I will never forget the shock of seeing the scenery of Kamikochi live even now It's a memory that will last a lifetime.

The 15th Atami Fish Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 1–2. Held at the Shinsui Park Event Plaza, you can enjoy freshly grilled seafood on the spot with the “hamayaki” experience, along with food and drink vendors and special free sailings on the pleasure boat Sanremo. Come taste Atami’s seafood! 15th Atami Fish Festival Dates and times: Saturday, November 1 and Sunday, November 2, 2025, 10:00–16:00 (until 15:00 on November 2) Venue: Shinsui Park Event Plaza (pleasure boat boarding at Shinsui Park Third Pier) https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/198... Note: Hamayaki cannot be reserved in advance; it is first-come, first-served on the day. Note: For the special free sailings on the pleasure boat (only for the 8th and 9th sailings each day), boarding tickets will be distributed at the boarding area from 14:30 on the day. Note: Check the detailed page below for full event details. On Sunday, November 2, the Bōei-Bōsai Festa and Firefighting Plaza will take place at Nagisa Elementary School Park across from the Third Section of Shinsui Park, and the Marine Festa Atami 2025 will be held at the Atami Port 7.5 Seismic-Resistant Quay.

This photo was taken at Isahaya Shrine in Nagasaki Prefecture. The stylish transparent amulet was impressive, so I took a picture of the shrine in the background. The heat of midsummer was over, but the wind Car of the many was swirling with the wind, and there was a cool atmosphere in the air.

Memories of Summer Enbara River 2025.08.16 The cold water of the underground water warms up with the warmth of summer, and river fog is generated, and the sun shines on it, creating a beam of light.

Love ✨✨✨ the Drive We stopped ✌️✌️✌️ at the Aqua Line Sea Hotaru You can't tell from the photo, but it was 😱😱😱 a strong wind Next time, I want to 😆😆😆 have a gentle aqua line drive

[Torii Pass - toriitoge-] Overview A roughly 6 km mountain trail linking Narai inn on the Kiso Kaido with Yabuhara inn. In the Edo period it was famous as one of the Nakasendo’s toughest stretches, a place that made straw-sandalled travelers limp with pain. Today it is a popular, atmospheric trekking route. Hikers from Japan and abroad walk this pass in large numbers. From the summit you can look west to Mitakesan and east to Kiso Komagatake. Along the old road you will find numerous haiku and waka monuments and stone Buddhas, including those honoring Matsuo Bashō. The pass saw battles between the Kiso clan and the Takeda clan in the Sengoku era, and in the late Edo period Princess Kazunomiya passed through here on her marriage procession. Free loan of hinoki conical hats and bear bells! This service lets walkers experience the look of Edo-period travelers, especially those walking between Yabuhara and Narai on the Nakasendo. The traditional original hinoki (cypress) hats, hand-painted with kanji, make perfect travel companions and evoke the spirit of Edo travelers. They’re great for the experience and for photo opportunities. What is a hinoki hat? A hinoki hat is one of Kiso region’s traditional crafts. It remains popular with locals and visitors as a practical fashion item and as a sunshade that traces its roots to the Edo period. How to try them You can try them at the tourist information centers listed below. We refund the full deposit when you return the items. ⚠ The deposit will not be refunded if the item is lost or damaged. (Items may be wet without issue.) Loan locations: ① Narai-juku Tourist Information Center ② Yabuhara-juku Nigiwai Hiroba Enkan ③ Kiso Village Tourist Information Center Addresses: ① 497-3 Narai, Shiojiri City ② 1019-1 Yabuhara, Kiso village ③ Lot 196, Yabuhara, Kiso village TEL: ① 0264-34-3160 ② 0264-36-3020 ③ 0264-36-2543 Opening hours: ① 9:00–17:00 ② 8:30–17:00 ③ 9:00–17:00 Closed: ① During the New Year holidays ② Every Tuesday ③ Every Monday Refundable deposit: 2,000 yen per item Payment method: Cash only

Shiojiri’s Two Signature Local Dishes: Sanzoku-yaki and Shinshu Soba ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanzoku-yaki Actually born in Shiojiri! The bold, dramatic sanzoku-yaki that’s a hit on social media Sanzoku-yaki, a whole fried chicken thigh served with theatrical flair, actually traces its roots to a restaurant called Sanzoku in Shiojiri City. After much trial and error, the founding couple perfected the cooking method. They named the shop “Sanzoku” (bandit) and the dish “sanzoku-yaki” because a scene in the then-popular film Seven Samurai showed bandits tearing into a chicken, the shop stood near a mountain pass, and—believe it or not—the couple themselves looked like bandits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soba For soba lovers: the birthplace of “sobakiri” (cut soba) — Motoyama-juku in Shiojiri In earlier times, “soba” referred to a dumpling-like food similar to what we now call sobagaki. The long, thin noodles we picture today are called sobakiri (cut soba) and were distinguished from the dumpling form. The place where sobakiri first appeared is Motoyama-juku in present-day Shiojiri City. As a post town on the Nakasendo, Motoyama-juku welcomed many travelers, and sobakiri born there is said to have spread across the country along those routes. Shiojiri’s climate, with large daily and seasonal temperature differences, has long suited high-quality buckwheat cultivation, so soba has been grown here for ages. The oldest written reference to Motoyama-juku’s sobakiri appears in the haibun anthology Fuzoku Bunsen compiled by Morikawa Kyoro in Hōei 2 (1705). It records: “Soba-kiri originally came from Motoyama-juku in Shinano Province and was widely popular throughout the provinces.”

This is a photo taken of the Ono turtle on Sado Island in June. It was the time of year when the flowers called daylilies were in full bloom, and it seemed to be one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. I Outbound it for the first time, but just taking a walk makes me feel happy, I highly recommend it! The weather was great on this day and it was and to drive the Car to go. I would like to outbound in another season.

This photo was taken at Takayama Inari Shrine in Aomori Prefecture. There is a thousand Torii (shrine gates) here, and you can see it from the high ground. It shows various expressions in Four Seasons, but this photo is not from a high ground, but from a Torii (shrine gate). The wonderful curves were impressive, and Impression of the superb view that unfolded ahead was aroused.

Gohbara-juku (Gohbara-juku) Location: Gohbara, Hirooka, Shiojiri City Gohbara-juku was the first post town on the Zenkoji Kaido after it branched from the Nakasendo at Seba-juku. It was established in Keicho 19 (1614) when Hidemasa Ogasawara, lord of Matsumoto Castle, developed the Zenkoji Kaido (the Hokuriku side route) to connect Nakasendo’s Seba-juku with the Hokkokukaido. Rather than an existing settlement becoming the post town, Gohbara’s original village lay on the east bank of the Narai River in the Ueno land division. When the post station was laid out, the settlement was moved around Genna 5 (circa 1619) to its present site together with the Kataishi hamlet, which had been on the west bank, to create the new post town. Highlights of Gohbara-juku Houses were laid out with wide frontages of five to six ken, featuring main gabled roofs with the short side facing the street and sparrow deterrents on the ridges. Each house has a forecourt with planted trees, creating an attractive streetscape, and shop names are displayed at every residence. Sōetsu Yanagi, called the father of the mingei (folk craft) movement, praised Gohbara-juku in his essays, saying the entire post town was “a single splendid work of art.” On the north side of the post town stands Gofuku-ji, which served as a resting place for Emperor Meiji during his imperial tour in Meiji 13 (1880). Read more about the Nakasendo and the five post towns in the city here↓

Motoyama-juku (Motoyama-juku) Location: Shiojiri City, Soga Honzan Motoyama prospered as the gateway to Kiso Road and the exit from the Matsumoto Plain. Two-story houses with latticework fronts line the streets, preserving a strong sense of the past. The town is also introduced as the birthplace of sobakiri (cut buckwheat noodles). In Keicho 19 (1614), Shiojiri, Seba, and Motoyama were designated as new post towns on the Nakasendo. Unlike Shiojiri and Seba, which were formed by relocating people from neighboring villages, Motoyama developed from a medieval settlement. It was the 32nd station counting from Edo, situated 30 cho from Seba Post Town and 2 ri from Niegawa Inn (Niegawa-juku). The post town divided into Kamimachi to the south and Shimomachi to the north, with the honjin, wakimotonjin, and dispatch office at its center. South of the town stood Hachiman Shrine, Choukyuuji, and Joukouji; to the north was Suwa Shrine, and across the Narai River lay Ikeo Shrine, though some temples were later abandoned. Because Motoyama bordered the Owari Domain in Kiso, a checkpoint was located south of the town to inspect women and timber. In Tenpo 14 (1843) the town had 117 households and 34 inns. Compared with Seba Post Town’s three-ken frontage, many houses in Motoyama had four- to five-ken facades. The town suffered several great fires, but surviving buildings date from the late Edo to Meiji periods. Facing the street, they feature hirairi degekata construction and second-floor rooms with senbon-koshi lattices, retaining much of the post town atmosphere. Notably, three residences built around the Meiji era—the Akiyama Family (Wakamatsuya), the Tanaka Family (Ikeda family), and the Kobayashi Family (Kawaguchi Family)—are registered tangible cultural properties of Japan. The honjin, Kobayashi residence, hosted Princess Kazunomiya, daughter of Emperor Ninkō, when she married Tokugawa Iemochi in Bunkyū 1 (1861), and it later accommodated the Meiji Emperor during his tour in Meiji 13. Each house still carries its traditional shop name, offering a glimpse into the past. The town’s specialty is soba. A note by Unrin in Hōei 3 (1706) in the miscellany Fūzoku Bunsen records Motoyama as the birthplace of sobakiri. Historic sites include the Motoyama Castle Ruins on a small hill behind the town, said to have been guarded by the Motoyama Minbu branch of the Kiso clan; Ike no Gongen (Ikeo Shrine), known for votive plaques for rain rituals, sericulture, and eye disease cures, whose shrine grove is a Shiojiri City natural monument; and the Shitamachi Stone Figure Group, featuring Dosojin, Koshin stone monuments, and inscribed tablets. For articles on the Nakasendo and the city’s five post towns, click here↓

Thank you for waiting! We are pleased to announce the dates for the 2026 Atami Fireworks by the Sea. 2026 (Reiwa 8) Atami Fireworks by the Sea Dates April 26 (Sunday) May 24 (Sunday) July 20 (Monday, public holiday) · July 26 (Sunday) August 5 (Wednesday) · August 9 (Sunday) · August 18 (Tuesday) · August 24 (Monday) September 13 (Sunday) October 12 (Monday, public holiday) · October 25 (Sunday) November 8 (Sunday) · November 23 (Monday, public holiday) December 6 (Sunday) · December 25 (Friday) Time: 20:20–20:40 (Only in July and August: 20:15–20:40) Venue: Atami Bay ※The event will be held rain or shine. ※The above dates and times are accurate as of October 27, 2025. Please check the page below for the latest information. https://www.ataminews.gr.jp/event/8...

The light is beautiful

I want to enter a photo contest and this is my first posted! Oishi Park on the shore of Lake Kawaguchi is the best time to visit kochia, so I went to Yamanashi Prefecture. On this day, there was a time when the moon did not rise, so I thought that I would Squid to take a picture with the starry sky, but unfortunately it was forecast to be cloudy on the day. After slowly taking a dip in the Hot Spring with a disappointing feeling, I suddenly went outside and looked up at the sky, and it was sunny! I suppressed my feeling of impatience and headed to Oishi Park by Car and was able to take a picture. The contrast between the cap clouds over Mt. Mount Fuji, the clouds reflected by the town lights, and the pleasant starry sky creates a good atmosphere, and as a result, it became a very favorite piece of the seasonal scenery and coincidence.

2025/08/30 I Outbound to Enoshima for my first outing with my girlfriend, who I am currently dating This is the first memorable day I was able to have a girlfriend I took this photo with the hope that I would be able to have a relationship like the man and woman in the photo I was able to take a beautiful and wonderful photo of the silhouette of the two people reflected in the water of the rocks by the backlight illuminated by the setting sun

Kiunkaku Limited-Time “Wagakari no Niwa” and “Dark Green BAR 1919” Kiunkaku, built in 1919 as a villa in Atami and now a tangible cultural property of Atami City, preserves the area’s changing history and culture. The venue normally closes at 5:00 PM, but to let visitors see the Japanese garden and interior illuminated at night, Kiunkaku will offer two special evening openings on Saturday and Sunday, November 1–2, 2025. Enjoy a serene atmosphere unlike the bustling streets of Atami, with lush gardens, the sound of water, and a traditional Japanese light display created with wagasa (Japanese oil-paper umbrellas) and hand lanterns. [Wagakari no Niwa] Date and Time: Saturday–Sunday, November 1–2, 2025, 5:00 PM–9:00 PM (last admission 8:00 PM) Special evening admission: 1,000 yen (tax included); no reservation required *Because wagasa are used, the outdoor garden display will be moved indoors in case of rain. *Entry may be restricted depending on crowding. *Some garden areas will be closed for the special nighttime program. *The number of lanterns is limited. In addition, “Kissa Yasuragi,” which served as a bar when Kiunkaku operated as a ryokan, will reopen as a non-alcoholic bar for two days only. Relax in a classical atmosphere created by dark green sofas and mood lighting. [Dark Green BAR 1919] Date and Time: Saturday–Sunday, November 1–2, 2025; 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM sessions (each 90 minutes, rotating) Price: BAR set ticket 2,500 yen (tax included) *This is a combined ticket for the light-up and the BAR (one drink plus unlimited Shizuoka green tea). *Advance reservation only (please check the reservation link below). https://kiunkaku.jp/article/qPC6zRS0... *Because wagasa are used, the light-up will be held indoors in case of rain. On Monday, November 3, 2025 (holiday), a special nighttime photography session will be held by private booking, allowing participants to photograph the interior and the illuminated garden. The Atami Offshore Fireworks Festival takes place that day; guests can photograph and view the fireworks from Kiunkaku’s second floor. [Nighttime Photography Session] Date and Time: Monday (holiday), November 3, 2025, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM (last admission 8:00 PM) Fee: 3,000 yen (includes admission) *If it rains, only the usual garden light-up will take place. Inquiries: Kiunkaku 0557-86-3101 Please check Kiunkaku’s official website below for details of each event. https://kiunkaku.jp//

[2025 Autumn Mall Onsen Express Campaign 🚌♨️] This year we are holding the “Autumn Mall Onsen Express Campaign” again 🍁 A 3-day, 2-night plan with a free shuttle bus from Sapporo Station and Asahikawa Station to Tokachigawa Onsen accommodations ✨ Exclusive perks await guests using the Mall Onsen Express 🎁 [Perk 1] Mix and match your accommodations freely! 💡 Guests using the Mall Onsen Express may freely combine hotels for the first and second nights (for example, Night 1: Daiichi Hotel → Night 2: Sasai Hotel) *If you change your second-night accommodation, check-in on Day 2 will be from 14:00 onward.* [Perk 2] Receive a “Tokachigawa Mall” bath additive (Bathclin) as a gift! 🛁 *Limited to guests staying two nights or more.* [Perk 3] Guests staying at Ohheigen, Sasai Hotel, Daiichi Hotel, Kangetsuen, Sanyoan, or Seijakubo receive a free local bus ticket! 🚌 *Limited to guests using the Mall Onsen Express.* [Perk 4] Otofuke Tokachigawa Onsen mini guided tour 🌾 *Limited to guests using the Mall Onsen Express.* *Please reserve at the hotel front desk upon check-in. (Limited to the first 40 people.)* *This is limited to guests staying two consecutive nights on the Mall Onsen Express.* *The route may change or the tour may be canceled due to weather.* ⚠ Reservations required (Please apply to the Tokachigawa Onsen accommodations at least 3 days in advance.) ⚠ Reservations are accepted at each accommodation. ⚠ For accommodation inquiries, please contact each lodging directly. Why not take a soothing trip to Tokachigawa Onsen this autumn? 🍂

October 25, 2025Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture Okusohana Nature Garden Beech Forest The Autumn leaves of the Okusohana Nature Garden, where huge beech trees grow in clusters, It was a different world! Autumn leaves and yellow leaves! A walk in the yellow forest looking for a bright red color made me spend a luxurious time. It is a good memory of the ♪ trip

Event announcement 📣 The Hiroo Santa Land tree lighting ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 😊 This annual event is held at the sacred site of Hiroo Santa Land, Daimaruyama Forest Park, on the fourth Saturday of October 🎄🎄 On the day, a Christmas market and the Santa Land Sound Festival start at 2:00 PM, and the tree lighting ceremony begins at 5:00 PM 😍 About 150,000 lights and some 10,000 wooden lanterns in the park will illuminate at the signal, wrapping the area in a magical glow. Children in elementary school and younger will receive an early Christmas gift 🎁🎁 Fireworks will be launched after the lighting ceremony, sparkling brightly in the autumn night sky ✨✨ Come and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere if you can 🤗 Please wear warm clothing. Date and time: Saturday, October 25, 2025, 2:00 PM onwards Location: Daimaruyama Forest Park https://www.santaland.or.jp/40th-anniversary/...

This is Lake Onneto in Ashoro Town that I went to the other day Unfortunately, the Autumn leaves are in the final stages. I was just waiting for the snow. If the wind is light, it will be on the surface of the lake Mt. Akan, female and male Mt. Akan are reflected. It is very beautiful. Mt. Akan on the left is usually It is emitting a plume, Volcanic activity is increasing. Eruption Alert Level 2.

It was held in Rikubetsu Town in October This is the Scene of Rally and Kachi 2025. Specialties of Rikubetsu Circuit Water splash. For several years, Jimny and XC such as Hilux and A new class in which SUVs participate has been established. It's getting exciting.

It was held in Rikubetsu in September Scene of Rally Hokkaido On the first day, we were blessed with good weather Raising dust and running hard I enjoyed the rally car.

It is a view rock of Engaru Town that I went to in September The view from the top is very good. However, there are fences and other There is no fall prevention fence at all. It's very scary. With small children and pets Better not to go together.

Abashiri in September It is the road that leads to Cape Notori. For location shooting for cars commercials It is a road that is often used Drift ice can also be seen in February.

【✨Gokase Autumn Leaves 2025 Campaign✨】 A little over a week has passed since we announced the winners of Summer Gokase 2025… #Gokase Autumn Leaves 2025 Campaign is now open 😆 Mornings and evenings have turned noticeably colder, and the autumn leaves are beginning to color 🍁 Please post photos of autumn scenery and fall foliage taken in Gokase Town #Include the shooting date (for example: #November 1) and #GokaseAutumnLeaves2025 on Instagram! Each day during the campaign one person will win a specialty product from Gokase Town! Outstanding entries will receive a Gokase Town specialty gift set!! Submitted photos may be featured on the Gokase Tourism Association’s social media and other channels. [Period] From Friday, October 24, 2025 to Tuesday, November 25, 2025 *The period may change depending on circumstances.* [Eligibility] Those who agree to the terms of use *The terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website.* 1. Follow the Gokase Tourism Association on Instagram (@gokase_kanko) 2. Post autumn photos taken in Gokase Town on Instagram with the hashtags "#shooting date (for example: #November 1)" and "#GokaseAutumnLeaves2025" Autumn foliage updates are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website as they become available 💡 Please come and enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves of Gokase Town 🥰 ⚠ Caution ⚠ Some locations may be difficult to access by car. If you are not confident driving, do not push yourself. Exercise care and prioritize safety when traveling.

Notice: Lecture Tomorrow📣 Tomorrow, Saturday, October 25, Professor Tomoko Yoshikawa, who has long studied this field, will give a lecture titled “Creatures of Volcanic Lakes: The Ecological Connections of Lake Kussharo.” The event will take place at Kawayu Visitor Center and admission is free. We look forward to your visit⛰️✨ Lecture: “Creatures of Volcanic Lakes — The Ecological Connections of Lake Kussharo” Presented by Tomoko Yoshikawa, Professor Emerita, Faculty of Agriculture, Tamagawa University. Date and Time: Saturday, October 25, 1:30 PM–3:30 PM Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center, 2nd floor Admission: Free (no registration required; capacity 50) We hope this opportunity to encounter the grand natural story behind Lake Kussharo, a familiar local landscape, will help you understand the lake and the park more deeply and feel proud of them. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/kawayuvcfureai2/...

Announcement: Reihoku Medical Association Hospital Musubu Marche📣 The Reihoku Medical Association Hospital will host the Musubu Marche to raise interest in health and medical care on Saturday, November 8. Highlights include a hands-on job experience session for children with nurses and pharmacists, a public lecture by the hospital director, and a photo-frame workshop using scallop shells, plus many other attractions. Food trucks will be on site that day, and a stamp rally will let visitors collect stamps at each booth for a chance to win prizes by lottery. Please come and join us✨ Reihoku Medical Association Hospital Musubu Marche Date and Time: Saturday, November 8, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM Location: Main parking area in front of Reihoku Medical Association Hospital (3600-3 Tomioka, Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture) Note: The event will proceed in light rain and will be canceled in heavy rain (programs may change).

*The photo was taken during a spring mountain-climbing event.* [Now Accepting Participants] The 20th Tenjiku Saiyuki Mountain Climb will be held! This mountain-climbing event takes you to Tenjiku, one of Reihoku’s landmarks and the highest peak on Amakusa Shimoshima. The 20th “Tenjiku Saiyuki Mountain Climb” will take place on Sunday, November 16, 2025⛰. The roughly 11 km round trip offers panoramic views from the summit and refreshing forest bathing, and a local product sale will also be held, so please sign up for an autumn outing. Participants can also earn 20 Kumamoto Health Points✨ Register via the QR code or from the News section of our website! ▶ Schedule: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 9:30–14:00 09:30 Departure ceremony 10:10 Start 14:30 Goal (estimated) ▶ Meeting place: Amakusa Koba-no-Mori Nature School (former Koba Elementary School), 6118-2 Tororo, Reihoku ▶ Parking: Please use the Koba-no-Mori Nature School parking area (around the lodging building). ▶ Course: Approximately 11 km round trip ▶ Eligibility: People who are healthy on the day and can follow the event rules. Children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian. ▶ What to bring: Drinks, trash bags, towel, change of clothes, etc. ▶ Fee: Adults (high school students and older) ¥1,500; elementary and junior high students ¥500; preschool children free Fees will be collected at registration on the day. Please bring exact change if possible. ▶ Other: Rice ball bento (¥500) will be prepared for those who need it. If you would like one, please fill in the field at the end of the application form. This event accepts pre-registration only; there will be no on-site registration. Please provide information for every participant. The event may be canceled due to weather. In that case we will notify the email address you provided (if multiple people register together, we will contact the representative’s email address). Application deadline: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 5:00 PM

The Nakasendo and Five Post Towns within Shiojiri City Along the Nakasendo, there were 69 post towns stretching from Nihombashi in Edo to Sanjo Ohashi in Kyoto. Although the Shiojiri area had more hills and slopes than the Tokaido, travelers could keep to their planned schedules because prolonged delays caused by river closures were rare. Within Shiojiri, the Nakasendo included five post towns: Shiojiri-juku, Seba-juku, Motoyama-juku, Niekawa-juku, and Narai-juku. 1. Shiojiri-juku (the 30th station from Nihombashi) Shiojiri-juku stood on the border between the Matsumoto and Suwa domains. A checkpoint called the kuchidome-bansho, which inspected rice and prohibited goods, was established there. Honjin and waki-honjin served officials on sankin-kotai, and by the late shogunate period the number of inns ranked second on the Nakasendo and first in Shinano. 2. Seba-juku (the 31st station from Nihombashi) Seba-juku lies at the fork between the Nakasendo and the Zenkoji Kaido. It hosted one of the Nakasendo’s three kanmearisho, offices that measured grain. A great fire in the early Showa era destroyed much of the post town’s appearance, but a stone lantern marking the old fork remains. 3. Motoyama-juku (the 32nd station from Nihombashi) Said to be the birthplace of soba-kiri noodles, Motoyama-juku prospered as the gateway to Kiso and the exit of the Matsumoto Basin. Its honjin accommodated Princess Kazunomiya when she married Tokugawa Iemochi, and later served as lodgings during Emperor Meiji’s imperial tour in Meiji 13 (1880). 4. Niekawa-juku (the 33rd station from Nihombashi) Niekawa-juku marks the entrance to the eleven post towns of the Kiso Road. Niekawa Sekisho checkpoint guarded this key transport chokepoint on the Nakasendo, and the town developed through lodging services and long-distance trade. 5. Narai-juku (the 34th station from Nihombashi) Famed as “Narai Senken” with a thousand bustling shops in its heyday, Narai-juku still preserves much of its historical atmosphere and today draws many visitors as a popular tourist destination.

EXPO'70 Pavilion Expo Commemorative Park (former site of the 1970 Osaka World Expo) 10-10 Senri Expo Park, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture The exhibition hall of the 70th World Expo in the Expo Commemorative Park. This is an exhibition of works from the 1970 Osaka Expo. The interior of the exhibition, which is based entirely on red, is reminiscent of Taro Okamoto. There were exhibits from around the world that would have been held at the Expo, but the one that stuck with me was one of Taro Okamoto's works of art in the photo. And of course, the Tower of the Sun.