Enjoyable even on rainy days! Spots in Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture Arao City Library Address : 〒864-0033 1-1-1 Midorigaoka, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture Opening hours : 10:00–20:00 Closed : Last day of every month (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) Admission : Free Phone : 0968-57-7747 Designed with the image of a "Tidal Flat Library," the interior features several zones. There is a room where children can take off their shoes and enjoy picture books at ease, and a children’s restroom with a nursing room, so families with small children can relax and use the facilities comfortably. Manda Pit Station Address : 〒864-0001 200-2 Haramanda, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture Opening hours : 9:30–17:00 Closed : Mondays (the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday) Admission : Free (Manda Pit ruins require a fee) Phone : 0968-57-9155 This is an indoor exhibition facility located just before Manda Pit. In addition to dioramas and explanatory panels, a free VR experience is available. The 360-degree realistic images and sound let you feel as if you have descended underground. It’s a weatherproof attraction where you can learn about the history of Manda Pit. Marugoto Orao Product Center Address : 〒864-0001 169-22 Haramanda, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture Opening hours : 11:00–16:30 Closed : Mondays (the following weekday if Monday is a public holiday) Admission : Free Phone : 0968-57-9960 This product center offers souvenirs such as local specialties and sake from Arao, the local pottery known as Shodai-yaki, and a tourism information corner introducing Arao’s gourmet spots and nearby sights. On sunny days, it’s pleasant to rest on the benches at the rooftop observation area. Arao Kids Dome Address : 〒864-0041 4186-19 Arao, Arao, Kumamoto Prefecture (Inside Arao General Cultural Center) Opening hours : Sessions last 2 hours each Session 1 9:00–11:00 Session 2 12:30–14:30 Session 3 15:00–17:00 Closed : Tuesdays (the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday) Admission : 700 yen for junior high school students and older 300 yen for ages 3 up to junior high school students Free for children under 2 *Group discounts available for 20 or more people Phone : 0968-66-4111 This indoor experiential digital art exhibit is produced by the internationally popular teamLab. Children can easily join by coloring pictures that then come to life on the walls and floors. Though sessions are time-limited, it’s an immersive and joyful space that kids will love.

We are pleased to announce the results of the 2nd Tsubetsu Photo Contest! The winning entries will be displayed at Sansan-kan for a set period. We will announce the start of the exhibition on our social media channels. Thanks to everyone who entered, we were able to see many different sides of Tsubetsu. Thank you very much! https://www.tsubetsu.net/post/%E7%AC%AC%E4%BA%8C%E5%9B%9E%E3%81%A4%E3%81%B9%E3%81%A4%E3%83%95%E3%82%A9%E3%83%88%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E7%99%BA%E8%A1%A8...

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. The Kawazu cherry blossoms on the Shingashi River were in full bloom. 🌸

End of Ume Plum Rain With rain that comes and goes suddenly The sound of thunder breaking through the sky When your heart is rough and you want to go out for a change of pace A rain woman who gets such weather only At a temple in Kamakura where water streams Peering into a floating water pool of hydrangeas The world that can be seen through the gaps in the flowers It was shaking very quietly

It is said to be the best bloom in the last 20 years I have seen the Ume Plum of "Kazahaya no Sato". As you can see. If you don't see it, it's a loss! Tsu City, Mie Prefecture Prefecture "Kazahaya no Sato" 2025/3/8

I have experienced ❄️ snowshoeing in Shiga Highlands Activities that can be enjoyed even by those who do not ski or snowboard! If you wear snowshoes, you can 😳 walk in areas that you can't enter during the green season and even on ponds! !️ The Torii (shrine gate) gate is ⛩ covered in snow Have a snowy white field to yourself 👣 where no one walks We also found 🐾 several footprints of animals such as rabbits and foxes Impression ✨️ by all of them are valuable experiences Why don't you experience snowshoeing that makes everyone from children to adults smile together? It depends on the remaining snow, but it seems that you can ♪ enjoy it until around the May holidays For details, check 👀 the Home page of the Shiga Highlands Nature Conservation Center. https://shizenhogo-center.shigakogen.gr.jp/guide_winter/...

【Hokuriku Shinkansen Iiyama Station 10th Anniversary Events】Announcement ㊗️🎉 of the appearance of Okomin 2015 (Heisei 27) the 10th anniversary of the opening of Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen on March 14 this year! !️ Held in a commemorative events on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the 🚄⭐️ business A large number of local characters from Shin-Etsu Nature Township will gather, and you can 🐻️ meet Alkuma and Okomin Please come and join us! ●Held in Date & Time: Thursday, March 20, 2025, 2025 (Reiwa 7) (2025) 9:30 a.m. ~ 3:30 p.m. ●Held in: JR Iiyama Station, Tourism Exchange Center other https://www.city.iiyama.nagano.jp/.../10thanniversaryevent... https://www.city.iiyama.nagano.jp/soshiki/kikakuzaisei/kikakuchosei/info/10thanniversaryevent?fbclid=IwY2xjawJA27tleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeTgqGasghXjIsA5dmG73xXlgDvlz8ofjgfa8hHFuQKc2bGPETguOrU7OA_aem_pCpCqNvP5IWIL93HMi6MDQ...

【Yudanaka Station Hot Spring Kaede no Yu Notice of Bath Fee Revision 🍁 】 Thank you very There is a much for Use "Kaede no Yu Hot Spring Yudanaka Station" on a daily basis. In addition to the recent rise in fuel costs, prices of all products continue to rise. Our Facility has also made efforts to reduce costs, but it is difficult to maintain current prices. Therefore, we will revise the bathing fee from April 2 (Water). Thank you for your understanding and understanding. * Regular holiday is Tuesday, April 1. * Please note that when applying the Town residents discount, you may be asked to present an official certificate (driver's license, My Number Card, insurance card, etc.) that can confirm There are Address.

Snowy Moominvalley ☃️ This is located in Hanno City, Saitama Prefecture Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park. Moominvalley with snow was a fantastic atmosphere 🤤 I'm 🤭 sure the hibernating Moomins are also enjoying it

Photographed on March 10, 25. This is as-is from Motomachi 1-chome. It is "Exorcism Totoro". Benefit.

📍 Hakone Owakudani Owakudani is located in the Hakone area of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. Owakudani was formed by an Eruption about 3,000 years ago. It is one of the few spots in Japan where you can feel the earth alive up close with the smell of sulfur and the smoke that rises. On this day, there were a few clouds, but since the Elevation of Owakudani is high, I was able to see Mt. Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi very beautifully without obstruction. Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

📍 Tama River Sengen Shrine The shrine is located a 2-minute walk from Tama River Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, Tama River Line, Meguro Line, Namboku Line, and Mita Line. The God of worship is the god who protects the mountain greenery, Princess Kibana Sakiya. This photo shows the entrance to the shrine (approach to the temple). Since it was the Time Slot / Time of Day when the sun was setting, the photo created a solemn atmosphere. The sunset that you can see at the end of the climb is very beautiful, and it is one of my favorite shrines. 【！ Caution! Please refrain from destroying the scenery of the shrine, polluting it, or causing inconvenience. Equipment: Nikon D850 Editing software: Adobe Lightroom

📢 Locals’ Picks: Savory Eats in Sakai🍽️✨ Sakai offers not only tourist spots but also many local culinary delights unique to the area!😋🌸 We invited recommendations from residents for eateries so visitors to the Osaka-Kansai Expo can savor Sakai’s flavors!📍🍜🍣 Enjoy Sakai’s local cuisine along with the Expo!🎡✨ 🎁 Instagram posting campaign runs until June 30! Five winners will be drawn to receive Sakai specialty products🎊🎁 🔍 For details, search for “Locals’ Picks: Savory Eats in Sakai”!

🚴 Exploring the mystery of how the bicycle industry began in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, famed as "the birthplace of many things," the bicycle industry took root and flourished 🚲 Join a guided tour led by a curator to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history 🕵️ 📢 “Untangling Sakai: Investigating Sakai’s Mysteries 2025” 🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai Tourism Guide website. 📬 Registration: on-site, first-come, first-served 🎫 Participation fee: Free (museum admission not included) 📞 Inquiries: 072-221-3196

Would you like to share the appeal of Azumino through outdoor activities set in this landscape? Azumino City trains all-around outdoor guides to meet visitors’ needs as it seeks to become a mecca for outdoor sports. Learn the fundamental skills and knowledge of an outdoor guide and make your mark as an Azumino Outdoor Guide. For details, please visit the official Azumino City Tourism Association website. https://azumino-e-tabi.net/outdoorguide...

🚴 Delving into the mystery of how the bicycle industry was born in Sakai ♬ In Sakai, hailed as “the place where everything begins,” the bicycle industry flourished🚲 Join a curator-led guided tour to learn about Sakai’s unique craftsmanship and history🕵️ 📢 “Untying the Threads: Uncovering Sakai’s Mysteries 2025”🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, 2025 📍 Shimano Bicycle Museum 🔍 For details, please check the announcements on the Sakai tourism guide website. 📬 Registration: first-come, first-served on the day 🎫 Participation fee: free (museum admission not included) 📞 Contact: 072-221-3196

📢 The “Futari Demo Sakai” Campaign Is Here!💑✨ Starting Friday, March 14, Sakai City kicks off the “Futari Demo Sakai” campaign!🎯🚶‍♂️ Enjoy plenty of activities made for pairs, from journeys decided by dart throws to special Sakai-only experiences💛🎉 📅 Period: Friday, March 14 – Saturday, May 31 ✅ Free to participate 🆓 ✅ No reservation required 📆✖️ ✅ Chances to win prizes!🎁 🔍 For details, visit the Sakai tourism guide website and search “Futari Demo Sakai”! 💡 Campaign Highlights 1. Dart Trip Let fate choose your destination! Visit spots while taking on quizzes along the way🎯 Answer all questions at a spot correctly to earn a chance to play a prize-winning dart game✨ 2. Special Experiences Try Sakai cultural activities like wagashi (Japanese confection) making and tea ceremony experiences🍵 3. Digital Stamp Rally Visit any 4 of the 7 spots to enter a lottery for prizes🎁 4. Share Campaign Post photos or videos of your pair trip in Sakai on Instagram with both hashtags #futari_demo_sakai and #futari_tabi! 🏯💑💫 Five winners will be chosen by lottery from those who post to receive lovely prizes!🎁 Share your memories and join the campaign!📲✨ We have posted a reel video for this campaign on our official Instagram and Facebook. Please take a look👀

🎿 Ski Resort Final Event 🏂 Sunday, March 9 was the last day of operations for Gokase Highland Ski Resort ❄️ Under a clear sky, a big prize drawing took place from 11:00 AM 🎁 Cheers erupted each time the winning numbers for lavish prizes were announced, and the drawing ended in great excitement 😆✨ After the drawing, visitors immediately enjoyed the last runs of the season on the slopes 🎿 Gokase Highland Ski Resort, revived this season ❄️ Thanks to everyone, we were able to operate safely through today 😊 Thank you very much 🥰 We look forward to seeing you again next season!!

📍Izena Island, Okinawa Prefecture The largest uninhabited island in Okinawa Prefecture, offering a survival experience Build a raft using only items found on the uninhabited island and escape within 48 hours! A close-knit group of six took part as a graduate school graduation trip! They wanted to test their limits, create memories with friends, and try their survival skills. Paddling the raft to the finish and reaching the goal gave them an incredible sense of achievement. It became the best graduation trip! The impromptu tour finished safely! Thank you for also collecting large trash from the uninhabited island / Currently / We are recruiting participants nationwide for three tours in May, July, and September! https://www.mujinto-yanaha.com//

Photographed on March 8, 25. LEC COFFEE's black latte and tiramisu.

Announcement of the 57th Banei Kinen📣 On Sunday, March 16, the pinnacle race of Banei horse racing, the Norin-Suisan Daijin Shoten—the 57th Banei Kinen—will be held at Banei Tokachi Obihiro Racecourse to decide the strongest Banei horse!!😄 In this event, massive draft horses weighing about one ton pull one-ton sleds as they compete in speed and strength!! At Obihiro Racecourse, the Banei Kinen events will run from March 14 through March 16. Enjoy three days packed with a variety of activities🎵 This year, Tokachi Aozora Ladies will join the Banei Kinen events. Around 2:00 PM on March 14 they will make on-track predictions together with expert tipsters—please come by and join the fun!! Recently, Tokachi Aozora Ladies promoted the Banei Kinen in Sapporo together with Banei racing officials and Banei Tokachi’s mascot, Ricky. They appeared on FM North Wave, then were interviewed by Hokkaido Shimbun, Sports Nippon, and Sports Hochi. Thank you very much!! Come to Obihiro Racecourse and cheer as these giant horses take each powerful step right before your eyes🎵

🛕 Main Hall Guided Tour & Uncovering the Mystery of Sakai Prefecture In addition to a guided tour of the city’s largest wooden structure, the Main Hall, the temple’s sutra repository will be open for two days only😲 We will explore the mystery of “Sakai Prefecture,” which existed for 14 years in the past✨ 📢 "Untie the Strings: Exploring the Mystery of Sakai 2025"🎉 🗓️ Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23 📍 Honganji Sakai Betsuin, free admission! 🔍 For details, please check the Sakai Tourism Guide website news. 📬 How to apply: On the day, please speak to a nearby sightseeing volunteer guide. ※ During chanting, visitors cannot enter the Main Hall, so you may be asked to wait.

Hello 😊 This is Ryusuido. In March, Shosenkyo Gorge feels the sun grow warmer, gentle sunlight pours onto the water, and you can slowly sense spring☘️ arriving. We can’t wait for the cherry blossoms🌸 to bloom‼️ March’s birthstone is aquamarine💎 A member of the beryl family, like emeralds, its color and gem name vary according to the minerals it contains. With its pale, gentle aqua hue, aquamarine symbolizes healing and happiness, and a legend says it brings joyful love and marriage✨ We also offer a wide selection of other natural stones and accessories, so please stop by to enjoy the soothing space where gemstones and the sound of the falls weave together. We look forward to the day we can see your lovely smiles 😊

Notice of Temporary Closure for Sandayu Public Toilet Repairs The Sandayu public toilet in the Sandayu parking lot at Lake Kussharo will be temporarily closed for repair work from Monday, March 17, 2025, through Friday, March 21, 2025. Closure period: March 17, 2025 (Monday) from 8:00 AM to March 21, 2025 (Friday) Location: Sandayu Parking Lot, Miruwa, Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido For safety reasons, please refrain from using or entering the facility while the public toilet is undergoing repairs. The facility is scheduled to reopen as usual from March 22, but the schedule may change depending on the progress of the work. Any changes will be posted on this site, so please check for updates. Please note that the parking lot will remain available during the public toilet closure. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during the closure period. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Today, in Mishima City. It's so warm. Genbeegawa (Genbee River) and Hasunumagawa (Hasunuma River) (March 13, 2025)

Photographed on March 8, 25. This is LEC COFFEE's black latte. It's a stunning latte art. I like it. 😊

🌊 【Kanagawa】Impression experience in the suburbs of Tokyo! Diving 🌊 with a beautiful view of Manazuru's soft coral Did you know that there is a diving Spot in Kanagawa Prefecture where you can see beautiful soft corals like a painting? 🤩 Just the other day, I went boat diving to the rocks of Manazuru and the scene was absolutely fantastic! 🪸✨ Colorful soft corals vividly colored the world in Water, and along the way, we met Traditional Japanese straw raincoat scorpionfish swimming gracefully. 👀🦁🐟 🌟 There is a to all the wonderful smiling guests who had a good time with us! 🤗 We can't wait to dive with you again! 🤿 🚗 Just a 30-minute Car ride from Our Store in Hiratsuka, Manazuru Rock Boat Diving is a special Spot where you can see the Water world of Impression without long travel! ✨ The instructor will support you firmly, so you can rest assured even if you are a beginner. This Spot is also recommended for photo divers for an unforgettable diving experience near Tokyo. 🙌

Busan Shrine dyed in the color of snow This is Busan Shrine in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture. It is dyed in a snowy landscape and becomes 😊 a mysterious space

Hello to everyone watching Cool Japan Video—nice to meet you! This is the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association. We will now share plenty of reasons to fall in love with Morotsuka Village in northern Miyazaki Prefecture. First, let us introduce Morotsuka Village. ◆◇◆About Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◆◇◆ Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture, sits nearly in the center of the Kyushu Central Mountain Range. About 90% of the village area is forest. There is almost no flat land; 84 small settlements dot the mountain slopes. Under the slogan of building a forestry-centered village, Morotsuka has promoted village development by protecting mountains, creating forests, and living in harmony with nature while benefiting from the forest. This is a village that lives with the forest, thinking not only about themselves but also about one another and not only about the present but about children and grandchildren. ◆◇◆Access◆◇◆ * About two hours by car from Kumamoto Airport * About two hours by car from Miyazaki Airport * From Miyazaki Airport take the train to JR Hyuga City Station (limited express about 65 minutes), then a route bus runs from Hyuga City Station to Morotsuka Village. If you use train and route bus, take the JR Nippo Main Line to JR Hyuga City Station, then a Miyazaki Kotsu route bus to Morotsuka village center, "Morotsuka," which takes about 90 minutes. * Please board a bus bound for "Kamishiiba" or "Tsukahara." (For route bus details, check the Miyazaki Kotsu website.) ※For current traffic restrictions, please check the Morotsuka Navi Website. ◆◇◆Tourist Spots in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◆◇◆ ■Ecomuseum Morotsuka Shiitake Hall 21 This facility houses the Morotsuka Village Tourism Association office and Restaurant Donkotei. It used to be a place to learn about shiitake, but it has been renovated as a tourist information and community space. Across the Hotaru Bridge, on the opposite bank, stands the main statue of Kunugi Jizo carved from a sawtooth oak more than 100 years old. You can walk down to the river to enjoy a boxed lunch or play in the clear stream. ◇◆◇Accommodations in Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◇◆◇ ■Tenku no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park Perched around 800 meters above sea level in nature-rich Morotsuka, Tenku no Mori Ikenokubo Green Park offers log houses and a campsite. From the Hyuga direction the road is a single lane each way, so drivers who are not used to mountain roads can still feel at ease. The park features an athletic course, grass skiing, and putter golf, so families with young children can enjoy themselves together. A scenic cross-country course nearby makes for a pleasant, leisurely walk amid nature. The popular Akimasa Observatory, known for its views, is about a five-minute drive. We recommend rising early to watch the sunrise; with luck you may see a sea of clouds. Spring bursts with flowers, summer brings lush greenery and cool highland air, autumn ignites in brilliant foliage, and winter offers quiet days with occasional snow flurries. It’s a place to savor the changing seasons and relax in nature. ■Morotsukayama Mountain Stream Village One of the village’s two campgrounds is Morotsukayama Mountain Stream Village. Morotsukayama, one of Kyushu’s 100 famous mountains, towers here amid rich nature. Nearby is a river park next to a water-rich gorge, where you can enjoy river play and fishing in summer (fishing requires a permit). ■Forest Folk House Yamashigi Forest The Forest Folk House consists of two historic houses: "Shitashigi," built in the Taisho era, and "Nakashigi," built in the Meiji era. You reach them by climbing a winding mountain road, yet these homes once served as a transportation hub before roads and cars existed. Today they serve as an experiential exchange facility where city visitors and mountain residents deepen ties through farm work. Perched high as if touching the sky, the site preserves nostalgic scenes such as an irori hearth, a goemon bath, and a wood-fired stove. ■Forest Folk House Series These traditional houses let you fully enjoy the breath of nature. Surrounded by mountains, with the warmth of wood, the scent of earth, and a communal irori hearth, Morotsuka’s forest folk houses offer a relaxed pace and a restful place to experience human–nature coexistence. [List of folk houses] ・Yamashigi Forest ・Heida no Sato ・Sakura no Tsubone ・Yoshiya ◇◆◇Local Specialties of Morotsuka Village, Miyazaki Prefecture◇◆◇ ■Shiitake Shiitake cultivated using 100% log-grown mushrooms from rich forests certified as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage. Morotsuka Village proudly offers these flavorful, aromatic log-grown shiitake—please savor them. ■Mori no Hyakkamitsu (Forest Wildflower Honey) This honey comes from Japanese honeybees cherished by Morotsuka’s honey hunters. Natural beekeeping in the mountains draws nectar from a wide range of flowers. The honey the bees diligently collect—called "mori no hyakkamitsu" or wildflower honey—is highly nutritious with a rich taste and aroma. A single bee produces only about a spoonful of honey in its lifetime, making it very precious. ■Yomogi Dango (Mugwort Rice Dumplings) Fresh yomogi gathered from the mountains, nurtured by clean air and water, are made into yomogi dango using traditional methods. These treats are a countryside-only luxury, full of yomogi fragrance and filled with expertly kneaded sweet bean paste. ■Mountain-Processed Foods Women’s associations active across the scattered mountain settlements prepare goods in local workrooms every day. They transform mountain-harvested ingredients into the village’s delicious products—miso, yuzu pepper, konnyaku, dressings, and more. We will continue to share the charms of nature-rich Morotsuka Village—stay tuned!

｢... (Is it time to wake up~)"