Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a festival float of Nasori in Nandori Towns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of Kawagoe City Hall, it is a festival float of Yorimitsu in Mikubo Town. Actually, there are still many photos of the Kawagoe Festival.

About a 3-minute walk from JR Oito Line Hotaka Station Snow has begun to fall at Hotaka Shrine, bringing a true winter feeling Come visit for New Year’s Eve shrine visits or Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the year) Visit Hotaka Shrine’s official website here https://www.hotakajinja.com// Visit Hotaka Shrine’s Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/hotakajinja/...

Kyoto Prefecture Miyama Karabuki no Sato Snow Festival It was a pity that there was no snow, but I wanted to take a panoramic view of the village of Miyama, so I climbed the snowy mountain alone Next time, I would like to see snow on the roof, but if that happens, there will be even more snow on the mountain side. Is it dangerous to climb snow? 🤔

Miyama Karabuki no Sato Snow Festival It was a pity that there was no snow, but I wanted to take a picture of the whole view of the village of Miyama, so I managed to climb the snowy mountain alone and took a hard picture. Of course, since it was a snowy mountain, there was no road, and it was almost a cliff climb, but 😅 on the way back, it was pitch dark and I managed to descend the mountain while getting lost on the way. 😌

Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo No matter how many times you come here, you will be healed 😌♨️

Ginji Katsura Rakugo Performance Today, December 15, a rakugo performance by Ginji Katsura, who hails from Nobeoka and is also active in Tokyo, took place🪭✨ This event held the morning show at Kurun and the afternoon show at Kuraokakurara🤗 As a poster, this was my first time seeing live rakugo properly, and I was very excited to watch🤩✨ Rakugo uses almost no props! Performers remain seated, using only a tenugui (hand towel) and a sensu (folding fan), skillfully expressing characters through gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact😯 They make the audience imagine the scene, delivering stories that end with a punchline that makes you laugh out loud🤭 It was truly funny, and I listened with excitement wondering how each punchline would land🤣💫 The scene of eating soba was especially striking. It was incredible—he really made it seem like he was eating. It looked delicious🤤💕 lol In the afternoon, students from Gokase Secondary School also came to watch, and the venue filled with laughter✨ A boy of around five laughed out loud too, and I felt rakugo is a wonderful art that transcends gender and age😳 He kindly agreed to commemorative photos, and both the morning and afternoon shows provided a consistently enjoyable time🥹👏 I hope he will hold another rakugo performance in Gokase soon🤗✨ Thank you very much for today, Ginji Katsura👏👏👏

Ceremony for the Opening of Prefectural Route Taketa–Gokase, Habu Section Today, Friday, December 13, the opening ceremony for the Habu section of the Taketa–Gokase Line took place in the Kuwanouchi area 🤩👏 The Taketa–Gokase Line is an important road that starts in Taketa, Oita Prefecture, passes through Takamori and Takachiho, and ends in Gokase Construction on the Habu section, a part of that route, has been completed, and today’s ceremony marked its opening 👏 First, a Shinto ritual was performed by the priests of Kuwanouchi Shrine and Futono Shrine to celebrate the road’s opening and pray for safety going forward 😌🙏 After that, distinguished guests cut the ribbon, and all the students of Kamigumi Elementary School opened a decorative paper ball, officially opening the road 🎊 Next, as a ceremonial first passage, Kuwanouchi kagura was performed 👹✨ This special kagura is said to be danced only at ceremonies 😳 During the kagura performance, participants released balloons, and many balloons colored the wide blue sky over Kuwanouchi 🎈👋 By the time the rituals concluded, the cold wind that had blown since morning had died down and the sun brought warm, calm weather for the opening ceremony ☀️ We hope the remaining construction is completed smoothly and that everyday life and transportation become more convenient ☺️

Limited seats still available! Shinano‑Omachi Hidden Gem Tour — Learn Camera Techniques We’re pleased to announce the date: Thursday, January 9, 2025 (backup date Friday, January 10, 2025). The subject is Omachi’s specialty, koori-mochi (frozen rice cake). This guided tour lets you enter the processing site for koori-mochi, observe the workers, feel the texture of the ingredients, and capture the atmosphere with your own camera while learning photography techniques. Thanks to the continued cooperation of the Katakuri Koori‑Mochi Section of Nōsanbutsu chokubaijo Katakuri, this event is possible again this year. Registration has just opened, but only a few spots remain. If you’re interested, please consider applying soon. ⭐︎ View participants’ photos here https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/news/88323/... ⭐︎ To apply, use this link or call 0261-22-0190! https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/event/90392/...

Photographed 12/9/24. At the Naka Towns Tourist Information Center, a hanging decoration exhibition is held in until the 14th.

Nov. 27th in 2024 Today, the gluttonous Kasai went to a Japanese sweets shop for research again!!! It's Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch! But, everyone, do you notice anything in the pictures? Look! Look!!! I was so excited to go to Engetsu-dou that I forgot to take a picture of the shop's exterior... I'm really driven by my appetite... I'm ashamed... I'll make sure to do it next time! I spoke with Mrs. Katagiri, the proprietress of Engetsu-dou Hompo! It seems that they started with a different shop name 78 years ago (Showa 21), before it became Engetsu-dou. At first, it was in front of Kamisuwa Station! Four years later, they expanded to Kowada, and eight years after that, to Shimizu. Now, they have the Shimizu store and this Fukushima store, which opened in 1992, offering Japanese sweets at two stores in the city!!! The proprietress's recommendations are the revived "Kojou Monaka" and "Kabuto Monaka"!!! There are about four types of Monaka, and there are many different kinds. According to the proprietress, "Each Japanese sweets shop has a different red bean paste, so it's fun to try and find your favorite!" Also, she said "Recently, the number of foreign customers has been increasing little by little, and I think they may be paying attention to red bean paste because it is lower in calories than Western-style cream." ◎ Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch 📍Nakasu-Fukushima, 5398-1 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-58-1547 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Shimizu and Fukushima stores, every Tuesday ◎ Engetsu-dou Hompo Shimizu branch 📍Shimizu 1-2-12 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-52-1543 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 Nov. 27th in 2024 Today I went to Engetsu-dou Hompo which is Japanese traditional sweets (Wagashi) shop in Suwa city! “Wa” means Japan. “Gashi” means sweets. So, Japanese traditional sweets call Wagashi? They have two shops in Suwa, Shimizu-machi area and Fukujima area. I went to Fukujima location. Don’t you notice about pictures??? Did you? I was focus for Wagashi… That’s why I forgot to take a picture about Engetsu-dou’s exterior… That’s big mistake! Horrible!!! I’m so sorry about that. I’m gluttony. Wagashi was right front of me, I lost from Wagashi’s temptation. So, I forgot took the shop’s exterior photo… Ms. Katagiri (landlady) introduce her shop and Wagashi. They founded in 1946. About 78 years. The shop was front of Kamisuwa station. They started with the different name of the shop. It became Engetsu-dou in 1950. Shimizu-machi branch opened in 1958. Fukujima branch opened in 1992. I asked her, “what is your recommendation Wagashi?” She told me Kojou Monaka and Kabuto Monaka. Monaka is a Japanese sweet that is bean‐jam‐filled wafers. Also, she said “You can enjoy Wagashi every season, and each shop has original sweetened red bean paste. So, you can enjoy to find your favorite shop. Now, gradually increasing foreign customers. I think they realized Wagashi is less than calories compare to cake.” ★ Engetsu-dou Hompo Fukushima branch 📍Nakasu-Fukushima, 5398-1 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-58-1547 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Shimizu and Fukushima stores, every Tuesday ★ Engetsu-dou Hompo Shimizu branch 📍Shimizu 1-2-12 Suwa city, Nagano Pref. ☎ 0266-52-1543 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 ~ 19:00

Making nozawana pickles in the hot springs ♨️ Nozawana pickles are a sign of early winter in Shinshu 😊 I joined the NPO Gurutta Network Omachi’s “Nozawana Pickling Hot Spring Vegetable Washing” event 😌 I posted about it on the staff blog ✨ I’d be happy if you could view it on the official website ☺️

For those of us living in today's busy world, learning about the samurai spirit can give us insight into our attitude, attention and focus, and foster the determination needed to achieve our goals to the best of our ability. We must not only carefully consider the words of the Samurai, but we must also act on them. #samurai #katana #bushido #osakacastle

A Winter Fantasy Shining with Enchantment — The annual Omachi Onsenkyo Dream Fireworks return this season! They will take place every Saturday in February this season as well. For details, please check the blog via the QR code♪ You can also find information on the event page of the profile website.

Commemorative Celebration for the Registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Today, Sunday, December 1, a celebratory gathering was held at the Ara-Odori Hall in the Sakamoto district to mark the registration of “Gokase Ara-odori” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in February of Reiwa 3 (2021).👏✨ Because the registration around Reiwa 3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding a celebration then was difficult, so today’s event was finally realized.🥹 After the opening, the ceremony proceeded smoothly with greetings from the Ara-Odori Preservation Society and congratulatory messages from guests, followed by kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening) accompanied by the powerful sounds of Ara-odori drums, bells, and matchlock gun volleys.🍶🔨 Later, Mr. Fujimoto, the lead dancer, gave the toast and the banquet began.👏 It was a wonderful gathering where members of the Ara-Odori Preservation Society, the dancers and their families all shared their various feelings about Ara-odori.😌 During the banquet, the host conducted interviews in which, somewhat shyly, everyone spoke passionately about Ara-odori.🤭✨ When people had enjoyed enough sake and conversation, the event concluded with three cheers of banzai.🙌🙌🙌 In Miyazaki, a land that preserves many traditional performing arts such as kagura, the registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage truly felt like a great achievement.😳 Going forward, we hope these traditional performing arts, preserved and passed down in each district, will continue to be treasured.✨

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of the Rustic Son of Nishikosenba Towns.

⛩ 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.⛄

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession at Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ieyasu in Wakita Towns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. This is the residence of Shintomi Town 2-chome.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of the bell of Tong Towns.

In addition to scenery and food that can only be seen and eaten in Japan, calligraphy, a traditional culture that can only be experienced in Japan, is one such example. When providing services to foreigners visiting Japan in the form of experience tourism, we are conscious of "learning" that leads to cultural understanding, such as deepening understanding of the history of calligraphy in Japan and conveying the meaning behind each kanji character.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float from OteTowns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of the Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

—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💭

Autumn leaves picking at Ryuzoji Temple in Yamaguchi City. "Autumn leaves are past their prime!" I nodded my head and looked at my feet ・・・・・💖. I don't know whose work it is, but "GOOD JOB!"

Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) Japanese Sweets Making Experience Learn about Japanese food culture Wagashi plays an important role in learning about Japanese food culture. Beautiful appearance By making them beautifully, such as in the shape of seasonal flowers, you can enjoy not only the taste but also the appearance. As a samurai, I must strengthen my character from the experience of making traditional cultural wagashi. I must continue to perfect my spirit.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A wild festival float has just turned around.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A festival float is greeting the Sumiyoshi Pavilion.