Event Announcement📣 Shintoku Town’s Takutetsukinoko Tan presents a Birch Sap Water Harvesting Experience😊 This short seasonal nature activity is best enjoyed after the snow melts and before the trees begin to leaf out🎵 You will receive a small share of the clear, natural sap water that trees draw up from the ground, and you can savor it while feeling nature’s vitality, enjoying a campfire and toasted marshmallows🤗 📍Period: Friday, April 3, 2026 – Sunday, April 19, 2026 (Closed on Tuesdays April 7 and 14, and Wednesdays April 8 and 15.) 📍Times: Morning session: 10:00; Afternoon session: 14:00 📍Location: Takutetsu Kinokotan (155 Takutetsu, Shintoku Town) 📍Participation Fee: Adults ¥2,500; Elementary school students ¥1,500 *If you wish to take sap water home, please bring one cleaned 500 ml PET bottle.* *Please note that sap may not flow or may be scarce depending on weather and temperature conditions.* 📞Applications and Inquiries Shintoku Tourism Association TEL: 0156-67-7567 (9:00–17:00) https://shintoku-town.net/2026%e7%99%bd%e6%a8%ba%e6%a8%b9%e6%b6%b2%e6%b0%b4%e6%8e%a1%e5%8f%96%e4%bd%93%e9%a8%93/...

https://www.sakaihamono.or.jp/matsuri/index.html... Sakai Knife Festival 2026 is coming🔪✨🌸 Two days to experience traditional craftsmanship❕ Exhibitions and direct sales of kitchen knives and gardening shears, sharpening services, traditional forging demonstrations and signature engraving by artisans, and many must-see highlights👀 🍎 We will also hold an apple-peeling contest and cooking shows🍳🥬 With a kids’ plaza and the Sakai Hare-no-Hi Marche, there are plenty of activities for both adults and children to enjoy🍞🍿 📅 Date and time: Saturday, April 11 and Sunday, April 12, 10:00–16:00 📍 Venue: Sakai City Industrial Promotion Center Event Hall 🎫 Free admission ※ Parking is limited, and the parking lot and surrounding roads will be crowded, so please use public transportation if possible🚉 🔍 For details, search “Sakai Knife Festival”！ 🔗 [Official site URL] https://www.sakaihamono.or.jp/matsuri/index.html...

Event Announcement📣 On Saturday, March 28, the festival where children and adults alike can shine, “Tokachikarapute,” will be held 😊 This time’s theme is “Discovering the Future”🎵 From children’s dance performances and a kids’ festival with games and candy tossing to a wide variety of hands-on booths, heart-and-body healing corners, stage events, and a grand lottery, the event is packed with attractions😍 Come deepen your interests through many different experiences🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11:00–17:00 📍Venue: Tokachi Plaza, 1st Floor 🔶Hands-on Corners ・Cooking observation & experience・Model experience・Nurse experience・Rehabilitation experience・Hand massage experience・Sign language experience 🔶Kids’ Festival Booths ・Shooting gallery・Animal basketball・Bowling・Ring toss 🔶Heart and Body Healing Corner ・Verde・Bi-Leave・HopefulLight・Shinraku Shoku Musubi Kiki・Grandma House Riki ・Shuccho Atama Hogushi more・Murachika・Tetoteto・TeFu, a hidden salon・Tokachi Milk Peace ・Knitting Granny・Total Beauty KUSU♡KUSU・Kato Massage Clinic・KiDoAiraku ・Hand Massage Kanan・Chou Momi, Nou Momi Yuwa YUIWA 🔶Food Stalls ・Takoyaki・French fries・Frankfurters・Chocolate bananas・Tabekko Animal pancakes・Onigiri (rice balls) 🔶Stage Events＊ 11:00–11:10 Opening Ceremony 11:30–12:00 Otofuke Baton 12:40–13:00 Obihiro Rhythmic Gymnastics 13:15–13:30 True-or-False Game 13:30–13:45 Candy Toss 14:00–14:30 Yotsuba Dance 14:45–16:15 JOYFIT Dance 16:30–17:00 Lottery 📞Contact: Tokachikarapute Executive Committee TEL:080-5584-4222 https://tokachibare.jp/event/xo_event-23120/...

Event Announcement 📣 From March 27 to March 29, a three-day screening of diverse films, including works directed by Tokachi Tourism Ambassador Yoshiyuki Fuji and director Yoshio Osaka, will be held at Shikaoi Town Community Hall. The Hokkaido International Film Festival travels across the prefecture to bring new stories to communities without movie theaters. Please come and enjoy a variety of films if you can 🤗 📍Date and Time: March 27, 2026 – March 29, 2026 📍Venue: Shikaoi Town Community Hall 🔶Advance Tickets: 2-DAY PASS (March 28 & 29) with clear file 4,000 yen (tax included) 1-DAY PASS (March 28 or March 29) 2,000 yen (tax included) ※Free for junior high school students and younger 🔶Ticket Outlets Shikaoi Town Community Hall, Shikaoi Town Hall Urimaku Branch, Shikaoi Town Chamber of Commerce, CAFE Oshaberi na Photo Studio, Torisei Shikaoi Branch, Usui Tenkodo, Ide Pharmacy, Shimizu Cultural Center, Shintoku Community Center, Makubetsu Centennial Memorial Hall, Otofuke Cultural Center, Memuro Central Community Center, Obihiro Civic Cultural Hall (Ticket Live), Mint Cafe 🔶Same-day Tickets (tax included) 2-DAY PASS (March 28 & 29) 4,000 yen 1-DAY PASS (March 27) 1,000 yen 1-DAY PASS (March 28 or March 29) 2,000 yen Single Program (one film) 1,000 yen https://hokkaido-movie.com/shikaoi/...

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, March 29, a lecture titled “The Path of Naumann’s Elephant Revealed by Ancient DNA” will be held at The Churui Museum of Naumann's Elephant😊 The genus Palaeoloxodon, which includes Naumann’s elephant, was an extinct group of elephants that once ranged across Eurasia. Last year, a research team including Yamanashi University succeeded for the first time in analyzing ancient DNA from Naumann’s elephant and published their findings in a US scientific journal. We have invited Naoki Kohno of the National Museum of Nature and Science, a member of that research team, to give a lecture on the evolutionary history of Palaeoloxodon across Eurasia and the route taken by Naumann’s elephant. This is a rare opportunity to explore Naumann’s elephant in depth. If you are interested, please register in advance by phone🤗 📍Date and time: Sunday, March 29, 2026, 1:30 PM–3:00 PM 📍Venue: The Churui Museum of Naumann's Elephant 📍Capacity: 40 people (first come, first served) 📍Fee: Free (participants may also view the museum’s exhibits free of charge) 🔶Advance registration required by phone: 01558-8-2826 (closed Tuesdays) 📞Contact: The Churui Museum of Naumann's Elephant, Makubetsu Town TEL: 01558-8-2826 (closed Tuesdays) https://tokachibare.jp/event/xo_event-23045/...

Event Notice 📣 March 22 (Sunday) only! Special opening of Banei Tokachi Farm! Aligned with the top-tier showdown “Banei Kinen” at Obihiro Ban'ei Racecourse, Banei Tokachi Farm will be specially open for one day only 😊 The farm raises many ban'ei horses, and you can see them up close. Be sure to see the lively ban'ei horses before watching the “Banei Kinen” 🤗 📍 Date and Time: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (Last admission at 1:30 PM) 📍 Admission: Junior high school and older: 700 yen, Elementary school: 300 yen, Preschool children: Free https://baneibokujo.co.jp/news/news_27.html...

Untie the String, Sakai — Touch the Sand of the Jordan Pavilion🏜️✨ Relive memories of Expo! This is a rare chance to feel a desert landscape on your skin. The “Wadi Rum Sand” that was displayed at the Jordan Pavilion of Expo Osaka, Kansai is now in Sakai!🏜️ This special opportunity lets you actually touch sand delivered from the distant Middle Eastern land of Jordan. Feel the world’s breeze that the Expo connected through the silky texture of the sand. 📅 Date and time: Friday, March 20th (public holiday)–Sunday, March 22nd, 10:00–17:00 📍 Location: Mozu Kofun Group Visitor Center 💰 Admission: Free ✅ No reservation required (first come, first served on the day) 🔍 For details, search “Untie the String Sakai 2026”! 🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, March 22, “One-Ton Weight! Deciding the Strongest Banei Horse!” The 58th Banei Memorial takes place 😊 This is the ultimate Banei showdown, with Banei weights run at the maximum of 1 ton! Among the BG1 races, the most prestigious class in Banei racing, this event sits at the very top 🎵 Also, from Friday, March 20 (national holiday) through Sunday, March 22, the “Banei Memorial” event offers a packed schedule of attractions and activities 😍 🔶 A corner exhibiting four-panel manga by the very popular Mayu Sawada, featured on the official Banei Tokachi LINE 🔶 Gourmet stalls gathering winners from past Banei Kitchen Car Grand Prix and other tasty vendors 🔶 On-site predictions and talk shows by comedians and notable personalities, and more Come for all three days to enjoy the events and cheer on the powerful draft horses up close 🤗 https://www.banei-keiba.or.jp/ed_detail.php?id=1580...

Event Announcement 📣 On Saturday, February 21, 2026, Makubetsucho will host “2026 Makubetsu Tsunagu Lantern” at Akenogaoka Park 😊 Each handmade lantern created by local residents has its own unique design, and they are delightful to admire 🎵 Please come and see the magical world lit by the lanterns’ gentle glow ✨ Be sure to dress warmly for the event 🧤🧣🧥 📍Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026 ※In case of severe weather, the event will be postponed to Sunday, February 22, 2026 ※If postponed, an announcement will be posted on Instagram. 📍Venues and Times 🔸Akenogaoka Park 17:30–19:30 🔸Makubetsu Park Plaza 17:30–19:30

Discover Sakai as you visit and encounter its charms. “Himotoku Sakai 2026 ～OSAKA SAKAI EXPO～” is coming! An interactive event that unravels Sakai. This edition centers on the theme “OSAKA SAKAI EXPO”🔍 Enjoy tea service, hands-on experiences, and local gourmet treats to relive the Expo experience in Sakai! Take part in a stamp rally using the limited "Himotoku Sakai" stamp passport to collect official pavilion stamps and more while touring Sakai! Those who meet the conditions will receive a collaboration pin badge featuring Myakumyaku and Haniwa Bucho!✨ 📅 Event dates: Friday, March 20th (public holiday) to Sunday, March 22nd ※The stamp rally runs from Sunday, March 1st to Tuesday, March 31st 📍 Location: Various locations in Sakai City 🔍 For details, search for “Himotoku Sakai 2026”! 🔗 https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/news/detail/20251217133435...

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Makubetsu’s Churui will host the 43rd Nauman All-Hokkaido Sled Competition 😊 Alongside the general division—where participants race on homemade cardboard sleds and are judged on sled craftsmanship and finish time—there will be an elementary school speed division and a parent-and-child speed division 🎵 Other activities include a “Treasure Hunt” inspired by the buried-gold legend of Churui Maruyama and a photo-movie contest for sharing fun memories from the sled competition ✨ 📍Date and Time: Sunday, February 15, 2026 📍Venue: Churui Hakugindai Ski Area 📞Contact: Tournament Office 01558-8-2111 http://www.makubetsu.jp/kankobussankyokai/?p=8682...

Event Announcement📣 On Saturday, February 14th, Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall 21 hosts "Wood Candle Night 2026" 😊 The day features wood education workshops such as ogacolor and deer-hide leather craft, plus a wooden toy corner where visitors can touch, play with, and make wooden items 🎵 You can also enjoy a food area, chocolate fondue with toasted marshmallows and strawberries, a collaboration café by Coffee Zamaya and an antique shop, and a mini concert by the duo Liricamente 😍 On this sacred night—Valentine’s Day—come to Roadside Station Ashoro Galaxy Hall lit by ice candles and illuminations 🤗 ❤️ At the Youth Section booth of the Town Employees’ Labor Union, donors will receive a complimentary cocoa. https://www.town.ashoro.hokkaido.jp/kanko/news/2026/wood2026.html...

Event Announcement 📣 From February 11 to February 14, 2026, Nakasatsunaimura will host “Snow Art Village Nakasatsunai 2026” for four days 😊 You can view the expansive snow art that local snow artist and AOILO Inc. representative Tomohiro Kajiyama creates on the snowy plain from a special 8-meter-high yagura viewing platform 🎵 Please enjoy this snow-made art that you can only see in the art village of Nakasatsunai 🤗 📍Dates: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 ▶ Saturday, February 14, 2026, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM *Canceled in severe weather; event dates may change depending on snowfall conditions 📍Venue: Nakasatsunai Cultural Creation Center and surrounding special event sites 🔶 Indoor Event Venue (Nakasatsunai Cultural Creation Center) 📍 Snow Art Video Screening We will screen past snow art works and footage of the making process. 📍 Snow Art Panel Exhibition (Entrance) A collection of past works shot by drone will be on display 🎶 Explore the history of Snow Art Village Nakasatsunai! https://kankou-nakasatsunai.com/event-list/page-3619/...

Event Announcement 📣 From Saturday, February 7 to Monday, February 23, Roadside Station Pia 21 Shihoro will host a "Korea Fair" 😊 In 2025, a direct flight from Tokachi Obihiro Airport to Korea began, making access to Korea more convenient ✈️ This is a collaboration between JAL and Roadside Station Pia 21 Shihoro, designed so those who can’t travel right now can still enjoy the feeling of being there 🎵 You can taste "Korean gourmet and sweets" recommended by Korea-loving staff, and try a cabin crew role-play experience where you perform in-flight announcement practice and drink service like a JAL flight attendant. Take this chance to enjoy the atmosphere of a trip to Korea 🤗 https://tokachibare.jp/event/xo_event-22980/...

Event Announcement 📣 On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Memuro Town’s big winter event, Ice Candle Night, welcomes visitors 😊 About 2,500 ice candles will light up Meimuro Park, creating a soft, glowing atmosphere 😍 The venue offers a variety of attractions, including Tokachi Pro Wrestling, a strike-out game, footbaths, and handheld fireworks. Fireworks will be launched from 7:30 PM to brighten the winter night sky ✨ Enjoy a space shaped by winter’s cold, where beautiful ice and warm light come together 🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 1:30 PM–8:30 PM 📍Location: Meimuro Park 📞Contact: Memuro Town Roadside Station TEL: 0155-66-6522 https://town.tonxton.com/event/hyotoya2026/...

Event Announcement📣 The 7th Shimizu Shakkoi Festival will be held🎵 This year we plan to bring back the ever-popular Snow Treasure Hunt game and candy toss😊 There will also be festival stalls offering target shooting and raffle draws, plus food trucks😍 We promise a fun day and look forward to welcoming everyone🤗 🔶Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026 🔶Time: 9:30 AM–3:00 PM (canceled in severe weather) 🔶Venue: Shimizu Central Park and Shimizu Town Cultural Center 📞Inquiries: 0156-62-2208 (Shimizu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry) https://www.town.shimizu.hokkaido.jp/section/08/details/post_75.html...

Event Announcement📣 From February 7 to February 8, Japan’s coldest town, Rikubetsucho, will host the 42nd Shibare Festival😊 Over two days, the festival will feature stage shows, local idol live performances, comedy acts, a children’s raffle, gaming tournaments and many other attractions🎵 The “Human Cold Endurance Test,” where you can experience Japan’s coldest conditions, draws participants from across and beyond Hokkaido every year. Participants stay overnight in a balloon mansion (an ice kamakura) and endure a brutally cold night in this extreme challenge! (Registration for this year is closed) There are no stoves; the only permitted source of warmth for challengers is the festival’s symbol, the giant fire storm, which helps warm participants🔥 The venue also hosts numerous food stalls where you can enjoy local cuisine😍 You can try venison dishes made from Ezo deer raised in Rikubetsu’s great outdoors, stylish cafe menus, and festival classics like yakitori and curry🤗 📍Date and Time: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM Sunday, February 8, 2026, 9:30 AM–2:00 PM 📍Location: Event Square (Uenbetsu, Rikubetsu Town) 📍Contact: Shibare Festival Executive Committee Office (Rikubetsu Town Office, Industry Promotion Division, Commerce and Industry Promotion Section TEL:0156-27-2141) https://www.rikubetsu.jp/kanko/event/shibare/...

Event Announcement📣 On Friday, February 6, join us in Shihorocho for a one-night candlelit evening called “Shihoro on ICE,” featuring ice candles made by the community😊 The evening will include candle art by the Shihoro Town Central Junior High School Art Club, and—weather permitting—snow sculptures created by local volunteers may make an appearance!?⛄️ Warm snacks and beverages will be available at the venue☕️ 📍Date and Time: Friday, February 6, 2026, 4:30 PM–7:30 PM 📍Location: In front of Town Plaza 📞Contact: Shihoro on ICE Organizing Committee (Hattori: 080-1897-4728) 🔶Ice Candle Drop-off Period Tuesday, February 3–Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5:30 PM–7:30 PM: Committee members will collect ice candles at Town Plaza, so please make them at home and bring them by✨We look forward to seeing your creations🤗 🔶Volunteers Wanted Volunteers are needed on Friday, February 6 from 1:00 PM to help with venue setup and lighting—join us in making the event shine🎵

🔴Special Exhibition: “Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Discovery! Sakai”🔵 🔷〈Encounter the active arm movement in Sakai today—people, things, and happenings〉🌈 ■Dates: Tuesday, February 3, 2026–Thursday, February 19, 2026 ■Hours: 9:00 AM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM) *Final day only: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM *Closed: Monday, February 16 ■Admission: Free ■Venue: 📍Fenice Sakai (@fenice_sacay) Exchange and Creation Galleria (2-1-1 Okinabashicho, Sakai Ward, Sakai City) ******************************************************* 1. Nostalgic Record Jacket Exhibition💽 From the owner of jazz cafe cafe RVC (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), we present over 30 record jackets that colored the era, centered on jazz, drawn from a collection of more than 3,000 records. 2. My Bookcase📚 From the share-style bookstore HONBAKO (Sakai Ward, Sakai City), lively personalities of “box owners” bring a one-box bookstore—"bookcase"—to the event♪ (Sales on weekends only) Experience building your own "bookcase," enjoy storytelling sessions, and visit the book exchange corner! 3. Visual Artist Yusen Yoneda and the Mansion Midori Renovation Project🎈 Showcasing woodblock prints by Yusen Yoneda, registered with the Sakai City Emerging Artists Bank, and the exchanges between young creators and local residents fostered through activities at Mansion Midori. On February 15, Yusen Yoneda will hold a woodblock print workshop. (Advance registration required; details on the website) 4. Special Exhibit: Large Sheet Metal Roof Ring✨ A large-scale craft art piece—2 m in diameter and weighing 130 kg—previously exhibited at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, comes to Sakai. Manufactured by Modern Industrial Co., Ltd., supervised by architect Sou Fujimoto. 5. Special Exhibit: Oceano⛓️ An artwork created in Sakai reusing the distinctive exterior ship ropes from the Portugal Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, expressing the sea that connects Portugal and Japan. (By Vanessa Barragan / Owned by Sakai City) ***************************************************** 🔷Fenice Sakai × Gashibaru Collaboration Event This year again, about 80 eateries and shops in the Sakai Higashi area participate in the food and drink festival🍴☕️ Collaborating with the 18th Gashibaru (February 17–20)! ・Gashibaru 🔗https://e-sacai.com/gashi-bar... ***************************************************** 💁For more details 🔗https://www.fenice-sacay.jp/event/33048/... Search “Gashibaru × Fenice Sakai” https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/event/detail/850...

💠⋆⸜ Sakai Tourism Concierge reported on 【O osaka Sakai Balloon】 ⸝⋆💠 Before boarding the balloon, learn some tips, sights, and history that will make your experience more enjoyable, presented clearly on the website with photos💚 Please refer to it --ꕤ ▶️Check the website for more👀 〈 Sakai Tourism Guide Website 〉 🔗https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/107... 🔍Search for "Sakai Tourism Concierge Experience Report"! #Sakai City #Sakai Tourism Concierge #Tourism PR #Experience Report #Oosaka Sakai Balloon #Balloon #Experience #Spectacular Views https://www.sakai-tcb.or.jp/feature/detail/107...

Event Announcement 📣 The 63rd Obihiro Ice Festival runs from January 30 to February 1. 😊 With the theme of bringing warmth and joy to the northern winter, the festival offers a wide variety of attractions. 🎵 The venue features ice-focused works: ice carvings, ice and snow sculptures, and ice masks made by elementary school students. Families can also enjoy popular attractions like rotating sleds, tube sliders, ice slides, and snow rafting. 😍 Workshops for building snowmen and creating sparkling snow domes let visitors fully experience snow and ice over these three days. 🤗 📍Date and Time: Friday, January 30, 2026 – Sunday, February 1, 2026, 10:00–20:00 (Final day closes at 5:00 PM) 📍Location: Midorigaoka Park 📞Contact: Obihiro Festival Promotion Committee TEL: 0155-22-8600 https://obihiro-icefes.com//

[Kochi Prefecture Shimanto City] Flowers That Color the Shimanto River Basin 1. Climate of Shimanto City Shimanto City enjoys abundant forests, the clear Shimanto River, and the pacific ocean to its southeast, offering a rich natural environment. From 1991 through 2020, the average temperature was 16.5°C and the average annual precipitation was 2,877.9 mm, giving the area a warm, Pacific-type climate. 2. Flowers Nurtured by the Mild Climate [Spring] 〇 Around late February, when the spring sun begins to warm the days, the Iruta Yanagi Grove in the Shimanto River lower basin turns a tender yellow-green as new buds swell, and some 10 million rapeseed flowers bloom across the willow groves like a yellow carpet. This is an iconic scene that announces spring in the Shimanto River watershed. 〇 By late March, the cherry trees at the hilltop viewing spot Tamesho Park come into full bloom. Lanterns are lit during the cherry blossom season, letting visitors enjoy the night blossoms as well. The Shimanto City Local Museum sits nearby, so while learning about local history you can also take in the views from its observation floor. (Shimanto City Local Museum opening hours/9:00–17:00, closed/Wednesdays) At Shimanto River Sakura Zutsumi Park, neatly planted cherry trees and well-kept lawns invite visitors to sit and enjoy hanami while admiring the spring-bright Shimanto River. In the Shimanto River lower basin, plowing of rice fields begins around this time and the frogs start to call. 〇 When the cherry blossoms fall and the trees turn to leaf, look toward Kōzan-ji Temple to see the city flower, wisteria, paint the slopes purple. Kōzan-ji is also popular for hiking and birdwatching, and a park with play equipment makes it a favorite spot for families on holidays. 〇 In breezy May, roses and lilies cultivated by local residents brighten the pastoral inland landscapes in the Nishitosa area. Omiya Rose Garden welcomes visitors with about 500 rose bushes, while Nishitosa Yabukachi greets them with roughly 12,000 lilies. 〇 At this time of year, Shimanto Dragonfly Park shows dragonflies dancing above waters edged with water lilies and irises. Established in 1985 as the world’s first dragonfly reserve, the park has recorded 81 species of dragonfly. The Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio, attached to the park, exhibits insect specimens from around the world including dragonflies, alongside fish that inhabit the Shimanto River. (Shimanto River Museum Akitsuio opening hours/9:00–17:00, closed/Mondays) [Early summer] 〇 Under rainy, cloudy skies in June, Yasunami Waterwheel Village delights visitors with the rhythmic clack of turning waterwheels while hydrangeas along the waterways blaze with color. Sheltered pavilions near the channels make it pleasant to sit and watch the hydrangeas and the rural scenery. In the inland parts of Shimanto City, summer heat can be intense; when northwesterly winds blow, the foehn effect can raise temperatures and sea breezes from the pacific ocean have difficulty reaching inland, causing high heat. On August 12, 2013, Egawazaki recorded Japan’s highest temperature that year at 41.0°C. [Autumn] 〇 In late September, when the sky seems a little higher, the Iruta Yanagi Grove is enlivened by clusters of red spider lilies (manjushage) that dye the area bright red, and autumn insects begin to call from the grasses. Around this time the severe summer heat gradually eases. 〇 In early November, when autumn deepens, beautiful fall colors appear along the ravines of the Kurozon River, a tributary of the Shimanto River. [Winter] Although Shimanto City benefits from a mild climate, snow does fall some winters in the mountain valleys and on plains opening toward the Bungo Channel, and mornings and evenings often dip below freezing. Daytime, however, tends to be mild with many pleasant, sunny winter days. 3. Events to Celebrate the Arrival of Spring The Iruta Yanagi Grove, introduced above, hosts the Nanohana Festival. At the Nanohana Festival, the rapeseed flower groves spread like a yellow carpet and a variety of events are planned, including sales of local specialty products and wind band performances by junior and senior high school students. Please come and enjoy Shimanto River sightseeing when the rapeseed flowers are in bloom.

Event Announcement📣 On Sunday, January 25, 2026, Roadside Station Nakasatsunai will host the Nakasatsunai Winter Festival 😊 Enjoy a full lineup of snow activities, including snow rafting, a snow treasure hunt, and a snowy slide! Make the most of the cold winter day and have fun! Food trucks will also be on site, so you can enjoy tasty treats 🎵 📍Program Highlights ・Snow rafting (one ride 100 yen, limited to the first 250 participants) ・Stamp rally (limited to the first 100 children in elementary school or younger) ・Snow treasure hunt (for elementary school children or younger) ・Sledding 🛷 (free sled rentals available) ・Marshmallow roasting (3 pieces for 50 yen; available while supplies last) ・Hot milk served (limited to the first 100 people) 📍Date and Time: Sunday, January 25, 2026, 10:00–12:00 📍Location: Roadside Station Nakasatsunai South Side Special Venue Bring your family and friends and come to Roadside Station Nakasatsunai 🤗 https://michinoeki-nakasatsunai.jp/post_event/post_event-1311/...

Event Announcement📣 The nighttime winter-only event at TokachigawaOnsen, called "Sairinka," is held each year in honor of the swans that fly into TokachigawaOnsen.😊 A fantasy show synchronizing sound and light creates a magical atmosphere. About 600 luminous objects made from agricultural insulating material and LED bulbs change with the music to delight spectators' eyes.🎵 Date and Time: Saturday, January 24, 2026 – Sunday, February 15, 2026, 7:00 PM–9:00 PM Venue: Tokachigaoka Park Event Maintenance Contribution: 500 yen per person for junior high school students and older; free for elementary school students and younger Contact: Tokachi River Onsen Tourism Association TEL:0155-32-6633 https://www.tokachigawa.net/event/sairinka.html...

Event Announcement 📣 Lake Shikaribetsu, sitting at 800 meters above sea level and famed nationwide for its clarity, freezes over in winter. On the frozen surface, a magical village called shikaribetsu lake kotan appears only during the winter months. Kotan is the Ainu word for "village." 😊 This is a world created by people who gather at Lake Shikaribetsu, using the lake’s great natural power. 🎵 You can enjoy an "ice bar" serving drinks amid a world of snow and ice, an "open-air bath on the ice" where you can soak while taking in snowy scenery, and many other experiences such as making ice glasses, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing!! 📍Date and Time: Saturday, January 24, 2026–Sunday, March 15, 2026 📍Location: Lakeside of Lake Shikaribetsu (Shikaribetsu, Shikaoi, Kawato-gun, Hokkaido) 📍Admission: Season Pass 500 yen (elementary school age and up) 📞Contact: shikaribetsu lake kotan Executive Committee TEL: 0156-69-8181 (inside shikaribetsu lake nature center)

♬ Sophia Sakai Starry Teller keisuke’s Planetarium Laughter SHOW ♬ We invite starry storyteller keisuke, the owner of the “Hoshi Cafe SPICA” in Osaka and a performer who blends humor into sky presentations under the motto “making the starry sky entertainment,” for a laugh-filled starry sky entertainment show.✨ Sign up online via the website😊 📅 Date and time: Saturday, January 24, 18:00–18:45 📍 Venue: Sophia Sakai Planetarium ( @sophiasakai_pla ) 💰 Admission: Adults 600 yen, Children 250 yen 👥 Capacity: 140 people (first-come, first-served registration) 🔍 For details, search “Sophia Sakai Starry Teller”! https://www.sofia-sakai.jp/events/...スターリーテラーkeisukeのプラネタリウムで笑いまshow/

Event Announcement 📣 “Hombetsucho Bean-Scattering Night” will be held on Saturday, January 24th 😊 This event, timed for the Setsubun season, celebrates beans, a local specialty of Hombetsucho. Setsubun takes place the day before Risshun (the beginning of spring) and traditionally involves scattering beans to drive away evil spirits. It is said this practice began to ward off the misfortune and demons that can enter at seasonal boundaries 👹 At this event we will stage a dramatic bean-scatting spectacle using more than 2.5 tons of consecrated beans to vanquish many demons, and a “bean shower” where participants are drenched in over 100 kg of beans like a waterfall, among other bean-themed attractions. A lineup of food trucks will also gather so you can enjoy plenty of gourmet treats 🎵 https://www.town.honbetsu.hokkaido.jp/sightseeing/fes/details/mamemakanight.html...

Notice of an illumination event 📣 The illumination at Hiroo Santa Land in Hirocho runs through January 4, 2026 😊 Lights are on from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM ✨✨ The park glows with illumination and wood lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere 😍 Please consider stopping by during your New Year holidays outing 🤗 https://www.santaland.or.jp//

Announcement of the illumination event 📣 "Sara Illumi" will be held in Sarabetsumura through Saturday, February 16, 2026 (planned) 😊 Lights are on from 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM. A workshop for local residents shaped the designs, which are expressed with about 40,000 bulbs 🎵 Handmade village lights brighten the freezing winter nights with vivid color 🤗 https://www.sarabetsu.jp/sightseeing/event/illumination/...

Illumination Event Announcement📣 Roadside Station Nakasatsunai hosts the "Roadside Station Winter Night Garden" through February 28, 2026 😊 The lights come on from around 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the event ✨✨ Colorful illuminations sparkle across the snow, creating a vividly lit, dreamlike space for you to relax and enjoy😍 Please enjoy this together with Tokachi's snowy landscapes🤗 https://kankou-nakasatsunai.com/spot/spot-75/spot-3242/...