📢Program Broadcast Notice📢
Teshikaga will be featured on STV Sapporo Television Broadcasting’s Dosanko Weekend on Saturday, March 7, starting at 9:25 AM👀✨

The crew filmed on location around the town and will introduce many aspects of Teshikaga from various perspectives. Look forward to it❣️

Please be sure to watch‼︎

This is a spring scene viewed from Motohakone in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The combination of Mount Fuji, Lake Ashi, fresh green foliage, and a torii (shrine gate) looks like a painting.

A scene photographed at Kuramae Shrine featuring mimosa and cherry blossoms together. The spring beauty is in full bloom.

My first visit to Japan turned magical when I found a lone Sakura at the entrance to Ueno Park, blooming early on the first day of March. Locals, tourists, people of all ages, and even birds were enjoying the symbol of Spring.

To immortalize their joy, I simply had to photograph the birds enjoying the blossoms.

I feel proud of this photo, and very lucky to have witnessed such a magical Spring moment in the heart of Tokyo.

Crystals of light dancing in Taisho-era romance

■Location
Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture

■Background and thoughts behind the work
Ginzan Onsen sits quietly in the deep mountains of Yamagata. On a night when snow piled softly on the streets steeped in Taisho-era romance, I attempted something for the first time.

I used the built-in flash to capture the “expressions of snow invisible to the eye.” Until then I had cherished natural light, but that evening I felt a strong urge to make each drifting snowflake shine like a jewel.

The instant the flash fired, pure white snow crystals appeared against the dark, and the warm orange glow of the gas lamps contrasting with the cold snow created a dreamlike scene. In the subzero cold I kept shooting until my fingertips went numb, and when I saw the glittering snow on the preview screen, I felt an indescribable emotion.

Through my first strobe shoot, I rediscovered the beauty of movement dwelling within frozen time. This photograph is an unforgettable and precious image for me.

🎎 Kuwanouchi Hina Doll Exhibition 🎎

Today (February 27) I went to see the hina doll exhibition in the Kuwanouchi district.👀✨

I lost track of time admiring the dolls loaned by local residents and the artworks arranged around them.🥰

The warmth of the community seemed to shine through the hina dolls.💖

The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest have been announced! This time, we present three Special Prize winners and the Executive Committee Special Prize.

✶ Special Prize ✶
Erisa Nitta "The Back of MtKamuinupuri"
Takashi Kuroda "Rime in May"
Koji Yajima "Standing at Dusk"

✶ Executive Committee Special Prize ✶
Taiga Takahashi "Ice"

The winning entries of the 15th Teshikaga Photo Contest were announced recently. Here we present the special prize winners 👀✨ Enjoy.

— ⋆⋆✶ Special Prize — ⋆⋆✶
Noriyasu Masuda "Overwhelmed by Vast Nature"
Nobuyuki Yamamoto "go!go!go!"
Takahiro Kori "Intermingling Plume and Cloud"
Hieeda Hiromi "A World of Silence"



For other winners and winning works, please check Teshikaga Navi. Congratulations to all the prizewinners‼︎ Thank you to everyone who participated‼︎ We appreciate your continued support for the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi 🙇❣️

https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/photocon_r08/

The winning works of the 15th Teshikaga photo contest were announced recently. Today we present the selected entries for your viewing👀✨ Enjoy.

— ⋆⋆✶ Selected — ⋆⋆✶
Shoichi Koike "Rays of Light"
Fumiaki Nishikawa "Solitary Thoughts in the Morning Mist"
Murakami Grace "Dripping Winter"
Urata Marunī "Dragon’s Mist"
Rie Ishida "Reflection — Capturing Summer"



You can check other winners and winning works on Teshikaga Navi. Congratulations to all the prize winners‼︎ Thank you to everyone who participated‼︎ We hope you will continue to support the Teshikaga Photo Contest and Teshikaga Navi🙇❣️
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/photocon_r08/

Two patches of the native spring flower setsubunso, which signal the arrival of spring, are now in full bloom in Soryo Town, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture! 🌼

Other spots are progressing and are about 30% in bloom, too—so come and see! The Setsubunso Festival will be held on Sunday, March 8, 2025. We hope you can join us!

▶ Event details here
https://www.shobara-info.com/event/5451

▶ Setsubunso bloom updates (updated regularly)
https://www.shobara-info.com/special/4467

▶ Featured in our editorial report!
Published 2025.03.06 “The Scent of First Love” Visiting Setsubunso: Exploring the wild colonies and nearby lunch spots
https://www.shobara-info.com/report/4967

Access: About a 15-minute drive from Shobara IC on the Chugoku Expressway 🚗

Mount Fuji Day 2/23

Today's temperature in Minami-Alps City is an astonishing 22°C
Springlike weather 🌸
Unfortunately, Mount Fuji is hidden during the daytime today…

In honor of Mount Fuji Day, please enjoy photos of Mount Fuji taken in the past as seen from Minami-Alps City 🗻

The Otaru Canal in winter’s magic hour. On the right bank, stone warehouses weigh down with snow in silence, while on the left bank the warm glow of gas lamps lights the snow white.
Countless candles floating on the water trail long tails of light across the cold surface, gently swaying. People strolling along the promenade, captured in long exposures, become blurred light afterimages, visualizing the dense passage of time within the still scene. The cold air and the fires that seem to melt it coexist, etched together in vivid contrast.

This is Gokayama Ainokura Gassho-style Village in Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.
The scene created by Ainokura’s gassho-style houses and the snow-covered fields
is truly a timeless image of Japan.
As evening fell and the houses’ lights began to glow,
the steadily falling snow created a magical atmosphere.
(୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷 ☃️❄️🏡🏔️

<Scenic Night 2026 in Kimobetsu is coming!>

Scenic Night 2026 in Kimobetsu, an event that lights the town with snow candle glow, will take place.
We have planned children’s games, snow candle making, and a midwinter fireworks display, so please come dressed warmly!
At the midwinter food court we will sell pork miso soup and takoyaki, and at the midwinter beer garden we will offer draft beer, pork skewers, chicken skewers, and more.
We look forward to seeing you.

Date and time: Saturday, February 21, 2026
13:30 Children’s games registration
15:00 Snow candle making, midwinter food court, and midwinter beer garden open
17:00 Snow candle lighting
18:30 Midwinter fireworks display
20:00 Scheduled end
(Program may change due to weather or other reasons)
Location: Around Hotto Kimobetsu Roadside Station, Kimobetsucho
Organizer: Kimobetsu Scenic Night Executive Committee, NPO Kimobetsu WAO

A 200,000-year-old guide to water
The Mikata Five Lakes Nature Cruise website has been renewed!

https://mihama-lakecenter.com/

It is now easier to check the operating status for the day.
Mihama Town Lake Center
Location: 24-4-1 Hayase, Mihama Town, Mikata-gun, Fukui Prefecture
Phone: 0770-47-5960
Closed: Wednesdays (the following day if a public holiday)
Year-end and New Year holidays: December 29 to January 3

【Clear skies today ☀️ The Northern Alps look beautiful 🏔】
On February 14th, Valentine’s Day, Omachi City enjoyed clear weather, and the snow-capped Northern Alps stood out against the blue sky ✨
I took photos from Omachi Park through Mikkamachi, across Renge Ohashi Bridge, and behind Omachi City Culture Hall 📱 The temperature rose into the teens Celsius, making the day feel like the first hint of spring 🌱

Itami Sky Park

7-1-1 Morimoto, Itami

Itami Sky Park is a vast park adjacent to Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport). It is known for offering close-up views of aircraft taking off and landing, and there are many ways to enjoy it both day and night.


Itami Sky Park lets you watch aircraft take off and land up close, but there are several important precautions.
🚫 Prohibited Activities
The following actions are prohibited, so please be aware.

Ball games, frisbee, badminton, and similar activities: because they may interfere with aircraft operations.
Erecting tents, tarps, or similar shelters: because they may interfere with aircraft operations.
Bringing or riding motorbikes, bicycles, unicycles, etc.: please use the bicycle parking area.
Bringing or using balance bikes (Strider), kickboards, J-boards.
Fireworks.
Flying kites: because they may interfere with aircraft takeoff and landing.
Leaving trash behind: take your trash home with you. There are no trash bins in the park.
Smoking: the entire park is non-smoking (including electronic cigarettes).
Bringing pets: prohibited on lawns, in planting beds, and around fountains and water features.

Everyone come! Teshikaga⭐️Hanabi Village is happening!
On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Teshikaga⭐️Hanabi Village will take place on the Teshikaga Junior High School grounds.
The event runs from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM and features endless handheld sparklers, hot air balloons, food trucks and more. Some activities have limited capacity, so join early.

On February 21 and 22, the town venue will host the Teshikaga Town Photo Gallery. Look for a Teshikaga High School × Miyazaki Flower Shop collaboration, food trucks and Teshikaga Marche stalls, plus a small snow slide.

Check the flyer for details!! We look forward to seeing you.
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/teshikagahanabimura/

On Saturday, February 21, “Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen” will take place in front of Kawayu Visitor Center.
With the concept “Play in Kawayu’s winter,” a variety of activities and events will be offered again this year.
There will be plenty of experiences for both adults and children, including cross-country ski and ski-shoe trials, snowshoeing, campfires in tipis, Korean fir (Akaezomatsu) distillation workshops, wooden coaster making, and slide talks.
Hot milk and handmade cookies from Teshikaga High School students will be available in tents at the venue.
Please come together with friends and family.


Mori no Snow Park 2026 in Kawayu Onsen (Event Overview)

Date and time: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 10:00–21:00
Venue: Kawayu Visitor Center and surrounding area (2-2-6 Kawayu Onsen, Teshikaga)
Admission: Free (all programs are also free to enjoy.)
※ Food and drinks are sold separately.

Activities
<10:00–16:00>
● Cross-country ski ● Ski-shoe experience ● Snowshoe experience
<Ongoing>
● Snow play area ● Campfire in tipis

Events
● Forest stories and a forest walk 13:00–14:00
● Korean fir distillation workshops 10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 14:00 / 15:00
● Wooden coaster making 10:00 until supplies last
● Slide talk “With Reverence for the Brown Bear” 15:30–17:00
● Free talk 17:30–19:00
● Star gazing 18:45–19:30
● Snow candles 17:00–21:00

Contact

Teshikaga Ekoma-chi Promotion Council (Secretariat)
Within Teshikaga Town Office, Tourism and Commerce Division
015-482-2940 (Tourism and Commerce Division direct line / Weekdays: 9:00–17:00)
Day-of contact: 090-2075-9764 (Person in charge: Fujiwara)
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/snowpark2026/

Every February I go to Kushiro to see red-crowned cranes and the SL Winter Shitsugen train.

The courtship dance of the red-crowned cranes, especially visible at the feeding grounds in Kushiro Shitsugen, reaches its peak in February.

In the harsh winter snowfields I was able to see the males and females leap and spread their wings in a courtship dance that truly looks like dancing once again this year.

Scenes from the 42nd Winter Balloon Meeting held in Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido.
A blue sky and a pure white snowfield
Colorful hot air balloons rising into the air.

We visited the Otaru Snow Festival on a day when the snowfall felt almost unreal, layers upon layers of snow covering everything in sight. The cold was intense, yet the spirit of the people was even stronger—unshaken, cheerful, and welcoming. Despite the heavy snow, they warmly invited us to become part of the festival, as if we belonged there all along. Though the air was biting, the kindness and smiles around us filled the atmosphere with joy. As evening fell, the sight of countless candles glowing softly along the canal was nothing short of magical—the gentle light reflecting on the snow and water turned Otaru into a living winter dream.

Jewelry Ice at Otsu Coast in Toyokorocho, Hokkaido

Ice that formed on the Tokachi River drifts out to sea
and the waves polish it into transparent, jewel-like pieces of ice.

Visitors aiming for standout photos select well-shaped pieces, carry them,
pour hot water or rinse them to remove sticking snow and sand,
and arrange the ice by stacking or standing it to create artworks for shooting,
but they are beautiful just as they are in nature.

Gala Yuzawa is one of my favorite ski destination near Tokyo. Its not only a good ski resort but also a fabulous sightseeing spots. The snow-capped mountain peaks looks very beautiful and during sunset time creates an unforgettable moments.

A guide to hot spring inns in Teshikaga ♨️

Teshikaga has two hot spring areas: Mashu Onsen and Kawayu Onsen. Each hot spring and each inn differs in water quality and health benefits, so be sure to check out a variety of hot spring inns.✨ A second guide is in preparation. Please look forward to it.😉🔥

This is Taiyogaoka Metasequoia Namiki Avenue in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
A snowy tree-lined path, seen under a clear sky.
The metasequoias in their snowy scenery.
It was simply beautiful.
💕(୨୧❛ᴗ❛)📷 🌲❄️☀️

Jigokudani Yaen-koen monkeys

A place famous for monkeys bathing in hot springs
A monkey gazing at the hot spring amid falling snow

A sense of melancholy lingered.

🚨Schedule Change🚨

[Sightsee hands-free! Luggage delivery service now available]
From Saturday, January 24 to Sunday, March 1, 2026, Teshikaga offers the 2026 winter “Teshikaga Eco Passport” town shuttle bus (reservation required) and, during the same period, a luggage delivery service called “Sightsee hands-free.” This convenient service delivers your luggage from the drop-off location to the pick-up location so you can explore Teshikaga light and free during that time. You won’t need to carry your bags yourself, allowing you to spend all your time and energy on sightseeing. No advance reservation is required. Please take advantage of this opportunity.

Period
Saturday, January 24 to Sunday, March 1, 2026

Fee
1,000 yen (tax included)

Luggage size
Total of length, width, and height up to 160 cm / weight up to 25 kg
*Valuables, fragile items, hazardous materials, precision instruments, and frozen or refrigerated items cannot be accepted*

Drop-off locations and reception hours
A: JR Mashu Station 8:30–11:30
B: JR Kawayu-Onsen Station 8:30–12:00
C: Kawayu Onsen Town Hotel until 11:00
(Kawayu Kanko Hotel, KKR Kawayu, Oyado Kinkiyu Annex Suikazura)
*Please note that the reception hours for C have changed.*

Pick-up locations and hours
A: JR Mashu Station 15:00–16:30
B: JR Kawayu-Onsen Station 14:00–17:00
C: Kawayu Onsen Town Hotel from 13:30 onward
(Kawayu Kanko Hotel, KKR Kawayu, Oyado Kinkiyu Annex Suikazura)


________________________________
Use it like a coin locker—no delivery! Luggage storage only
We also offer a luggage storage-only service you can use like a coin locker without delivery. Please use it according to your needs.
Fee: 700 yen (tax included)
A: JR Mashu Station 8:30–16:30
B: JR Kawayu-Onsen Station 8:30–17:00

Contact
Mashu Tourism Association
015-482-2200
Reception hours 9:00–17:00 on weekdays
masyu_as@peace.ocn.ne.jp

https://www.masyuko.or.jp
https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/2025winterecopassport/

I visited the Yokohama Museum of Art to see "Vienna at the Fin de Siècle: The Golden Age of Beauty."
The exhibition wraps you in the atmosphere of the era.

Rather than simply looking at the works,
it offers time to experience the values of beauty.

Egon Schiele’s presence quietly yet powerfully lingers in the memory.

I think this is an exhibition that comes across only when you visit in person.

#Vienna at the Fin de Siècle
#Egon Schiele
#Art exhibition
#Japanese culture
#Cool Japan

[Sky and Frost-Covered Trees]
Last Friday (January 23) I went to Gokase Highland Ski Resort.
The sky was clear that day, making it not only perfect for skiing but also ideal for photography.
I warmed my freezing hands as best I could and protected my camera from the cold while shooting.
I plan to share these images unedited.
The Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram photo contest “Winter in Gokase 2026” is still accepting entries, so please consider submitting your work!