Kirigamine Highlands in Nagano Prefecture

I was able to meet a beautiful frost in -5°C.

A view of the morning mist dyed in orange.
A group of buildings covered in haze due to the beautiful sunrise and radiative cooling on a cold morning.

Shot on DJI MAVIC 3
Kiyosu City, Aichi Prefecture 2024/12

* Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Comprehensive Flight Permit has been obtained.
* Notification of flight plan and preparation of flight log book

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

Along with the martial arts, many other arts flourished, including calligraphy, tea ceremony, tea bowls, poetry, incense, and Noh drama, and a samurai needed to have knowledge of both the sword and the brush in order to be seen as a cultured gentleman.

For those of us living in today's busy world, learning about the samurai spirit can give us insight into our attitude, attention, and focus, and foster the determination needed to achieve our goals to the fullest.

#kangi #calligraphy #kimono #osakacastle

[❄️ Winter in Gokase 2025 ❄️] Until Friday, February 28, 2025!

Yes — winter too!! Instagram Campaign 🥳✨

After following the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko), post a wintery photo taken in Gokase town on Instagram with these two hashtags: #Winter in Gokase 2025 and #Date and place of the photo (for example: #Unoko Falls) 🤳❤️‍🔥

One winner will receive a Gokase specialty product every day during the campaign period 🎁✨
Plus! The best entries will receive a gift set of Gokase specialties 🤩👏

Entries you post may be featured on the Gokase Tourism Association’s social media and other channels 💡

[Period] From Monday, December 30, 2024 to Friday, February 28, 2025

⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering.
https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html

⚠️Please take care to avoid accidents while photographing.

------------------------------------------

…Actually, the voting period for “Gokase Autumn Foliage 2024” is still underway, so I thought mixing them might be confusing and planned to announce this after the New Year, but…

I really want you to post New Year photos too 🥺🙏!!! I couldn’t wait and posted early 😂

We look forward to many beautiful winter photos of Gokase ☃️💕 Please keep the entries coming — thank you 📸🙏

For those of us living in today's busy world, learning about the samurai spirit can give us insight into our attitude, attention, and focus, and foster the determination needed to achieve our goals to the fullest.
#kangi #calligraphy #kimono #osakacastle

I visited the Ookuzure area of Kyonan Town. The daffodils have come into bloom in large numbers. They might bloom all at once during the upcoming New Year holidays.

If you take the town circulator bus, please get off at the "Ookuzure" stop.

Year-end Greetings

Everyone, were you able to finish your work for the year safely😌? Some of you might not care about New Year’s at all😂

We at Gokase Tourism Association and the Gokase Specialty Center will, out of our own convenience, be closed for the year-end and New Year holidays as follows.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Monday, December 30>
Cafeteria: closed
Shop and produce: open mornings only
<Tuesday, December 31 – Thursday, January 2>
Closed
<Friday, January 3>
Cafeteria: opens at 11:00
Shop and produce: opens at 10:00
<Saturday, January 4 onward>
Regular business hours resume
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gokase Tourism Association will also be closed from Tuesday, December 31 to Thursday, January 2.
We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

We have also compiled the January events we know about so far into a calendar to help you plan outings for next year🤗

And there’s more! We are accepting votes for “Gokase Autumn Leaves 2024” on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko
). We would be delighted if you and your family take your time over the New Year to pick photos and vote🥺✨
We truly appreciate your support🙇‍♀️‼️

We will be open tomorrow, so this is one day early, but… 🤣
Thank you very much for your support this year. We look forward to your continued support next year.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve🤩👋✨

*We’ll say it again: we are open through tomorrow. Just kidding*

We are currently accepting entries for the 2nd Tsubetsu Photo Contest!
Why don't you How do you like it? express the charm of Tsubetsu with photos taken in Tsubetsu Town?
For the application guidelines, please see the second image and the Tsubetsu Tourist Association Home page.
Publication of the five prize-winning works in the previous contest is posted here. In addition to such a superb view of Tsubetsu Town, we are waiting for various "Tsubetsu photos"!

Samuraisword experience
The practice of swordsmanship was intended above all to nurture the mind.
The samurai, through diligent practice and extreme concentration, desired to attain a state of unthoughtfulness, free of attachment or preoccupation, and thus able to respond instantly.

#Honor #Bushido #samuraisword #katana

The reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is

"The beauty of the Japanese language.

I often hear that the reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "the beauty of the Japanese language.

Using the calligraphy skills learned through the calligraphy experience, students write their favorite kanji characters on fans and hanging scrolls of their choice.

The master calligrapher will then take the kanji back to your bag with his expert brush strokes.

Since each kanji character has multiple meanings, it is important to know what other meanings they have. Knowing the meaning will make the bag shine.

#brush #kanji #shodo #travel memories #cultural experience

Yesterday, when I was taking a walk in Kawagoe, I went to Tatsumi Udon noodles.
I put hot Jade on the toriten bukkake.
The ginger works and it's delicious.

　This is a photo of the moss garden of Toshodai-ji Temple in Nara Prefecture. Hail came down at the right time, so I took a picture with my camera close so that I could see it.

This photo was taken at the Forest and Starry Sky Camp Village in Motegi Towns, Tochigi Prefecture.
While enjoying winter camping, you can see the beautiful starry sky and the Great Triangle in winter, so it is very healing.

This is GLIN COFFEE Honkawagoe Pepe store.
Ono Buncha × GLINCOFFEE This is a premium matcha latte with a sansho scent from the Kawagoe tea series. Aroma of sansho is very nice.
The Honkawagoe Pepe store is closed today. It's a shame because it's a restaurant that I liked. 😭

Samurai become 

For those of us living in today's busy world, learning about the samurai spirit can give us insight into our attitude, attention and focus, and foster the determination needed to achieve our goals to the best of our ability.

We must not only carefully consider the words of the Samurai, but we must also act on them.
#teaceremony #calligraphy

(accomplished in) both the literary and military arts

A samurai is a man of letters and a man of martial arts, studying both arts.
For the Samurai, the way of literature and the way of martial arts are like two wheels on one wheel. Samurai honor, which believes that the way of literature and the way of martial arts are two sides of the same coin, aims at the path of both literature and martial arts through two experiences: Samurai tea ceremony and Samurai calligraphy.
The spirit of the Samurai is a way of life and death, a way of letting go of attachment to life and living in this lifetime. Through Samurai honor, students acquire the spirit of Bushido.
#kanji #calligraphy #teaceremony #kimono

I went to House Ten Bosch for Christmas.
It is an illumination that won the top prize (the best in the world) at the International Illumination Awards 2024.
You can experience an authentic European Christmas in Japan!

The 3rd Hosono Highlands Yamayaki Experience

🏔 What Hosono Highlands Is Like 🏔
Hosono Highlands spreads across the slopes of Mt. Amagi, which erupted between 800,000 and 200,000 years ago. The plateau covers about 125 hectares—roughly the size of 26 Tokyo Domes—and offers a majestic expanse of grassland. It is said to be a treasure trove of flora and fauna nurtured by volcanic terrain.
In spring, you can forage for mountain vegetables such as bracken amid fresh greenery. In autumn, vast stands of golden susuki (silver grass) create a spectacular display. From the summit you can see Sagami Bay and the Izu Islands, where meadow and seascape combine into a unique panorama.

Inatori Hosono Highlands has been recognized among the 100 Grassland Villages We Want to Preserve for the Future for the value of local knowledge, awareness, and skills accumulated through long interaction between people and nature.
Hosono Highlands conducts an annual yamayaki (controlled burn) to maintain the grassland. During walks you can observe grass-cutting work performed in preparation for the burn.
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🔥⛰ What “Yamayaki” Means ⛰🔥

Yamayaki is an essential annual practice to keep Hosono Highlands as open grassland.
By burning overgrown grasses and shrubs, the area is prevented from turning into forest, and the burned vegetation returns nutrients to the soil to sustain a rich grassland.

This yamayaki has continued every year at Hosono Highlands since the Edo period.

Because the plateau borders neighboring Kawazu Town, preventing fire from spreading across boundaries is critical, and the work must address elevation changes and steep slopes, so seasoned experience and

advanced fire-management know-how are required.
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● Event Overview

Yamayaki is an activity necessary to keep Hosono Highlands as grassland and has continued annually since the Edo period.
As a first trial in February 2023, we opened the yamayaki on a very limited basis and offered it as a guided tour for observation.
To help more people learn about this tradition in greater depth, we will hold the Yamayaki Experience again in 2025.
Please come and witness the overwhelming sight of the landscape ablaze.

● Event Schedule — Saturday, February 8, 2025
Date and time: Saturday, 2/8, 10:30–15:30 (scheduled)
10:30: Assemble and register at Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2
11:00: Yamayaki viewing (guided yamayaki explanation, lunch provided)
14:00: Post-yamayaki walk (guided)
15:30: End of program and dismissal (Program order may change depending on yamayaki progress; please understand in advance.)
Meeting/registration location: Inatori Hosono Highlands Parking Lot No. 2 (parking spaces available)
➡ On the day of the yamayaki, general vehicles are not allowed into Parking Lot No. 1. Please park at the foothill Parking Lot No. 2.
There is no public transportation to the venue. Please use your own means of transport to access the site.

Participation Conditions
・Capacity is limited to 30 participants.
・Participants who are junior high school age or younger must be accompanied by a guardian.
・Please apply only if you fully understand the safety notes and on-site hazards.

Participation Fee
3,500 yen per person. Includes admission, consumption tax, local guide, lunch, insurance, and grassland management fee (1,000 yen).
※The participation fee is payable on site on the day of the event.
※We will contact you by email in advance and on the day about the event. Please note you cannot apply without an email address.

How to Apply
Please apply by entering the required information on the Higashiizu Town Tourist Association event page.
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot
Or call the Higashiizu Tourist Association (TEL: 0557-95-0700) to register by phone.

● Notes and Precautions
About Participation in Work
This event is for observing the yamayaki. You may not take part in fire-starting or other operational tasks.
Cancellation Decisions
Yamayaki may be canceled on the morning of the event due to weather conditions (wind, humidity, rain, etc.). If yamayaki is canceled, this event will also be canceled. There are no substitute events. Please register only if you accept these cancellation conditions.
What to Wear on the Day
Yamayaki is a very dangerous operation, and flying embers or smoldering debris may be present.
Please wear flame-resistant clothing with minimal exposed skin.
All activities at the site are outdoors, so please prepare for cold weather.
Guide Language
Guidance is provided in Japanese only. Thank you for your understanding.

Cancellation Policy
If the event is canceled or you cancel, we will charge cancellation fees as follows.

If yamayaki itself is canceled due to severe weather (strong wind, dry conditions, rain, etc.), no payment will be charged.
If you cancel for personal reasons:
・Cancellation on the day or the day before → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
・Cancellation two days or more before → 0% cancellation fee.
・No-show without notice → 100% of the event fee will be charged.
*We may also claim actual communication costs or other damages where applicable.
For cancellations due to unavoidable events such as disasters, please contact the organizer.

If the organizer cancels for reasons other than weather, we will consult with participants and refund an appropriate amount.


Items to Bring
・Flame-resistant (fire-retardant) and warm clothing
・Clothes you don’t mind getting stained by sparks or soot
・Well-broken-in shoes
https://www.e-izu.org/?p=we-page-entry&spot=568220&cat=23649&pageno=3&type=spot

In Hinomotoichi's Calligraphy Trial Plan, students do not pick up a brush and start writing immediately after the lesson begins. 

Instead, we begin by explaining about the culture of calligraphy and the history of calligraphy in Japan.

This is because it helps them to better understand the difference between Japanese calligraphy and caligraphy, which is a form of character decoration that also exists in other countries, and to appreciate the beauty of the Japanese language.

#calligraphy #kanji #shodo

The reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is

"The beauty of the Japanese language.

I often hear that the reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "the beauty of the Japanese language.

Using the calligraphy skills learned through the calligraphy experience, students write their favorite kanji characters on fans and hanging scrolls of their choice.

The master calligrapher will then take the kanji back to your bag with his expert brush strokes.

Since each kanji character has multiple meanings, it is important to know what other meanings they have. Knowing the meaning will make the bag shine.

#brush #kanji #shodo #travelmemories #culturalexperience

Tateyama Mountain Ranges seen from the Ameharu Coast 2023.12.09

The Oniwa and Tateyama mountain ranges over the sea are truly superb Spots.
The view of mountains with an Elevation of 3,000 meters across the sea is a superb view that is difficult to see in the world.

A scenic spot related to Manyo, Ameharu Coast.
The poet of Manyo, Oban Iemochi, loved this rainy landscape and sang many songs. The beautiful scenery is the same now as it was in the past, and the magnificent view of the reef seen from the beach and the 3,000m-class Tateyama mountain ranges seen over Toyama Bay is exceptional. It's breathtaking.

"Yoshitsune Rock", where Minamoto Yoshitsune waited for the rain to clear on his way to Oshu, is also the origin of the place name "Ameharu". (From Toyama's website)

One of the travel destinations.
The black mist filter is the perfect night view.

One piece at a travel destination.
There is a snowman made by a foreigner on the post, which is cute.

It's a nearby traffic light!

Photographed 12/23/24.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Kitakirishima Photo Contest is held in! !️

Application period: 2024/12/11〜2025/2/21
How to apply: Instagram only.
There is Thereare how to apply, so please check the details!

[Grand Prize] 1 person
◯Assortment of Kitakirishima Specialty products (worth 20,000 yen)
◯ Poster production

[Excellence Award] 3 people
(1) Kobayashi Prize (equivalent to 10,000 yen)
(2) Ebino City Prize (equivalent to 10,000 yen)
(3) Highlands Prize (equivalent to 10,000 yen)
◯ Poster production

【Prize】10 people
◯ Poster production
* Posters will be displayed at the Tourist Association.
For details such as application requirements, please check the following website.

◯Home page
https://kobayashi-machi.com/16056

【Contact】
Kita-Kirishima Regional Tourism Promotion Council
Kobayashi Town Planning Co., Ltd. Tourist Information Center
Phone 0984-22-8684
#Photo Contest #Miyazaki Prefecture #Kobayashi City #Ebino City #Takaharu #Kobayashi Town planning Co., Ltd. #Takaharucho Tourism Association #Photo #Miyakonojo City #Free entry #Scenery #Scenery #Photography #Kita-Kirishima Regional Tourism Promotion Council 😁

【2025 Kisoji Ice and Snow Light Festival】
This year Kisoji ice and snow lights will be Held in again Festival.
From January 25th ~ February 15th, ice candles and bamboo lanterns will be lit at Shukuba in Kisoji. Events of several hours once a year. Fun a fantastic world that is different from usual.

♦1/25 (Sat) Kiso Town Miyanokoshi
♦2/2 (Sun) Shiojiri City Niekawa Juku
♦2/3 (Mon) Shiojiri City Narai juku
♦2/7 (Fri)-8 (Sat) Kiso Town Fukushima juku
♦2/8 (Sat) Nakatsugawa City Magome juku
♦2/9 (Sun) Agematsu Town Nezame-no-Toko, Okuwa Village Sports Park
♦2/18 (Sat) Nagiso Town Tsumago juku

And Held in a photo contest again this year! The winning works will be used for posters, flyers, web advertisements, etc. for the next year.
【For those who apply on Instagram】Account of the Kiso Tourism Federation (@kiso_japan_official
) > #kisoji_hyosetsu_2025 Don't forget to tag them!
【Apply by sending photos】Please send 4 color prints or A4 size (4 slices wide are also acceptable) to the Kiso Tourism Federation.
Period: 2025/2/1~2/28 (must arrive by this date)

For details, please check the Home page "Kiso Valley Rippu".

We have 😊 received many applications

Photographed 12/23/24.
It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

It was a cold evening with a cold wind, but the spray of the waves illuminated by the beautiful Sunset was beautiful and I couldn't help but take a picture. At "Tanoura Coast" in Hamada City, Shimane Prefecture.