Hiratsuka City and Isehara City Joint “Local Products and Specialties Marche” 2024 Featuring selected local delicacies from the Japan Heritage town of Isehara, plus fresh vegetables, sweets and other local products for sale, gourmet food trucks, and a visit from Kururin ✨ ◆Date and Time: Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15, 10:00–17:00 ◆Venue: The Outlet Shonan Hiratsuka WEST COURT (1-1, Ogami 8-chome, Hiratsuka) From Isehara, vendors on both days: National Medicinal Herb Production and Promotion Association, Isehara Oyama Onsen, Katano Facility Horticulture, Yonetani Tofu Shop, Suzuki Chili Peppers Vendors on Sunday, December 15 only: Frieden, Pan Kōbo Seaver, Shizen-joka (Natural Yam House), Manmaruya Isehara and Hiratsuka ✨ Full of charm ✨ Please come and visit!

＼Oikamana Lake has frozen over!／ Nearly the entire surface of Oikamana Lake (Ikebana Nae Swamp) along the Pacific coast has frozen. In spots where the ice is thick enough, you can walk on it. You can also hear strange sounds when the ice shifts or cracks. This is a fleeting, otherworldly sight that lasts only until the snow begins to fall. Find Taiki Town tourist information here! ↓ https://visit-taiki.hokkaido.jp//

Gokase Highland Ski Resort Safety Prayer Ceremony Today, Thursday, December 12, a safety prayer ceremony was held at Gokase Highland Ski Resort, which is set to reopen in eight days for the first time in three years. 🙏✨ Around 60 people boarded shuttle buses from the base to gather, and amid heavy media coverage, a Shinto ritual took place inside the ski center. 😌 The ritual proceeded smoothly, and after offering prayers for the resort’s safety and success, participants toasted together. 🍻 At the post-ceremony gathering, everyone spent a relaxed time, eagerly anticipating the ski area’s opening. 🤗 Along the road up to the resort, snow had accumulated in places, and the slopes were adorned with frost-covered trees that created a magical scene. ❄️✨ When the wind blows, it really is cold, isn’t it? 🥶 I came fully bundled up today, but cold is cold. 🤣 Still, a ski resort should feel like this! Right? 💪❤️‍🔥 Only a little time left until opening. 🤩 Let’s hold on a bit longer and wait with excited anticipation. ✨

In fact, on December 1st, at the Suwa City sightseeing Information Center on the Kami-suwa Station campus, Shizune-chan Suwa the top of "Hot Spring Musume" appeared!! The voice actor in charge is Nanaka Suwa! ◆What is Hot Spring Musume? 　Hot Spring Musume is a project created with the main purpose of regional revitalization to Broadcasting the charm of Hot Spring resorts and Sightseeing spots throughout Japan both domestically and internationally through various contents such as anime, manga, characters, and voice actors. For a long time, there had been Shimo Suwa Watane-chan in Shimosuwa Town, but she had not yet manifested herself in Kami Suwa.　In yesterday's manifestation of Kami Suwa, the twins, Kami Suwa Shizukune (older sister) and Lower Suwa Watane (younger sister), managed to get together yesterday!　Thank you for waiting. At the Information Center, we sell can batches (up to 2 pieces) and acrylic key chains (up to 1 piece) per one person. For those who purchase a total of 1500 yen or more, we will give you an original sticker!　 　 Please be careful!　We look forward to seeing you!

Among the hanging dolls, I was curious. If you look closely, it is the 12 zodiac signs. 🐭🐮🐯🐰🐉🐍🐎🐏🐵🐓🐶🐗

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

Photographed 12/9/24. It is Town Hanachozu of Naka Information Center sightseeing.

[Isehara Mountain Market is on!] The event will go ahead in light rain and be canceled in severe weather. This month brings more of Isehara’s delicious and delightful offerings, popular as ever! Sunday, December 15, 2024, 10:00–15:00 Venue: Isehara City General Sports Park (free admission) Food tents and kitchen cars, local vegetables for sale, and a wide variety of booths will gather in one place.✨ You can also enjoy stage performances like kids’ dance and music events. Come join us! 😊 ● Access by train and bus 320 Nishitomioka, Isehara, Kanagawa Get off at Odakyu Line Isehara Station Take the Kanachu (Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu) bus from North Exit, Platform 3, bound for Nanasawa, about 10 minutes, 240 yen ▪ If you board routes I-34 or I-36, get off at Sogo Undokoen (General Sports Park) ▪ If you board routes I-31 or I-37, get off at Sogo Undokoen Iriguchi (General Sports Park Entrance) and walk 5 minutes

From Soto Recipes! As a special return to everyone who supported us through crowdfunding of the luxury retort "Izu no Gokumeshi" that fully uses high-quality ingredients from the three towns of Shizuoka and Izu, we Held in a social gathering to eat "Izu no Gokumeshi" together in Izu with our ambassador Izu no Nushi Fishing. Izu Southwest Coast Tourism Promotion Council Three towns: Nishi-Izu Town, Matsuzaki Town, and Minami-Izu Town We received full cooperation in recipe development, etc. Chiaki, Representative of Soto Recipe Co., Ltd. Ambassador "Izu no Nushi Fishing" With everyone who supported us We enjoyed camping food unique to the southwestern Coast of Izu, such as "Dogashima barley wine", "Hon Wasabi and local fish", "Ghibier yakiniku", "natural eel kabayaki", "deep-fried ginaga shrimp", and "tide soup". Souvenirs include "Hot Spring Melon", "Bonito Dashi Salt", and "Matsuzaki Rice". There is a very much to everyone who participated.

[e-Sports Trial Event 🎮] Today (December 10) an "e-Sports Trial Event" took place in the Sakamoto area.💡 At first, many faces looked tense—perhaps from unfamiliar games and the cold—but as the rounds went on people relaxed and smiles grew.😁✨ Some teams shone with individual skill, others with outstanding teamwork, and each team had its own style. The crowd cheered loudly whenever other teams played, creating a lively atmosphere.😆 Hearing comments like "That was fun!" and "Let’s do it again!" made us very happy.😄

Photographed 12/9/24. It is Hanachozu of Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.

Metasequoia Trees It will be Metasequoia 🎄 yesterday 12/9! Autumn leaves were 🥰 beautiful Come #Takaharu Town Metasequoia Please post 😁 hashtags at Location: A short walk from Takaharu Clear streams Land Car parking lot! 〒889-4414 31-2 Kamamuta, Takaharu, Nishimorokata District, Miyazaki Prefecture Car parking is free of charge, so please park neatly in the open space.

Popular snow activities in Nayoro City, Hokkaido "Powder Snow Safari" A tour to the summit of Mount Piyasiri, next to the Piyasiri ski resort in the city. Ride a snowmobile through snowy forest roads and snowfields to meet the giant "Snow Monster". From the top of the mountain, if you are lucky, you can also see the "Sun Pillar", which is a Nature tabletop phenomenon, Mt. Rishiri on the northernmost Rishiri Island, and the Sea of Okhotsk. Rest assured that the snowmobile will have a driver. Rental items such as helmets, gloves, and spats are also available, so even beginners can enjoy it. Period: Late December ~ Early March Number of receptionists: 1 person ~ Duration: 2 hours ~ 2 and a half hours Fee: 12,000 yen/person (tax included) For details, search for "Nayoro Sightseeing & Town Planning Association"!!

On the special day of Christmas, Enjoy ⛄ a sumptuous and rewarding lunch with stylish stand sweets and plenty of savouries 🌟 Christmas Lunch Afternoon Tea Set 🌟 [Limited to 5 days] We have prepared a menu that is perfect for a white Christmas, such as "Paris Brest", Christmas Standard "Stollen", and "Young Hokkaido Chicken Ballotine Sweet and Sour Fruit Sauce"! Stylish and delicious, Volume afternoon tea set ♪ Please enjoy it ✨ 🎄menu 【Sweets】 ・Paris Brest ・Cup white chocolate ・Stollen ・Kumquat tart ・Stick ganache ・Canele ・White grass ・Ginger cookies ・Macarons ・Marron Roll ・Croquis [Savory] ・ Gorgeous hole "Xmas"-style wreath salad from the sea and earth ・Seafood Chowder Pie Wrap Baked ・ Young Hokkaido chicken balotine with sweet and sour fruit sauce ・Bread, Butter [Drink] ・Ronnefeldt tea (7 kinds) ・Coffee ・Mocktail (2 types) 🎄fee ¥4,600 per person 🎄 Offer Period December 21~25, 2024 🎄time 11:30~16:00 (Last entry 14:00) *120 minutes 🎄place Rendezvous Lounge Reservations and details 📞011-222-1522 Or visit the 👍 hotel's website

Photographed 12/9/24. It is the sacred tree of Kawagoe Hachimangu. The carpet of Ginkgo leaves is very beautiful.

Photographed 12/4/24. This is the love water of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine. Shot from a different angle.

Odakyu Family Fun Festa 2024 On Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, it took place at a special venue featuring a full-scale ice skating rink made with real ice and at the adjacent Ebina Central Park. Popular characters gathered in large numbers, including Isehara’s Kururin, Odakyu’s Mokoron, and Sotetsu’s Christmas version Sounyan, drawing many families and other visitors and creating a lively atmosphere!

Photographed 12/4/24. This is the love water of Kawagoe Kumano Shrine. It was redecorated for winter. ❄️

Photographed 12/4/24. Every Wednesday, we visited Maestro, who operates at Resona Coedo Terrace. It is a financier of Kawagoe tea (yuzu), Buckwheat noodles and matcha. I received a prototype of Garrett. The galette is also delicious.

Photographed 12/4/24. After the dedication ceremony, we visited the Tomori Shokudo at Benten Nagaya. It is chicken cutlet and grated ponzu sauce. There are many side dishes, and it is a luxurious rice set. 😊

Prayer to Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine before work. 💛 Ginkgo leaves.

Photographed 12/4/24. At the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, a potato dedication ceremony was held. This is Kawagoe Imo Lottery. With the number enclosed in the fortune teller, you can receive a strip of the Imo Lottery Extra Edition. It seems that you can understand the potato language, potato knowledge, and lucky potato items.

On the shore of Lake Utonai, the samaras of the karakogi maple sparkle in the sunlight ✨ You can also see whooper swans 🦢 (Image provided by the Lake Utonai Wildlife Protection Center)

Odakyu Family Fun Festa 2024 Starting tomorrow, a hugely popular two-day event will bring railway companies from across the country together in Ebina! On both days, Isehara City offers a multicolor woodblock printing experience, and the sparkling Kururin will also appear—catch the stage around 3:30 PM (planned)! Yoshikawa Brewery will be on site Saturday the 7th, and Happy Pan Life will be there Sunday the 8th. Enjoy a full lineup of family activities, including the Fuma Ninja Show and Fuma Ninja experience, Odakyu’s child-support mascot Koron’s stage, and a stationmaster dress-up experience. Odakyu Line offers a flat pediatric IC fare of 50 yen!! Enjoy two days packed with fun events🌈 Date and Time: Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Venue: Ebina Central Park Access: A short walk from Ebina Station on the Odakyu and Sotetsu lines Organizer: Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd. Ebina Central Park Designated Manager

Photographed 12/3/24. At the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, a potato dedication ceremony was held. The Kawagoe Imo Lottery is handmade by everyone at the Kawagoe Imonoko Workshop.

2024.11.27 この日、食いしん坊 河西は、またまた和菓子屋さんへリサーチに行きました!!! それは、園月堂本舗 福島店です！ でも、皆さん、何か写真で気付きませんか？ ほら！ほら!!! 園月堂さんに行くので浮かれて、お店の外観撮るの忘れてるんですよ。。。 本当に、食い意地が勝ってますよね。。。 お恥ずかしいです。。。 次回は、確り致します！ 園月堂本舗さんの、女将さんの片桐さんにお話を聞きました！ 創業７８年(昭和２１年)から、園月堂になる前の屋号で始められたようです。 最初は、上諏訪駅前にあったそうですよ！ ４年後に小和田、その８年後に清水の方へ店舗を拡大して行きました。 今は、清水店と平成４年に、この福島店をオープンされ市内２店舗で和菓子をご提供頂いています!!! 女将さんのオススメは、復刻した“湖城もなか”と“兜最中”です!!! 最中も４種類程あり、とても沢山の種類がありました。 女将さん曰く、「餡子も各和菓子屋さんで、それぞれ違うので自分が好きな餡子を探してみるのも面白いですよ！」と、お教え下さいました!!! 「最近は、外国のお客様が少しずつ増え、洋菓子のクリームより、餡子はカロリーが低いので注目されてきているのかも知れません。 」と、仰っておりました！ ◎ 園月堂本舗 福島店 📍長野県諏訪市中洲福島５３９８-１ ☎ 0266-58-1547 ◎ 営業時間：9：00 ～ 19：00 ◎ 定休日 : 清水店・福島店共、毎週火曜日 ◎ 園月堂本舗 清水店 📍長野県諏訪市清水１-２-１２ ☎ 0266-52-1543 ◎ 営業時間：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

Photographed 12/3/24. We interviewed HK Tea Hong Kong Tea. It is a triple chocolate with lemon honey and egg waffles. Honey lemon tastes better when it is HOT. 😊🍋🍯

[Recording of Itome Meeting Deluxe] Today, December 5, we recorded the hugely popular “Itome Meeting” segment of Gokasecho Kurara Channel, beloved both inside and outside Gokase Town📹✨ Although the recording was originally scheduled for June, it was postponed due to various circumstances😭 The venue was Potunto Ikkenya Kuraoka, which just opened this October🏠💡 On a set that looked like a real TV show, we welcomed local legends Ito-shan (96) and Tome-shan (98) from the Kuraoka district, Gokase Town, plus special guest Asakiss-san (98). The three of them, totaling 292 years, delivered razor-sharp conversation🤣👏 Reporters from Miyazaki Nichinichi Shimbun also covered the event, and Itome Meeting continues to lead the way in energizing Gokase Town literally from the front lines…🥹✨ This edition has been powered up as “Itome Meeting Deluxe – Together with Asakiss-san♪” and will be released soon🤩🙌 Please subscribe to Gokasecho Kurara Channel on YouTube and look forward to the video upload🥳💫 Their quick-witted responses, despite being nearly 100 years old, are sure to inspire you. If you haven’t seen it yet, please give it a watch🤗

Overnight Castle Snow Scenery Castles and snow look good Sumimata Towns, Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture

Autumn at Ooyama 2024 Maple Report 🍁 12.5 Here is the current view of Oyama Temple as of Thursday, December 5, and of the lower Ooyama Afuri Shrine and Fujimidai as of Tuesday, December 3. On clear days, the view of Mt. Fuji from Fujimidai is exceptional! The maple trees along Suzukawa, below the OyamaCableCar bus stop, are also beautiful. The peak of the autumn leaves has passed at this soothing spot of Ooyama, so please visit as soon as you can! ※Sunset comes early, so if you aim for the mountaintop, start early in the morning and allow plenty of time. Access: From Odakyu Line Isehara Station North Exit, Platform 4 Take the ‘For Ooyama Cable’ bus for about 30 minutes Get off at the last stop and walk 15 minutes to the cable car station