Photo taken on December 1st The autumn leaves at Atami Plum Garden are now at their peak! The garden has about 380 maple trees, and perhaps because of the mild climate they usually change color from late November through December, earning the reputation of being "the latest autumn leaves in Japan." Early-blooming plum trees have already started flowering since mid-October, so searching for plum blossoms while enjoying the autumn foliage is a unique Atami experience. During the Momiji Festival, the annual footbath opens, the Atami Plum Garden Momiji Festival Photo Contest is held, and the Momiji Light-Up takes place, among other events. Event period / November 16 to December 8, 2024 Hours / Light-up (every night during the event) 4:30 PM–9:00 PM Venue / Atami Plum Garden (8-11 Ume-enzaka, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Phone / 0557-85-2222 Organizer / Atami City Tourism Association Access / ■ From JR Atami Station, take the bus bound for Ainobara Danchi for about 15 minutes and get off at "Ume-en" ■ From Atami Station, take the Ito Line about 3 minutes to Kinomiya Station, then walk about 10 minutes Admission / Free Parking / 100 spaces in front of the plum garden (open only during the event) (Weekdays) 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) 8:30 AM–5:00 PM Standard car 300 yen · Motorcycle & bicycle 100 yen · Microbus 1000 yen

[TV Asahi "Shokusai no Oukoku" Isehara Yamatoimo] Broadcast date and time: Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:30–9:55 ◇ Program: "Shokusai no Oukoku" A show that stays close to the people who are passionately working to preserve "Japan's food" and unravels the rich world of ingredients. Yasuhito Nakamura of Yamatoimoya in Isehara, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a yam producer who single-handedly hand-digs about 15,000 yam plants grown in his fields from autumn through winter! Program highlights: ▽ Left the corporate world to become a yam farmer! The secrets of stickiness and aroma ▽ Tips for yam cooking worth copying, learned from popular restaurants, and more Be sure to record it so you don’t miss the show! And experience Isehara—famous for its scenery, souvenirs, and gourmet food— see it with your eyes, hear it with your ears, feel it with your skin, taste it with your mouth, and enjoy visiting the filming locations!! Yamatoimoya TEL 0463-96-6333 At the Ekina Kururin House Yamatoimoya’s yam-filled Tanzawa-Ooyama soba and other items are on sale and well received! Midway on the stairs at the north exit of Odakyu Line Isehara Station Ekina Kururin House (Isehara Station Tourist Information) TEL/FAX 0463-95-5333 OPEN 9:00–17:00 (open year-round) * January 1–3, 2025: 10:00–15:00

It was snowing and we were having fun!

Snowy Sapporo Station Sapporo Station is now lit up with colorful lights Together with the slowly falling snow

⛩ Gion Shrine Niiname Festival and Final Kagura Performance 👹 On November 23rd, the Niiname Festival and the final kagura performance were held at Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka district.⛩ First a Shinto ceremony took place, followed by a kagura dedication at the kagura hall.👹 Today we welcomed visitors from overseas and guests who came from Tokyo.😮 The gingko trees at Gion Shrine had turned color, creating a carpet of yellow.😆✨ Gokase Town is getting colder, and it looks like winter is finally arriving.⛄

Autumn foliage spot in Kyushu, Oita Prefecture, Bungoono City [Hoshōji Autumn Leaves 2024] Hoshōji Temple in Kiyokawa-cho, Bungoono City. This venerable temple has a history spanning over 800 years. It displays vivid colors during the autumn foliage season. During the event period, the temple is lit up, enchanting visitors with its mystical atmosphere. Here is a look at the autumn leaves in 2024. [Location] Hoshōji Temple (1639 Udae, Kiyokawa-cho, Bungoono City) About a 50-minute drive from Oita Mera IC About an 8-minute drive from Roadside Station Kiyokawa ■■■ Access to central Bungoono City ■■■ About a 3-hour drive from JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture About a 2-hour drive from JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture About a 1 hour 20 minute drive from JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture ■■■■■■■■■■■■ On Instagram, we share recommended sightseeing, gourmet food, and accommodation spots in Bungoono City ⬇ Bungoono City Tourism Association @satonotabiii We would be happy if you follow us. You can find the Bungoono City Tourism Association website linked in our profile. ■■■■■■■■■■■■

When it comes to pickles from Shinshu, nozawana is well known, but in southern Shinshu, gensuke kabuna pickles are cherished. Gensuke kabuna becomes sweeter and more flavorful after exposure to frost. As the cold grows harsher at this time of year, Toyooka Village has entered the ideal harvesting season for gensuke kabuna. Toyooka Tabi Jikan offers hands-on harvesting experiences for gensuke kabuna. We also provide pickling recipes. For details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabi Jikan website. The program is scheduled to run from around November 25th to December 20th, ending once supplies run out.

On Thursday, November 28, the blooming of the "Himalaya cherry" in Shinsui Park was confirmed. (Photo taken November 29) Of the two trees, the one facing the sea has begun to bloom, and only the uppermost part is flowering. Other buds are swelling, so more blooms are expected soon. This cherry is a rare variety that typically blooms from late November through December, producing delicate pale pink flowers. In Atami City, the parent tree stands on a slope near Atami High School, and young trees are scattered around Shinsui Park, Tsukimigaoka Park, the Sakura Scenic Walk, Nagahama Seaside Park, and other locations. The parent tree originates from seeds of the “Himalaya zakura” that were presented to former Crown Prince (later King) Birendra of Nepal during his study at the University of Tokyo. In August 1967, when he visited Ito City, the Atami Botanical Friends Association offered seeds of Atami cherries and plums. In return, seeds of the Himalaya zakura were sent from Nepal in May 1968 and sown and grown in July of the same year at the municipal farm in Shimotaga, Atami City. Against the cold sky, the modestly blooming cherry is very beautiful. Himalaya cherry A deciduous tall tree that grows in temperate to subtropical zones around the Himalayas. It blooms in November–December with reddish flowers; petals measure 8–13 mm in length and the flowers are rich in nectar. Scientific name: Prunus cerasoides Family: Rosaceae Genus: Prunus Origin: Nepal Number of trees (as of November 2019): 49 in total ・Slope near Atami High School (parent tree, 1): Kamitaga, Atami City ・Tsukimigaoka Park (1): Shimotaga, Atami City ・Shinsui Park (2): beside the first parking lot of Shinsui Park, Nagisa-cho, Atami City ・Beside Taga Junior High School gymnasium (2): Shimotaga, Atami City ・Sakura Scenic Walk (14): Kamitaga, Atami City ・Nagahama Seaside Park (29): Kamitaga, Atami City Inquiries: Atami City Parks and Greenery Division Phone 0557-86-6218 At Atami Plum Garden, autumn colors will soon be at their peak, and early-blooming plums have been flowering since October, so right now you can see autumn leaves, plums, and cherries in Atami at the same time.

Have you all been feeling tired lately??? It may be a little early, but why not plan an evening with friends, partners, or family to see a nationally designated Important Cultural Property lit up? In December, we will illuminate Katakura-kan in Suwa for six days across three weekends (Dec. 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22, 2024)! Katakura-kan is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property and served as a filming location for the famous hot spring film *Thermae Ro◯e* (title partially obscured in the original). Wild eel is actually in season right now, and there is a traditional cold 'doyō' period in January (寒の土用), which locals note. Here’s a suggested plan: 1. Enjoy eel in the Suwa–Okaya area 2. See Katakura-kan illuminated 3. Unwind and refresh from everyday fatigue and stress at Kamisuwa Onsen. Oh—don’t forget to book your accommodation! ・Period: December 7–8 (Sat–Sun), December 14–15 (Sat–Sun), and December 21–22 (Sat–Sun), 2024. ・Time: 17:00–20:00 * Bathing hours at Katakura-kan end at 20:00. Last admission is at 19:30.

This morning Tokachigawa Onsen was blanketed in snow. The forecast high for today is 5°C, so I think it will melt soon, but the pristine white snow is beautiful! It will get colder from now on, so please come to Tokachigawa Onsen to warm up 😊

It rained in Otofukecho this morning. By the afternoon the sky cleared to a beautiful blue, but the wind is chilly... Even so, preparations are already under way for the winter event Sairinka! Every year we start wiring and other electrical work before the snow falls. Please look forward to seeing what kind of light displays Sairinka will present this year! It was raining in Otofukecho this morning. By the afternoon the sky turned into a beautiful blue, but the wind was cold... At the same time, preparations for the winter event "Sairinka" have already begun! Every year we begin installing wiring before the snow falls. Please look forward to the light production that Sairinka will bring this year!

Autumn at Ooyama 2024: Autumn Leaves Update 🍁 11/28 As of yesterday, Wednesday, November 27, the autumn foliage is at its peak. Oyama Temple and Ooyama Afuri Shrine Lower Shrine look as pictured. The Ooyama Autumn Foliage Light-up and the OyamaCableCar night operation (weekdays until 19:00, weekends and holidays until 20:00) run through Sunday, December 1. Enjoy a magically different atmosphere from daytime, the spectacular night view from about 700 m that earned two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and the beautiful autumn leaves together. Don’t miss the Masu Tiramisu at the scenic cafe Saryo Sekison. Concurrent Events 11/30 (Sat) and 12/1 (Sun) 10:00–16:00 *Shukubo Stamp & Quiz Rally* Collect stamps by visiting the temple lodgings, answer the quiz, and you might win a lovely prize!? *Old Approach Marche* Along the old approach road in front of the Afuri Shrine office, various food trucks and local shops will be open. Please note that on the weekend of 11/30 (Sat) and 12/1 (Sun) buses, the cable car, and parking are expected to be very crowded. Allow plenty of extra time for your trip. Please use public transportation where possible. Sunset comes early, so those aiming for the mountaintop are asked to start early in the morning. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station north exit, Platform 4 Take the bus bound for "Ooyama Cable" for about 30 minutes Get off at the final stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station

Toyooka Tabi Jikan has installed a persimmon noren under its eaves! Please relax and enjoy it along with the foot bath♪

【Diamond Fuji from Fujikawa Town Toya】 At exactly 7 o'clock, I took a picture of Diamond Fuji with a sea of clouds. You can see it one month earlier than Diamond Fuji in the lower heights.

Metasequoia trees in Makino Highlands, Shiga Prefecture 2023.12.02 It was raining, but the sun shone just a little.

Autumn leaves in Kyorinbo 2023.12.02 The bright red carpet was beautiful. It is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku in 605 AD, and was named "Kyorinbo" because he preached in a place surrounded by forests. The Kannon-sama of the Honzon is also made by Prince Shotoku, and is called Akagawa Kannon, and has gathered faith that difficult wishes can be fulfilled if you visit twice. 　In addition, the Garden that spreads out in the Precincts is said to be the work of Enshu Kobori, and the exciting Momoyama period scenic Garden with a series of mossy boulders, together with the thatched Shoin (early Edo, city-designated cultural property), creates the atmosphere of a hidden village of wabi-sabi. 　In late autumn, the approximately 300 old trees with Autumn leaves that fill the 2,000 tsubo Precincts are dyed bright red, and the contrast with the thousands of bamboo trees surrounding them fascinates visitors. Held in Autumn leaves Light up is also held from November 15 to December 5 every year.

[Oyama & Isehara City General Sports Park Autumn Foliage Update] 2024 🍁 The Oyama autumn foliage light-up and OyamaCableCar nighttime service (until 7:00 PM on weekdays and 8:00 PM on weekends and holidays) run through Sunday, December 1, 2024! Enjoy a magical atmosphere unlike daytime, with Shonan night views blending with beautiful autumn colors. Here are Oyama Temple on the morning of Sunday, November 24, and the illuminated lower shrine of Oyama Afuri Shrine on Monday, November 25. Oyama attracts many visitors and is almost at peak color now! ※It becomes very crowded on weekends. If you come by car, you may wait 2–3 hours for parking. Please use public transportation whenever possible. ※Sunset comes early, so if you plan to head for the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 4 Take the bus bound for Oyama Cable (about 30 minutes) Get off at the last stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station. 🍂 These are the magnificent ginkgo rows inside Isehara City General Sports Park from last weekend. A leisurely walk! The sports park offers many playgrounds such as a long and wide slide and a tarzan rope. Situated on a hill, it also provides panoramic views of the mountains and town surrounding Isehara, making it well worth a visit! Isehara City General Sports Park Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, platform 3 Kanagawa Chuo Bus No. I-34 bound for Nanasawa Get off at the ‘‘General Sports Park’’ stop and walk 5 minutes.

— Nakasendo: Tsumago-juku Bunka-Bunsei Parade ③ — Thank you to everyone who came! May the event take place safely again on November 23 next year...✨

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

— Bunka-Bunsei Procession ① — On Saturday, November 23, the 57th Bunka-Bunsei Procession took place, hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Association That Loves Tsumago. Under clear skies, residents and visitors recreated the people who likely walked this Nakasendo during the Bunka-Bunsei era and the atmosphere of the post town, bringing lively activity to Nakasendo and Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku).✨ Thank you to everyone who attended and for cooperating with photography etiquette and other manners. We hope the event is held safely again next year.

Shop: Christmas items🎄 Wreaths, patchwork pieces, postcards and more We have an expanding selection of cute items♪ About one month until Christmas🎄 Children are surely waiting for Santa Claus with excited hearts and eager anticipation🎅✨ At Roadside Station Iwanai, Taramaru and Beniko are dressed as Santa! Please take your time browsing the shop when you stop by

✨ The Northern Alps are dusted with snow 🏔 Today, November 25th, just after noon, Omachi City cleared to bright sunshine ☀️ and the snow-dusted Northern Alps appeared 🏔 I took photos from Omachi Park to the east of Omachi City and from the observation deck at the summit of Mt. Takagari ✨ Visitors from Japan and abroad were enjoying the view. For more details, we posted on the staff blog. Please see the official Omachi City Tourism Association website 😌

Autumn leaves of Lake Shoji 2024.11.23 Normally, Mt. Fuji is the main character, but this time he played a supporting role. Autumn leaves were at the end of the season.

This is the view of Onneto today (November 25). The road from the national highway into Onneto is packed snow and ice. Please take great care when traveling. The surface of Onneto has a thin layer of ice only along the shore. It will still take some time before the lake freezes solid. The Onneto Line road leading to the lake will be closed beyond Nonaka Onsen at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 6, and will be closed to vehicles for the winter (until April 11 next year). The road from the national highway to the hot spring will remain open, but you will not be able to drive past that point to the lake, so please be aware of this.

Autumn Oyama Foliage Update 2024🍁 Oyama, bustling with the low-mountain hiking boom⛰ The Oyama foliage light-up and OyamaCableCar night service continue Open until 19:00 on weekdays and until 20:00 on weekends and holidays! As of today, Friday, November 22, Oyama and Oyama Temple look about 60% colored, as you can see. Peak color is expected around Wednesday the 27th, and it may remain good for about another week after that. Near the Oyama Cable station, a ‘‘October cherry’’ (10-gatsu-zakura) was in bloom. Concurrent Events November 23 (Sat), November 24 (Sun), November 30 (Sat), December 1 (Sun) 10:00–16:00 *Shukubo Stamp & Quiz Rally* Visit temple lodgings to collect stamps, answer quizzes, and you might win a lovely prize!? *Old Sando Marche* Along the old sando road in front of the Afuri Shrine office, various food trucks and local shops will set up stalls. 🍁We look forward to seeing you🍁 ※Weekends get very crowded. Days end early, so if you plan to head to the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Bus Stop No. 4 Take the ‘for Oyama Cable’ bus for about 30 minutes Get off at the terminus and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station

Hello everyone, this is the Shosenkyo Tourist Association. The weather was fine again today, and we enjoyed beautiful autumn leaves along the promenade and at each scenic spot. Especially at Takkorin, it’s safe to say the foliage is at its peak right now. Trees reach up toward the blue sky, and red leaves carpet the ground and the roofs of the rest houses, filling the view before you. The forecast calls for sunny weather tomorrow and the day after, so please come and see the autumn colors of Shosenkyo Gorge.

Oyama Sky Lanterns® —Set your wish aloft from 700 m above sea level🌠— Call for Participants Would you like to release a Sky Lantern® into the night sky above MtOoyama from the Ōyama Afuri Shrine Lower Precincts, accompanied by the two-star scenic views of Michelin Green Guide Japan? We are now accepting participants! This rare experience pairs the shrine’s illuminated structures with lanterns carrying each person’s wishes and thoughts, creating a dreamy panorama of lights and night scenery. The OyamaCableCar line will also be lit up along its route and will operate until 19:00. Limited to 50 lanterns, first-come, first-served. 3,000 yen per lantern (tax included). *Up to two people may participate per lantern.* *Date and Time* Sunday, January 12, 2025 — event proceeds in light rain; canceled in severe weather. Registration: 15:00–16:00 Launch: 16:30 *Venue* Ōyama Afuri Shrine Lower Precincts *Access* From Isehara Station north exit on the Odakyu Line, take the Kanachu bus from platform 4 bound for Oyama Cable (about 25 minutes). Get off at the final stop and walk 15 minutes, or take the 6-minute Oyama Cable to Afuri Shrine Station. *How to Apply* WEB: Use the QR code on the flyer or visit the Isehara City Tourism Association website. By phone: Isehara City Tourism Association (0463-73-7373), weekdays 9:00–17:00. By FAX: Complete the Oyama Sky Lantern® application form on the back of the flyer and fax it to 0463-73-6606. *Payment Methods* Cash: At the Isehara City Tourism Association counter (on the stairs at the north exit of Isehara Station on the Odakyu Line), weekdays 9:00–17:00. Bank transfer: Yokohama Bank, Isehara Branch, Ordinary 6072115, General Incorporated Association Isehara City Tourism Association, Representative Director Hitoshi Meguro. *Application and Payment Deadline* Thursday, December 26, 2024 Your application is confirmed upon receipt of payment, so please pay as soon as possible. Please note that cancellations after payment are generally not accepted. For the flyer, application form, and further details, please see the Isehara City Tourism Association website. Sky Lanterns® are registered trademarks of the Japan Sky Lantern Association® and Exploud Inc. Cooperation: Japan Sky Lantern Association® Usage Permit No. JSA045665P

"Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai" Additional and Special Performances Announced We are pleased to announce additional and special performances of Atami geisha's "Yumemachi Odori: Hana no Mai," normally staged every Saturday and Sunday at the Atami Geisha Kenban Kaburenjo. Please enjoy professional dance performances that are rarely seen in everyday life: the elegance of kimono styling, graceful comportment, and breathtaking beauty. Come together with friends and family and join us for these shows. Additional Performance / Monday, December 9, 2024, 11:00 AM (Admission: 2,500 yen) Special Performances / Wednesday, January 1, 2025 (national holiday) and Thursday, January 2, 2025, 11:00 AM (Admission: 3,000 yen) Note: No performances on Saturday, December 21, 2024; Sunday, December 22, 2024; Saturday, December 28, 2024; and Sunday, December 29, 2024. Address / 17-13 Chuocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture (along the Hatsukawa River) Reservations and Inquiries / Atami Geisha Kenban, Tel: 0557-81-3575 Access / From JR Atami Station, take a bus bound for Momijigaoka for about 10 minutes and get off at Shimizucho. Admission / 2,500 yen (tax included). January 1 and January 2: 3,000 yen. Free for elementary school children and younger. Parking / None (paid municipal parking available nearby) Performance Dates / Every Saturday and Sunday; December 9, 2024; January 1 and 2, 2025 Start Time / 11:00 AM (Performance runs about 30 minutes) Venue / Atami Geisha Kenban

[Notice of Reopening of Road Closure] The entrance to Tsumago inn (on the Magome side, opposite the No. 3 parking lot) had been closed to vehicles for road improvement work for a while, but the closure was lifted today, Friday, November 22. Thank you for your cooperation during the long closure! —Notice— Vehicles and pedestrians may now pass as usual, but vehicle entry into the post town is one-way from Omata Bridge, so entry from the No. 3 parking lot side is prohibited. Also, within Tsumago inn, vehicles are always prohibited from 10:00 to 16:00 to protect the scenery.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, the Nakasendo Tsumago inn will host a Bunka-Bunsei era procession! This annual event has taken place on November 23 since 1968 to commemorate the start of preservation efforts at Tsumago Yado. Local residents dress as samurai, courier runners, komuso (mendicant monks), and other figures to recreate the post town atmosphere of the Bunka-Bunsei period. As in past years, the procession will march along the Nakasendo from 10:30 at Watashima General Ground to 11:20 at Tsumago inn (lunch break), then resume at 13:25 and walk the Nakasendo between O-Tsumago and Tsumago. Imagine the travelers who once walked this road in the Bunka-Bunsei era and enjoy the procession. Details about the schedule and other information for the day are available on the Tsumago inn official website✅ There is no reserved space for media or photography. Please avoid blocking others and watch the procession without standing in the way. Non-participants must not join the procession. Tsumago inn remains a living community while preserving its streetscape. Please refrain from entering private property or causing disturbance. The photo shows last year’s event. It is forecast to be cold tomorrow, so please come warmly dressed 😊❄