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/

Photographed 11/18/24. It is Hanachozu of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

A video explaining how to ride local buses and proper onboard manners in Tomakomai City is now available 🚌 Tomakomai City’s official mascot, Tomachop, guides viewers through boarding procedures and etiquette ✨ Versions are available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Indonesian ✨ Watch it on the Tomakomai City Hall YouTube channel!

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. While skillfully avoiding power lines, the festival float advances. 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 of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The head of the phoenix rings the Hyoshigi and the festival float begins to move. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Before the festival float is towed out, a wooden song is performed by the doe. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 11/15/24. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Photographed 11/16/24. I went to the "Daily Life, Bread and Coffee" held in U_PLACE. and popular, I arrived around 11:00, but it was crowded. NEUN's jasmine milk tea and Keyaki Bakery's chocolate muffins. ☕️

Visited 11/15/24. It is a Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. I really like the Japanese atmosphere. It is a gingerbread latte and a white mocha cake.

Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima (Recommended Spots in Hiroshima) #Ono Nature Observation Forest 👈 Today is a piece 📸 of sockeye hazel from the forest of Nature Observation When I looked up at the sky, the sockeye hazel that was transparent to the 😊 sun was very colorful and beautiful Autumn leaves here are late, but the red hazel is in full bloom now. As always, thank you for 🙇 ♂️ watching

Photographed 11/6/24. It is a one-year cheap sea bream lottery of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Tomakomai Symbol Street Terrace 2024–2025 This season again, a path of light will color the street in front of Tomakomai Station ✨ ◾️Event period: Saturday, December 14, 2024–Saturday, February 15, 2025 ◾️Lighting hours: 5:00 PM–12:00 AM ◾️Location: Symbol Street on the main avenue in front of Tomakomai Station

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. It is a sea bream lottery.

[Notice] Akindo Market♪ Today (15th) and tomorrow (16th) — two days only!! At Roadside Station Iwanai, Japan Asparagus Co., Ltd.'s new products: two vegetable powders ★ Pumpkin powder ★ Burdock powder Both are 1,080 yen (tax included)! Manufactured using superheated steam. They concentrate the natural flavors of the ingredients and deliver the full umami of the vegetables! Additive-free and safe! They can also be used for baby food, which is usually time-consuming to prepare #👶 Plus, they are great for baking and soups — many uses♪ We hope you'll give them a try🙏 *Please note: Ramen Houryu listed on the flyer is closed unexpectedly due to store circumstances.* It's a once-a-month event where you can shop for bargains at stores throughout Iwanai-cho〜

Photographed 11/12/24. The front of the Kokoku-sama of the Minbu Inari Shrine in the Precincts of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine was new.

Photographed 11/9/24. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on 11/11/24. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed 11/9/24. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Today is the grand opening of the Maruhiro Department Store Kawagoe store. It is a Christmas exhibit at the entrance. 🎄

Photographed on 11/11/24. It is Hanachozu of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

[Searching for Autumn in Gokase] The season is silver grass (susuki)🌾✨ Gokase Town’s autumn leaves have finally come into their prime🍁 Today I visited Mt. Masugata and Mt. Futagami🚗💭 First, Mt. Masugata💪 The view was hazy, but the temperature was perfect and the summit felt refreshing😌🌿 The dodantutsugi (Enkianthus) turned bright red, and the susuki backlit by the sun glittered—what a sight 🥹👏 On the trail down toward Furuto-no Shrine from Mt. Masugata, I came across a scene that made me think, "Is this a picture book world!?"😳💡 Fields of susuki swayed like a sea, and set against the rolling mountains, the view was unbelievably beautiful✨ A new susuki spot…!?🌾 The susuki have become fluffy and are at their peak right now❗ Please go and look for them yourselves🤗 Next, Mt. Futagami💡 Until recently the road from Gokase was under construction and impassable, so it was my first time driving it in a while👣 Enjoying the patches of autumn color along the way, I made my way up to the observation deck with steady effort💪 By the time I reached the summit the sun had started to tilt, sharpening the mountain silhouettes, and the moon floated in the vast sky—a picture-like scene🖼️✨ It’s been ages since I climbed a mountain so I already feel it in my legs, but the joy at the top makes it totally worth it🤩 The Gokase Tourism Association is currently running the "Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" event on its Instagram account, and you are welcome to submit photos of autumn scenes like susuki✨ Please share Gokase’s beautiful autumn scenery with us🤗💫 For details, see the pinned "Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024" post on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram profile🍁

Around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the summit of Mount Nagamine A sea of clouds and the Northern Alps rising to around 3,000 meters We enjoyed another clear view of the Northern Alps today In November the sunrise comes later, and from the summit you can also see the alpenglow of the Northern Alps as they turn red in the morning light Please take in the breathtaking, ever-changing views of the Northern Alps [Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour] The Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour, where you stay in Azumino and enjoy the summit vistas, runs through December 8, 2024! Stay in Azumino and join us! <Information about the Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour> This panoramic view of the Northern Alps from Mount Nagamine at 933 meters is a sight only early risers can see! Below you spreads the Azumidaira plain, and the 3,000-meter peaks of the Northern Alps towering before you create a view you can see nowhere else. You can also take in MtJonen, Azumino’s symbol, and, in the distance, the Hakuba Mountain Range. At the summit of Mount Nagamine, enjoy coffee time as you watch the spectacular morning view in the crisp early air. Each cup is carefully hand-dripped. Alongside the majestic scenery, the fresh morning air and a freshly brewed, delicious coffee will slowly awaken your body and satisfy your heart. Please enjoy this blissful moment. [Price] Per person / JPY 3,500 (same price for adults and children) * Tour reservations are limited to guests staying at designated accommodations. Please check the accommodation’s stay plans or inquire at check-in. * The tour requires advance reservation. Reservations can be made at the designated accommodation up to 8:00 p.m. the day before use. * Please pay the participation fee at the front desk by the day before use. [Price includes] Bus fare, coffee and snacks [Minimum number of participants] 2 people [Notes] * The tour will be canceled in case of rain or bad weather. (Decision will be made around 4:00 p.m. on the day before the tour) ・Because it is early morning, you may feel cold. Please bring something warm to wear as a layer. For details and a list of participating accommodations, please search for "Mount Nagamine Spectacular View Tour"

I thought that this year's Sapporo would have warmer days than every year and that the Period to see Autumn leaves would be Squid longer, but the snow fell early and it turned out to be a very short autumn. This time, I would like to introduce 🌳 the Autumn leaves Spot around the hotel taken in early November 🍂 Hotel Kita 3-jo Street Side The trees on the north side of the hotel (along Kita 3-jo Street) are now more red than they were in this photo. Since it is a place where it is difficult to get sunlight, it seems that you can see the Autumn leaves a little longer. At the foot of the tree, there is a "Nanmosa stove" and a photo Spot of the 📷 hotel 🍂clock tower Speaking of Sapporo, Famous landmarks are just around the corner from the hotel! Located in in the building district, there are many trees around the clock tower, and it is Light up at night, making it look 👀 more beautiful 🍂 Odori Park Odori Park, which shows various faces in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, Events, etc., can see various kinds of Autumn leaves in autumn. It's just a short walk from the hotel, so Squid might be 🚶🏻 ♂️🚶🏻 a good idea to go for a walk 🍂 Hokkaido Office Red Brick Terrace If you walk straight west from the hotel, you will find the Hokkaido Government Office. In the square of the red brick terrace in front of the Provincial Government Office, stalls such as Mackerel sandwiches and taiyaki, which are now a hot topic, were lined up. The provincial government office is undergoing renovation work until around March next year, but you can enter the premises. Inside the red brick terrace, there are also Famous restaurants that Hokkaido is proud of! 🍂 Hokkaido University Row of ginkgo trees Speaking of Autumn leaves in Sapporo, this is it! [Row of ginkgo trees] in Hokkaido University. The 70 Row of ginkgo trees is a sight to behold 😲 It'There are a little far from the hotel, but it's a recommended Spot, so please include it in your ✨ sightseeing plan There are so many other Autumn leaves Spot in Sapporo that I can There are t introduce them all! It was scattered by the snow and strong winds the other day, but it looks like you can still enjoy it 💕 Please stop by various Spots!

Calligraphy masters apply Japanese kanji characters to the native language names of foreign customers. Since each kanji character has its own meaning, enjoy this traditional cultural experience, including the meaning of the kanji used in your name. You can take home the engraved wooden Dojo-fuda as a souvenir to remember your visit. #calligraphy #kanji #shodo #travelmemories #culturalexperience

Photographed 11/9/24. This is Tatsumi Udon noodles's TATSUMI Special Pole. It contains toriten and pork, and it is gorgeous. The noodles are also firm and and very tasty. 😊 The noodles, dashi, and tempura are all prepared in the store.

Today, I visited Mr. 168 yellowtail for the first time in a long time. Yesterday, today and early dinner (breakfast). It is black Rice, Taiwanese rice balls (飯糰) and soy milk. Inside the Taiwanese rice balls, there are mustard greens, tamagoyaki, meat sauce (rawson), and yujo (fried bread).

Photographed 11/9/24. This is Hanatetsu's Hanachozu.

Photographed on 11/8/24. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Yama no Ocha Sakamotoen Autumn Warehouse Sale Today, Sunday, November 10th, the “Autumn Warehouse Sale” took place on the grounds of Sakamotoen 🍵✨ Sakamotoen’s booth offered discounted teas, and shoppers who spent over ¥2,000 could enter a raffle—what a deal 😳👏 There were also light food stalls, food trucks, and booths selling crafts and relaxation services, creating a calm, pleasant atmosphere 😌💕 A fill-a-bag of mandarins for ¥500 drew challengers who expertly piled the bags full—watching their skill made me laugh out loud 🤣🤣🤣 The festival’s highlights, the hojicha latte and matcha latte, were truly delicious and ordered by many 🤤 I couldn’t stop at the hojicha latte I bought first and ended up enjoying a matcha latte too 🤭 Simply perfect ✨ Inside the building, beautiful kyusus and Sakamotoen’s tea products lined the shelves 😳💡It was pure luxury to imagine brewing tea with a favorite kyusu while browsing the many tea varieties 🥹… Although it rained, everyone relaxed and smiled as they enjoyed their tea, making it a lovely festival 😌💕