On June 15, 2025, the Community Exchange Center “Tokutoku” opened in front of JR Shintoku Station 😊

On the second floor, the railway heritage exhibition room “Poppo” displays dioramas and the history of railways.
When you view the dioramas, try crouching so your eye level matches the models—you’ll see them in a different way 🚂

On the first floor, the cafe and shop Kotoise offers railway-themed goods, cow-pattern cups and ornaments made from Shintoku-yaki pottery, handmade items by local artists, and specialty products from Shintoku Town.

On the second floor, the information center (Shintoku Town Tourism Association) also rents bicycles, so you can explore the town by bike and enjoy the scenery and local food.

Please consider visiting the Community Exchange Center “Tokutoku” sometime 🤗

https://shintoku-town.net/

Event Notice📣

On Monday, July 21, the "Mikage Festival" will take place 😊

Also known as the Beer Festival!!
Enjoy handmade flavors from local shops, sirloin-cut steaks, and grilled Wagyu ribeye together with beer 🎵 The program includes Flahibiscus Mikage, Cheer Angel Baton Twirlers, and a bingo tournament!!
The festival ends with a grand fireworks display that will color the summer night sky!!
Relax and enjoy summer with a beer🍺

📌Date and Time: July 21, 2025, from 15:00 (will proceed even in rain)
📌Venue: Mikage Community Center
📌Parking: Mikage Improvement Center
📌Fireworks start at 20:00

[Requests]
📍Seating at the venue is limited. Please bring your own tables and chairs.
📍If you use the lawn, please bring a ground sheet.
📍There is no garbage station. Please take your trash home with you.
📍Please refrain from parking on the street as it will inconvenience nearby residents.

https://www.shimizu-hokkaido-ta.jp/cont8/49.html

Hello 😃 This is Yamanashi Wine Kingdom Senga Falls. It's July and the heat is getting more intense—how is everyone doing?

If you go down to Senga Falls, a sightseeing spot in Shosenkyo Gorge, the negative ions and the waterfall's spray will sweep the heat away and create a refreshing coolness.
From Yamanashi Wine Kingdom you can even see directly above the falls!

There are many photo spots in the Takiue Area, so please capture a memory or two 😌
Especially popular is the giant salamander mascot!
Many guests love to take photos with it☺️
By the way, there are said to be salamanders living in Shosenkyo Gorge…?
If you meet one, it might bring you good luck!

Also, Yamanashi Wine Kingdom launched a new orange wine in July!
Made from white grapes using red wine production methods, this wine is crisp yet lets you enjoy the tannic nuance from the skins.
Please serve it well chilled 😀

We sincerely look forward to your visit ☺️

Event Announcement📣

The "Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway Festival" will be held on Sunday, July 20.😊

After the railway first reached Rikubetsu in 1910 (Meiji 43), it was abolished in April 2006 (Heisei 18).
In April 2008 (Heisei 20), it was reborn as the operational "Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway."
Hoping to welcome more riders, we hold the "Furusato Ginga Line Rikubetsu Railway Festival."🎵

On Saturday, July 19, the eve festival features stage shows and local food stalls!!
About 1,500 fireworks will be launched, and a special fireworks train will run so passengers can watch the display from the train (capacity 32 people, 1,500 yen, includes Rikubetsu town specialty products).😍

Eve Festival
📌Date and Time: Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 18:00
📌Venue: Midorimachi Soccer Field
📍Fireworks launch at 20:00

On Sunday, July 20, the main festival is packed with activities, including special train rides, dance and street performances, horse riding experiences, a big lottery, and mochi throwing!! Rikubetsu town’s mascot character "Shibare-kun" and his bouncy dome are a big hit with children!!

📌Date and Time: Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 10:00
📌Venue: Station Front Multipurpose Plaza
📍A comedy stage by Yoshimoto comedians will be held at 14:30😁

Contact
Rikubetsu Town Tourism Association Office (Rikubetsu Town Hall, Industrial Promotion Division, Commerce and Industry Promotion Section TEL:0156-27-2141)

Enjoy the three-day weekend—bring your family and friends to the event and make lots of great memories🤗
https://www.rikubetsu.jp/kanko/event/tetsudoumatsuri/

Event Announcement📣

How are your plans for this weekend?

Makubetsu Summer Festa 2025 will take place on Sunday, July 20th🎵

Alongside dance, light rock music, and taiko drumming, there will be games for children and food stalls serving delicious local treats from Makubetsu😁

A grand lottery offers luxurious prizes, including paired travel vouchers!!

The festival’s climax will be about 3,000 fireworks that will fill the night sky with brilliant gold😍
Come enjoy the summer festival with friends and family🤗

📌Date and time: Sunday, July 20th, 2025, 1:00 PM–9:00 PM

📌Location: Makubetsu Town Sports Park, special event area

📌Notes
* Bringing pets is prohibited.

* The entire sports park is smoke-free (including electronic cigarettes).

* Grilling and BBQ inside the sports park are prohibited.

http://www.makubetsu.jp/kankobussankyokai/?p=8545

Photographed on July 9, 25.
We visited Taiwanese tea house e-one in Omiya.
It's salted chicken. The salty fried chicken is topped with fried vegetables. It is a salad, radish soup.

Kikuchi Tourism Association offers bicycle rentals.
Recently, more people have been using them.

This time, we introduce the popular destination, Kiki Castle.

Kiki Castle is a mountain fortress built by the Yamato government in the late 7th century, about 1,350 years ago.
A prefectural excavation uncovered valuable remains, including the foundations of 72 buildings, a former reservoir, and earthwork embankments.

You can also see reconstructed buildings on site.
At Onko Soseikan, exhibitions and videos explain Kiki Castle’s history and structure in detail.

Excavations have continued since fiscal 1967 to the present.
In terms of area, the site is about 12 times the size of the Tokyo Dome.
The grounds are very spacious, making them ideal for a walk.

Our staff actually visited by electric-assist bicycles.
We reached Kiki Castle from Kikuchi City Furusato Sosei Citizen Plaza in about 20 minutes.
There are some slopes, but electric-assist bicycles make riding easy.

On the site is a café called Kuri to Sora that sells sweets made with Japanese chestnuts.

The Mont Blanc soft-serve is especially popular.
Please stop by the café to relax during your trip.

You can enjoy scenery you don’t usually see.
When you visit Kikuchi City, please enjoy a bicycle journey.

Event Announcement 📣
July 13 (Sunday) Memuro Fireworks Festival "Kanon" will be held 😊

In 2014, the long-running local fireworks festival that had continued for 28 years ended. A group of volunteers in their 20s and 30s, who grew up watching Memuro’s fireworks, organized this festival so today’s children can also come and enjoy that beloved celebration 🎵
The venue offers a variety of events and attractions, and a food area brings together more than 60 popular shops from across Hokkaido!!
Fireworks will be launched from 8:00 PM 😍

📌Location: Memuro Park special venue
📌Hours: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone 🤗

https://www.memuro-hanaoto.com/

〈Teshika’s First Vintage Wine “Teshika Rosé” Released〉

Teshika Rosé, the first wine brewed at the Kussharo Caldera Winery, goes on sale at nine shops in town from July 12. Supplies are limited, so anyone interested should check it out soon!!

Tokachi Hills, a garden on a gentle hill in Makubetsu, is hosting Rose Week until Sunday, July 13.

At the entrance, you can borrow leisure sheets and baskets for free and enjoy a picnic inside the garden.

The café attached to the shop serves soft-serve ice cream, rice balls, curry and more.
This time I had a chilled white corn soup made with Memuro-grown corn.
There is also Garden Cafe NIWAKARA in the garden, where you can enjoy lunch or a reservation-only afternoon tea while looking over the grounds.

Even after Rose Week, various events take place, so please stop by.

Tokachi Hills Instagram @tokachihills
Garden photos @tokachihillsgardeners
Garden Cafe Niwakara @niwakara__tokachihills

Access:
About a 20-minute drive from obihiro station, or about a 50-minute bike ride from obihiro station.
If you cycle from obihiro station, there are uphill sections, so we recommend an electric bicycle.
Cycling will give you a good sweat—please watch out for heatstroke.
You pass Manabe Garden by bike, so you can visit both gardens on one ride.
It takes about 25 minutes by bike from Manabe Garden to Tokachi Hills.

https://www.tokachi-hills.jp/

Sakai Great Fish Night Market is heating up again this year!🏮

The Sakai Tourism Concierge will take part in the Sakai Great Fish Night Market again this year!
🐟With fish auctions and 🎵stage performances, we want to liven things up together with everyone!
Please come to the Sakai Great Fish Night Market! We sincerely look forward to seeing you at the venue✨

Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City
Introducing a gourmet town that's drawing attention for its cluster of Miyoshi's delicious eateries
✨

From authentic French cuisine to a tofu shop that draws lines,
and long-established makers of Hiroshima's representative wagashi and bread,
this town simply overflows with tasty treats😋

Found a shop you like? Save it and let’s go!!♪


**************************************
1. Mirasaka Fromage
📍1617-1 Nika, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Certified Miyoshi Brand product (Fromage de Mirasaka)

2. Zakka Cafe Kotonone (Koto no Ne)
Instagram: @koto.no.ne
📍666-2 Nika, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Last order 16:00
Please check the shop’s Instagram for the business calendar.

3. Izumiya Japanese and Western Confectionery Workshop
Instagram: @izumiya_mirasaka
@izumiya_kashiwamochi (Izumiya Noboricho branch)
📍4213-5 Mirasaka, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available

4. Mirasaka Trevis
Instagram: @mirasaka_trevis
📍804 Mirasaka, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Open on holidays when the regular closing day falls on a holiday.
Please check the shop’s Instagram for the business calendar.
Last order: Lunch 14:00, Dinner 21:00

5. Mirasaka Coffee
Instagram: @mirasakacoffee
📍808 Mirasaka, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Last order 16:30

6. Sasaki Tofu
Instagram: @sasakitoufuten
📍2610-16 Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Last order 14:30

7. Mirasaka Bamboo Workshop Hanakago
📍71 Okada, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／


There’s a special Drive Discount (100 yen off coffee after your meal, up to 4 people)
✨
**************** Drive Discount Details *****************
① On your smartphone
Install the Walk @round Miyoshi app
(Search “Miyoshi Tourism” in the app store)
② Tap the central banner labeled Special Campaigns
③ From the Drive Discount list, tap the relevant shop
④ Tap the Drive Discount banner
⑤ Ask staff for the lucky number and enter it
⑥ Tap Get the Reward
⑦ Show the screen to staff to complete the process.
**************************************************

8. Burger Shop THREE THREE
Instagram: @three_three_mmm
📍Shimo-go 5038-2, Mirasaka, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available
Other／Last order 19:00
※Closes when patties run out

9. Rune Coffee Roasters
Instagram: @rune_coffee_roasters
Address／Inside THE LAUNDRY, 5038-2 Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available

10. Mirasaka Bakery Mugimugi
Instagram: @mugimugi_hiroshima
📍5038-3 Mirasaka, Mirasaka Town, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
🅿 Available


※Food photos are examples.
Menu items may change depending on the season.

Photographed on June 21, 25.
This is avocado shrimp from CAFE ANDON's hot sandwich set.
Oyster ice and parfaits are also worrisome. 🍧🍨

[Popular Bread Feature – Early Summer Bread Festival]
Miyoshi is full of delicious bakeries 🍞
This time, we wanted to know the bakeries' most popular breads!
In response to that request, we asked six bakeries about their bestsellers 🎤

Every pick is a must-try!!
Enjoy a bakery tour around Miyoshi.

There are still many bakeries we couldn't feature this time✨ Look forward to the Autumn Bread Festival too!

*The featured products and prices are as of the time of posting.*

*****************************************************

●Cadeau Kado
Instagram: @cadeau1979
📞0824-62-5356
Check the shop’s Instagram for year-end, New Year and Obon holiday closures♪

●Natural Yeast Bread guflat Guflat
Instagram: @guflat.kisa
They sell at Fukuroku in Kisa on the third Saturday of each month.
For other irregular holidays or sales outside the bakery, check the shop’s Instagram business calendar♪

●Morning Loaf Specialty Shop Hajimari no Shokupan Miyoshi
Instagram: @hajimarino.shokupan
📞0824-55-6445
Don’t miss the weekly rotating loaves and the hugely popular melon pan—check the shop’s Instagram for details♪

●Kimita Onsen Mori no Bakery
Instagram: @kimita_onsen
📞0824-53-7021 (Kimita Onsen voice guide)
Check Instagram for events and special offers at Kimita Onsen♪

●green mugi mugi
Instagram: @greenmugimugi
📞0824-63-9777
Located inside the direct-sales market Tretta Miyoshi.
It’s a 4-minute walk to the Okuda Genso and Koyume Museum, where the "Bread Thief" exhibition is held✨

●Maware Shoten
Instagram: @mwr_gram
Check the shop’s Instagram for sold-out closure information♪
We recommend visiting early.

[Speaking of bread news]
From July 3 to August 31,
the Okuda Genso and Koyume Museum will host the hugely popular special exhibition "Bread Thief"❣
Look forward to it too ❤

Event announcement📣
July has arrived, and summer is here in earnest — a season full of festivals and events. If you’re free this weekend, why not drop by one of the events taking place? 🤗

📌Saturday, July 5 — Shirohebi-hime Festival at the shore of Lake Shikaribetsu in Shikaoicho. This theatrical folk performance, created from Ainu traditions, features a 13-meter white snake and a princess dancing in a dreamlike spectacle.
■Time: 17:30–21:15
■Free shuttle bus to the venue: A free shuttle will operate from Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum in Shikaoicho to the lakeside venue using the regular bus route.


📌Sunday, July 6 — The 52nd Pyotan Falls Yamabe Release Festival at Satsunai River Park in Nakasatsunai Village. The day starts with the release of yamabe (a local trout), followed by a Poroshiri drum performance, hands-on workshops, food trucks, and ends with a stage-side edamame toss featuring the village’s specialty edamame.
■Time: 10:00–14:00
■Access: About a 60-minute drive from Obihiro Station


Find other summer events on the Tokachi HARE website under “Events.” Please check the homepage at the URL below 😊

It’s been hot every day, so please take care to avoid heatstroke and enjoy a pleasant weekend 🎵

https://tokachibare.jp/event/

~Komugibatake~
About a 10-minute walk from Tokachigawa Onsen town
Adjacent to Tokachigaoka Park⭐
Surrounded by fields, this is a farm restaurant where you can enjoy scenery typical of Tokachi!
The shop’s direct-sales corner sells seasonal vegetables and Otofuke Town specialties such as soybeans and azuki beans👏
Come and taste the blessings of nature!

■Paella Cooking Experience■

This plan invites you to try making paella with support from a specialist certified by the All Japan Paella Federation.

The venue, Notanohira CampGround, lies deep in Toyooka Village. Far from populated areas, it is a quiet campground set beside the clear Abukawa River.

Relax and refresh to the green trees and the gentle murmur of the river, and enjoy making paella together in a lively atmosphere!

[Plan Details]
■Season
Late April through October

■Meeting Point
Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)

= For those using car navigation =
toyooka travel time
Address: 12407 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture TEL 0265-49-3395
If the above address does not appear, please set Toyooka Village Central Nursery School as your destination
and come to that location.
Toyooka Village Central Nursery School Address: 12368 Kumashiro, Toyooka Village TEL: 0265-35-4953

■Capacity
10 people (minimum operating number: 5)
If you wish to participate with fewer than 5 people or more than 10 people,
please contact us to discuss arrangements.

■Price (tax included)
For groups of 5 to 10 participants: 5,500 yen per person
If you wish to participate with a different number of people, please contact us.

[Contact: Toyooka Village Tourism Association (toyooka travel time)]
・By phone: 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
・Inquiries via website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Course Details and Schedule (approximately 4 hours)
1) Gather at toyooka travel time 11:00 (payment)

2) Travel to Notanohira CampGround 11:00–11:45 approximately
※Please travel by private car.

3) Arrive at Notanohira CampGround around 11:45

4) Paella making experience and meal 11:45–15:00 approximately

6) Local dismissal at Notanohira CampGround around 15:00

■About the Plan
[About Notanohira CampGround]
It is about a 40-minute drive from the center of Toyooka Village.
Far from populated areas, you can enjoy a leisurely time amid green trees and the river’s murmur.
Please travel to the campsite by private car.

[About the Paella Cooking Experience]
Participants will make paella with guidance from a certified paellero (paella chef) accredited by the All Japan Paella Federation.
Specialists from the Japan National Paella Contest Team, members of Paella Mania Cup winning teams, and other authentic paella experts will teach you, offering a special hands-on experience.

[Combining with Other Activities]
It is possible to combine this plan with other activities.
We particularly recommend pairing it with the Pothole Tour, where you can enjoy river play at one of Japan’s largest pothole sites.

[Clothing]
・Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for active movement
※You may use the changing room and lockers inside the Toyooka Village Tourism Association before and after the tour.
※For an additional fee, showers are available at the Toyooka Village Tourism Association facility.
(300 yen)

■How to Inquire and Apply
Please apply by phone or via the inquiry form on the website.
Phone: toyooka travel time 0265-49-3395 (9:00–18:00)
Website: https://www.vill-nagano-toyooka-kanko.jp/paella-making-experience/

■Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation is possible until 6:00 PM four days before the experience date.
Cancellations after that time will incur a 100 percent cancellation fee.

Warm compassion in a single skewer

The owner of the storefront who stopped by suddenly. When you ask for mochi, they ask you how much you favorite, such as the amount of mitarashi and kina flour. A shop where you can talk kindly and cheerfully to school trip students, feel the care for customers, and enjoy mochi and smiles.

〈Enjoying Teshikaga〉Local Specialties Edition
Teshikaga offers many fine and delicious local specialties. When you travel to Teshikaga, be sure to check them out. This time, we introduce spots where you can pick up those specialties.
https://masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/?cats=651%2C662

Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture is a town where agriculture flourishes! A treasure trove of food! ✨
This time, we are offering a "direct from the production area" online shop that delivers directly from Shobara Production
Summer gift sales have started 👏👏 at "rural woodlands Shobara SELECT SHOP"

Quite rare "grapes" 🍇 from Hiroshima Prefecture, corn that is 🌽 popular with a limited number of Traditional Japanese straw raincoat, and Shobara's Representative Hiroshima brand Wagyu beef "Hiba Beef" are on sale to make it easier to use and eat, such as "Soboro" and "Shigure Nii"!

From the movement to Squid to do something about the Harmful Animals damage caused by wild boars, we have also started selling a new product "Shobara Inoboshi Meat Dumplings"! Shobara inoshi meat dumplings that do not have the Smell peculiar to wild boars and are easy to eat from children to adults. Rice and Sake 😍

Please take this opportunity to purchase it!

Rural Woodlands Select has also started an official LINE!
A 300 yen coupon will be given to 🎁 new registrants

Rural woodlands, Shobara SELECT SHOP ▽
https://satoyamaselect.jp/

Notice|Shobara Tourism Navi ▽
https://www.shobara-info.com/special//5119

#009
There are about 50 restaurants and confectionery shops in Tsunocho.
This is the second installment of our gourmet series! Opened in May 2019, this udon shop has become popular even outside Tsunocho, and we would like to introduce it here.

— Now firmly a "Tsuno specialty" —
Hinoya Udon

After exiting Tono IC on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, turn left at the first traffic light and go a short distance; you will see a sign reading "udon" on your left. That is Hinoya Udon, the shop featured this time.
The parking lot is usually full at lunchtime.
Here are Hinoya Udon’s recommended menu items, a lesser-known dessert, and advice on the best times to visit.

◆ Recommended menu (including my personal picks)
〇 Vegetable Tempura Bukkake Udon
They source vegetables from Roadside Station Tsuno and directly from local farmers, so the vegetables are all from Tsunocho. The vegetables are sweet and the batter is crispy!
It’s addictive!!

〇 Meat and Egg Bukkake Udon
The simmered beef pairs perfectly with the broth and soft-boiled egg—really delicious!!!
I recommend this to students and meat-udon lovers. By the way, it’s my personal favorite. (laughs)

You can also enjoy seasonal choices like Ume Oroshi Bukkake Udon and cold Zaru Udon, as well as set menus combining udon and tempura.
Now for a dessert that surprisingly many people don’t know about.
It’s the homemade soy milk pudding. In fact, some customers come specifically for this pudding. I sometimes go just for it myself. But it tastes best after udon! Even the fact that it’s homemade makes it appealing. The pudding is topped with kuromitsu (black sugar syrup) and kinako (roasted soybean flour); its silky texture and gentle sweetness deliver a moving experience unlike any I have had before.

I lived in Kagawa while at university, so I ate many firm, delicious udon dishes. However, Hinoya Udon’s noodles have good bite, and you can sense their dedication to the broth and ingredients. For me, Hinoya Udon is uniquely superb and the most delicious.
I was impressed by the owner’s attention to detail and delicacy.
If you stop by Tsunocho, be sure to come and try these exquisite udon.

Finally, when is the best time to go? On weekdays, come right at opening or after 1:30 PM. Depending on the day, these times work best!
On holidays, the shop is generally full!

◆ Shop information
Hours 11:00 AM–2:30 PM
Closed Tuesday (occasional irregular closures)
☎ 0983-32-8311

Instagram ⇒ @hinoyaudon

Relax at Kurunconne 😌🌿

Today I stopped by Kurunconne 🤗✨ (Yes, I was working properly!)

For the meeting I ordered a craft cola and a Mix Berry smoothie 😚🍹

Both are a treat to look at 😆

The craft cola is different from regular cola — it gives you that “I’m drinking something good for my body!” feeling, with no guilt. It has a nice spice kick and is perfect for the season when you want something refreshing ✨

The Mix Berry smoothie offers natural sweetness from the ingredients alone… it satisfied both my thirst and a little hunger — a blissful drink 🤤 There are many varieties, so it’s fun to try different ones 💫

They also offer light meals and desserts, and takeout is available 🥪✨

The shop has lots of manga and hosts many healing events every day ✨

I tried a tarot-like reading where you pick one card from 100 based on the theme “for this version of myself…,” and the message I received was very uplifting and gave me energy 💪❤️‍🔥

They sell fun goods and body-friendly foods, so there are endless ways to enjoy the place 🤗🎶

Be sure to check out Kurunconne’s account too 🙌

kurun→https://www.instagram.com/kurun2424/
conne→https://www.instagram.com/conne.jp/

[Only now! ] 1 deep-fried asparagus tempura]
It's Amazaru of the Shokudo of the Roadside Station Kita Shinshu Yamauchi! !️
Today's tempura is an assortment ✨ of fried asparagus, shimeji, Sweet potato, chikuwa, etc
The soft asparagus produced in Yamanouchi Town is a seasonal taste ✨️ that can only be tasted now
Enjoy tempura that changes with the seasons 🐒

* Tempura is limited to 40 meals a day!
* One fried asparagus is also available for a limited time!

Charcoal market with seafood
The vivid colors of seafood and the fragrant smoke rising from the charcoal fire weave together tradition and vibrancy. A piece that conveys the warmth of the ancient city along with the bustle of the market.

On this day, foodie Kasai followed the usual sweet scent and dropped by @suwa_clover.
The person who spoke with us that day was the owner, Komatsu.

It seems clover has been here for about ten years. At first, his mother worked the register while Komatsu focused on baking. Now, he appears to handle everything on his own.

The first and most striking thing when I entered was the huge variety of cookies!!! There are so many kinds of cookies. For a cookie lover like Kasai, it was pure bliss🍪🎶 When I asked why, the answer surprised me: “The reason is I love cookies!!!” Those words were so wonderful I felt time stop🤣 You can tell without being told that cookies made by a cookie‑loving owner are special🍪 Tarts are a must-try, but the cookies are top recommendations too!!! They also make message cookies, which are popular for people who find it hard to express feelings directly or as substitutes for retirement cards—many people place large reservation orders.

And above all, the original cakes! If you look at clover’s website, you’ll see how beautiful the original cakes are!!! They’re almost too pretty to eat!!! They require a reservation, but if you provide a portrait or photo, they can make a custom order. How about a one‑and‑only original cake just for you!?

One last insider note: the drip coffee is a completely original coffee chosen and prepared by a friend of owner Komatsu to pair with clover’s cakes. It’s a coffee they don’t serve anywhere else, so it’s a must for anyone who wants it☕!!!


◎ clover
📍 Suwa City, Kogandori 4-10-21
☎ 0266-57-0374
◎ Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:30–18:00
◎ Closed: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
◎ Parking: About four spaces in front of the shop
◎ Website: https://suwa-clover.com/

Photographed on June 15, 25.
This is CAFE ANDON's Andon chicken curry.
It is very tasty. 😊🍛

Savor Higashiizu’s seasonal specialty: Inatori kinme.
Kinmedai, or splendid alfonsino, is a beloved local specialty in Higashiizu. The fish landed at Inatori Port, known as Inatori kinme, stand out for their exceptional freshness and quality.

Inatori kinme are caught with careful single-hook fishing and returned the same day thanks to boats that leave before dawn and come back in the afternoon. This day-trip fishing method keeps the flesh firm and full of fat.

The recommended way to enjoy kinmedai is simmered in a savory broth, a preparation that brings out the fish’s rich flavor. In winter the higher fat content makes it especially delicious and a perfect match with steamed rice.

When you visit Higashiizu, be sure to try the local taste of Inatori kinme!

Sakai Great Fish Night Market and Fireworks Return This Year! 🎇

📣 Senshu Yume Fireworks at Sakai Great Fish Night Market — Tickets on Sale! 🎇
Following last year’s success, "Senshu Yume Fireworks at Sakai Great Fish Night Market" will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Enjoy star mines launched from very close range, a variety of effects from set-piece fireworks, and stunning displays that light up the sea surface. 🌊🎇

🎟️ For ticket purchases, please check the announcement on the Sakai Tourism Guide website.

🏢 Paper tickets available at: Sakaihigashi Tourist Information Center and Sakai Station Tourist Information Center
Inquiries about the fireworks
📞: 06-4708-6658 (Weekdays: 11:00–18:00)

🔎 For details on the Sakai Great Fish Night Market, please see the official site
"Sakai Great Fish Night Market"
🗓️ Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025

📍 Venue: Ohama Park
⏰ Time: 11:00–21:30
"Senshu Yume Fireworks: Shakunetsu no Hanabī 7 I Love Sakai"

🗓️ Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
📍 Venue: Sakai Old Port
⏰ Doors open: 16:30 / Show starts: 20:20 / Ends: 20:50 (scheduled)

📣 Held again this year! Announcement for the Sakai Great Fish Night Market and Fireworks 🎇

What is the Sakai Great Fish Night Market (Sakai Oo-uo Yoichi)?
It is a fish market festival held every late July at Ōhama Park in Sakai, Sakai Ward, Osaka Prefecture ✨
Said to have begun in the Kamakura period, it boasts about 700 years of history and has become a summer tradition in Sakai 🎐
🐡The highlight is the spectacular nighttime fish auction!
There are also food stalls and corporate PR booths on display,
making it a historic festival closely tied to the local community♪
This year’s event is on Saturday, July 26!
Continuing from last year, there will also be fireworks launched from the sea 🎇
Enjoy the beautiful fireworks lighting up the shore!
Don’t miss this summer’s annual event—everyone is welcome! We look forward to seeing you! 🎉

“Sakai Great Fish Night Market”
🗓️Date: Saturday, July 26
📍Venue: Ōhama Park
⏰Time: 11:00–21:30

“Senshu Yume Fireworks: Shakunetsu no Hanabi 7 I Love Sakai”
🗓️Date: Saturday, July 26
📍Venue: Sakai Old Port
⏰Gates open: 16:30 / Start: 20:20 / End: 20:50 (scheduled)

🔎For details, please see the official Sakai Tourism Guide website

Lured by the sound of baking

This is a photo taken when I went to Nishiki Market in Kyoto. Even though it was raining, it was overflowing with tourists and students on school trips. In the shop, which is filled with steam with a sizzling sound, there are various seafood and shrimp grilled by the hands of the general.