To residents and visitors of Higashikawa-cho and surrounding areas On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a brown bear was sighted along Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line). Please exercise extreme caution if you are traveling through or using the nearby area. Date and time: Wednesday, May 28 Location: On the road and near the bridge in front of Daisetsu Asahidake Gensui Park, heading from Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward Higashikawa-cho. Number of bears: One (encountered twice) Situation: The bear ran from the T-junction of Prefectural Route 1160 (Asahidake Onsen Line) toward the Asahidake Gensui area. After fleeing into the forested area, it appeared on the road again before running off. We will continue to update with the latest information, so please remain alert. If you spot a bear, please report it immediately to the contact below. Higashikawa Town Agricultural Promotion Division, Forestry and Agriculture Promotion Office TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 152) https://reurl.cc/W0ZGYO...

Today, May 30th, is "Kominka Day"!🏘 Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture is blessed with vast nature and retains many traditional wooden houses, ranking third in the nation for kominka preservation. To address vacant-house issues, several renovated inns that evoke the satoyama (rural mountain landscape) by showcasing the buildings' original materials have appeared. setouchi kominka stays hiroshima introduces three houses—chojaya, furousen, and kozako forest—and this time we present a newly renovated inn focused on the outdoors with maximum openness. Its name is kusamura. This is a private-rental tent sauna and an entire kominka available for exclusive use, boasting perhaps the most striking presence in Japan. Housed in a 150-year-old renovated kominka with plenty of outdoor features, one highlight is the BBQ. About a 15-minute drive away, shokusai-kan shobara yume sakura sells Hiba Beef and fresh vegetables, so you can buy ingredients there and bring them for a lively group meal. Second, enjoy a tent sauna that offers a strong sense of privacy for you and your friends. Cooling off outdoors on the engawa (veranda) feels great and provides a unique, deeply relaxing experience. Third, you can have a bonfire. Gather around the flames and enjoy conversation. The sleeping area includes four single beds, one air mattress, and one hammock. The place is equipped with essentials such as a refrigerator, stove, and towels. Happily, pets are allowed, so consider staying with your dog. Please note that guests under junior high school age cannot stay overnight, so be careful when booking. Address: 2765 Kawakitacho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture Price: From JPY 16,200 per night Reservations: Book via Airbnb or Booking.com Hours: Check-in from 15:00 / Check-out by 11:00

Photographed 4/20/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed 4/20/25. This is Hanatetsu's Hanachozu.

Hello, I’m Minamoto 😃 Shosenkyo Gorge is now in the season when plants thrive and the fresh green leaves dazzle the eye 🌱 A cool breeze and the murmur of clear streams soothe the soul♪ Enjoy the beautiful fresh greenery alongside the gorge’s magnificent scenery! The whole Shosenkyo area is a power spot where your mind and body feel purified! After strolling through Shosenkyo, pass through the torii gate of Kanazakura Shrine in the Takigami area ⛩️ and enjoy shopping and dining along the Suisho Kaido (Crystal Road). Come to Shosenkyo to boost your luck!! Our entire staff looks forward to welcoming you.

Many students are taking part in guiding volunteers on Mt. Takao again this year! Feel free to speak to any of them.

【Limited Held in】Aged on the seabed!? The "Undersea Wine Tour" will start 🍷🌊 For wine lovers, diving enthusiasts, and curious people who want to experience something a little different. From Hokule'a Shonan, we would like to introduce an exciting new project. It's called the "Undersea Wine Tour"! In fact, it There are a method of Aged wine that is currently attracting worldwide attention. That is "seabed Aged". In the sea, there is little change in temperature, no light reaches it, and it is very quiet. This special environment mellows the taste of the wine and leads to a deeper Traditional Japanese straw raincoat. This time, a special tour with the experience of actually sinking a wine bottle will be held in in June at the shipwreck Spot of "Shobuzawa" in the southeastern part of the Izu Peninsula! Six months to a year later, the wine is pulled from the seabed and becomes one of the perfect bottles 🎄✨ for Christmas and special occasion toasts at the end of the year 🌟 This is the attraction of the tour! The extraordinary and dramatic experience of actually sinking wine to the bottom of the sea You can enjoy both the beautiful waters and wreck dives of Irisawa The luxury of "savoring time" to enjoy a change of wine months later Reliable support with a small number of people. An atmosphere that makes it easy to participate even for the first time * This dive requires AOW (Advanced Open Water) or higher Sense. Sense acquisition is well in time. Why don't you respond to that feeling of "I wanted to try it someday" this summer? 📅 Held in Tuesday, June 17, 2025 * There are capacity, so please contact us as soon as possible. 🌊 The romance of "making wine Aged in the sea". Beautiful seas, the mystery of wrecks, and wines that ripen over time. Everything comes together to create a true "drama of the sea". Would you like to be the protagonist of a new story this summer? 📩 For reservations and inquiries, please feel free to contact Hokule'a Shonan! #UnderwaterWineExperience #OceanAgedWine #DiveIntoTheUnexpected #ShipwreckWineDive #ToastFromTheOcean #HokuleaShonan #DiveJapan #UnforgettableUnderwater #HiddenJapanGems #BucketListDive

Extra Edition: N takamatsu, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture – “Nezame no Toko” On this day, foodie Kawanishi presents an extra edition‼️ I finally visited Nezame no Toko in Agematsu, Kiso District, a place I’d long wanted to see. Nezame no Toko is counted among Japan’s five great scenic gorges and is designated as a National Scenic Spot!!! Before the Meiji era there were no dams, and the rapids of the Kiso River carved this granite. After dams were built, water diversion lowered the Kiso River’s surface, making the rock formations appear even more massive. It seems the site was designated a National Scenic Spot in 1923 and managed as a prefectural park, and in 2020 it was elevated to part of the Central Alps Quasi-National Park!!! You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in fall—the scenery changes with the seasons. The river’s blue color shows how clear the Kiso River is. Also, surprisingly, there’s an Urashima Taro legend in landlocked Nagano Prefecture!? I’ve been curious about that for a long time. It’s a truly lovely scenic spot and a good workout too! I think you should avoid going right after rain or wearing clothing that hinders movement. I recommend sneakers and clothes you can move easily in!!! Swimming is prohibited, so please be careful. Second-grade elementary school children can make it to Urashima-dō. Why not visit Nezame no Toko with your children to enjoy the beautiful views!? On the way back, I stopped at Michi-no-Eki Hiyoshi Kisokoma Kogen and bought the station’s limited “morokoshi soft-serve” made with milk from Kaida Kogen! A faint, toasty corn aroma spreads through it—this was the most delicious soft-serve I’ve ever tasted!!! Please enjoy it if you can! From time to time, foodie Kawanishi plans to bring you extra editions like this. ◎ Nezame no Toko 📍 Agematsu, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture ◎ Free parking: Available (check the website below) ◎ Website: https://kiso-hinoki.jp/colibri-wp/tourist/nezamenotoko/...

Notice of suspension of the Oyama Cable Car for scheduled inspections The Oyama Cable Car will suspend operations for scheduled inspections during the following periods. Suspension periods June 2, 2025 (Monday) to June 6, 2025 (Friday), June 9, 2025 (Monday) to June 12, 2025 (Thursday) Closed all day (9 days total) *The cable car will operate as usual on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.* For details, please check the official website. https://www.ooyama-cable.co.jp/unkyu202506.html...

Photographed 4/20/25. It is Hanachozu of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

★☆★The 26th Kyushu Tamaire Championship in Morotsuka★☆★ The 26th Kyushu Tamaire Championship will take place at Morotsuka Village Gymnasium on Sunday, June 29. The tournament will be held🌟 “Just a ball toss? Yet not just a ball toss.” The basket you aim for stands over 4 m high😮 Entries are open for the General Division and a Beginner Division for newcomers🔰. ※From 2025 onward there will be no Ladies Division; entrants should register in the General Division. ■Event Schedule Sunday, June 29, 2025 09:30 Opening Ceremony 10:00 Competition Starts 16:00 Expected Finish Venue: Morotsuka Village Gymnasium Participant Parking: Morotsuka Village Sports Park Baseball Field ■Inquiries For tournament matters: Morotsuka Village Board of Education TEL 0982-65-0072 For entry questions: Morotsuka Village Tourism Association TEL 0982-65-0178 ※Entry deadline: Friday, June 13. For applications and details, please check the Kyushu Tamaire Championship page on Morotsuka Navi. We look forward to many entries😊 About the Kyushu Tamaire Championship In 1990, the All Japan Tamaire Association (commonly AJTA) was founded in Wassamu, Hokkaido as a group promoting new sports that anyone can join easily. In 2000, AJTA Kyushu was established here in Morotsuka Village as the Kyushu branch of the All Japan Tamaire Association. Embracing AJTA’s tamaire spirit and promoting exchange with urban areas to revitalize the region, it continues as part of Morotsuka’s community development centered on the whole-village forest park. Today AJTA Kyushu consists of volunteers who cherish the tamaire dream. In addition to running the Kyushu Tamaire Championship (held every summer in Morotsuka Village) as a stepping stone to the national tournament, the association works to popularize this easy-to-learn yet deep tamaire sport as a recreational activity for village residents. About All-Japan Tamaire Rules The competition divides into two divisions, General and Beginner, to compete for the title of Kyushu Tamaire Champion. “All-Japan Tamaire” is a timed race in which teams of four to six players compete to place a total of 100 balls (99 Ajata balls and 1 Anchor ball) into the basket as quickly as possible. AJATA Rules: All-Japan Tamaire Championship Competition Regulations ●Basic Rules “All-Japan Tamaire” is a timed race in which teams of four to six players compete to place a total of 100 balls (99 Ajata balls and 1 Anchor ball) into the basket. 1. Teams must consist of four to six players; lacking even one person results in disqualification. 2. To prevent false starts, players begin facing backward. (Starter gun start) 3. Ajata balls must be placed first; the Anchor ball must be placed last. Placing it earlier causes disqualification. 4. Failing to put all 100 balls in the basket results in disqualification. 5. Using rods or other tools, or tossing from piggyback positions, will result in disqualification. 6. A ball resting on the rim of the basket is counted as safe. If an Anchor ball knocks a ball resting on the basket rim, it is still safe. 7. Anyone other than the players touching the Ajata balls leads to disqualification. 8. Other matters of match operation will be announced at the managers’ meeting. The above rules were officially adopted on April 15, 1996, and partially revised in 2010; all championship tournaments are conducted based on these Ajata rules. ●Participants Number of registered players: up to 8; number competing: 4 to 6 players Gender: mixed or single-gender teams accepted Age: Junior high school age and older (Teams composed only of junior high students are not permitted unless at least one adult participates on the team.) ●Equipment 1. Ajata Court Mark a 6 m diameter Ajata circle with line tape. Position the Ajata basket at the center. 2. Ajata Basket (approved) Height: 4 m 12 cm with steel base (association’s recording site lowest temperature −41.2°C) Basket diameter: 44 cm; depth: 44 cm (association location approx. 44° N) 3. Ajata Balls (approved) Outer fabric cover with resin particle filling • Ajata balls (99)…80 g ±2 g • Anchor ball (1)…250 g ±5 g 4. Ajata Shoes Indoor athletic shoes must be worn.

Photographed on April 18, 25. This is Hanachozu from Hara Flower Shop.

Local views. The sky changes with the time of day. Favorite color and favorite place. Nara Park is also nearby, so please stop by.

This work was photographed in the evening at Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture. Mysteriously edited, brightly.

It was created by collage editing of the confrontation scene between Doctor Yellow, which will end in January 2027, and the Disney Shinkansen, which will end in September 2025. Above is the Fujikawa Railway, and below is near Mt. Ibuki in Shiga Prefecture

Photographed 5/26/25. LEC COFFEE's caramel nut semifreddo and cold yellowtail cream.

June is almost here! In Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, blessed with great nature, you can see fireflies. At Hotaru-mi Park in Kuchiwa Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, many visitors gather every year. The fireflies fly from around 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with a peak 30-minute period from about 9:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. About 300 meters downstream from Hotaru-mi Park there is a spot where Genji fireflies appear. This year’s best viewing time is expected to be later than usual because cherry blossoms bloomed late. Hotaru-mi Park has a campsite, and around July you can see Hime fireflies. Hime fireflies glow more quietly than Genji fireflies, and people who have gone camping at Hotaru-mi Park report the rare experience of seeing many fireflies gather in front of their tents. Hotaru-mi Park has few lights, making it an excellent place for firefly watching. At the “Firefly Viewing Gathering” held on Saturday, June 21, all lights in the management building and campsite will be turned off for one minute starting at 9:00 p.m., so you can enjoy only the fireflies’ glow. You just have to go…! Food trucks and stalls are also planned for the day. Please come visit Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture—see you by car! ● Basic information for Hotaru-mi Park Address: 2-1 Otsuki, Kuchiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture Phone: 0824-87-2513 *The manager is on duty from 8:00 to 17:00* *If no one answers, the manager will call you back* Parking: Available, about 30 spaces ● Event information for the Firefly Viewing Gathering Venue: Hotaru-mi Park, Moomoo Local Products Hall, Shingetsu Marche (former Mikami residence) Address: 2-1 Otsuki, Kuchiwa-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture Date and time: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. (Firefly viewing hours: 6:00 p.m. onward) There are many other spots and events where you can see fireflies. For details, please see the Shobara tourist information site, Shobara Tourist Navi.

Photographed 5/26/25. After Prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, we visited LEC COFFEE. It's a semifreddo with caramel nuts. Semifred is an Italian word that means half cold. It's an ice cake.

At Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine, 🤍 I found a hydrangea of.

Good morning, everyone. Event announcement!! On June 1, 2025, the “Town of Photography” will celebrate its 40th anniversary. On this milestone 40th birthday, we will hold a variety of events so townspeople and everyone who supports us can enjoy the Town of Photography. At the Higashikawa Town Cultural Gallery, there will be a photo exhibition and talk by local photographer Minoru Okuda, an answer reveal for the crossword published in the May public relations issue, and a talk event tied to the publication of the Town of Photography 40th Anniversary Magazine. At the Higashikawa Town multipurpose exchange facility Sento Pure, there will be hot air balloon flight experiences, food trucks, a concert by Tokiko Kato, and te-tetsu hand-held fireworks by the Higashikawa Tetotetsu Fireworks Entomo-kai. The main event will be a birthday celebration with everyone gathered, singing “Happy Birthday” together with Tokiko Kato to mark the town’s 40th birthday! We warmly invite you to join us in celebrating the Town of Photography’s 40th birthday, and we hope many of you will come. On the day of the event, the parking lot on the Sento Pure grounds will be unavailable because of the hot air balloon and te-tetsu fireworks events, so please use nearby public parking such as the JA Higashikawa lot or the Higashikawa Town Office parking. For details, please see the attached flyer. Contact: Higashikawa Town, Town of Photography Division TEL 0166-82-2111 (ext. 590)

Photographed 5/26/25. It is Hanachozu of Kawagoe Hachimangu approach to the temple. It's already hydrangea season.

It was already 5 o'clock on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama that day, the weather was very good like going to shoot the sunset, the first time I arrived in Toyama, I was attracted by the train next to the station and decided to sit over, but because the first time I got on the train, I found that I was sitting in the opposite direction, and it was almost dark when I turned back to the station, and I was afraid that I would take the wrong seat again and decided to use it, and after walking for about 10 minutes, I finally caught the beautiful blue hour, and pressed the shutter under the breeze of the spring evening to record this beautiful moment.

At Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture, which I visited on a trip, I was able to see a water mirror of Tambo reflecting the mountains with a superb view.

✨ The mysterious blue Squid spawning season has arrived ✨ From Spring to summer, the drama of life unfolds in the sea. 🌸🌊 From April to June, this season is the spawning season for blue Squid. It is a precious time to encounter a special sea scene that will remain in your heart "Only now". The first time I experienced diving was just during the spawning season of this blue Squid. 🦑 Swimming softly in the water, and a silent ritual to connect lives. I even now remember being overwhelmed and gasping for breath at the mystery of the sea. The female of the blue Squid is escorted by the male, At the base of seaweed, in the crevices of corals, and in the spawning beds set up by fishery cooperatives, Eggs that look like white pearls are carefully laid one by one. 🤍 Its appearance is fantastic, yet somehow ephemeral. There are males who swim alone. It is a male whose courtship did not come true. Under the straightforward instinct of connecting lives, a quiet "choice of life" is taking place in the sea. 🐚 Having finished laying eggs, the female finishes her role and quietly closes her life. When you witness the moment of "risking your life to connect your life", the back of your chest gradually warms up. You will be deeply moved by the great power and mystery of the sea. 🏝️ At Hokule'a Shonan, we carefully guide you to the spawning scene of blue Squid unique to this season every year. Because of the small number of people, we deliver a "sea experience" that you can observe closely. 📷 That atmosphere, that quiet impression that cannot be conveyed by photographs. Please try it out in Water. And so that first-timers and those with blanks can participate with peace of mind, The instructor will support you 💁 ♂️💁 ♀️ 🌿 At this time of year, when the water temperature and transparency begin to stabilize, it is ideal for diving. 🌊 A special Impression that you can never experience on land awaits you. Why don't you go and see the "baton of life" unfolding in the sea together? The once-in-a-lifetime story of the blue Squid will surely remain deep in ✨ your heart #VisitJapan #KanagawaTravel #ManazuruDiving  #ExploreJapan #ScubaDivingJapan #HokuleaShonan #TokyoDayTrip #JapanNature #OceanAdventure #TravelToJapan #JapanBeachLife #DiscoverJapan #HiddenGemsJapan

I took a first-person view of a school plant from an insect's point of view.

Today, it's Mr. 168's breakfast. Taiwanese rice balls and citrus soy milk 🍋. Taiwanese rice balls contain mustard greens, meat noodles (Lawson), fried eggs, takwan (fried bread), and yujo (fried bread). In addition, black Rice is used. Citrus soy milk contains lemon and is very tasty. Thank you for opening early in the morning. 😊

"The landscape of Japan that has been passed down from generation to generation" is "Kagefuji" When it comes to Mount Fuji, I think most climbers are looking for the light. However, I am more attracted to this evening's shadow Fuji than to the coming light. The shadow of Mount Fuji, one of the symbols of Japan, can only be seen by climbing. And the biggest shadow in No.1 in Japan! It is the shadow Fuji in the evening seen from the 8th station of the Mount Fuji Yoshida route, Elevation of about 3400 meters. Scene of the shadow of Mt. Mount Fuji gradually extending. September 10, 2023 16:44~17:53

Photographed on April 12, 25. Before Prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, we visited LEC COFFEE. Cold onion soup, salad, latte and Neapolitan. 🥗☕️🍝

Photographed 5/22/25. Prayer to Meiji Jingu Shrine.

We present the official tourism association website that packs together the charms of Sakuhomachi in Nagano Prefecture—tourist information, access details, dining spots and more♩ It's convenient for checking before your trip! Be sure to take a look☺ ▶Visit the Sakuhomachi Tourism Association website here https://yachiho-kogen.jp//