At Taiyo-no-Oka Engaru Park, the Annual Event Taneimo Campaign will start on Saturday, October 5th. This is a project to help everyone collect the seeds of the cosmos that have finished blooming, and the seeds will be planted in the cosmos garden next year. We would like to ask for your cooperation so that the beautiful cosmos will bloom again next year. People from outside the towns are also welcome! Those who cooperate will receive a delicious and valuable "Shirataki Jaga"! Please come and visit us ♫

A refreshing morning in Azumino Most of the rice has already been harvested, but some paddies still bear ears of rice, perhaps because of the variety In the distance, Mt. Jii-ga-take and Mt. Kashimayari rise tall

Sunset shines on red spider lililies that draw the shape of an S. Honsu City, Gifu Prefecture "Yasuragi no Hayashi" 2024/9

Red spider lililies Fuchu Township Forest At the end of September, we are in the season of red spider liliies, which heralds the end of summer and the arrival of autumn. Unexpectedly, there was also a growing area of red spider lililies in Tokyo. The petals that had just opened were vigorous and fresh, dyeing the whole hill with crimson, while if you looked around the water's edge, you could see clusters of white flowers blooming and shining brightly. You can see the aesthetic Sense of everyone involved in maintenance. Discover a photogenic protagonist who catches your eye a little in a lively flower bed mixed with red and white! The appearance is a red and white flower knot that plays with each other. An elegant and delicate canopy flower that evokes a variety of feelings in the viewer. There are many names, such as 1000 faces.

Isehara Flower Update: September 30, 2024 The higanbana (red spider lilies) in Hinata are at their peak. The cosmos field in front of the back parking lot of the Skills Development Center in the Arouzu area is also beautiful. The parking area beside Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop is full, and many visitors continue to come. This shows the current condition of the higanbana near Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop today. According to local residents, many buds remain, so the flowers should stay beautiful through this week and next. Please note that bus services are limited, so check schedules in advance. Parking lots may become crowded depending on the day and time. Please enjoy your walk while observing proper manners. A map of the Hinata higanbana is available inside cans at the restroom entrance in the Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop parking area and inside the back parking lot of the Skills Development Center (8:30–16:00). Please make use of it.

◆Ise Lobster Festival Period: Saturday, October 5, 2024–Saturday, November 30, 2024 ※Checkout until Sunday, December 1, 2024 ※Reservation applications start: Saturday, September 14–Friday, November 22, 2024 (phone reception 9:00–17:00) ※Applicable to stays for two or more people (one night) ※The lottery is not first-come, first-served for reservations, reception, or applications ※No accommodation discounts are available ◆Overview ◉Accommodation reservations are accepted through Friday, November 22, 2024. ◉Stays on Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17 may be difficult to reserve due to a local town event. ◉Ise lobster is offered to adults (junior high school students and older) and children (ages 6 through elementary school). ◉Each guest may choose one lobster cooking method. ※Choose one of three lobster cooking methods: sashimi, boiled, or oni-gara yaki (roasted in the shell). ※The available cooking methods and their details may vary by accommodation. ◉The lottery tickets are limited to the first 500 people who draw at the venue. ※The order is not based on reservation, reception, or application sequence but on the order in which lottery tickets are actually drawn at the venue (Tourism Association). ◉Lottery eligibility covers adults and children (ages 6 through elementary school). ※Infants (ages 0–1) and toddlers (ages 2–5) are not eligible. ◉The lottery ends once the 500-ticket limit is reached. ◉After the lottery ends, accommodation reservations will continue to be accepted without special benefits. ◉Only guests who made accommodation reservations through our Tourism Association are eligible for the lottery. ※However, lottery tickets are awarded on a first-come basis to those who actually come to the Tourism Association in person. ◉When you pay the reservation deposit, you will receive a “Reservation Deposit Receipt,” which you must present to draw a lottery ticket. ◉Lottery tickets can be drawn at Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana (Tourist Information Center). ◉Roadside Station Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana is open from 9:00 to 17:00. Accommodation Procedure ◉Apply for accommodation via the application form, email, or phone. ◉Once our Tourism Association arranges your accommodation, we will mail you an accommodation information letter. ◉After you receive the accommodation information letter, please transfer the stated accommodation fee to the designated bank account. ◉After confirming your transfer, we will mail you the Reservation Deposit Receipt. ◉Once you receive the Reservation Deposit Receipt, please come to Minami-Izu Town. ◉Present the Reservation Deposit Receipt at the Tourism Association reception to draw a lottery ticket. ◆Steps to the Lottery Ticket ① Apply (via form, etc.) ② Accommodation arrangement (rooms may be unavailable) ③ Accommodation information letter mailed ④ Guest transfers accommodation fee ⑤ Reservation Deposit Receipt mailed ⑥ Lottery ticket drawn at the Tourism Association ◆Accommodation Benefits (Prize Redemption) With numbered tickets ・Five winners: accommodation subsidy voucher worth 15,000 yen each ・Ten winners: accommodation subsidy voucher worth 5,000 yen each ・Twenty winners: live Ise lobster (one box, approximately 1 kg, 2–7 lobsters) ・Seventy-five winners: frozen Ise lobster (150 g–300 g) ・Ten winners: Irozaki Ocean Park shopping voucher worth 3,000 yen ・Thirty winners: Irozaki Ocean Park shopping voucher worth 2,000 yen ・Fifty winners: Irozaki Ocean Park shopping voucher worth 1,000 yen Without numbered tickets ・100 yen discount on purchases at Irozaki Ocean Park ※Present the non-numbered lottery ticket plus a parking ticket at the register ※Lottery participants will receive a free parking voucher for Irozaki Ocean Park ※If the lottery ends, accommodations will be offered as regular Ise-lobster-inclusive stays without the lottery benefits.

‘Ichii-gashi in the Interval’ An ichii-gashi (Quercus gilva) in Kiyokawa-cho, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. This great tree stands in the mountains of Kiyokawa-cho. It is a centuries-old giant. You find the giant ichii-gashi deep along the forest road that leads to Mount Ontake in Souchi, Kiyokawa-cho, Bungoono City. Its total height is 12 m, and its trunk circumference at chest height is 10 m. A hollow opens at the trunk’s center, and a small shrine stands inside. It is also designated as a Special Protected Tree by Oita Prefecture. Seeing it in person is an overwhelming experience. Turn left onto the forest road and drive about 500 m, then walk into the cedar woods on the right, cross a stream, and you will reach it in about two minutes. The site is little known and hard to find, so these photos should help convey its atmosphere. For more details, please contact the tourism association. Location: Souchi, Kiyokawa-cho

Hello, this is Koshu local cuisine Waraji. The oppressive late-summer heat is easing, and we can feel the arrival of autumn. This is the perfect season for a stroll through Shosenkyo Gorge. At Waraji, our recommended dishes are houtou and unajuu, but the tempura rice bowl is actually popular too! It comes piled high with three large prawns and plenty of vegetables: eggplant, kabocha squash, enoki mushrooms, and shiso leaves. Our secret sauce not only brings out the flavour of the tempura but also makes the rice delicious with sauce. Be sure to try it with a large serving of rice. If you get hungry while walking, please drop by Waraji. #Shosenkyo Gorge #Mitake Shosenkyo #Yamanashi Prefecture #Yamanashi #Kofu City #Kofu #sightseeing spot #Yamanashi trip #Yamanashi sightseeing #outing #day trip #Waraji #Koshu local cuisine Waraji

The Atami Plum Garden Autumn Leaves Festival will be held from Saturday, November 16, 2024 to Sunday, December 8, 2024. Known as the earliest-blooming plum site in Japan, Atami Plum Garden is also a spot for autumn foliage. About 380 maple trees line the garden, and thanks to the warm climate they often change color from late November into December, making this place sometimes called the latest autumn foliage in Japan. Early-blooming plums begin to flower around mid-November, so you may see plum blossoms and autumn leaves at the same time. During the festival there will be a footbath, a photo contest, jazz performances, illumination, and a wildflower moss-ball (kokedama) workshop, among other events. Please take this opportunity to enjoy the red-hued Atami Plum Garden. *On November 16 (Sat) and 17 (Sun), the Japan–Korea Gourmet Fair 2024 in Atami will also take place.* Event period: November 16–December 8, 2024 Hours: Illumination daily during the period, 16:30–21:00 Venue: Atami Plum Garden (8-11 Umezonocho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture) Phone: 0557-85-2222 Contact: Atami City Tourism Association Access: ■ From JR Atami Station, take a bus bound for Ainohara Danchi for about 15 minutes and get off at "Ume-en" (Plum Garden). ■ From Atami Station, take the Ito Line for 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 period) (Weekdays) 9:00–17:00 (Sat, Sun, and public holidays) 8:30–17:00 Fees: Ordinary cars 300 yen; motorcycles & bicycles 100 yen; microbuses 1,000 yen

Whooping red has continued to bloom for a long summer.

Isehara Flower Report — Hinata's Red Spider Lilies 2024.9.26 This year the blooms are not opening all at once as in past years; flowering varies by location. Many shoots with buds were seen. Depending on the temperature, they may bloom rapidly. Hinata Yakushi is running late and only about one third of the flowers are open now, but it’s worth a visit during your shrine visit! *Red spider lilies special: Yakushi Rurikō Nyorai Goshuin available* ※Limited to 500 copies (while supplies last) ¥500 Many people were taking photos and strolling around the Hinata Yakushi bus stop area again today. ※There are few buses, so please check schedules in advance. Parking lots may be crowded depending on the day and time. Please enjoy your walk while observing good manners. *Please use the Hinata red spider lily guide map placed inside the can by the restroom entrance in the Hinata Yakushi bus stop parking area and in the can in the back parking lot of the Skills Development Center (8:30–16:00).*

Nobeoka City Event Information ＼The season of Nobeoka’s suigo ayu-yana has arrived again this year!／ What is ayu-yana… Ayu-yana is a traditional fishing method that dams the river and creates an outlet in part of the flow, using the ayu’s instinct to swim downstream to spawn to guide them into a catch trap called otesu. While yana fishing is found across Japan, the Nobeoka Suigo Ayu-Yana stands out for its grand scale—constructed in spots where the river exceeds 100 meters in width—and for being set up close to the city center, a rarity elsewhere. On the Ose River, dining huts associated with the ayu-yana open, so you can enjoy a full course of freshly caught ayu—salt-grilled, miso-grilled, and more—while taking in the otherworldly scenery right before you. The sight of ayu being grilled on the riverbank has been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as one of the 100 Fragrant Landscapes, and it is the only site in Miyazaki Prefecture to receive this recognition. Each year a pier is laid out so visitors can walk out toward the center of the river, offering a chance to see ayu fall into the otesu up close. 👀✨ Please come and visit us!

On the Toyooka Village cycling guided tour, guests can bring the fruit they harvest to the café and have it turned into desserts to enjoy! Right now, it’s shine muscat grapes. After that come apples, sweet persimmons, and Ichida persimmons. More seasonal fruits will follow! For details on the guided tours, please see the Toyooka Travel Time website. We also accept inquiries by phone! Toyooka Village Tourism Association (Toyooka Travel Time): 0265-49-3395

Summer in Japan never lets you down, although it's humid. The lush green nature, the sound of cicadas and wind chimes, light breeze, beautiful sunsets, and peaceful life make summer here calm and soulful. The vibrant and magnificent fresh green view from Furano are a of Hokkaido

Summer in Japan never lets you down, although it's humid. The lush green nature, the sound of cicadas and wind chimes, light breeze, beautiful sunsets, and peaceful life make summer here calm and soulful. Photo taken in koishikawa korakuene

September 23 (Mon) Red spider lilies announcing the start of autumn 🍁 Hello everyone 🤗! Gokase Town had an intense thunderstorm yesterday ⛈️, and today dawned bright and clear with a refreshing breeze 😌☀️! The atmosphere has completely shifted to autumn 🍁 — it feels so pleasant… ✨ Along the roadside in Gokase Town, as autumn approaches, you can sometimes spot striking red flowers 👀 — red spider lilies ☺️💡 So today I photographed the red spider lilies blooming near Yuuhi-no-Sato Ohashi bridge in the Kuwanochi area 📸💫 As their name suggests, red spider lilies reach their peak around the equinoctial week and are known as flowers that announce the start of autumn; they are also called lycoris or manjusha-ge 🤔 Their vivid red color and distinctive shape really catch the eye 👏 When I was shooting, various swallowtail butterflies swirled around them, creating an incredibly beautiful scene 🥹✨ Because their bulbs are poisonous, people have long planted them around rice paddies, fields, and graves to deter moles, so they carry a traditional Japanese charm that stirs nostalgic feelings when you look at them 😌… Spring and autumn especially bring out the beauty of plants — they are wonderful seasons 🍁. Let’s continue enjoying Japan’s four seasons 🤩✨

Unfortunately it rained in the morning With a slight hope, we set off for Mt. Haruna! By the time we arrived at our destination, Lake Haruna, the rain had stopped and it was and sunny! I think the Traditional Japanese straw raincoat clouds gave a very good performance. In addition, the silhouette angler is backlit from the sunlight It fascinated me ♪ with the real thrill of the outdoors It became my favorite photo.

[Hinata Spider Lilies Notice: Temporary Tourist Information Desk Closed Today, 9/22] 2024.9.22 Due to weather conditions, the temporary tourist information desk run by volunteers in the Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop Parking Area will be closed today, Sunday, September 22. Please feel free to take a copy of the Hinata spider lily guide, which is placed by the toilet entrance in the Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop Parking Area and inside a can in the back parking lot of the Skills Development Center. While parts of the Hyuga area are reaching peak bloom, please watch your step carefully and enjoy the flowers responsibly within your physical limits.

CAMP at Kijiya on Wednesday, September 18th⛺ I tried a CAMP experience at Gokase Onsen Mori no Yado Kijiya🔥 We planned to start while it was still light, but the sun set early and we began at dusk🌆 Still, we had a lively barbecue with everyone while watching the sunset from Kijiya on the hilltop🥩 The autumn night breeze felt pleasant and there were fewer bugs, so this season is perfect for camping💡 Come and try camping at Kijiya—it's highly recommended✨

[Friday, September 13] Unoko Falls Today I visited the viewing platform at Unoko Falls. The waterfall had a strong flow today, and it looked impressive from the platform. Mt. Aso was clearly visible from the winery.

[Yakushi Forest Road Partial Closure] Due to the effects of Typhoon No. 10, a section of Yakushi Forest Road (from the back of Hinata Yakushi to Nanasawa) is closed to all traffic, including pedestrians. There is no scheduled date for reopening at this time. For detailed information, please see the Kanagawa Prefecture website.

Isehara Flower Update: September 20 Gentle Hinata red spider lilies…their stems have grown and blooming has begun, and in some spots they are partially very beautiful! This morning’s view of the red spider lilies. Temporary Tourist Information Desk open at Hinata Yakushi Bus Stop Parking Lot September 21 (Sat), 22 (Sun), 23 (Mon, public holiday) 9:30–15:00 Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Kanachu Bus Platform 3 Take the “Hinata Yakushi” bus, about 20 minutes, get off at the final stop During the red spider lily season, the parking lot behind the Human Resources Development Center is specially opened and a red spider lily guide map is provided, so please make use of it. Please refrain from parking on the street. The season gets crowded, so please enjoy the flowers while observing good manners.

Mt. Ontake (Ondake) Mt. Ontake stands in Kiyokawamura, Bungoono City, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu. Mt. Ontake rises to 568 meters. From the summit you get a superb view that takes in the whole Bungoono area. From the top you can see Mt. Kabeyama, Mt. Aso, the Kuju mountain range, and the Ono mountain area. The summit’s rocks are chart—a sedimentary rock formed from compacted plankton on the Pacific seafloor—that were swept onto the Japanese archipelago by plate movements. Passing through the torii and climbing a gentle stone stairway for about 10 minutes brings you to Mitake Shrine, said to have been founded in 1449, and the birthplace of Mitake Kagura. The rocky hill behind the shrine is called Sennodake and is regarded as a sacred place. When climbing Sennodake, enter with a feeling of gratitude and take great care with your footing, as the route remains rocky. ■■■ Access to central Bungoono City About 3 hours by car from JR Hakata Station, Fukuoka Prefecture About 2 hours by car from JR Kumamoto Station, Kumamoto Prefecture About 1 hour 20 minutes by car from JR Beppu Station, Oita Prefecture About 1 hour 20 minutes by car from JR Yufuin Station, Oita Prefecture ---------- On Instagram we share recommended sightseeing, gourmet spots, and accommodations in Bungoono City ⬇✨ Bungoono City Tourism Association @satonotabiii We’d be happy if you follow us 😊 A link to the Bungoono City Tourism Association website is available from our profile. ----------

Hello, this is Shosenkyo Crystal Sound. Although it’s past mid-September, the hot days continue. How are you doing? At Shosenkyo, you can still feel the heat, but a refreshing autumn breeze is beginning to arrive, and it lifts the spirits. The iconic Kakuen Peak of Shosenkyo stands out brilliantly against the blue sky. You might know lapis lazuli and sapphire as September birthstones… But actually, kunzite is also a September birthstone! Its gentle, pale pink hue soothes you just by looking at it. The gemstone’s meanings are “love, peace, motherhood,” a compassionate stone that shelters and protects with inner strength. Many other natural stones stand in neat rows as well. Please take your time strolling and enjoy touching the stones. All our staff sincerely look forward to welcoming you.

Isehara Flower Update: September 18 The spider lilies at Hinata are not yet in peak bloom. Some areas have already begun to bloom. A temporary tourist information desk will open at the parking area next to the Hinata Yakushi bus stop. It will operate on Saturday, September 21; Sunday, September 22; and Monday, September 23 (a public holiday). From the north exit of Odakyu Isehara Station, take the Kanachu Bus from platform 3. Take the bus bound for Hinata Yakushi; the ride takes about 20 minutes. Get off at the final stop. ※Bus service is limited, so please check schedules in advance. If the temporary desk is not open, unmanned spider lily information maps are available at the Hinata Yakushi bus stop (parking lot restroom entrance) and at the Vocational Development Center (rear gate parking lot, 8:30–16:00). They are in a can—please take as many copies as you need.

The National Alps Azumino Park is a national park spreading at the foot of the Northern Alps in central Nagano Prefecture. The park has two areas: Omachi-Matsukawa in the north and Horikane-Hotaka in the south. The Horikane-Hotaka area lies about a 20-minute drive from Azumino Interchange on the Nagano Expressway. In the Horikane-Hotaka area, the yellow cosmos are now in full bloom. Eight hundred thousand yellow cosmos flowers cover 2.5 hectares of terraced rice fields in a spectacular display. The National Alps Azumino Park is broadly divided into two zones, and the yellow cosmos appear in the Satoyama Culture Zone, so please be careful not to use the wrong entrance. They should be enjoyable through late September. After that, in the Rural Culture Zone, you can see 180,000 cosmos of 12 different varieties. These are expected to peak from late September through mid-October. There are photo spots, and on clear days you can see Mt. Jonen. *Two pink cosmos photos are from last year.*

The Garden of the Expo Commemorative Park is even now beautifully maintained, It seems to take the viewer to another world.

Morning of Kirigenkyo 2024.09.14 Fukushima Mishima Towns's Kirigenkyo Pass It is said that it is likely to occur between June ~ August, when the water temperature of the Tadami River is cold, and the temperature difference is high, even in summer, which has its Minamoto in Oze, which straddles the three prefectures of Fukushima, Niigata, and Gunma. River fog in the early morning when warm air streams into the river and warms the surface of the river. Background of the operation The history and boat culture of the former Township have all disappeared, and a former resident (Kentaka Hoshi, a man Famous for taking pictures of the Tadami Line 365 days a year) became the center and revived the ferry operation as the "Kirigenkyo Project" in 2010. Ferries are by appointment only. It is also possible for those who want to take pictures to make a reservation and take pictures of only the boat. Squid moves the boat with such a photo. Like that.

Hinata Yakushi Cluster Amaryllis (Higanbana) in Isehara 2024 *The shaded path is currently closed to through traffic due to typhoon damage* The higanbana season is finally here!! However, with this year’s lingering summer heat, peak bloom still seems a little way off. We have confirmed a few lone flowers blooming here and there in the rice fields. A temporary tourist information booth will open to coincide with the flowers’ best viewing. Saturday, September 21; Sunday, September 22; Monday (national holiday), September 23 Location: Hinata Yakushi bus stop terminus From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Kanachu Bus Platform 3 Take the “bound for Hinata Yakushi” bus for about 20 minutes *Bus services are infrequent, so please check schedules in advance.* The rice paddies and fields where the higanbana bloom are open to the public thanks to the generosity of the landowners. Please follow proper etiquette and show your understanding and cooperation. We will post updates on the blooming status as they come in.

🎆 Tone River fireworks festival It is a fireworks festival that starts tomorrow. Available is the largest fireworks festival in the Kanto region, and 40,000 fireworks color the 🤤 night sky