Otowa Bridge in Tsuruimura, Hokkaido It is a famous spot for photographing the red-crowned cranes.

Hoshino Resorts Tomamu’s Christmas Everyone was making snowmen and enjoying snowball fights.

Photographed on January 3, 2014. These are the hanachōzu (flower water basins) at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

A runway-like single road leading to MtJonen With its pyramidal shape, this beautiful peak is Azumino’s symbol!! A Northern Alps mountain that is unmistakable when viewed from Azumino

January 6th This morning in Azumino is clear and sharply cold Last night’s snowfall lightly dusted the countryside white The Northern Alps, lit by the morning sun, look magnificent!!

Photographed on December 29, 2025. This is the torii at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine dressed for New Year’s. 🎍

At a quiet temple in Kawagoe, piles of weathered Daruma rest in one place, their wishes fulfilled. Each New Year, people return their old Daruma here, a ritual of gratitude and release. In the frame, an elderly woman gently places hers atop the others, bowing slightly—an act she learned as a child. Once, her parents brought her; later, she brought her children. The Daruma come and go, but the tradition remains, passed patiently from old to young, year after year. Location: Kitain temple, Kawagoe, Saitama.

Happy New Year! This is the first sunrise of 2026 as seen from Bansei Onsen. May many people visit Taiki Town again this year!

Photographed on December 29, 2025. This is the New Year–style hanachōzu (flower water basin) at Naritasan Kawagoe Betsuin.🎍

Sun pillar and diamond dust at Kirigamine, Nagano Prefecture The 1/3 weather forecast predicted a temperature of −8°C and 80% humidity. Since snow had been forecast until 21:00 the night before, I thought it might appear and drove out. By the time I arrived at 21:00, the snow had already stopped, but a light dusting of powdery snow had settled. At 22:00 the car’s outside thermometer read −12°C, so I went to bed hoping the temperature would keep falling. I hiked 600 m along the snowy road from the parking lot to the shooting point just after 6:00 in the morning. The morning temperature was −12°C. Mount Fuji was clearly visible. There were clouds above Yatsugatake, but at 7:20 a sun pillar appeared above them. I silently wished for it to appear below as well, and from around 7:24 the diamond dust began to sparkle. The sun pillar lasted about 15 minutes, but the diamond dust continued to glitter afterward. I had visited several times last year without success, so I was delighted to see it this time.

Mount Fuji and morning mist This photo was taken at Lake Shojin at sunrise. I took it by chance on my first visit to see Mount Fuji! It looks like it will be a good year♪

Photographed on January 2, 2014. After visiting Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Kanetsuki‑dōri Store. I had a honey ginger komekoji milk latte and an Earl Grey pound cake. To everyone at the Bell Tower Street Store, I look forward to your continued support this year.🙇‍♀️

Witnessing the first supermoon of 2026, I was unexpectedly lucky to see a plane crossing the radiant moon. it was a surreal moment that reminded me of how tiny our existence is in this vast galaxy, yet also how far we've come and how much further we'll go. happy new year! Location: Wakoshi, Saitama

Photographed on January 1, 2014. This is Kawagoe Kumano Shrine around 6:00 a.m.

Photographed on January 3, 2014. A performance of festival music (ohayashi) at Koedo Kurari.

I watched a hayashi (festival music ensemble) performance at Koedo Kurari.

It was around 6:30 a.m. at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

It’s around 6:30 a.m. at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

It is about 6:00 a.m. at Kawagoe Kumano Shrine.

Snow Trees Rime ice covering the trees at Gozaisho Ropeway Summit. One of the few places in Mie Prefecture where you can see rime ice on trees. Gozaisho Ropeway, Komonocho, Mie Prefecture

I woke up early to visit the shrine for my first prayers of the year. This is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine’s Kawagoe sweet potato fortune. 🍠 I received a New Year’s morning ceremony blessing, and fortunately I was also given a matchmaking charm. I hope good things come to you in a chain like sweet potato vines. 😊🍠

Happy New Year! This year I again photographed the first sunrise from the waterfront park. There was no wind and it was not as cold as in past years, but a warm layer of clouds on the horizon kept the sky dull and dim even after the scheduled sunrise time of 6:51. Around 7:05 the edges of the clouds began to glow, and just after 7:20 the sun finally appeared! As every year, many residents and tourists gathered early at the waterfront park to watch the first sunrise of Reiwa 8. May Reiwa 8 bring you a year full of happiness. We appreciate your continued support of Atami Onsen this year as well.

Happy New Year! 🎍🐎 Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.

Photographed on December 28, 2025. This is LEC COFFEE’s original chai and a gateau chocolat.