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...

🌸✨Springtime in Nobeoka✨🌸 “Konohana Walk” is coming! Stroll along the Konohana Road on the Gokase River embankment, where 300 cherry trees and one million rapeseed flowers bloom in a riot of color🚶‍♀️🌼 At the gourmet and souvenir area, savor Nobeoka’s proud seafood and mountain delicacies and experience spring in Nobeoka with all five senses!!😋 🌟There’s plenty more to see and do! ・Hands-on experiences and displays by the Self-Defense Forces and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism ・About 1,000 pinwheels lovingly made by junior high students ・Authentic matcha enjoyed amid the flowers🍵 ・Giant inflatable play area and craft workshops 🎤On the special stage, enjoy regional performing arts and a lively lineup of performances! Also‼️ 🔥The “Makoto Nagano Athletic Challenge” runs at the same time🔥 Can you clear the obstacles~!?💪 And in March… 🌸Waiwai Flower Tale 2026🌸 Enjoy the magical cherry blossom light-up and reward yourself with treats at the Waiwai Gourmet Fair✨ Everyone— We’re waiting for you in Nobeoka this spring!🌸 -————————— 🌸Konohana Walk & Nobeoka Delicious Food Market 📅Date: Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, 2026 ⏰10:00–16:00 📍Venue: Gokase River embankment ▶ Saturday 21 Children’s performing arts stage & Nobeoka song stage ▶ Sunday 22 Nobeoka traditional performing arts stage ※Photos are from last year’s event ※Start times and performers may change -————————— 📺Presented by Cable Media Waiwai “Waiwai Flower Tale 2026” 📅Date: Friday, March 20 – Sunday, April 5, 2026 📍Location: Nobeoka Castle Ruins and Shiroyama Park (Kita-Ote Gate to Honmaru Square) ・Cherry blossom light-up ・Upcycled art exhibition and more Light-up: 18:30–21:30 (held rain or shine) ※Event dates may change depending on cherry blossom conditions -————————— 🍴🌸Waiwai Gourmet Fair🌸🍴 📅Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10:00–16:00 📍Location: Nobeoka Castle Ruins and Shiroyama Park (Ninomaru Plaza) ※Held in light rain / canceled in severe weather ※On the day of the gourmet fair 🚌Free shuttle bus between Aeon Nobeoka and the event area is planned (9:30–16:30) https://nobeokahanamonogatari.net/home2025/...

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/...

Kamagaya City Film Commission Panel Exhibition Opens! From tomorrow, the Kamagaya City Film Commission will display posters, autographs from the star-studded cast, and behind-the-scenes photos from productions that received shooting support📹 The exhibit will focus on notable dramas such as the TBS special drama “Shinnen Sososhi Futekisetsu ni Hodo ga Aru! – Should We Not Talk About Serious Matters?” and other talked-about works. Please stop by✨ Location and Exhibition Period (1) City Hall, 1st Floor Citizen Hall February 3 (Tuesday) to February 13 (Friday) (2) Tobu Learning Center February 17 (Tuesday) to February 27 (Friday) until noon *Open only during official opening hours Commerce and Tourism Division https://www.city.kamagaya.chiba.jp/smph/kanko-bunka-sports/kanko/f-commission/location-jisseki.html...

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🎵

Kasai Rinkai Park in Edogawaku, Tokyo Metropolis will host the annual Narcissus Festival on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8. (^○^) The exchange began more than 20 years ago in 2005 when Shimoda City donated narcissus bulbs to Kasai Rinkai Park, and it continues to this day. Since fiscal 2006, the Shimoda City Tourism Association has been happily taking part in special events during the Kasai Rinkai Park Narcissus Festival, selling Shimoda products such as kinme croquettes, kinmedai fish head soup, dried fish, Shimoda brand goods, and all-you-can-pack Izu mandarins to promote tourism.✨ Members of the Shimoda Taiko Traditional Preservation Society also join the event to perform traditional drumming with a history of about 400 years on stage. If you are nearby, please stop by the Shimoda City Tourism Association booth at the Kasai Rinkai Park Narcissus Festival. (^○^) *The booth photo was taken at last year’s event.*

Saturday, January 31: "Ehime Love Food Market" — Vendor Notice for Okaido Shopping Street We plan to exhibit as follows. We will promote and sell Saijo City's famous sweets, processed foods, produce, and sake. If you are nearby, please stop by. "Ehime Love Food Market" — Saijo City Booth Day Saturday, January 31, 2025 Location: Okaido Shopping Street (Saijo City booth in front of the blood donation center) Time: 11:00–16:00

[Held at Hakata Station] Announcing the Amakusa Reihoku “Area Dual Residency Experience Exchange Event” and the Ohisama Marche, packed with the charms of Amakusa Reihoku! On Sunday, February 8, 2026, the big event “Learn About Amakusa: Amakusa Reihoku Area Dual Residency Experience Exchange Event,” where you can experience the attractions of Reihoku with all five senses, will take place at Hakata Station Square, Fukuoka’s gateway! The Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association will also bring our proud local specialties to enliven the Ohisama Marche booth. Feel the breeze of Amakusa Reihoku—less than an hour’s flight from Fukuoka—right at the venue. 🛍️ Ohisama Marche: Featured Lineup This time’s market carefully selects the best tastes from Reihoku! ⚪︎ Celebrating the Kumamoto-Oshi Dora Grand Prix 2025 award! “Salt Dorayaki” — a masterpiece from long-established local wagashi maker Kurose Seikaho. The just-right saltiness enhances the sweetness, creating a taste you won’t forget. ⚪︎ “Canned Fish from Amakusa Takushin High School Marine Campus” packed with youthful energy — these popular specialty cans were lovingly made by local high school students during practical training. ⚪︎ “Processed Seafood Products” — seaweeds and senbei (rice crackers) made with shrimp and octopus caught in Amakusa’s rich waters; perfect for cooking or snacking. ⚪︎ “Fresh Seasonal Vegetables” sold directly by local farmers — proudly grown under Reihoku’s abundant sun. 👓 Experience & Consultation Booths: Learn About and Get Close to Reihoku In addition to the market, we offer corners where you can learn more deeply about Reihoku. ⚪︎ Metaverse Reihoku Travel (VR experience) — Using VR, why not tour Reihoku’s beautiful sea and scenery in 360-degree video while staying in Fukuoka? ⚪︎ Migration and Dual-Base Living Consultation — Reihoku town staff and regional revitalization team members will staff a consultation corner. Let’s talk openly about daily life and work in Reihoku. ⚪︎ Tourism PR & Talk Events — We will share every last highlight of Amakusa Reihoku. We have lovely gifts prepared for participants, so please stop by. 📅 Event Details Name: Learn About Amakusa! Amakusa Reihoku Area Dual Residency Experience Exchange Event Date and Time: Sunday, February 8, 2026, 11:00–17:00 at Hakata Station Square Organizer: Reihoku, Amakusa District, Kumamoto Prefecture Contact: (Event planning and management) Parallab Co., Ltd. 📞092-986-9671 ✉️info@parallab.jp To everyone using Hakata Station and anyone with even a slight interest in Amakusa and Reihoku: we truly look forward to meeting you at the venue and sharing stories about Reihoku!

🔴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...

👹✨February 3 is Setsubun✨👹 When you think of Setsubun, you think of ehomaki! The lucky direction for 2026 is south-southeast. Face that direction, hold a wish in your mind, and silently take a big bite of the whole thick roll—this is the tradition of eating an ehomaki. This year, why not make your very own ehomaki at the sushi counter?🍣 Using delicious, naturally sweet rice from Kikuchi and guided directly by a sushi chef, enjoy a rare rolled-sushi-making experience. It’s designed so even young children can join in, making it perfect for creating family memories. Bring your family and friends and make special Setsubun memories together✨ 📌Details and reservations here https://kikuchikanko.ne.jp/taikenplan...

🌼We have updated the daffodil blooming report🌼 The peak season continues✨ The lowland areas are especially impressive! In some spots, they should be enjoyable until around early February🌱💭 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260128...

Laughter Yoga Class Want to loosen your body with laughter? This health exercise combines laughter with yogic breathing to relax both mind and body. Children, adults, and seniors are all welcome. Saturday, February 7 2:00 PM (about 1 hour 30 minutes) at Hotel Rimu Plum Hall Participation fee: Free Reservation: Not required What to bring: Comfortable clothing for movement, a towel for sweat, a drink, etc. Instructor: Happy Smile Create Laughter Yoga Teacher Mawiko Nakamura Organizer / Contact: Musouraku Circle Kondo (090-3115-3722) A bus to the Kamiokoppe direction will run. If you plan to use it, please contact us by Thursday, February 5. Supported by: Nishiokoppe Village Board of Education #Laughter Yoga #Health Exercise #Laugh #Musouraku #Circle

Take a little breather from your busy days. The popular market event “Beauty and Healing Yorimichi Marche” is finally celebrating its 7th edition! This time marks the third time it will be held in Reihoku Town👏 Why not spend a special day filled with “beauty, healing, and deliciousness” at the Reihoku Town Tourist Information Center? 🌿 How to enjoy the marche This edition features three delightful sections. [Treatment Corner]💆‍♀️ Warmth therapies, massages, head spas, and other treatments that help you relax both body and mind. [Hands-on & Sales Corner]🛍 Stalls selling handmade goods, fortune-telling, beauty experiences, and other booths perfect for treating yourself. [Food Corner]🍕🥐 From bento boxes and sweets to bread and pizza—there’s a satisfying lineup to fill your stomach. ✨ Highlights this time! Stamp rally! Visit venues around the site and collect stamps for a chance to win great prizes♪ Everyone is welcome! Admission is free. Whether you come with family and friends or drop by on your own for a little “yorimichi,” you’re warmly invited🤍 📅 Event details Date & Time: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (national holiday) 10:00–16:00 Location: Reihoku Town Tourist Information Center (4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku, Amakusa District) Admission: Free Organizer: Amakusa Reihoku Tourism Association (general incorporated association) Planning & Management: CROSSLINK On a winter afternoon, our staff look forward to seeing your smiling faces. Please feel free to stop by for a little “yorimichi”🌼

💠⋆⸜ 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//

🌼We updated the daffodil bloom report🌼 They are still in full bloom! We include detailed photos and descriptions from around the garden🌿✨ We look forward to your impressions and comments like “I went!”😌💭 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260126...

Attention moms and dads! 🌸 Why not make spring memories by running the Sakai City Marathon? 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ The event takes place beside the World Heritage Tomb of Emperor Nintoku, in the verdant Daisen Park. 🌳 The popular Family Category is a short 2.5 km course, ideal for those returning to exercise or for little ones making their race debut. ✨ The sense of achievement from “I finished!” becomes a lifelong treasure that boosts your child’s confidence. 🏆 Hold hands with your child and aim for the finish line with your best smiles. 🤝💕 Seeing your child run with all their heart might just move moms and dads to tears… 🥺💖 After the race, enjoy a picnic in the park or stroll through Sakai—both are wonderful. 🍱🍡 This spring, let the whole family aim for a joyful finish line! 🏁✨ We look forward to your entries! 🤗🌈 Check the website for detailed rules and how to enter. 🔍✨ 📅 Date and time: Wednesday, April 29 (national holiday) 📍 Location: Daisen Park, near Nintoku-tenno-ryo-mae — loop course Search “Sakai City Marathon” for more details! 🔗 https://sakaicitymarathon.com//

Announcement: Eastern Hokkaido Three Cycle Routes Traveling Panel Exhibition in Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho)📣 Sharing the charms of cycle routes in the eastern Hokkaido region To introduce the attractions of the eastern Hokkaido cycle routes—Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route; Tokachi 400; and the Okhotsk Cycling Route—we will hold a panel exhibition at the Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway (Chi-Ka-Ho) so that many people can learn about them 😊 The exhibition will feature panels introducing the attractions of the Akan, Mashu and the Kushiro Wetland Route, Tokapuchi 400, and the Okhotsk Cycling Route; displays of various rental bicycles; event information; and distribution of cycle route maps. Please stop by 🚵‍♀️🚵🚵‍♂️ Location and times: Friday, January 30, 2026, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM Venue: Sapporo Ekimae-dori Underground Walkway, Kita 1-jo Event Space (near Exit 12) Co-hosts: Hokkaido TOKACHI Cycle Tourism Route Promotion Council, Kushiro Cycle Tourism Promotion Council, Okhotsk Route Council, Obihiro Development and Construction Department, Kushiro Development and Construction Department, Abashiri Development and Construction Department Support: Hokkaido For detailed route information, please refer to the website below. https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/...

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/...

Ooyama Sky Lantern Event Following last week, the second Ooyama Sky Lantern will take place tomorrow, Saturday, January 24th. We are thrilled to welcome Yutaka Hozumi, the well-known reporter from FM Yokohama, as the event MC.

Kyonan Town announced the blooming of the Yoritomo cherry on January 20. Having received Kawazu cherry trees from Kawazu Town, Kyonan Town calls them "Yoritomo cherry" in honor of the historical episode in which Minamoto no Yoritomo, defeated in battle, is said to have landed at Ryugashima Coast and planned his comeback. You can enjoy daffodils well into this month, so you can admire daffodils and Kawazu cherry blossoms together. From Saturday, February 7, the Hotagawa River–Yoritomo Cherry Village Development Committee will place bamboo lanterns along the Daffodil Lane at Sakuma Dam Park and illuminate them at night. The floral relay continues, so everyone, please come and visit. #Kyonan Town#Boso Peninsula#Yoritomo cherry#bamboo lanterns#Yoritomo cherry#Kawazu cherry#Daffodils and Kawazu cherry duet

🐬✨Half-price Admission for Sakai City Residents!✨🐬 One day only: Sunday, February 1, 2026 With thanks for your continued support ＼ Sakai Citizen Appreciation Day ／ celebrates with you🎉 On this day only, residents of Sakai City receive half-price admission! Enjoy thrilling dolphin training sessions and paid hands-on programs suitable for both adults and children✨ It’s a special day the whole family can enjoy💙 We look forward to welcoming you😊 [Eligibility] Residents of Sakai City *Please present proof that confirms your residence in Sakai City. *Discount applies only to the person shown per one form of ID presented. *This offer cannot be combined with other discounts. *The dolphin interaction experience program requires a separate regular fee. [Admission Fees] ◯ Regular admission Adult (junior high school age and older): ¥1,210 Child (age 4 to elementary school): ¥770 ◯ Nighttime (admission from 5:00 PM onward) Adult (junior high school age and older): ¥770 Child (age 4 to elementary school): ¥550 *Free for children age 3 and under all day [Hours] 10:00 AM–8:00 PM (last admission 7:30 PM) 🔍 For details, search “Noah Dolphin Dome”! https://www.dolphindome.jp//

What are classes like at school these days? They say classroom scenes have been changing year by year. Lessons that used to be mostly the teacher talking now actively incorporate group work. Where students once laid out textbooks and notebooks on their desks, teachers and students now use tablet devices, sharing screens and submitting assignments. Why has the teaching style changed, and how else, beyond what’s listed above, has it changed? You can of course read books that explain today’s classes, but why not try experiencing a class yourself? Principal Hama of Nishiokoppe Elementary and Junior High School will be the instructor. Thursday, January 29 6:00 PM–8:00 PM At Hotel Morimu, Nishiokoppe Village, audiovisual room Anyone is welcome to join No reservation required. Organized by: Nishiokoppe Elementary and Junior High School Management Council #Trial class #Principal #Reiwa #Class

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...

A fire burned at Tomioka Elementary School for the first time in about 20 years. The children who once took part are now parents, passing the tradition to today's kids. On Sunday, January 18, the "Dondoya"—held at Tomioka Elementary School for the first time in about 20 years—took place. The familiar crack of bamboo snapping, "Bachi bachi!" Beyond the height of the flames, the crowd's warmth was overwhelming…! They grilled mochi over the embers, enjoyed steaming roasted sweet potatoes, and sipped pork miso soup that warmed the body. Watching children stuffing their cheeks with mochi they had toasted themselves, I felt reminded of the importance of keeping this tradition alive. From the lighting at 9 a.m., the happy hours passed in a flash. Thank you so much to everyone in the community who planned and prepared the event. Winter in Tomioka is the best. If you missed it, why not join the circle next year? If you want to help preserve Reihoku's traditions, please follow us via the icon at the top left to show your support. We’re sharing the charms of Reihoku! ✨

The annual Jomon Snow Festival, a fixture during the Sapporo Snow Festival, will take place for two days on Sunday, February 8 and Monday, February 9 at Sapporo-Chika-Ho Kita 3 Jo Intersection Plaza (West). Although from a different era, Engaru Town has been invited to participate. Engaru Town’s booth will be packed with activities, including a badge-making experience in collaboration with the characters from the national treasure "Shirataki Site Group artifacts"—Ishi no Takara-kun and Kakkū—an hour-specified survey that lets you try a gacha for a chance to win novelty items, and sales of original coffee beans in national-treasure-character packaging along with character goods. Of course, the event is full of attractions that Jomon enthusiasts will love. Whether you love the Jomon period or the Stone Age, everyone is welcome—please come and join us!!

🌼We have updated the daffodil bloom report🌼 The daffodils at Cape Tsumeki are at their peak✨ Every area is at its best for photos right now📸🤍 Come smell the soft scent of daffodils and enjoy an early taste of spring🌸 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260122...

I went to the Okhotsk Fair! January 14 (Wednesday)–15 (Thursday) I visited the Okhotsk Fair held in the underground pedestrian space Chi-Ka-Ho that connects Sapporo Station and Odori Station! From Nishiokoppe Village, Milk Design Co., which processes grass-fed milk produced in the village, had a booth. They sold milk, yogurt, drinkable yogurt, butter, mozzarella cheese, and string cheese, and gratefully sold out🙌 People who work nearby stopped by during lunch breaks or on their way home, and tourists walking through Chi-Ka-Ho showed interest. I was very happy that people living outside Hokkaido and visitors from abroad picked up Nishiokoppe Village’s specialty products. Our booth was along the walkway, so we only caught a glimpse of the stage, but there were quizzes and PR times from each town, appearances by local mascots, and a performance by laufen, an ambassador for Okhotsk tourism! I enjoyed two days of mingling with other vendors active in the Okhotsk area. Little Setoushi-kun was delighted to take two-shot photos with Okebanbaku-kun and Tsukutsuku Okhotsukun. #Okhotsk #Okhotsk Fair #Milk Design #grass-fed milk #dairy products #Chi-Ka-Ho #underground pedestrian space #delicious

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)

We will hold the “Enichibai Plum Viewing Event” at Hontō-ji Temple in Nobeoka City. This springtime event lets you enjoy authentic matcha while admiring a magnificent 240-year-old weeping white plum tree along with other white and red plum blossoms. Wrapped in the gentle scent of plum blossoms, why not take a moment to relax and soothe your heart? ⁡ 𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃 📅 Tuesday, February 10 and Wednesday (holiday), February 11, 2026 🕙 10:00–16:00 📍 Hontō-ji Temple (1133 Matsuyama-cho, Nobeoka City) 💰 Free admission 🍵 Outdoor tea service (matcha) one bowl 500 yen (with sweets) 🗺️ Historic site guide: free ⁡ 𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃 Follow the official Nobeoka Flower Story account @nobeokahanamonogatari for bloom updates and the latest event information during the festival. We’d be happy if you follow and check for updates.☑ For inquiries about the Enichibai Plum Viewing Event: Nobeoka Flower Story Executive Committee (0982-29-2155) https://nobeokahanamonogatari.net/home2026/kanbaikai_2026/...