Searching for Autumn in Gokase While taking photos for foliage updates, I went looking for autumn in Gokase🍁 Today I visited Gion Shrine in Kuraoka and three locations at Josenji Temple⛩️✨ ...but the leaves hadn’t changed color at all😂 Perhaps the lingering summer heat damaged the leaves and the small temperature differences are to blame🤔 Some maple-type trees showed partial color, but on closer inspection most leaves were blackened and withered in places😣 The maples at Josenji looked relatively pretty, but only in a few high-up sections, so overall it still feels like it’s just getting started💡 Josenji’s bamboo fence was repaired and looks fresh and neat👏 You can’t help but want to see that restored bamboo fence paired with beautiful autumn colors😭 Let’s pray the foliage progresses from here and keep watching over it🙏🙏🙏 The "Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" event is also underway, so if you spot autumn colors in Gokase, please submit your photos🍁📸 For details, please see the pinned post titled "Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" 🤗✨

【Koiji Pass】 Koiji Pass on the border of Okuwa Village and Town/Village of Nagiso Town. It is 😍 a romance highway that is said to have been named after a man and a woman who fell in love across the mountain pass This time, from Okuwa Village to Nagiso Town! ↓ Head to the entrance of the pass to admire the beautiful view from the Athira Bridge, where the Atera Canyon in Okuwa Village is located. ↓ Follow the path shown in the second photo to the Observation decks You may even meet a sawa crab on the way! ↓ At the top of the pass, there is a stone monument of "Koiji Pass" and a heart-shaped "Bell of Fulfillment" There are. ↓ For the time being, please look sideways at the bell of fulfillment and climb up to the Observation decks first. If the weather is good, you can see the majestic mountains such as Komagatake. ↓ And to the bell of fulfillment! If you ring the bell after admiring the beautiful view from the observation decks, your wish will be fulfilled! 👏👏👏 ↓ After ringing the bell of fulfillment with a wish, go down the pass. ↓ What was waiting for me at the end of the descent was the superb view Spot "Kakizore Canyon" This view is a sight to 😮 behold every time It is a walking course of about 10 km from Nojiri Station through Koiji Pass to Jujikane Station. Of course, Nakasendo is also recommended, but Hiking this Koiji Pass is also recommended! !!

October 22, 2024 On that day, hungry me—Kawanishi the foodie—braved my appetite (laughs) and visited several of the city’s autumn leaf spots to take photos and share the much-requested “Suwa autumn foliage report.” The morning was sunny, but by the afternoon, perhaps because of my poor habits, it turned cloudy… please forgive me… The following are my impressions of each spot. They reflect my personal views, so I appreciate your understanding and acceptance. 1. Takashima Castle and Gokoku Shrine — The ginkgo trees showed no color yet and were still very green. The maples only showed the faintest hint of color. 2. Lake Suwa and the lakeside park — I felt the leaves were just beginning to change, but there’s still a long way to go. 3. Katakura-kan — The ginkgo trees are starting to take on a slightly yellow tint, but it still seems early. 4. Tateishi Park — Here, too, the leaves appear to be just beginning to change. The 23rd was rainy, but the high reached 23°C. Mornings have been warm; this week’s highs are around 20°C and the lows do not drop below 10°C. It seems the foliage may be later than usual by about a week. Today, I’m updating you about Suwa City’s recent autumn leaf situation. I received several inquiries, so I visited Suwa’s leaf-viewing spots on October 22. The morning was sunny, but I was unlucky—the afternoon turned cloudy. Please forgive me! Caution: these are my personal impressions; please understand. 1. Takashima Castle and Gokoku Shrine — The ginkgo trees remain very green; only a few leaves are turning yellow. 2. Lake Suwa and Kohan Park — I estimate about 20–30% of the trees have begun changing to yellow and red. 3. Katakura-kan — I estimate about 20–30% of the ginkgo trees around Katakura-kan are gradually turning yellow. 4. Tateishi Park — Similar to Katakura-kan, maples and cherry trees are shifting to red, about 20–30%. Yesterday was rainy in Suwa, but the temperature reached 23°C (74°F). It wasn’t cold at all—quite surprising. Normally in Suwa around November, temperatures fall below 15°C (59°F). I think this year’s autumn colors are delayed by more than a week compared with a typical year.

Photographed 10/24/24. I relaxed at the Starbucks Hon-Kawagoe Station store. Cappuccino and two kinds of apple custard apple pie from Aomori Prefecture. It's the autumn of appetite, isn't it? 🌰🎃🍎

Hello, this is Gen 👋 Shosenkyo Gorge is finally into the heart of autumn. At Shosenkyo Gorge, on Sunday, November 10, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. A big autumn event! The Crystal Mikoshi and Momiji Dance will be held❗️ A mikoshi is the vehicle that carries the deity through the neighborhood during festivals. At its center rests an 80-kilogram crystal sphere as the deity’s spirit seat, making this mikoshi popular for protection against evil and misfortune‼️ This mikoshi will be carried by professional bearers, Kai-Koma group, parading powerfully and tightly along Crystal Road, to Senga Falls and the area above the falls—the sight is truly spectacular‼️ A must-see‼️ Anyone who wants to carry the mikoshi can join in on the spot and take part 😃 During November, Gen is also holding an Amethyst Fair ✌️ We have everything from fist-sized amethysts to 200-kilogram-class specimens, so if you love amethyst or stones, please come and see them 👀 This is a rare opportunity you can only experience during the autumn foliage season 😃 If you have the time, please come and visit Shosenkyo Gorge‼️‼️‼️ We look forward to seeing you 😃

"The 41st East Iburi Bussan Festival Stalls (7)" For 3 days from 10/25~10/27, the "41st Higashi Iburi Bussan Festival" will be Held in at the West Court on the 1st floor of the AEON MALL Tomakomai store. We will introduce the Stalls in front of the Held in! 【Kanedai Ono Shoten】~Mukawa Towns~ It is a popular store that has been Stalls since the first edition of the East Iburi Product Festival. The "Raw Dried Shishamo", which is made by drying Hokkaido honshishamo overnight, is a popular item, and we also accept local shipments from the venue to all over the country. Fried shishamo, stewed shishamo honeydew, hokki curry, etc. We have a wide range of delicious products made in-house.

"The 41st East Iburi Bussan Festival Stalls Introduction (6)" For 3 days from 10/25~10/27, the "41st Higashi Iburi Bussan Festival" will be Held in at the West Court on the 1st floor of the AEON MALL Tomakomai store. We will introduce the Stalls in front of the Held in! 【Roadside Station Utonai Lake Plaisir】~Tomakomai City~ B1 Tonchan's pork buns and shumai at the pig farmer's directly managed store Thanks to you, we are celebrating our 21st anniversary! We also sell sausages and gyoza that you can conveniently eat at home. Please come and visit us!

Visited on 10/21/24. CAFE ANDON's homemade lemonade and caramel nut tart. It has a good atmosphere and is very tasty, so it is my favorite café. 😊

Visited on 10/19/24. On the first day of the Kawagoe Festival, we visited LEC COFFEE. It is an original chai and a hot sandwich. The hot sandwich was very tasty. 😊

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is Ina Town Tourism Association. Ina Town, Kitaadachi District, Saitama Prefecture, sits in the central-eastern part of Saitama Prefecture and boasts a beautiful natural environment. Known as the Rose Town, it attracts many visitors to the prefecture’s largest rose garden. Leave the city’s noise behind and enjoy a leisurely pace—Cool Japan Video brings you recommended sightseeing information for Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture. Thank you for watching! [Access from Tokyo to Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ By car From central Tokyo, you can reach Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture in about one hour via the Shuto Expressway or the Tohoku Expressway. ▼ By train Train access is also convenient. From Tokyo Station, take the Ueno-Tokyo Line and transfer at Oomiya Station to the NewShuttle. The NewShuttle runs directly to Uchijuku Station, and the trip takes about one hour. Buses also run from ageo station and lotus field station, providing access into Ina Town. [Rose Town, Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is widely known as the Rose Town. The town’s Town Establishment Memorial Park, opened in 1972, contains the largest rose garden in Saitama Prefecture. Some 400 varieties and 5,000 rose bushes bloom in a riot of color, delighting visitors. You can see Ina Town’s original varieties, including Ina Hime, a charming pink climbing rose that continues blooming into autumn; Ina Rose, a deep crimson large-flowered rose whose shape becomes antique-like as it opens; and Ina no Tsuki, a pale yellow medium-flowered rose created to commemorate the town’s 50th anniversary. The best viewing seasons are early May to early June and late October to mid-November. Rose-themed events and festivals are also held, letting you fully enjoy the charm of roses. Ina Town is a member of the Rose City Conference, which includes 29 municipalities nationwide (as of May 2024). In 2024, the 33rd Rose City Conference in Ina was held on a grand scale, welcoming municipal leaders from across Japan. [Popular sightseeing spots in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Around the Ina Clan Residence Site The Ina Clan Residence Site is the former estate of Ina Bizen-no-kami Tadayoshi, a retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu who was active from the Sengoku Period into the early Edo Period. Tadayoshi earned Ieyasu’s deep trust and contributed to flood control, civil engineering, and new paddy development, using Ina as a base to help lay the foundations of the Edo Shogunate. Earthen ramparts, moats, and roads from that time still remain, and the residence is designated as a prefectural commemorative monument (historic site). ▼ Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 “Musenyama – KDDI Forest” Musenyama – KDDI Forest is a conservation area with rich nature, featuring a native deciduous broad-leaved woodland centered on konara oak. It hosts the cherry festival, and many hanami visitors come during peak season. ▼ Cultural properties of Ina Town Ina Town is home to many cultural properties. Representative examples include nationally registered tangible cultural properties (buildings) such as Oshima Family Residence Main Building and Saito Family Residence Main Building; Saiko-ji Temple’s wooden seated Amida Nyorai statue, designated as a prefectural tangible cultural property (sculpture); and the Shiku no Mikoshi, a town-designated tangible folk cultural property. Thanks to local efforts, these items remain today and hold high historical value. They are scattered throughout the town, so visitors can enjoy historical exploration and cultural property tours. [Local specialties of Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Wine A recommended souvenir from Ina Town is wine made from 100% locally grown Kyoho grapes or pears. These wines feature rich flavor and aroma and pair well with meals. ▼ Sake Another specialty is sake. This sake uses 100% Saitama-brand rice from Ina Town called Sainokagayaki as the polishing rice, producing a concentrated, rich rice flavor. It is brewed at Shinkame Shuzo in Hasuda City, a brewer famous nationwide for producing only junmai sake. [Events and festivals in Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] ▼ Cherry Festival A lesser-known but beloved cherry spot, the cherry avenue in Green Trust Conservation Area No. 13 hosts an annual festival. On festival weekends, farm produce direct sales and various events take place. This area is called Musenyama because it once stood where the antenna array of Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co., Ltd., the predecessor of KDDI, soared. Although there are relatively few cherry trees, about 200 meters of tunnel is formed by ancient cherry trees over 80 years old, creating a breathtaking sight for visitors. ▼ Rose Festival The Rose Festival, held in May during the peak rose season at Town Establishment Memorial Park, is one of Ina Town’s signature events. Tree roses, climbing roses, old roses, and English roses bloom in a rainbow of colors, filling the park with a sweet fragrance that delights visitors. On weekends, programs such as rose weddings and mini concerts add variety to the festival. ▼ Ina Festival Ina Festival, held every August at the Town Establishment Memorial Park, is a major summer event enjoyed by families and tourists. Traditional taiko drumming, bon odori dancing, food stalls showcasing local specialties, and stage events provide plenty of entertainment. The festival concludes with a vivid fireworks display. ▼ Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa – The Autumn Rose Festival – Rose Festa –, held in late October, lets visitors savor the beauty and scent of autumn roses. Though autumn roses tend to be smaller, their fragrance is said to be stronger. Like the spring Rose Festival, it features various rose-related events, local vegetable sales, food stalls and kitchen cars, and stage performances. [Tourist information for Ina Town, Saitama Prefecture] Ina Town in Saitama Prefecture is an attractive town with beautiful nature and a rich history. With good access from central Tokyo and a reputation as the Rose Town, we bring you plenty of recommended information about Ina Town’s history, nature, and more. We hope you enjoy it!

The 13th Azumino Kamiakari Bamboo Lantern Festival 2024 — Held over 6 days Friday, November 29 to Sunday, December 1 Friday, December 6 to Sunday, December 8 Around 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day Hotaka Shrine (about a 5-minute walk from Hotaka Station on the JR Oito Line) Enjoy the gentle atmosphere of Hotaka Shrine, illuminated by about 10,000 bamboo lanterns Anyone may join the 4:00 p.m. lighting. Those who will light lanterns should bring a long-handled lighter Live performances take place at the Kagura Hall, and Azumino Terrace in the South Garden features food trucks and booths. In the North Garden, a special stage presents the traditional Hotaka dolls * Admission is free * Parking is limited; please use public transportation when possible

When I visited Shizuoka Prefecture, I happened to take a walk early in the morning and encountered a pleasant morning.

Photographed 10/19/24. On the first day of the Kawagoe Festival, it is a festival float of Kawagoe Taro Shigeyori in Nakahara Towns. The sky was suspicious.

A park in Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture It was an old-fashioned small park, but it was a charming park with two large ginkgo trees on either side and seesaw

It was a large Persimmon tree that I happened to find in Shiso City, Hyogo Prefecture, and it was 😋 an autumn persimmon that appeared in Japan folk tales, like the original scenery of nostalgic Japan

Shinyu Onsen L.P. has released “Suwa Taisha Navi,” an app for foreign visitors and domestic tourists. This in-shrine interactive app supports English, French, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese, and highlights the attractions of the four shrines of Suwa Taisha. The navigator is Suwahime, Suwa City’s official character, who introduces 84 monuments and buildings across the four shrines. Download the app and launch it on site to hear the explanations; locations you’ve heard are marked with a folding-fan icon. It makes a great travel memory. Shinyu Onsen L.P. launched the Suwa Taisha Navi app for foreign visitors and domestic tourists. The app supports Japanese, Traditional Chinese, French, and English and introduces the four shrines (Honmiya, Maemiya, Harumiya, Akimiya). The navigator is Suwahime, Suwa City’s official character, who explains 84 monuments and buildings across the four shrines. First, download the app and visit any of the four Suwa Taisha shrines. Enable GPS and go to a spot; Suwahime will begin the explanation. After a spot’s explanation, it is marked with a Japanese folding-fan stamp. It’s a lovely way to remember your trip to Suwa and Suwa Taisha—please give it a try!

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinko Festival. It is the festival float of Ushiwakamaru in the former Town 1-chome.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinko Festival. It is a portable shrine (彦神, 姫神).

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinko Festival. Hiko Saruta is waving his hand. 👋

Autumn leaves have begun! Matsukawa Valleys in Takayama Village is a large area of Autumn leaves with plenty of attractions, from Kasadake at Elevation 2,000 meters to Yamada Hot Spring at Elevation 900 meters Autumn leaves front descends from high elevation to low Best time to visit forecast Near Mt. Kasa and Manza Pass (approx. 2,000m) October 18　 Near Yamada Ranch (about 1,500m) October 18 Near Shichimi Hot Spring and Goshiki Hot Spring (approx. 1,200m) October 21 Near Thunder Falls and Hachitaki (approx. 1,100m) October 23 Near Yamada Hot Spring (Takaibashi) (about 900m) October 25 As of 10/21, the area around Yamada Ranch is in Best time to visit Now it's time for the real work Please take a look at the colorful Autumn leaves

Gokase Winery Harvest Festival 2024 Yesterday, Sunday, October 20, following last week’s events, Gokase Winery held the "Gokase Winery Harvest Festival 2024" to celebrate the release on Saturday, October 19 of the 2024 vintage new wines 🍷🎉 Although the rain from the day before was gone and the sky cleared, it turned sharply cold from the morning, and as the name suggests the Wind Hall felt chilled by strong, cold breezes today 🥶💦 Still, the crowd warmed up with a lineup of lively, exciting stage programs 🤩✨ Taiko drumming, hula dance, singing, and a raffle… and the familiar Hikari hosted the event 💡 Her light, bright hosting energized the audience greatly 🥳 She was so busy she kept appearing on stage again and again 🤣🤣🤣 Food stalls offering pizza, sausages, Kitaura scallops (hiougi kai), and various sweets that paired well with the new wine filled the venue and kept everyone happy 🤤💕 The highlights were the sashimi servings of sakuramai kampachi and tuna 🐟🍴✨ Fresh sakuramai kampachi, alive that very morning, were filleted on site and served to attendees 😍 Sakuramai kampachi raised on nutrient-rich pomace—the leftover pressed grapes from winemaking at Gokase Winery—have no fishy odor and less of the greasy taste typical of farmed fish, making them especially delicious 🤤💡 Lines snaked through the venue for the kampachi and tuna 😳 I managed to grab some myself; it had no off-putting smell, a smooth, mellow texture, and was truly delicious 🥰 The finale featured the main guest, Reiwa’s Showa-era pop song young star Kokoro Umetani, on stage 🎤✨ Kokoro appeared in an outfit that matched the wine-themed atmosphere 🤩🍷 Despite her cute appearance, her powerful, glamorous voice stunned the audience 😳✨ Fans had come from afar, including from Saitama Prefecture, to support her 👏 With fans and townspeople together, the stage reached a spectacular peak of excitement 🎉🎉🎉 At last, the newly released Gokase wines are now available. Although the summer heat had raised concerns about the harvest, the tireless efforts of local grape growers paid off. They harvested higher-than-usual sugar levels and aroma, producing exceptionally fine grapes and very tasty wine 🥹👏 I haven’t had a chance to drink it yet, so I can’t wait to taste it 🍷✨ Everyone, please enjoy the season’s wines.

Photographed 10/14/24. It is the Annual Grand Festival of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. It is held as the Minamoto of the Kawagoe Festival.

The second day of the Kawagoe Festival has come to an end. These are the festival float of Kogitsunemaru in Saiwai Town and the festival float of Nasori in Nandori Towns.

It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of the Senba Jiro Yasu family in Senba Towns. At the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I had an exorcism.

Photographed 10/19/24. Your friend is coming. 👋 It is a festival float of Iemitsu in Shintomi Town 1-chome.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Shinko Festival.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is a festival float of Suzume in Ote Towns.

The Kawagoe Festival has begun. At Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, a festival float from OteTowns is performing an exorcism.

Today and tomorrow is the Kawagoe Festival. Prayer at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, I heard a congratulatory song. It was a place where the people of Nantong Towns were being exorcised.