October 23rd Azumino, where the Northern Alps and pastoral landscapes are beautiful Today’s clear autumn sky let us see all the way to the mountains of Hakuba! The rice ears have already been completely harvested, but delicious rice will be planted again next year.

Autumn in Azumino, when the sky runs high and the horses grow fat… But the sun still blazes, and it looks like daytime will be a sweltering hot day… The relief is that mornings and evenings are cool, so nights aren’t restless!

White buckwheat flowers blooming in Azumino Can’t wait for the new soba season! Azumino’s soba is said to have firm kernels and excellent flavor, so be sure to try it when you stop by.♪ Buckwheat fields bloom here and there near HAMA Flower Park

[Stay in the Countryside! Accommodation Special] Under a sky full of stars, with the scent of green 🌿 Birdsong and cold mountain streams, create nostalgic summer holiday memories in the countryside in Miyoshi. We introduce proud accommodations where you can fully enjoy nature❗ Are you the active type this summer? Or would you rather take it easy? Tell us in the comments 😊 ***************************************** Accommodations for Active Travelers [Irori Inn Kumaya] ● Check-in 15:00– ● Check-out by 10:00 ● Reservations accepted by phone. ● We created a paradise for dragonflies and frogs. ● One booking per day only. [Kogane-ya, Farmstay of Dream-Eating Insects] ● Check-in in the afternoon ● Check-out in the morning ● One booking per day only ● Reservations accepted by phone. ● Sometimes we cannot answer the phone. Please leave a recorded message and we will call you back. [Country Experience Guesthouse Nanohana Batake] ● Check-in from 14:00 ● Check-out by 11:00 ● Please search for "Nanohana Batake Miyoshi DMO" to reserve and apply via the link on the site. ● Single-person stays incur an extra charge. [Mountain Work Experience Guesthouse Kirakubo] ● Check-in from 14:00 ● Check-out by 11:00 ● Please search for "Kirakubo Miyoshi DMO" to reserve and apply via the link on the site. ● Kitchen use fee 2,500 yen BBQ area use fee 1,500 yen ● Experience mountain work together with the owner! [Farmstay Ponmama’s Hide-and-Seek] ● Check-in from 15:00 ● Check-out by 10:00 ● Reservations accepted by phone. [Hoshihara Mountain School] ● Instagram @hoshihara_yamanogakko ● Check-in 15:00 ● Check-out 10:00 ● Please search for "Hoshihara Mountain School Miyoshi DMO" to reserve and apply via the link on the site. ● You can camp on the schoolyard or rent the entire school building. See the Hoshihara Mountain School website for details. ● Forest excursion programs and satoyama nature games offer activities that let you fully feel nature; separate application required. ● There are two classrooms. One group per classroom. ● Maintenance cooperation fee: 100 yen per person. ***************************************** Accommodations for Relaxed Travelers [Tomishino Village] ● Instagram @tomishinosato ● Check-in 16:00 ● Check-out 10:00 ● Reservations accepted by phone. ● In addition to bungalows, there are 10 Japanese- and Western-style rooms at Kohjisou (shared bath and kitchen). ● On days when Tomishi Mountain Cafe is open, enjoy lunch and coffee. [Country Inn Kaze no Michi] ● Check-in from 15:00 ● Check-out by 10:00 (extension 800 yen per hour) ● Reservations: 090-6837-4770 ● Pets allowed only for outdoor dogs (we have a dog room) ● BBQ sets available (bring charcoal and food) [Kusahanatoro no Yado Miyoshi Everyone’s House] ● Check-in 14:00 ● Check-out 10:00 ● Reservations by email ( info@miyoshi-minnanoie.com ) or via the reservation form on the "Miyoshi Minna no Ie" official website. [Kobo-yama Experience Exchange Center Yasuragi-so] ● Check-in 15:00 ● Check-out 10:00 ● Reservations: 0847-67-5211 (Coffee & Pasta Amin) 14:00–18:00 except Mondays ● Please consult if you would like meals provided. [Dream Space Kunitaya Sanso] ● Instagram @kunitayasanso ● Check-in from 15:00 ● Check-out by 12:00 ● Reservations by email ※ Due to COOL JAPAN VIDEOS postings, please search the internet for "Kunitaya Sanso" and contact the site inquiry form with your desired dates. Reservations are confirmed after we contact you back. ● Bring your own ingredients. Charcoal (1,000 yen) is available for purchase. ● See the Kunitaya Sanso official website for details. For detailed accommodation introductions and reservations we post experience reports and booking information on the Miyoshi DMO official website ✨ Search "facility name, Miyoshi DMO" to check details♪ ＊………………………………………………………………….✈ [Notes] ➤ Items to bring, clothing, reservation deadlines and other requirements may vary by facility. Please check the Miyoshi DMO official website in advance. ➤ Experience contents and fees may change. If you have questions, contact each facility directly.

BB Farm & BB SHEEP COFFEE A blueberry agritourism farm with a permanent kitchen car Opened in August 2024, this hands-on tourist farm lets visitors enjoy interactive experiences. Blueberries are available for about one month starting in August, but many other harvestable crops such as tomatoes and pumpkins are offered. You can also try baking pizza using vegetables you picked yourself, an activity suitable for both children and adults. The on-site kitchen car serves light meals and drinks, and in season it sells products made with fruit harvested on the farm. The kitchen car offers tasty drinks, pizzas, light meals, and sweets. There’s still time to join the blueberry and vegetable picking experiences, so give it a try✨ BB Farm & BB SHEEP COFFEE 3-64-19, Kawayu Ekimae, Teshikaga, Kawakami District, Hokkaido 088-3462 Phone: 090-8667-5805 Fees — Blueberry Picking ¥2,000 / Adult (junior high school students and older) ¥1,500 / Elementary school student ¥1,000 / Young child (age 4 and older) Parking: Available Closed: Thursdays Access: 10-minute walk from JR Kawayu Onsen Station Open season: June to November Hours: 10:00–16:00 Takeout: Available For more details, please contact BB Farm or BB SHEEP COFFEE directly. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/enjoy/bbfarm/...

Introducing an experiential tour you can enjoy in Tokachi, Hokkaido 😄 Harvest experience on the fields of the Tokachi Plain At Okamoto Farm in Nakasatsunai Village, taste freshly harvested vegetables with a Jingisukan lunch Located in the southwestern part of the Tokachi Plain in Nakasatsunai Village, Okamoto Farm works to reduce environmental impact while supplying safer, more reliable produce that consumers want. After harvesting potatoes and onions by hand, you’ll take a special ride on a harvesting machine for an added harvest experience. The vegetables you harvest are washed immediately and enjoyed alongside Jingisukan. Okamoto Farm also processes and sells the vegetables it grows. After the meal, enjoy a tomato berry cream puff at the shop where products are sold and tour the processing facility to learn what makes it so delicious. Tour Schedule 10:00 Meet at Okamoto Farm 10:05 Farm introduction, harvest experience in the field, and harvesting machine ride Experience harvesting potatoes and onions with your own hands in the field, then ride a harvesting machine not usually open to visitors and observe harvesting across the vast fields. 11:30 Jingisukan lunch made with the harvested vegetables and ingredients from Nakasatsunai 13:00 Cream puff tasting at Okamoto Farm’s shop and processing facility tour Taste a tomato berry cream puff and tour the processing facility while hearing about tomato production and processing. 13:30 Tour ends Operating period: mid-August to September Time: 10:00–13:30 (about 3 hours 30 minutes) Group size: 2–12 people Price: Per person ・For 2 people: Adult ¥24,200 ・For 3 or more: Adult ¥17,600 *With English interpretation, prices are as follows. Per person ・For 2 people: Adult ¥13,200 ・For 3 or more: Adult ¥9,900 ■Please make a reservation at least seven days before your desired date. ■Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your preferred date due to guide availability or other circumstances. Okamoto Farm uses local ingredients to create more natural, pure products that you can enjoy with confidence. The tomato berry they grow is a cute mini tomato known for its sweetness and high sugar content! This is a great opportunity to meet farmers and learn about the behind-the-scenes of agriculture and food production!! We hope that through this experience you will discover new insights and values that enrich your lifestyle. We would be delighted if a Tokachi experience could become a memorable page in your travel story 😄 If you’re interested, please visit the following URL on our association’s official website: "BEHIND THE GOOD TASTE – A Journey Connecting to the Source of Food in Tokachi" Contact KUNAU Publishing Co., Ltd. Slow Travel HOKKAIDO Email: slh@slow-life-hokkaido.com https://tokachibare.jp/behindthegoodtaste/...

Vegetable Harvest Experience As of October 31st, daikon radishes, red turnips, and chayote are available for harvest! At the Vegetable Harvest Experience, you can fill a bag with seasonal vegetables to your heart’s content! Reservations are prioritized, but same-day registration is possible. For more details about the experience, please visit the Toyooka Tabijikan website.

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”

Kemono Night On the night of the mid‑autumn full moon (or so we thought—turns out it was actually the next day) Kemono Night returned after several years. Centered on the Minami family, dairy farmers in Nishiokoppe, and the guesthouse GA.KOPPER, a handful of Nishiokoppe locals and visiting chefs from nearby areas, with the cooperation of musicians, came together for a feast. Eating what was once alive and so carrying on life itself Around a firelit banquet we spent an evening giving thanks for life and the producers. Before we knew it, what had been just a sheet of plywood was adorned with deer and bear, providing warmth. Chilly but wrapped in clear air, the warm, richly flavored soup was superb. Deer, bear, sheep, cattle, plus vegetables and cheese We savored the gratitude of tasting locally harvested ingredients and the luxury of those ingredients becoming truly delicious dishes through the chefs’ wisdom and skill. Food that brings people together. Will the people who gathered that night meet again somewhere down the road? Thanks to the producers and everyone who came together that night. #Nishiokoppe Village #Kemono Night #GA.KOPPER #Ohtakoji #Yukiya Taneishi #RIDE #DJKATSU #Jomon Taiko #Yoshito Yamamoto #Kiichi Ninomiya #Megumi Takatsuka #mikachup #moor #Quite Hot #Makiya‑to Minaga #Higuma Taiko

Mid-summer harvest Rice fields in Mie Prefecture Kuwana City

Would you like to join a white corn harvesting experience in Azumino this summer? The kernels gleam pure white like pearls and are so tender they can be eaten raw! Their juice bursts with sweetness over 15 degrees Brix, and the plump texture is addictive. The farm owner will give a full lesson on harvesting tips. While interacting with local farmers, you can see vegetables being grown firsthand, enjoy the pleasure of harvesting yourself, and savor the taste of freshly picked produce! For details, please see the Azumino City Tourism Association website!

【Tomita Satiniwa Farm Tomita Urban Agricultural Exchange Center】 Tomita Satiniwa Farm is known for its 120,000 Shibazakura trees and small blue flowers Nemophila in Spring, and the Cosmos blooming in autumn. A farm surrounded by beautiful nature, it provides healing and fun to those who visit. This farm is characterized by a rich landscape of seasonal Flowers, fruits and vegetables. Visitors say they can feel the joy of being in contact with nature through the experience of harvesting fresh produce. In addition, at Tomita Satiniwa Farm, you can directly buy Fresh vegetables and eggs from the Local area. Souvenirs are also great because you can get different produce in different seasons. If you want to refresh yourself in nature and have a good time, please come to Tomita Satiwa Garden. The blessings of nature and warm hospitality await you. ■ Access: [Use by train or bus] From Chiba Monorail "Senjodai" Station ・Take the Omago Bus and get off at "Tomita-cho Harada Pond" and walk for 1 minute ・Take the Sarashina bus to Tomitacho 1 and walk for 13 minutes. [Use] From the Miyata intersection Highway on Route 126, turn right at the Tomita-cho entrance intersection, turn right at the Tomita-cho entrance intersection, go about 900 meters and turn left. ■Address: 711-1 Tomita-cho, Wakaba-ku, Chiba City ■ Parking: Free 200 cars ■Business hours: 9:00~17:00 ■ Regular holiday: Monday the next day if it is a holiday ■ Fee: Free admission

■Cycling Guide Tour■ ~Night Tour 1‑Night Plan~ An evening‑start, one‑night plan! A relaxed all‑day, get‑together itinerary for everyone to enjoy. [Cycling × Vegetable Picking × Luxurious BBQ × Group Stay] After an evening cycling session, enjoy a luxurious BBQ dinner with spectacular views of the Ina Valley spread below. Then, while savoring drinks at dinner, soak in a ceramic‑style bath and spend a leisurely night on site in this indulgent plan. You will stay overnight at Toyo Terrace, where you can fully enjoy the BBQ course. For dinner, hand the vegetables you harvested to the BBQ specialist and enjoy an exquisite course of grilled dishes. This special, one‑group‑per‑day plan delivers an extraordinary experience available only on that day and in that moment. Guides will accompany and support you on the cycling portion, so no prior cycling experience is required. Rest assured that the slopes in Toyooka Village are tackled using E‑BIKES (electric‑assist bicycles). The sustainable travel information site “Sustavi” has featured the Night Tour. [Plan Details] ■Season Late April through mid‑October ■Duration, Distance, Start Time ●Cycling: about 2 hours ●Distance: under 10 km ●Start time: from 15:00 (overnight stay at Toyo Terrace) ■Group size From 5 up to 10 guests ■Price (tax included, per person) Adult (junior high school and above): ¥15,000 Child (elementary school and under): ¥7,500 Infant (preschool): ¥2,000 *Drinks at dinner are on a one‑drink basis; additional drinks are charged separately. *You may bring drinks for dinner, so please shop before the start if you plan to bring your own. *Breakfast is not included. (The kitchen can be lent for cooking, so if you plan to prepare your own breakfast please shop beforehand.) ■Course itinerary 1. Meet at toyooka travel time at 14:00 (payment) 2. Depart for Toyo Terrace at 14:30 3. Cycle to the partner farm at 15:00 4. Arrive at the farm — vegetable harvesting experience, etc., 15:30–17:00 5. Return to Toyo Terrace at 17:30 6. BBQ dinner around 18:00–20:00 7. Overnight at Toyo Terrace — check‑out next day at 9:00 ■About the plan [Dinner] Meals (BBQ) follow a chef’s choice course. Drinks are one‑drink included; extra drinks and additional items require separate payment. We also offer a chef‑curated drink package (price negotiable). →Any additional drink charges are to be paid in cash on site. You may bring drinks or ingredients for breakfast cooking. Please discuss this when you make your reservation. [Breakfast] Please provide your own breakfast the next morning. You may use the kitchen to cook. If you plan to cook, please shop for ingredients in advance. [Bicycles] E‑BIKES (electric‑assist bicycles) are used. Guests who cannot ride a bicycle cannot participate. Thank you for your understanding. Rental bicycle list here → 《E‑BIKE》 [Provided equipment] Helmets / gloves / saddle covers / pant bands / lockers [Clothing] Comfortable, easy‑to‑move clothing and shoes ■Contact toyooka travel time 0265‑49‑3395 (9:00–18:00)

Every year, we receive a share from the neighborhood.

I helped with the grape harvest in the vineyards of TokachigawaOnsen! This year the temperatures were warm, and the grapes that soaked up plenty of sun turned out very sweet☺️

Potato digging A potato field tended as a hobby. After October began, about seven of us gathered on a holiday and went to dig potatoes! First we removed the weeds and leaves lying on the soil, then used digging forks to unearth the potatoes carefully without piercing them. After digging them up, we left them in the sun for a while to dry their skins, then sorted the potatoes by size—large and small—and put them into bags before loading them onto the truck. My leg muscles still ache even after two or three days (laughs). It felt great to work up a good sweat after such a long time!

[Autumn Marche Held] The Autumn Marche took place over two days on September 17th and 18th. A tent stood at the entrance of Roadside Station Nishiokoppe Kamu, featuring chiffon cakes, Ezo deer meatballs, a flea market, and stalls selling Nishiokoppe-produced vegetables. Children from the elementary school prepared a lottery for kids and a popular "candy fishing" game where sweets were attached to magnets, which seemed to be a big hit! I couldn’t join this time, so I’m already looking forward to next year’s marche.

Wheat harvesting has begun, and straw rolls can now be seen across the fields. These round bales will become beds for the cows! A landscape typical of Tokachi in Hokkaido stretches out. ※This is a farmer’s precious field. Please do not enter it.

The 10th Mugi-Kan Festival will take place! You can enjoy freshly harvested wheat with all five senses. There will be plenty of fun events, including freshly baked wheat bread for sale, a Mugi-Kan roll-rolling contest, and tractor rides! Date and time: Saturday, August 19, 2023, 10:00–14:00 Location: Takenaka Farm wheat fields Admission: Adults 1,500 yen, elementary and junior high students 500 yen *Canceled in case of rain

[English/Japanese] Across the street from the amanatto sweet bean shop introduced previously is a public bathhouse that is famous in Hachioji. At the bathhouse, vegetables are sold unattended. At this sales place, rare vegetables from the Tama area are sold, and there is a wide variety of them, so it is fun just to look around 😊International students often take advantage of these unattended vegetable sales. The principal of our school also has a farm in Hachioji City, and he is often asked by foreigners to sell their produce. When I asked the students about it, they said it looks fresher and tastier than the ones sold in supermarkets. I encourage everyone to try these rare vegetables that can only be found in the Tama area. Across from the amanato shop I introduced earlier is a public bath that is famous in Hachioji. The public bath sells vegetables unmanned. This sales office sells rare vegetables from the Tama area, and it is fun just to look at them with a wide variety. 😊 The principal of our school also has a farm in Hachioji City, and foreigners often ask him to sell it. When I asked the students, they said that it looked fresher and tastier than the ones sold at the supermarket. Please try the rare vegetables that can only be harvested in the Tama area.

Since it is autumn in Japan, this season is often called "autumn of appetite". And what is harvested this fall is rice, which can be said to be the food culture of Japan people. I think many people buy it when it is harvested in the fall and new rice comes out. You don't usually look closely at such rice, and you rarely see ears of rice before harvesting. However, rice is harvested in autumn, and I think that rice is a king for "autumn appetite". There was a rice field in front of my house, and the ears of rice were shining in the evening light, and they looked beautiful and delicious, so I took this picture.