Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A wild festival float has just turned around.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A festival float is greeting the Sumiyoshi Pavilion.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The pigeon rings its Hyoshigi to signal the departure of the festival float. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a wild festival float that passes in front of Resona Coedo Terrace.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Festival floats greet everyone in Saiwai Town. The festival floats cannot be rotated, so they face the front.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. I stopped the festival float and greeted the crowd. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about! It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa. I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment. According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone! ◎ Koshido 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture ☎ 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/ That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product. He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on! ◎ KOSHIDO 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/

[Event: Report on the November 9 (Sat) Salt Road Walk!] Here is a report on our autumn Salt Road Walk, where participants felt history underfoot. The walk began in the Sha district at Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine. The morning started shrouded in mist, but the sky cleared into perfect blue as the day progressed. Participants enjoyed walking while gazing up at the snow-capped Northern Alps. Thank you to everyone who joined us 😍 A brief introduction: we plan to hold this event again around the same time next year. If you’re interested, please check our association website in the fall. Omachi City Tourism Association

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The head of the phoenix rings the Hyoshigi and the festival float begins to move. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Before the festival float is towed out, a wooden song is performed by the doe. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

The reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "The beauty of the Japanese language. I often hear that the reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "the beauty of the Japanese language. Using the calligraphy skills learned through the calligraphy experience, students write their favorite kanji characters on fans and hanging scrolls of their choice. The master calligrapher will then take the kanji back to your bag with his expert brush strokes. Since each kanji character has multiple meanings, it is important to know what other meanings they have. Knowing the meaning will make the bag shine.

Honoring the Samurai girl The more onago is bullshit, the more the world will be bullshit. The stronger you are, the calmer you will be.  The more you can hang your head and bow low, the more genuine nobility and strength you will acquire.

Calligraphy masters apply Japanese kanji characters to the native language names of foreign customers. Since each kanji character has its own meaning, enjoy this traditional cultural experience, including the meaning of the kanji used in your name. You can take home the engraved wooden Dojo-fuda as a souvenir to remember your visit.

It is an approach to the temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect bekkō honzan "Kuzan Kannonji Tennoin" in Shinoguri Towns, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture. In autumn, the Autumn leaves that envelop the entire Temple are amazing.

The sword is the soul of the samurai; it cannot be sold even if it starves to death. Bushido made the sword a symbol of his power and valor. From an early age, one is taught how to use a sword. He started with a wooden sword, and when he reached the age of 15, he was allowed to carry a serious weapon. At that time, he became aware of his self-respect and sense of responsibility for carrying a dangerous weapon in the street

After the Yabusame at Izumo Ihabi Shrine, we moved to Kawagoe to see Ishihara's Sasara Lion Dance. Today was a good day. 😊

New Year's Meals, the first Meals of the New Year is New Otani Inn Sapporo no Sechi ✨ Osechi is generally said to be eaten on New Year's Day, but did you know that there is a custom in Hokkaido to eat it on the night of New Year's Eve? Meals to end the year or the first meal of the year! We have ♪ prepared three types of osechi that are perfect for both at New Otani Inn Sapporo ・ The blessings of the sea and the earth Japanese, Western, and Chinese 2 tiers (for 4 people) "Crab claw chopped in yuba steamed with shrimp sauce" and "mussel umami stewed tosa pickle" are the first heavy "blessings of the sea" that use plenty of seafood. And "Furano Wagyu low-temperature roast", "Homemade Pickled in salt beef tongue and Hokkaido pork nobori and salvia frites", etc., which are a set of "blessings of the mountains" that use plenty of Delicacies of the mountains! ・Four Seasons Japanese, Western, and Chinese Sandanju (for 3 people) "Chestnut Kinton", "Smoked Salmon Trout", "Crab Claw Jade", and other Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes are packed in one tier! There are a total of 43 dishes, including Standard dishes. ・Japanese, Western, and Chinese 2-tier Osechi Japanese-Western-Chinese 2-tier (for 4 people) In addition to Standard dishes such as "Black Bean Stew" and "Shrimp Umami", Japanese and Western Chinese double-tiered dishes such as "Roast Beef" and "Shrimp Chili Sauce"! A total of 32 items are included. All osechi must be booked by Saturday, November 30th. ★ You can purchase it at 10% off the early bird price ★! Please Please enjoy 💕 the luxurious celebration created by the chef's skills cultivated in tradition Reservations, details 📞011-222-1522 Or visit the 👀 hotel's website

Autumn Listening Pavilion

Saturday, November 23, 2024 — One-day-only tour “A Winter Tradition: Nozawana Pickling Experience — From Harvest to Brine” Meeting place: Public lodging facility Village Azumino Time: Gather at 1:00 PM, dismiss at 3:30 PM (planned) Fee: ¥5,000 per person (tax included) Fee includes: the Nozawana pickling experience; delivery fee for 5 kg of Nozawana per person; light refreshments and tea; insurance; and a complimentary day‑use bath on the day of the experience only Who can join: Open to everyone; reservations accepted from one person (children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian) *Reservations will close once capacity is reached The complimentary day‑use bath is valid only on the day of the experience. Please speak to a staff member. For details, visit the Azumino City Tourism Association website under “Experience Tour Reservations”

Photographed 10/19/24. On the first day of the Kawagoe Festival, it is a festival float of Kawagoe Taro Shigeyori in Nakahara Towns. The sky was suspicious.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Shinko Festival. It is a portable shrine (彦神, 姫神).

Isehara Daijingu Annual Grand Festival 2024 On Sunday, October 20, the Isehara Daijingu Annual Grand Festival took place, drawing many visitors and creating a lively atmosphere!

The second day of the Kawagoe Festival has come to an end. These are the festival float of Kogitsunemaru in Saiwai Town and the festival float of Nasori in Nandori Towns.

It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of the Senba Jiro Yasu family in Senba Towns. At the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I had an exorcism.

Photographed 10/19/24. Your friend is coming. 👋 It is a festival float of Iemitsu in Shintomi Town 1-chome.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is the Shinko Festival.

Photographed 10/19/24. It is a festival float of Suzume in Ote Towns.