Sunny and warm winter day on Feb. 14 With foreign tourists visiting Japan for sightseeing SAMURAI in the "Battoujutsu" sword fighting stance SAMURAI doing the "Battoujutsu-jutsu⚔" with foreign tourists visiting Japan.

Yamanashi Prefecture Fujikawaguchiko Scenery seen from the rooftop Footbath of Mr./Ms. Konan Sou The sunset and Mt. Fuji are beautiful.

Jade Prefecture Koshigaya City Katori Shrine The sound of cool wind chimes There were many wind chimes in the precincts, and I felt summer ✨

品川区 蛇窪神社, Tokyo Hanachozu ✨ shining in the quiet precincts The combination of crystals and flowers was beautiful and I was fascinated.

Atami Ropeway Just in front of the Atami Korakuen bus stop, enjoy a retro gondola and a roughly three-minute aerial stroll. When you step off the ropeway, you arrive at the summit of Mt. Hachiman, Atami’s premier observation point. From the summit terrace you can look down over Atami city. On clear days you can see the Boso Peninsula and Miura Misaki to the east, Hatsushima in the foreground to the south, and far out in the Pacific Ocean, Izu Oshima. At the tip of the observation deck is the Umi-Sora Terrace, where you can feel how close the sea and sky are. Pay attention also to the lovers’ memory spot, the Aijo Monument, the popular Umi-Sora Cafe known for its ice cream, and the Koimikuji Hall. Address / 8-15 Wadahamaminami-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0023 Phone / 0557-81-5800 Access [Foot of the Mountain Station (in front of Korakuen Hotel)] From JR atami station take the bus bound for Atami Port/Korakuen for about 10 minutes and get off at "Korakuen." [Summit Station] From JR atami station take the Yu-Yu bus for about 15 minutes and get off at Atami Castle, then walk about 3 minutes. Business Hours / First uphill 9:30, last uphill 17:00, last downhill 17:30 Open year-round (may close temporarily during severe weather or maintenance) Fees/ Adults (junior high school and older) one way 400 yen, round trip 700 yen Children (ages 4 to elementary school) one way 300 yen, round trip 400 yen Parking / Use the Atami Korakuen Hotel multi-story parking garage (show your parking ticket at the counter for 2 hours free)

Atami Port Sea Fishing Facility Attention fishing enthusiasts and those thinking of trying it for the first time! At the Atami Port Sea Fishing Facility, you can enjoy fishing in a superb location with views of Atami’s streets and surrounding mountains. The breakwater is 260 m long and 14 m wide, using the inner sea (Atami Bay side) — the outer side is off-limits. In spring you can catch species such as umitanago (blackfish), rockfish (mebaru), Japanese whiting (shirogisu), mejina (black porgy), bigfin reef squid (aori-ika), red squid (akai-ika), and japanese halfbeak (urume iwashi). In winter you can expect mejina, rockfish, kasago (scorpionfish), togorou iwashi (small sardine), frigate mackerel (soda gatsuo), filefish (kawahagi), and mebaru. Black sea bream (kurodai) and red sea bream (madai) are also caught. We rent rod-and-bait sets (rod, reel, bait, tackle, bucket, water bucket, etc.), and sell foam coolers with ice for taking your catch home, so you can enjoy fishing even if you come empty-handed. Make your sea fishing debut in Atami! Address / 1694-32 Wadahamaminami-cho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0023 Phone / 0557-85-8600 Access / From JR atami station, take a bus bound for Korakuen for about 10 minutes → get off at the final stop, Korakuen → 10-minute walk Hours / April–October: 6:00 until sunset November–March: 7:00 until sunset Closed / The facility may close for safety reasons in cases of stormy weather, high waves, or strong winds. ※Closed from 12:00 onward on days with fireworks displays ※Closed on the third Wednesday of months without fireworks displays ※Closed on the third Wednesday when fireworks are held once a month ※Open on the third Wednesday when fireworks occur two or more times in a month Fees / ■ Fishing admission: Adults 500 yen, elementary and junior high students 300 yen (children under elementary school age free) ■ Rental rod set: 2,000 yen per rod for 2 hours (tax included; admission fee not included; no advance reservations) Parking / Standard cars 500 yen per day (prepaid) ※Parking closes at 13:00 on fireworks days (you must exit because it is a danger zone) Notes ※Pets not allowed ※Please check other precautions posted on the official website in advance.

Atami Castle Atami Trick Art Labyrinth Museum Atami Castle rises atop the summit of Nishikigaura, a scenic spot in Atami. The castle keep’s observation deck offers a 360-degree panorama: it looks out over Atami city, Yugawara, the Manazuru Peninsula, and on clear days the floating silhouettes of Hatsushima and Oshima, with the Ajiro–Ito side of the Izu Peninsula stretching beyond—making it Atami’s premier viewpoint. In spring the castle is famous for cherry blossoms, and in summer you can watch fireworks from the keep like a feudal lord. (The Cherry Blossom Festival runs from late March to early April.) Inside the castle you’ll find the Samurai Culture Museum displaying armor and swords, a ukiyo-e shunga gallery, an Edo costume experience room where you can dress up for photos, a jet footbath at 120 meters above sea level, and a free game corner—packed with sights and surprises. In the castle annex, the Atami Trick Art Labyrinth Museum offers wonderfully strange illusions where flat paintings appear three-dimensional. About 40 trick artworks feature marine creatures, dinosaurs, wild beasts, and Jaws-style scenes. You can do more than admire the art—take hilarious photos, experience illusions of becoming a giant or a tiny person, touch the exhibits, and snap shots for big laughs. Lose track of time as you get absorbed in the tricks. It’s a place that excites families, friends, and couples alike. Address / 1993 Sogayama, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0033 Phone / 0557-81-6206 (Atami Castle) Access / ■ About 10 minutes by car from atami station ■ About 10 minutes by bus from atami station toward Atami Port or Korakuen; get off at "Korakuen" → take the AtamiRopeway for about 3 minutes → about a 3-minute walk from Summit Station ■ About 15 minutes from atami station by Yu~Yu~ Bus → get off at Atami Castle Open / 9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30) Open year-round Admission / Adults 1,100 yen; elementary and junior high students 600 yen; ages 3–6 450 yen (Two-site set ticket / Adults 1,800 yen; elementary and junior high students 950 yen; ages 3–6 700 yen) Parking / 100 spaces; parking fee: 500 yen (per visit)

Atami Sun Beach A blue sea and white sand, a row of hotels, and a palm-lined promenade create a beach that feels like an upscale overseas resort. In summer it serves as a bathing beach and, as a place to stroll along the sand or play in the waves, it is popular with families and couples. At dawn you can see a beautiful scene as the sunrise rises from the horizon, dyeing the beach and town, and at night the beach is lit in a magical display—the first beach illumination in Japan—designed by world-renowned lighting designer Mikako Ishii. During the summer season many people use the beach as a swimming area, and the hugely popular Sun Beach Water Park is also thriving. The beach is frequently used as a location for TV and photo shoots, including the drama Hibana. Address / 〒413-0012 Higashikaigancho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture Phone / 0557-86-6218 (Atami City Parks and Greenery Division) Access / About a 20-minute walk from JR atami station / About 5 minutes by bus from JR atami station toward Atami Port or Momijigaoka → get off at Sun Beach → about a 3-minute walk Hours / Swimming permitted during the beach season from 9:00 to 16:00 Illumination every night from sunset to 22:00 (lights off during fireworks displays) Parking / Adjacent municipal Higashi Parking Lot, 250 spaces (municipal P parking fee: 110 yen per 30 minutes) *This is a non-smoking beach; please smoke only in designated areas.

It is a scenic spot in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Enzuki Island. I took a picture of an angler aiming for blue squid in the foreground.

The Tadami Line 🚃 running through Oku-Aizu This is the Tadami Line seen in Okuaizu, Fukushima Prefecture. It only runs early in the morning and during the day, so please be careful 🙇 ♀️ when visiting This year, there is little snow due to the warm winter, but originally it was even heavier and you can 😆 see a snowy landscape

With foreign tourists visiting Japan for sightseeing Battoujutsu-jutsu SAMURAI in the "Battoujutsu 日本に観光で訪れた外国人観光客の皆さんと “抜刀術⚔” の構えをするSAMURAI

【大阪城 梅林公園】 2024年2/13現在 開花情報：花見にはもう少し Osaka Castle Umegorin Park As of 2/13/2024 Flowering information: A little more for flower viewing

Nature creates some of the astonishing wonders just like this. This huge snow wall is breathtakingly stunning. This time I visited lake shikotsu ice festival. Amazingly beautiful.

Winter superb view of Lake Okunikko Yuno in Tochigi Prefecture The surface of the lake that freezes in winter and the surface of the lake that does not freeze due to the flow of hot springs The boundaries were stunning For some reason, the snow masses that have piled up are also dusty It is a landscape that I want to leave for the future

Lamps The 50th anniversary of the Shimokawa Ice Candle Museum in Shimokawa Town, Hokkaido At the venue, many ice candles lit up the feet, and the hearts were warmly lit so as not to feel the freezing cold sky I took a picture with a cloth filter and impressed with the light of an ice candle

[Inubosaki Lighthouse and Shiramaru Post] It seems that there are colorful round posts all over the country. The synchronization of the blue sky, the lighthouse, and the post was interesting, so I took a picture.

Jukkokutoge (Jukkoku Pass) Jukkoku Pass is said to have gotten its name because, long ago, you could see ten provinces—Izu, Sagami, Suruga, Tōtōmi, Kai, Awa, Kazusa, Shimōsa, Musashi, Shinano—and five islands (Ōshima, Niijima, Kozushima, Miyakejima, Toshima). From the summit of Mt. Hikaneyama, you can look north to Mt. Fuji, west to Suruga Bay, and east to Sagami Bay. Over the years many artists have tried to capture this panorama with a brush, but tradition says the scale and beauty defeated them. A cable car runs to and from the summit. You can also reach it by trekking from Himenosawa Park in about an hour and a half, enjoying the natural surroundings. In spring azaleas bloom in profusion, summer brings a pleasant cool breeze, autumn waves fields of silver grass, and winter welcomes you with the warm sunshine of the highlands. ※The “Sky Dog Run” reopened on November 11, 2023! Address / 1400-20 Kuwahara, Kannami, Tagata District, Shizuoka Prefecture 419-0101 Phone / 0557-81-6895 (Jukkokutoge Cable Car) Access / From JR atami station, take the bus bound for the Motohakone area for about 40 minutes and get off at “Jukkokutoge Noboriguchi.” Hours / Cable car 9:00–17:00 (runs every 15 minutes; one-way trip about 3 minutes) Open year-round. Temporary closures may occur for maintenance, weather, or public circumstances. Fares / Round-trip cable car: adults (junior high school and older) 730 yen; children 370 yen ※Dogs are allowed (leash required; 300 yen round trip per dog) Parking / 320 spaces; 22 large-vehicle spaces (free)

Kinomiya Shrine Kinomiya Shrine has long been revered as a deity of good fortune and auspicious beginnings. Beside the main hall stands a sacred camphor tree designated a National Natural Monument, said to be about 2,100 years old with a trunk circumference of 24 meters. It is famous as a power spot. Legend holds that circling the trunk once adds a year to your life, and many visitors pray here for longevity, healing, and good health to share in the tree’s vitality. It is also said that those with a wish should quietly circle the tree without telling anyone; doing so helps clarify the wish. The tree is lit up at night, offering different expressions in the morning, daytime, and evening. The annual grand festival takes place each year from July 14 to 16. Address／43-1 Nishiyama-cho, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0034 Phone／0557-82-2241 Access／About 15 minutes by bus from JR Atami Station toward Motohakone or Nishiyama, then get off at Kinomiya Jinja-mae. Parking／15 spaces + 25 spaces (paid). A discount is available for those receiving prayers or amulets. ※It gets crowded, so please use public transportation.

MOA Museum of Art MOA MUSEUM OF ART This prominent Atami museum holds about 3,500 works focused on East Asian paintings, calligraphy, and crafts, including three National Treasures, 67 Important Cultural Properties, and 46 Important Art Objects. Especially famed is Ogata Kōrin’s masterpiece and National Treasure Red and White Plum Blossoms folding screen (displayed for limited periods), which draws many visitors who wait for its exhibition each February during the plum season. The museum sits atop a hill in Atami on a site of some 70,000 tsubo, and the main lobby and the MOA plaza offer stunning views of Izu Oshima, Hatsushima, and other scenic islands. The grounds include gardens that change with the seasons—cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, fresh greenery in early summer, and autumn foliage—so you can relax in a resort atmosphere while enjoying both art and nature. Address / 26-2 Momoyama-cho, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0006 Phone / 0557-84-2511 Access / About 10 minutes by bus from JR atami station toward the MOA Museum of Art, then get off at the final stop, MOA Hours / 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last admission 4:00 p.m.) Closed / Every Thursday and on exhibition changeover days. Special open days may apply Admission / Adults ¥1,600; university and high school students ¥1,000; elementary and junior high school students free; senior discount ¥1,400; disability discount ¥800 Parking / 200 spaces (free)

ACAO FOREST A vast floral garden spread across 200,000 tsubo of rolling hills, composed of 13 distinctive themed gardens. Framed by the Atami-blue sea and sky, you can enjoy striking scenes crafted by roses, bulb plants, herbs, perennials and a variety of other plants. Not only does the garden offer seasonal floral displays year-round, it also features COEDA HOUSE, a cafe designed by Kengo Kuma; Soga Sengen Shrine; a hands-on herb and aroma workshop; and a commercial complex, ACAO ROSE SQUARE, where visitors can dine and shop. Address / 1027-8 Kamitaga, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0101 Access / About 20 minutes by bus toward Ajiro from JR Atami Station → get off at “ACAO Forest” Hours / Regular season 9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:00) Closed / None ※ Closed temporarily in severe weather possible Admission / Adults ¥4,000 · Children ¥1,000 · Pets ¥1,000 Parking / Paid parking for 100 vehicles ※ Hours, closure days, and fees may change, so please check the official website in advance.

The weather was fine after the consecutive holidays. Today, SAMURAI went to Osaka Castle... 連休明けは行脚日和の晴天。 けふもSAMURAIは大坂上田城へ…

Hatsushima, a small island floating off Atami City in Shizuoka Prefecture, is a 30-minute boat ride from Atami Port. The island measures about 4 km around. Wrapped in a tropical atmosphere, Hatsushima is full of nature! You can enjoy park walks among seasonal flowers, an athletic course, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and many other activities. The island’s greatest appeal is its food. In addition to fresh seafood, you’ll find restaurants and cafes with a distinctly tropical vibe. On Hatsushima, the island’s popular annual winter event “Hatsushima Fishermen’s Donburi Battle” is now under way! All 13 local fishers’ eateries on the island, plus the terrace restaurant ENAK, a total of 14 venues, are offering original donburi dishes. For the event period only, a special value set ticket is on sale that includes a round-trip boat ticket on the Hatsushima route and meal coupons valid at participating island restaurants. Take this chance to savor Hatsushima’s delicious donburi. Hatsushima Fishermen’s Donburi Battle Period: Saturday, February 10, 2024 to Sunday, March 10, 2024 Donburi Battle set ticket (round-trip boat + meal coupon): Adults 3,990 yen (regular 4,400 yen); Children 2,800 yen (regular 3,000 yen) Set tickets sold at: Atami Port ticket counter

Otaru snow lantern path festivals is a very famous winter tourist spot in hokkaido. Many many local people worked volunteerily to maintain the beauty of the pathway. The canal also illuminated during the festival. Its one of my memorable trip to hokkaido.

Today, Monday, February 12 (substitute holiday), marks the first Atami Marine Fireworks Festival of 2024! Fireworks are held in many places, but Atami’s defining feature is its launch site. Because the fireworks are set off over Atami Bay, a sea surrounded on three sides by mountains, the sound echoes as if you were in a stadium. Watching from the shoreline lets the sound resonate through your body, so you can feel the full impact! We will hold this year’s events as listed below, so please come and experience Atami’s fireworks at least once! 2024 (Reiwa 6) Atami Marine Fireworks Festival dates (scheduled) February 12 (Monday, substitute holiday) · February 24 (Saturday) · March 20 (Wednesday, public holiday) April 13 (Saturday) · May 2 (Thursday) July 26 (Friday) · August 5 (Monday) · August 8 (Thursday) · August 18 (Sunday) · August 23 (Friday) September 16 (Monday, public holiday) · October 19 (Saturday) · November 4 (Monday, substitute holiday) December 8 (Sunday) Time: 20:20–20:40 (July and August only: 20:20–20:45) Venue: Atami Bay Viewing areas: Atami Sun Beach to the waterfront park and others Note: The event goes ahead even in rain.

The lighthouse at the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula, Shiocape, and the Pacific Ocean seen from the lighthouse are magnificent.

Plum blossoms are now at their best in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture! The 80th Atami Plum Garden Plum Festival runs at Atami Plum Garden until March 3, and as of February 11 the blooms are at their peak. (The photo was taken on February 10.) The garden houses 469 plum trees across 60 varieties, so you can enjoy a wide range of flower types.

I think Mt. Fuji and the cherry blossoms are the strongest. Shizuoka Prefecture Fuji City Junigawa

大和撫子は刀剣女子⚔ 繊細さ、か弱さ、凛としたたたずまい、そして、折れない芯の強さが同居する女性。 彼女もまたSAMURAIだ。 Yamato Nadeshiko is a sword girl⚔. She is a woman of delicacy, fragility, dignity, and unbreakable core strength. She is also a SAMURAI.

Ice 🎇 Candle Festival with Fireworks This is Narai Lodging in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. Every winter, an ice candle festival is held. Candles are lit along the Shukuba-machi, so it is 😆 very fantastic There are also fireworks at night, so be sure to 😊 visit

日本の本質的な 魅力である 古武道、伝統文化に触れる旅 Japan's essential The essential charm of Japan A journey to experience kobudo and traditional culture