December 6, 13:30–15:30 Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, second floor Admission free (no registration required; capacity 50) We hope this talk offers a chance to encounter the grand natural story behind the familiar landscape of Lake Kussharo, so you can learn more about the lake and the park and feel proud of them. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/kawayuvcfureai2/...

Grab a Tokachi Sake Travel Book and tour Tokachi’s wineries and breweries to collect original labels!! What is the Tokachi Sake Travel Book? It’s a keepsake booklet you use while touring Tokachi to collect and enjoy each winery’s and brewery’s original labels. There are four ways to enjoy the Sake Travel Book😍 1️⃣ Tour and enjoy The booklet introduces Tokachi’s wineries and breweries, places to drink, shops to buy from, and accommodations where you can drink and stay. Savor the drinks as you make this your Tokachi tour book. 2️⃣ Collect and enjoy When you purchase one or more bottles (any brand) at participating wineries or breweries, present the Sake Travel Book at the register to receive that winery’s or brewery’s original label as a gift🎁🎁 There are six designs inspired by each winery’s or brewery’s features😊 The booklet includes pages where you can stick each label✨ Make it your label-collecting book. 📌Participating wineries and breweries 📍Tokachi Wine (Ikeda Wine Castle) 📍Tokachi Makiba no Ie Winery 📍Tokachigaoka Winery 📍Memuro Winery 📍Aizawa Winery 📍Hekiun Kura 3️⃣ Record and enjoy Write down your trip notes, the drinks you tried, and the snacks or dishes you paired them with to create your own memory book. 4️⃣ Read and enjoy Read the tourism information about Tokachi’s drinks to learn more about the region. The Tokachi Sake Travel Book is distributed free of charge, so please pick one up and take a look🤗 The booklet and label distribution run from November 1 to February 20. https://tokachibare.jp/sake-museum/news/saketabi-techo/...

Divine glow ✨ On the way back from photographing Shirataki Falls, the pampas grass lit by sunlight looked divine, so I took a picture 📷 You can see gleaming pampas grass around town right now 👀 The temperature swings between morning and evening have deepened the autumn colors 🍁 Peak foliage may still be a little way off, but you can already feel the autumn scenery and breeze beyond the leaves 🌰

【Inatori Hosono Highlands Autumn Susuki Grass Viewing Party】Held in! A spectacular panoramic spot where ✨ a vast Susuki grass field of 125 hectares changes from silver to golden carpet from October 31 to December 1 (Monday). You can overlook the Amagi Mountains and the Izu Islands, and there is no doubt that you can take photogenic photos! Check the Events page for details. https://hosonokougen.com...

[Shimanto City, Kochi Prefecture] Savoring the River! Ayu, Unagi, River Shrimp, Gori! Traditional Fishing Methods That Live Alongside the Shimanto River Introducing the traditional river fishing methods passed down by river fishers on the Shimanto River. This highlights the important local culture of living close to the river and gratefully receiving its bounty. 〇Traditional Fishing Methods of the Shimanto River The Shimanto River’s traditional fishing methods have been carefully preserved by local river fishers. While their form has gradually changed with environmental shifts, they still remain part of daily life. The river’s abundant gifts—ayu (sweetfish), unagi (eel), tenaga-ebi (long-arm shrimp), and aosa nori (green seaweed)—brighten family meals with the seasons. Skilled chefs in Shimanto City also prepare them into delicious dishes for visitors, and various processed forms are enjoyed as souvenirs. 〇See the River, Taste the River A slow walk along the Shimanto River reveals traps for catching eels and long-arm shrimp seen from chinkabashi bridges, partly submerged in the water. Depending on the season, you may encounter people fishing for ayu or working from traditional river boats. Along the banks you might spot stone-lined devices for catching gori, and at the river mouth workers harvesting green seaweed. If you look closely at the Shimanto River, you’ll discover human lives intertwined with the river. In the evening, taste the very ingredients caught with the traps you saw, slowly savored at a local restaurant. It’s a distinctive, insider way to enjoy the Shimanto River. 〇Introduction to Traditional Fishing Methods ・Ayu Fire-Swinging Fishing Nets are set across the river in advance, and at night a boat swings torches from the deck. Startled by the dancing bands of flame, ayu panic and are driven into the nets. Today this practice often uses LED lights, but the principle remains the same as the traditional method. Ayu are also caught by cast nets, angling, and other methods. ・Long-Arm Shrimp Fishing From a chinkabashi bridge looking toward the water’s edge, you can see PVC pipes spaced at regular intervals. These are korobashi, traps for catching long-arm shrimp. Once made of wood, they have changed to more convenient materials over time. Long-arm shrimp are commonly enjoyed deep-fried whole, producing vibrant colors, and are treasured as a local flavor—some grow large enough to resemble cucumbers. ・Unagi (Eel) Fishing You may see pieces of styrofoam or PET bottles floating in the river without drifting away; they can mark korobashi used to catch eels. Sensitive to smell, eels avoid resin traps, so wooden korobashi are still widely used. ・Gori Fishing If stones are lined along the riverbank to dam the water, they may form the setup for gori’s noborio-toshi-ue fishing. In the Shimanto River, juvenile Numachichibu fish are called gori and are enjoyed as a spring to early-summer delicacy. They are typically eaten deep-fried or simmered in soy-based preserves. 〇Important Notices Fishing on the Shimanto River is subject to fishing rights. Purchasing an angling permit is required when you fish. Also, closed seasons are established to protect resources. Please be aware of these regulations.

【Notice】 Winter business hours will change ❕ from November Use the Roadside Station Iwanai thank you🙏 Our Facility is open from November 1 to April 20 of the following year Business hours are from 9:00 to 17:00. Closed day every Monday. * If Monday is a Holidays, the following Tuesday is Closed Day. ◎ Stamp rally Stamps Please note that the above business hours and closed days will be handled in the same way as Same as above. We look 😊 forward to seeing you during the winter months 🐟 Roadside Station Iwanai

Feeling the power 🌊 of Nature on Amami Oshima Swimming with sea turtles, visiting shrines, The best time to be surrounded by the wind of the island and the aroma of the trees. I definitely want to outbound again.

Hello from Crystal Sound 😃✨ The weather has been refreshingly pleasant, making this the perfect season for outings 🎶 The autumn colors are gradually advancing in Shosenkyo Gorge, and the mountains are turning brilliant hues of red and gold, creating truly beautiful scenery ✨ Bring your camera and you’ll capture many lovely photos 📸 The museum has also received many new items in stock ✨ The photo shows a dazzlingly gleaming pyrite specimen 💎 Please stop by when you go out 😊 All of our staff warmly look forward to your visit 🌈

This is a photo taken in Itsukushima. I stopped by last summer Vacation when I went from Tokyo to Kumamoto with the Blue Spring 18 ticket. I learned that the ferry to Itsukushima was free with the Blue Spring 18 ticket, and when I went there, it happened to coincide with the sunset time and I was able to take a good photo.

Autumn of the Sangi Railway Along the Sangi Railway line in Inabe City, red spider lililies bloom in autumn.

One piece that feels 、、、 sacred atmosphere when visiting Tsubaki Taisha!

🍂Autumn Flavors Model Course🍂 🔸— Moat Area, North —🔸 The season for hearty appetites has finally arrived! ❊😊❊ Sakai’s Moat Area is full of shops offering not only tourist attractions but also sweets made with freshly roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, plus autumn gourmet dishes featuring matsutake and other mushrooms. 🌰🤎 Here is a short model course (Moat Area, North) to enjoy autumn flavors and sightseeing⋆⸜ ⚘ ⸝⋆ 📍"Ironworking History and Autumn Flavors Course" 1. Sakai Denshokan ( @sakaidensan ) ↓ 2. SAKAINOMA PLAZA Yanagi ( @sakainoma ) ↓ 3. Savor the Season’s Autumn Flavors🌰✨ ・Tsuboichi Tea Main Shop ( @saryo.tsuboichi — chestnut parfait ) ・Rosier Yanagi ( @rosier_fruits — autumn selected mixed parfait ) ・Zelkova Shokudo ( @zelkova_shokudo — healthy lunch ) ・Asahido Confectionery ( best in Senshu ) ・Sorori ( @__sorori__ — Naruto Kintoki sweet potato ) ↓ 4. Teppou Blacksmith Residence ( @sakaimachiyamuseums ) 🔍Search for "Savor the Season’s Autumn Flavors Special" for details! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96... https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/96...

The Tsuya River in the Sunset Aerial photograph of red spider lililies blooming on the embankment of the Tsuya River in Kaizu City, Gifu Prefecture. October 2025

Kiyomi Temple in Shizuoka Prefecture. The Tokaido Line passes right in front of the Temple. It's ✨ a very idyllic place

I will never forget the shock of seeing the scenery of Kamikochi live even now It's a memory that will last a lifetime.

On November 1 (Sat) and 2 (Sun), "The 15th Atami Fish Festival" will be held in. At the Shinsui Park Event Plaza, we will sell food and beverage menu, including "Hamayaki" where you can Fun delicious seafood of Atami on the spot, and special free operation of the sightseeing boat Sanremo. Please come and taste the fish of Atami! [The 15th Atami Fish Festival] Date: November 1 (Sat) & 2 (Sun), 2025 10:00~16:00 (11/2 until 15:00) Venue: Shinsui Park Event Plaza (Shinsui Park Pier 3 for sightseeing boats) https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/198... * "Hamayaki" cannot be reserved in advance, and can only be accepted on-site on the day. * For the "Sightseeing Boat Special Free Operation" (only 8 and 9 flights are free) on both days, embarkation tickets will be distributed at the platform from 14:30 on the day. * Please check the details of each Events on the details page below. ● On Sunday, November 2, "Defense Disaster Prevention Festa" and "Fire Fighting Plaza" will be Held in at Nagisa Park opposite the Shinsui Park Third Construction Zone, and "Marine Festa Atami 2025" will be at Atami Port 7.5 Earthquake Quay.

This photo was taken at Isahaya Shrine in Nagasaki Prefecture. The stylish transparent amulet was impressive, so I took a picture of the shrine in the background. The heat of midsummer was over, but the wind Car of the many was swirling with the wind, and there was a cool atmosphere in the air.

Memories of Summer Enbara River 2025.08.16 The cold water of the underground water warms up with the warmth of summer, and river fog is generated, and the sun shines on it, creating a beam of light.

Love ✨✨✨ the Drive We stopped ✌️✌️✌️ at the Aqua Line Sea Hotaru You can't tell from the photo, but it was 😱😱😱 a strong wind Next time, I want to 😆😆😆 have a gentle aqua line drive

[Torii Pass - toriitoge-] Overview A roughly 6 km mountain trail linking Narai inn on the Kiso Kaido with Yabuhara inn. In the Edo period it was famous as one of the Nakasendo’s toughest stretches, a place that made straw-sandalled travelers limp with pain. Today it is a popular, atmospheric trekking route. Hikers from Japan and abroad walk this pass in large numbers. From the summit you can look west to Mitakesan and east to Kiso Komagatake. Along the old road you will find numerous haiku and waka monuments and stone Buddhas, including those honoring Matsuo Bashō. The pass saw battles between the Kiso clan and the Takeda clan in the Sengoku era, and in the late Edo period Princess Kazunomiya passed through here on her marriage procession. Free loan of hinoki conical hats and bear bells! This service lets walkers experience the look of Edo-period travelers, especially those walking between Yabuhara and Narai on the Nakasendo. The traditional original hinoki (cypress) hats, hand-painted with kanji, make perfect travel companions and evoke the spirit of Edo travelers. They’re great for the experience and for photo opportunities. What is a hinoki hat? A hinoki hat is one of Kiso region’s traditional crafts. It remains popular with locals and visitors as a practical fashion item and as a sunshade that traces its roots to the Edo period. How to try them You can try them at the tourist information centers listed below. We refund the full deposit when you return the items. ⚠ The deposit will not be refunded if the item is lost or damaged. (Items may be wet without issue.) Loan locations: ① Narai-juku Tourist Information Center ② Yabuhara-juku Nigiwai Hiroba Enkan ③ Kiso Village Tourist Information Center Addresses: ① 497-3 Narai, Shiojiri City ② 1019-1 Yabuhara, Kiso village ③ Lot 196, Yabuhara, Kiso village TEL: ① 0264-34-3160 ② 0264-36-3020 ③ 0264-36-2543 Opening hours: ① 9:00–17:00 ② 8:30–17:00 ③ 9:00–17:00 Closed: ① During the New Year holidays ② Every Tuesday ③ Every Monday Refundable deposit: 2,000 yen per item Payment method: Cash only

【Two major local gourmets representing Shiojiri: Bandit yaki and Shinshu Soba noodles】 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 【Bandit Grill -Sanzokuyaki-】 Actually, it originated in Shiojiri!　Bandit grilling is a hot topic on social media with its exciting appearance The bandit grill, which is a exciting fried whole chicken thigh, is actually Roux by the bandits at a restaurant in Shiojiri City. The first owner and his wife worked hard to perfect the cooking method. In a scene from the movie "Seven Samurai" at the time, the appearance of bandits hunting a chicken, the location of a mountain pass nearby, and what! It is said that both husband and wife had the appearance of bandits, so they named the restaurant "Bandits" and named the dish "Bandit Yaki". -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 【Soba noodles】 If you like Soba noodles, I want to know! The birthplace of "Soba Kiri", Shiojiri, Motoyama inn In the past, "Soba noodles" were in the form of dango, which is similar to what we now call "Soba noodles". The elongated noodles that we think of when we hear the word "Soba" are called "Soba noodles" and seem to have been distinguished from the dango-shaped ones. The birthplace of "Soba Kiri" is the current Motoyama inn in Shiojiri City. It is said that the Soba kiri, which was born in Honyama inn, which was also a place where many travelers visit as a Post Town of Nakasendo, spread throughout the country through Highway. Shiojiri City was originally a place suitable for the Cultivation of high-quality Soba with a large daily and annual range of temperatures, and it seems that Soba has been Cultivation for a long time, but the oldest literature on Soba cutting in Motoyama inn can be found in the description of Unsuzu in the haibun selection "Genre Bunsen" compiled by Morikawa Kyoroku in the 2nd year of Hoei (1705). It is written that "Soba Kiri and Tsukipa, originally from Shinano Province and Motoyama Inn, will be enjoyed throughout the country."

This is a photo taken of the Ono turtle on Sado Island in June. It was the time of year when the flowers called daylilies were in full bloom, and it seemed to be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. I Outbound it for the first time, but just taking a walk makes me feel happy, I highly recommend it! The weather was great on this day and it was and to drive the Car to go. I would like to outbound in another season.

This photo was taken at Takayama Inari Shrine in Aomori Prefecture. There is a thousand Torii (shrine gates) here, and you can see it from the high ground. It shows various expressions in Four Seasons, but this photo is not from a high ground, but from a Torii (shrine gate). The wonderful curves were impressive, and Impression of the superb view that unfolded ahead was aroused.

Gohbara-juku (Gohbara-juku) Location: Gohbara, Hirooka, Shiojiri City Gohbara-juku was the first post town on the Zenkoji Kaido after it branched from the Nakasendo at Seba-juku. It was established in Keicho 19 (1614) when Hidemasa Ogasawara, lord of Matsumoto Castle, developed the Zenkoji Kaido (the Hokuriku side route) to connect Nakasendo’s Seba-juku with the Hokkokukaido. Rather than an existing settlement becoming the post town, Gohbara’s original village lay on the east bank of the Narai River in the Ueno land division. When the post station was laid out, the settlement was moved around Genna 5 (circa 1619) to its present site together with the Kataishi hamlet, which had been on the west bank, to create the new post town. Highlights of Gohbara-juku Houses were laid out with wide frontages of five to six ken, featuring main gabled roofs with the short side facing the street and sparrow deterrents on the ridges. Each house has a forecourt with planted trees, creating an attractive streetscape, and shop names are displayed at every residence. Sōetsu Yanagi, called the father of the mingei (folk craft) movement, praised Gohbara-juku in his essays, saying the entire post town was “a single splendid work of art.” On the north side of the post town stands Gofuku-ji, which served as a resting place for Emperor Meiji during his imperial tour in Meiji 13 (1880). Read more about the Nakasendo and the five post towns in the city here↓

Motoyama-juku (Motoyama-juku) Location: Shiojiri City, Soga Honzan Motoyama prospered as the gateway to Kiso Road and the exit from the Matsumoto Plain. Two-story houses with latticework fronts line the streets, preserving a strong sense of the past. The town is also introduced as the birthplace of sobakiri (cut buckwheat noodles). In Keicho 19 (1614), Shiojiri, Seba, and Motoyama were designated as new post towns on the Nakasendo. Unlike Shiojiri and Seba, which were formed by relocating people from neighboring villages, Motoyama developed from a medieval settlement. It was the 32nd station counting from Edo, situated 30 cho from Seba Post Town and 2 ri from Niegawa Inn (Niegawa-juku). The post town divided into Kamimachi to the south and Shimomachi to the north, with the honjin, wakimotonjin, and dispatch office at its center. South of the town stood Hachiman Shrine, Choukyuuji, and Joukouji; to the north was Suwa Shrine, and across the Narai River lay Ikeo Shrine, though some temples were later abandoned. Because Motoyama bordered the Owari Domain in Kiso, a checkpoint was located south of the town to inspect women and timber. In Tenpo 14 (1843) the town had 117 households and 34 inns. Compared with Seba Post Town’s three-ken frontage, many houses in Motoyama had four- to five-ken facades. The town suffered several great fires, but surviving buildings date from the late Edo to Meiji periods. Facing the street, they feature hirairi degekata construction and second-floor rooms with senbon-koshi lattices, retaining much of the post town atmosphere. Notably, three residences built around the Meiji era—the Akiyama Family (Wakamatsuya), the Tanaka Family (Ikeda family), and the Kobayashi Family (Kawaguchi Family)—are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan. The honjin, Kobayashi residence, hosted Princess Kazunomiya, daughter of Emperor Ninkō, when she married Tokugawa Iemochi in Bunkyū 1 (1861), and it later accommodated the Meiji Emperor during his tour in Meiji 13. Each house still carries its traditional shop name, offering a glimpse into the past. The town’s specialty is soba. A note by Unrin in Hōei 3 (1706) in the miscellany Fūzoku Bunsen records Motoyama as the birthplace of sobakiri. Historic sites include the Motoyama Castle Ruins on a small hill behind the town, said to have been guarded by the Motoyama Minbu branch of the Kiso clan; Ike no Gongen (Ikeo Shrine), known for votive plaques for rain rituals, sericulture, and eye disease cures, whose shrine grove is a Shiojiri City natural monument; and the Shitamachi Stone Figure Group, featuring Dosojin, Koshin stone monuments, and inscribed tablets. For articles on the Nakasendo and the city’s five post towns, click here↓