This is the Iwata City Tourism Association. Nice to meet you all!! Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture sits in western Shizuoka roughly midway between Tokyo and Osaka. Known as a “sports town,” it hosts professional teams such as J.League soccer club Jubilo Iwata, Nadeshiko League women’s soccer team Shizuoka SSU Bonita, and Japan Rugby League One’s Shizuoka Blue Revs. The city actively promotes community-building through sports and health initiatives centered on athletics. ◆What is Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture?◆ The population is about 160,000. The city has interchanges on both the Tomei Expressway and the Shin-Tomei Expressway, making it about a three-hour drive from Tokyo and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nagoya. The shinkansen gateways are Hamamatsu Station or Kakegawa Station; transfer to the Tokaido Line and reach Iwata’s three city stations (Iwata Station, Toyodachou Station, Mikurigaoka Station) in 10–15 minutes. Since ancient times, Iwata has flourished as the center of Toei Province, home to the Tōtōmi Kokubun-ji and Toei Kokubu. With more than 900 kofun (ancient burial mounds) dating to the Kofun period, the city carries a long, living history. In the Edo period it prospered as Mitsuke inn (Mitsuke-juku), a post town on the Tokaido’s Fifty-Three Stations. In recent years, Iwata has developed as an industrial city with traditional textiles plus metalworking, automotive, and musical instrument industries. Its agricultural output ranks among the top in the prefecture, famous for greenhouse melons, tea, white leek, ebi-imo (taro), Chinese vegetables, and seafood such as shirasu. The city balances urban and rural development. ◆Tourist attractions in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ [Mitsuke inn] Located near the midpoint of the Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido (the 28th post town), this post town still preserves small side alleys off the highway, with many shrines and temples that evoke the former atmosphere and lodging-town charm. The area also features the Former Mitsuke School, Japan’s oldest surviving wooden pseudo-Western style school building, and Iwata Bunko (both national historic sites); Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine, the stage of the Mitsuke Tenjin Hadaka Festival and the site of the Shippeitaro spirit legend; and the Former Akamatsu Residence Memorial Hall, designated as prefectural and municipal cultural properties. In 2022, the Former Mitsuke School and Iwata Bunko were recognized as Shizuoka Heritage sites, celebrated as ‘‘the crystallization of Shizuoka people’s passion for modern education,’’ alongside Mitsuke inn and Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine. [Ryuyo Marine Park] A seaside park featuring a marine center with sports facilities and a multi-purpose lawn. The expansive grounds include tennis courts, baseball fields, a playground, a roller slide, and an auto camp ground, making it family-friendly. The adjacent Shiosai Ryuyo complex at the auto camp ground sells local products and offers a restaurant, BBQ facilities, and bathing amenities. The marine center also offers hands-on experiences such as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). [Nagisa no Koryukan and Fukuda Fishing Port area] Nagisa no Koryukan sits within Fukuda Fishing Port, looking out over the vast Enshū Sea. It has a food court where you can enjoy fresh shirasu bowls, such as raw shirasu don and kama-age shirasu don, while gazing at the ocean. The area also features the “Minna no Sunaba” sand ground for beach soccer and beach volleyball and an event plaza for outdoor gatherings. A nearby fishing spot offers easy shore fishing, and adjacent Toyohama Coast is a surfing location that has hosted national competitions thanks to its excellent waves. Fukuda Fishing Port is known for shirasu fishing and also supports recreational fishing charters, serving as a base for offshore fishing in the Enshū Sea. Within one to two minutes from the port, several shirasu processing plants line up, attracting customers from far away. [Shishigahana Park] According to legend, Kobo Daishi founded this park, which has well-maintained walking trails and athletic play areas. In spring, cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom; in early summer you can enjoy fresh greenery for forest bathing and birdwatching; in autumn the foliage is beautiful. It’s ideal for hiking and walking. From the observation deck you can see the Enshū Sea in the distance, and the park is a popular spot to watch the first sunrise on New Year’s Day. [Yamaha Stadium] [Yamaha Motor Communication Plaza] Yamaha Stadium is the home ground for Jubilo Iwata (soccer) and Shizuoka Blue Revs (rugby). It is about a 15-minute walk from JR Mikuriya Station north exit, and on match days attracts many fans from Japan and abroad. Next to the stadium, within the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. headquarters, the Communication Plaza corporate museum showcases Yamaha Motor products and history and serves as an engaging industrial tourism spot. [Ruins of Tōtōmi Kokubunji Temple] Excavations began in 1951, and the site was designated a Special National Historic Site the following year. The kokubunji layout once centered on a main hall (kondo) and included a seven-story pagoda, lecture hall, middle gate, and cloister. Major structures, including the seven-story pagoda site, were discovered, and the site received national special historic designation in Showa 27 (1952). In fiscal 2022 work restored the wooden foundation platforms for the lecture hall and monk’s quarters on the north side of the ruins, and in fiscal 2023 the wooden foundation platform of the main hall was restored. Plans call for reconstructing cornerstone stones that supported building pillars and the stone steps placed on the front of the platform. This valuable heritage testifies to Iwata’s role as a regional center. ◆Local specialties of Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ Iwata’s specialties let you taste the bounty of the land: ebi-imo, iwata tea, aroma melons, white leek, and dried persimmon rounds (koro-gaki). Locally grown ingredients are known for their freshness and flavor. Seafood such as shirasu, wild tora-fugu, and grilled white-cut eel are also popular; shirasu in particular are prized for their firm texture from swimming in the area’s swift coastal currents. These specialties are popular as souvenirs and as return gifts for hometown tax donations. ◆Festivals and events in Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ [Fu Hachiman-gu Shrine Festival] Held each year in the Nakaizumi area on the first Saturday and Sunday of October. Each neighborhood parades elaborately decorated floats. The festival is full of atmosphere, with drums, flutes, and spirited calls filling the air. [Mitsuke Tenjin Hadaka Festival] The grand festival of Mitsuke Tenjin Yanahiru Shrine is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It takes place on the Saturday and Sunday just before the 10th day of the eighth month of the old lunar calendar. The festival’s highlight is the nighttime procession of naked participants and mikoshi (portable shrines), which runs from around 9:00 p.m. into the early hours of the next morning, reaching a peak around 1:00 a.m. Naked men, grouped into four units called teidan, parade through the old Tokaido route within the Mitsuke area and proceed to the shrine’s worship hall. Inside the worship hall, the excitement builds each time a new group joins, and intense chants and vigorous dances (oni-odori) continue. In the deep of night, all lights in the area are extinguished, plunging the scene into pitch-black darkness as the mikoshi run in a breathtaking climax. ◆Sharing information about Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture◆ In Iwata you can feel history and culture nurtured over long time. In 2022, Iwata’s Teratani water was registered as a World Irrigation Structure Heritage, adding another chapter to the city’s proud historical story. In 2023 Iwata reclaimed the top spot nationwide in a ranking of municipalities most associated with the phrase “sports town,” helping to solidify its brand as a city of sport. Yet even now this post cannot fully capture all the charms and strengths alive in Iwata’s history, culture, sea and mountain nature, industries, and people’s lifestyles. We will continue sharing recommended information via Cool Japan videos, so please stay tuned!

If you ride a bicycle without thinking about anything We arrived at the green space in the north In this season, the cherry blossoms are still noticeable

Hiroshima Sera Town Recommended spots in Hiroshima #Flower Station Sera 👈 ◾️ This is an announcement of the event of Flower Station Sera! Tomorrow, the 28th and May 12th, the "Wannyan Festival in Hana no Eki Sera" will be held. Last year, many dogs and cats gathered and Gari had a great time! 🐶😸 There is also a Dog Run and custom-made stalls in the park, so I think you can enjoy it! 😊 The flower painting of "Shohei Otani" seen from the top of the Hilltop, which is a hot topic on TV, is also recommended, so please take a commemorative photo.

Long time no see. I would like to introduce ^^/ a park called Hangankan Forest Park in Niikappu, which is recommended for the coming season The Judge's Forest Park is a large rock wall with a vast site area of about 66 hectares. ●Campsite ●Field Athletic ● A promenade where you can stroll through the primeval forest of broad-leaved trees ● Plantain trillium growing in large clusters around May --Judge's Cape where you can overlook the endless Pacific Ocean and urban areas and so on! The name "Judge's Palace" was given based on the following legend: "There is a sad legend that about 800 years ago, Judge Minamoto Kuro Yoshitsune fled the persecution of his brother Yoritomo and fled to the land of Ezo, built a mansion in this critical place, and rested himself, and there is a sad legend that Pirikamenoko, who fell in love with Yoshitsune, left the world against the opposition of his parents and threw himself from here." Judge's Pavilion = It means the place where Judge Yoshitsune Minamoto Kuro built the building. It is also said that "in the 9th year of Kanbun, the hero of Shibechari, Shakshine, left a sad story of being murdered, and at the end of the Edo period, the shogunate's meeting place was located." It's romantic to think that a historical figure might have stood in the same place. It takes about 40 minutes to go around the promenade, but you can take a walk or do a trail run while admiring the precious flowers and wild birds that live in the untouched nature. At the end of the promenade, Cape Judge, where you can overlook the endless Pacific Ocean and the urban area of Niikappu, is a must-visit spot. The Sunset over the Pacific Ocean seen from Cape Judge is one of the best views in Hidaka! The powerful orange color of the Sunset is powerful and sinks into the sea! ^^ I think you can feel the splendor of nature that cannot be created by man-made objects, such as the speed of the passage and the gradation of orange and the darkness of the night. By the way, at Niikappu Hot spring Hotel Hills in the town, you can enjoy the spectacular view while taking an open-air bath! ^^! It is also recommended to play or take a walk in the Judge's Palace Forest Park, and then go into the Hot spring to sweat it out and watch the Sunset go down *^^* 【Judge's Pavilion Forest Park】 Address: Niikappu Takae along National Route 235. About 3 minutes by car from the Roadside Station. ） Opening hours: The park is open 24 hours a day, all year round campgrounds are open from late April ~ end of October 《Inquiry》 Town planning group, Planning Division Phone: 0146-47-2498 0146-47-2193 for campsites E-mail:teijyu@niikappu.jp

On Monday, April 29, "Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park" opened ♪ Currently, the cherry blossoms are in best time to visit, and the grass has begun to turn color. At "Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park", you can enjoy many flowers such as cherry blossoms, turf zakura, tulips, azaleas, peonies, sunflowers, and cosmos from Spring ~ autumn. Please come and visit us ♫

The rain and wind of the past 2.3 days have scattered a lot, but Spring has finally arrived 🌸 in Sapporo At Odori Park, which is a short walk from the hotel, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. In particular, the cherry blossoms at the foot of the symbolic TV tower were a masterpiece, and many tourists were 📸 taking pictures In addition, Odori Park's Specialties "Tokibi Wagon" was also open for business 🌽 I will post photos so that everyone can feel the Spring in Sapporo even a little!

Speaking of Spring in Ozora Town, yes, it's ♪♪ "Moss phlox" This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Higashi Mokoto Moss Phlox Festival, which will be held again this year. Why don't you enjoy Spring in Ozora Town?! The festival will be held from May 3 Friday to May 31 Friday You can read more about it ♬♬ in Ozora Town Home page

Yamaguchi Prefecture Shimonoseki City Fire Mountain Turkish Tulip Garden One piece of cherry blossoms and tulips in full bloom combined with two gondolas. Simply "Boarding many people in the last year." Regret.

This is "Wakabayashi Park" in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture. Every year around Golden Week in May, it is a popular spot where you can enjoy the beautiful purple "wisteria shelf".

How do you do! Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City kamagayashi. Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City is a convenient city that can be reached in about 30 minutes by train from central Tokyo, and has direct access to Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. With a population of about 110,000, Kamagaya City is easily accessible from the city center, and you can enjoy sightseeing spots full of history and culture with abundant nature. We will send out recommended information so that you can visit Kamagaya City for sightseeing, so thank you! ★★ Recommended places to visit in Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City ◇Kamagaya Daibutsu Great Buddha The historic 1.8-meter-high Great Buddha, built in 1776, was designated as the first designated cultural property of Kamagaya City in 1972 and was selected as one of the "500 Charms of Boso". It has become a symbol of Kamagaya City. ◇Grave of a Tomb of a Government Soldier It is a valuable historical site that conveys the turbulent history of the end of the Edo period. It is designated as a city cultural property and is located in the Great Buddha Cemetery where the Kamagaya Daibutsu Great Buddha, which is also a city-designated cultural property, sits. ◇Hyakkoshin Within the Precincts of Hachiman Shrine, a total of 100 Koshin pagodas have been built, including 10 blue-faced Kongo statues and 90 character pagodas. ◇Kaigara-yama Park In the pond in the center of the park, waterfowl swim gracefully. It is a popular picnic spot for families, where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons, such as cherry blossoms in full bloom, fresh greenery, colorful autumn leaves, and snowy scenery. ◇Fighters Kamagaya Stadium Nicknamed "Kamasta", it is the farm home of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters. MLB players Shohei Ohtani and Yu Yu Darvish also worked up a sweat at this stadium. It is a must see spot for sports fans. ★★ Beloved events and festivals in Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City ◇Kamagaya City Citizens' Festival For a long time, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, it is a festival loved by the people of Kamagaya City. Equestrian warrior processions, parades, and Free Bazaar are held, and it is an event full of smiles. ◇ Kamagaya fireworks "Kamagaya Fireworks" is a summer tradition in Kamagaya City that began in 2016. 3,000 fireworks color the summer night sky of Kamagaya. ◇New Kamaya Illumination The beautiful event that heralds the visit of winter, when the area around Shinkamagaya Station is decorated with 53,000 illuminations, warmly illuminates the winter nights. ★★ Specialty Products Gourmet in Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City Kamagaya City has a thriving pear cultivation, and the sweet and juicy pears are loved by locals and tourists alike as a taste from summer to autumn. There are about 150 pear farms in the city, and many of them sell directly to them, so please taste the freshly freshly caught pears. It is also popular as a thank-you gift for Furusato Nozei tax payment. ★★ We look forward to seeing you in Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City! Chiba Prefecture Kamagaya City allows you to feel the beauty of nature and the depth of history. We will send out travel recommendation Information that will be one page of everyone's memories on COOL JAPAN VIDEOS, so thank you!

Japanese Spring It was taken while walking in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture Youth Forest Sunny Sunday Everyone seems to like the sun. My daughter also plays outside, The animals were also basking in the sun.

It’s a heartwarming festival that welcomes spring with the blooming of the cherry blossoms. Date and time: Sunday, May 5, 2024 (canceled in case of rain) Location: Midorigaoka Park, around Kintaro Pond (Shimizu-cho 3, Tomakomai) ※Further details will be posted later.

Information on cherry blossoms in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture! The cherry blossoms in Garyu Park are good, but why not enjoy the cherry blossoms in the suburbs as well? 1st & 2nd Koshoji Temple 3rd photo Daikoin #Suzaka #Nagano Prefecture #Matsumoto #Japan #Cherry blossoms #Garyu Park

title:満開の桜の木の下で見つけた貴方。 location:Osaka camera:Canon eos x10i

Hiroshima Sera Town Recommended spots in Hiroshima #Flower Station Sera 👈 A photo 📸 of the sunrise seen from the hill of the rape field from the opening of the park early in the morning It is recommended because it is a flower spot with a superb view! On this day, the sky was burned and the cherry blossoms in full bloom were also a good view 😊 ◾️ Spring Flower Festival 4/6〜5/26 The park is currently open early in the morning from 5:00, so don't miss it! Tripods and stepladders are prohibited only on the hill.

This is a view of "Takino Suzuran Hills Park" in Minami-ku, Sapporo City, Hokkaido in May. In winter, it is used as a ski resort, but when the snow melts in spring, the tulips planted all over the slopes sprout and bloom all at once. Please enjoy the large tulip garden unique to Hokkaido.

Tsurumai Park in the Rain It is a park in Nagoya City Representative that has been selected as a "100 best cherry blossom viewing spots place". In addition to watching the cherry blossoms at night by lighting up the cherry blossom forest, there is also a kitchen car and a beer garden, which is a place to look forward to this season, but this year I enjoyed the moist cherry blossoms in the rain. Tsurumai Park, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi

It is located in Kitasaki Town, Obu City, Aichi Prefecture One piece ✨ at Obu Midori Park "Mimoza Forest" This is a famous Mimoza spot in Aichi Prefecture It was 💦 crowded with many customers on this day as well I encountered ♡ a yellow fairy in such a forest In the eyes of a pure and innocent daughter staring at me Mom's shutter didn't stop lol Anyway What is the sparkle in a child's eyes Why is it so sparkly? I guess you can see it ✨ The whites of the eyes are bluish, There is a sense of transparency. It's like 💎 a marble I now have another favorite piece

Two children Under mighty cherry blossom tree. The elder sister was consoling her younger sibling who seemed to be feeling down. Although it was unclear what had caused the younger sister's sadness, it was heartwarming to witness the pure and simple expression of love and care between the two siblings. The scene made the observer reflect on how children are able to find happiness in even the smallest moments, while adults often struggle to do so. Taken in kitaasaba Sakura Zutsumi Saitama

On Saturday, March 16, we released firefly larvae into Hatsukawa within Atami Plum Garden. As an annual tradition, children from Umeenomachi helped us again! Japan is said to be home to around 50 species of fireflies. The species released in Atami is Japan’s representative firefly, the genji-botaru. We hatch the larvae, feed them kawanina (freshwater snails) about once a month while raising them, and release the final-instar larvae when they reach 2–3 centimeters. These larvae leave the river on humid nights from mid to late April, burrow into the soil, and form oval “soil cocoons.” Inside those soil cocoons they pupate and emerge as adults from late May to early June. This year we will hold “Evenings for Firefly Viewing” from Saturday, June 1 through Sunday, June 9. Please come and see the pale glow of the fireflies that can be seen only during this season.

Kawazu cherry blossoms were blooming, It's already turning into a leaf cherry blossom. On the day I took the photo, the sky was cloudless and blue. I even took a picture of the sun along with the cherry blossoms. Location: Park

Innoshima, Onomichi, Hiroshima　 Recommended spots in Hiroshima #Hidden Ship Park 👈 Today, one 🚢 piece 📸 with Kawazu cherry blossoms and daffodils from the hidden park Shoot 📸 in bright light The best time to see it has passed, but next year it is 🌸🍺 a place where you want to bring your lunch 🍱 and see the cherry blossoms

During springtime, it's a joy to watch birds get excited amidst cherry blossom- happy to capture pink sakura framed bird moment. Its a spring fest for birds. This photo was taken in Oizumi central park in Nerima.

During springtime, it's a joy to watch birds get excited amidst cherry blossom- happy to capture pink sakura framed bird moments. It was taken in Oizumi Central Park in Tokyo's Nerima ward.

Waiting for spring "The Land of the Inner Path" In spring, you can enjoy the reflection of the cherry blossoms. Ogaki City, Gifu Funamachi Park

At Ani River Park in Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture. There are many places in Tohoku that are famous for their beautiful cherry blossoms, but there are also magnificent rows of cherry blossom trees here. In a quiet country town surrounded by mountains, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms while listening to the sound of the river flowing. Famous spots are good, but the cherry blossoms seen in a quiet place where there are not many people are also exceptional.

The city today The Ume Plum Ume Plum Shrine is in full bloom.

The majestic Mt. Red Mount and a 🗻 330-year-old Ipponzakura tree Nirasaki City, Yamanashi

春の朝に绮丽な藤士山と青空と新緑 Yamanashi Prefecture, Fuji Kawaguchiko Town, Oishi Park