Shōen of Izena Festival
📍Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture
Rinkai Fureai Park Stage

In 2025 the festival is scheduled for the three-day holiday in August!
The schedule will be released around June.

Heart-shaped coral reef ❤️
📍Izanami Island Coastal Park, Okinawa Prefecture
Appears around a tidal height of 100 centimeters on sunny days
A three-minute walk from Nakata Port Terminal on Izanami Island

Today's quiz: What is the title (name) of the doll that wears a facial expression showing laughing and getting angry in the hina display?
According to the calendar, today marks the start of Daikan (the coldest period)! Brrr—so cold.
On the blog, we introduce Omachi City's sake breweries. If you read to the end, you'll find the answer to the quiz. Do drop by and take a look!

Daikan starts today. (Blog) ▽▽▽
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/blog/90718/
There are many ways to warm your body in the cold, but what do you think is the best??
It's walking!
Walking-tour tickets are now on sale. Even in the cold, or precisely because it's cold, let's walk! Then enjoy delicious food to warm yourself from the inside.
Walking-tour tickets now on sale (Event) ▽▽▽
https://kanko-omachi.gr.jp/event/90055/
Thank you as always for reading!

The 31st Koshinsatsu Yakinou Festival Dondoyaki and Commerce Festival 2025
On Sunday, January 19, the Ishida Shoko Shinkokai hosted the event at Jounokoshi Park in Higashinase. Locals enjoyed adding New Year decorations and red-and-white and green protective dango (rice dumplings) to bamboo poles and tossing them into the bonfire, then sipping served amazake. The fire department offered ladder truck rides, and performances by the Kojou High School calligraphy club and cheer dance team enlivened the day, along with the Oyama top-spinning contest, making it a lively occasion for both adults and children!

Photographed on January 15, 25.
This is Hanachozu from Cha Soba (buckwheat noodles) Juan.
It's yuzu season. 🍋

Photographed 1/19/25.
This is Hanachozu of Chuin.

Photographed on January 13, 25.
It is in front of the entrance of CAFE ANDON.

Photographed on January 13, 25.
CAFE ANDON's café latte and apple pie.
The apple pie comes with soft serve ice cream from Morino Ranch. It goes very well with warmed apple pie.
The latte art is also very beautiful.

This work is the Gifu Great Buddha Located in Gifu Park, Gifu Prefecture
It is a work that combines the front, right side, and left side with a kaleidoscope lens

This work is the Great Buddha Hall Located in Gifu Park, Gifu Prefecture
This is a composite photo of the front, right side, and left side

Mild Seven Hill that you visit every time you go to Biei

There are two, and this is the hill of the new Mild Seven.

All seasons are beautiful, but the snowy scenery in winter is the best.

Especially in the afternoon when the sun goes down

Photographed on January 13, 25.
This is CAFE ANDON's Andon chicken curry.
It is a curry that I like very much. 🍛
Popular café in Kawagoe as well.

Photographed on 12/28/24.
It is a New Year's exhibition at the Kawagoe Prince Hotel. 🎍

Takaharacho 90th Anniversary Branding Project
Okukirishima Onsen-kyo—What a Nice Bath!
Ground Golf Tournament ⛳️
Now Accepting Participants!!

Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025
Time: Registration 8:00 AM—Opening Ceremony 8:30 AM—Competition Begins 9:00 AM
Eligibility: Residents and non-residents (junior high school students and older)
Participation Fee: 200 yen per person
Capacity: 200 participants (All entrants receive a bathing voucher redeemable at local facilities)
A free shuttle bus to the onsen will be available on the day.
Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025
Venue: Takaharu Town General Sports Park
709-9 Nishifumoto, Takaharu, Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki 889-4412

————————About Applications————————

You may fill in the application section on the back of the flyer and submit it in person at the Takaharu Town Tourism Association (inside Takaharu Station).
Applications are also accepted by fax, mail, or via the web form links below.
[Flyer front]
http://www.takaharu-tourism.jp/wp.../uploads/2025/01/1.jpg
[Flyer back]
http://www.takaharu-tourism.jp/.../2025/01/image11.jpeg
[Google Application Form]
https://docs.google.com/.../1jcXJI-P-N-niYcStgJ05N.../edi

————————Application Details————————

Teams should consist mainly of 4 to 6 players.
Three-player teams are allowed, but they may be combined with others to form mixed teams.
Contact Information
Organizer: Takaharu Town Tourism Association TEL: 0984-42-4560
Cooperative Organizer: Okukirishima Onsen-kyo Ryokan Association
Managed by: Takaharu Town Ground Golf Association

Tree Ice and Mt. Kamagatake

Near the summit of the Mt. Gozaisho Ropeway
The ice was very beautiful.

Komono Town, Mie Prefecture Mt. Gozaisho Ropeway
Shot on iPHONE 11 PRO
2025/1

Okukirishima Onsen-kyo Presents ♨️
The Birthplace of Japan
Dash Through Takaharacho’s Sano Shrine! Recruiting Participants 🎉
This event, held as part of the town’s 90th anniversary celebrations, returns for its second year following last year’s event!

This year, every participant receives a day-use bathing ticket redeemable at a local onsen facility as a gift 🎁
Limited to 300 people, with perks such as complimentary hot cocoa!!
Who will claim the title of this year’s lucky man or lucky woman of fortune!? 🤩
We hope you’ll apply!

⭐︎Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2025 (National Holiday)
⭐︎Participation Fee: Free
⭐︎Venue: Sano Shrine ⛩️ (South Approach)
Those who reserved should check in by 8:20 AM on the day
⭐︎Application Deadline: Thursday, February 6, 2025
⭐︎How to Apply: Fill out the application form on the back of the flyer and send it by FAX or email (please include name, gender, and grade). Preschool children and elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian.
If applying online, please use the application form below.

[Application Form]
https://fsmk.co/t/HRngF4-syzaow?openExternalBrowser=1

[Divisions]
※Those who have previously won the same division may enter but are not eligible for the title of lucky man or lucky woman.
Elementary School Grades 1–3 (Boys’ Division) (approx. 300 m) Elementary School Grades 1–3 (Girls’ Division) (approx. 300 m)
Elementary School Grades 4–6 (Boys’ Division) (approx. 300 m) Elementary School Grades 4–6 (Girls’ Division) (approx. 300 m)
Adult Division (Men’s) (approx. 300 m)
Adult Division (Women’s) (approx. 300 m)
A total of six divisions.

[Elementary Divisions] 300 m
1st Prize: Bookstore Gift Card ¥5,000
2nd Prize: Bookstore Gift Card ¥3,000
3rd Prize: Bookstore Gift Card ¥1,000
[Adult Divisions] 300 m
1st Prize: Gift Certificate ¥30,000
2nd Prize: Gift Certificate ¥20,000
3rd Prize: Gift Certificate ¥10,000

For details, please see the website (flyer) ☺️✨

https://fsmk.co/t/XexOJk-syzaow?openExternalBrowser=1

⭐︎On the day, the Kigensai ceremony for National Foundation Day will be held at Sano Shrine at 10:00 AM, with the formal ceremony scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM. Please join us 😊✨

Jewelry Ice 2025
Jewelry Ice · Harunire Tree Adventure Experience 😊

“Jewelry Ice” refers to chunks of ice that break free from the Tokachi River, drift out to the Pacific, and wash up on the Otsu Coast at the river mouth.

Their beauty as they sparkle in the sunlight is utterly mysterious ✨

Why not come see this natural phenomenon of Tokachi’s severe cold and the Tokachi River known as “Jewelry Ice”?

The second photo shows the state of the Jewelry Ice from yesterday 🎵

At the rest area we offer warm drinks, shells and Jewelry Ice goods, and local seafood, so please drop by if you like 😄

This plan also includes a visit to Toyokoro’s symbolic tree, the Harunire Tree 🌳

For inquiries, contact Hokuto Taxi 🚕
☎️0155-67-5681 (9:00–17:00)

Photographed on January 3, 25.
After Kitain Daruma City, we went to HK TEA.
Passion fruit honey and Egg Waffle's double chocolate. Cocoa is also worrisome.

Hyosetsu no Akari Festival 2025

On Saturday, February 15, 2025, the Hyosetsu no Akari Festival (Ice and Snow Lantern Festival) returns to Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku)!
About 600 ice candles will be lit, creating a magical scene unlike the daytime view.

This year, in addition to shops open for evening business, the tourist information center will offer free pork miso soup and hot lemonade, and food stalls in front of the Fureai Hall will sell items such as fried chicken and pizza.
Visitors can also enjoy colorful ice art by the Tsumago Women’s Association and an ice exhibit by local Sonan High School students.

On that day, Nagiso Sightseeing Taxi will operate until 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy this once-a-year lantern festival!
Photographers are encouraged to enter the Kiso Tourism Federation photo contest📸✨

Date: Saturday, February 15, 2025
Time: Lighting at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku), Nagiso town (399-5302 Azuma, Tsumago-juku, Kiso District, Nagano Prefecture)

Photographed on January 3, 25.
This is Udon noodles Tatsumi's COEDO bukkake.
When it's cold, you want to eat Udon noodles.

Sunset on the Kushiro River with lotus leaves and ice drifting
In the brackish waters of the mouth of the Kushiro River, lotus leaf ice can be seen during the extremely cold season
The Kushiro River, which opens its mouth to the west, is a perfect sunset viewing Spot
Lotus leaf ice streams through the Kushiro River dyed by the setting sun

Kushiro Marsh in winter
Frost covers the trees, the Kushiro River meanders widely, and the marshland becomes a snowfield of silver and white
If you look closely, you can see a herd of deer grazing under the snow in the frozen marshland
Feel the workings of Nature

SL Winter Marshland running again this year!
The SL Winter Marshland is an SL sightseeing train Car that makes one round trip per day on weekends between Kushiro and Shibecha on the Kusami Main Line.
Boarding can also be reserved. Please come and see the brave figure running through the white and silver Kushiro Marshland.

Kitahama Station on the Kusami Main Line along the Sea of Okhotsk
Looking at the peaks of the Shiretoko Peninsula in the distance over the Sea of Okhotsk
This is the station closest to the Sea of Okhotsk
Drift ice is about to come ashore

With the silver Shiretoko mountain range in the background, the Kusami Main Line runs along the Sea of Okhotsk
This is a hill between the Kusami Main Line and Hamakoshimizu
A large view of the Shiretoko mountain range over the Sea of Okhotsk
The Car on the Kusami Main Line goes along the Sea of Okhotsk
Drift ice has not yet docked

【Dondoyaki 2025】Ashian District

This is the Scene of the Little New Year's Festival "Dondoyaki" held the other day.
Although there are differences in decorations from region to region, Dango made of Rice flour (Mayu Balls) are attached to branches and burned over a fire, and they pray for a year without illness or disaster, a bountiful harvest of five grains, and the safety of the family.

Welcome to Gokase Town in winter ✨
Answer our survey and get local specialties 💪
(Response deadline: Friday, February 28 ⚠️)

A notice from Gokase Entertainment Co., Ltd. 💡

Right now, visitors to Gokase Town who complete a short survey will be entered into a drawing. Fifteen winners will receive local specialties from Gokase Town 🤩✨

This survey aims to make Gokase Town an even more attractive tourist destination, so we would greatly appreciate your cooperation 🤗

Here’s your chance to win a set of wine and kama-iri tea (pan-roasted tea) 💪❤️‍🔥

The response deadline is Friday, February 28 ⚠️

When you stop by Gokase Town, we look forward to your visit 🥺🙏

📍Tsumago inn (Tsumago-juku)

People made small New Year decorations called mayudama and mochibana!
They decorated the vinka tree with mayudama and kumquat, and attached mochibana to bamboo.

A large decoration was also placed in front of the Tsumago Tourist Information Center ♩

The decorations will remain until Setsubun on February 2.
Enjoy the seasonal scenery unique to Tsumago inn ✨

Photographed on January 13, 25.
It is a one-year cheap sea bream lottery of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.
The New Year's limited one-year sea bream lottery is also a lookout.

This year's eastern province experienced record low snowfall.
Preparing for winter Events, Held in
The people involved are nervous.

There is also a Haru elm tree in Toyokoro Town
The ground came out in some places.
It's no longer a snowy field.

It seems that it will accumulate a few centimeters tonight.
It's like water on a burnt stone.