🌼 We have updated the daffodil bloom report 🌼 They have finally reached their peak viewing season 👏✨ Daffodils are now blooming beautifully across the garden, and the prime viewing period looks set to continue for a while 🤍✨ We summarized the bloom status and highlights on our blog, so please check it out below 👇 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260109...

Reihoku Sunset Marche — January Announcement📣 Happy New Year🎊 Our first announcement of the year is the Reihoku Sunset Marche in January♪ 👀 Highlights of this Sunset Marche 👀 ❣ At the Reihoku Sunset Marche, where agricultural products, processed goods, and prepared foods from Reihoku are sold, freshly shipped bagged mikan (tangerines) will be available this time 🍊 Please enjoy these seasonal farm products❣ We look forward to seeing you 😊 Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bag🛍✨ Scheduled produce for sale: ・Aspara greens ・Cauliflower ・Turnips🫜 ・Pumpkin🎃 ・Cabbage ・Cucumbers🥒 ・Kale ・Rice🌾 ・Coral leaf feather ・Taro ・Sweet potatoes🍠 ・Potatoes🥔 ・Garland chrysanthemum (shungiku) ・Daikon radish ・Tomatoes (Aiko, cherry) ・Chinese cabbage ・Green peppers🫑 ・Broccoli🥦 ・Ponkan ・Mikan🍊 (bagged, boxed, bag-hung) ・Mizuna (Beni-hoshi variety) ・Lettuce (sunny, leaf) ・Welsh onion (single stalk) 🥦🍅🥕🍠🥬🧅🫑🌽🌶🫛🍆🫚🥔 Reihoku Sunset Marche Date: Sunday, January 11, 1:00 PM–3:00 PM Location: Amakusa Reihoku Tourist Association (Reihoku Town Local Products Center, 4535-1 Kamitsufukae, Reihoku)

[About the operation of tourist and bathing facilities] Information on the New Year operating status of tourist and bathing facilities is available at the linked "Teshikaga Navi". Please note that hours and days of operation may differ from the usual schedule. Some bathing facilities may be temporarily closed, so we recommend contacting each facility directly before you go. https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/20251226/...

Popular!! Recruiting participants for a bus tour [A journey to meet Sarurun Kamuy (God of the Marsh) and the red-crowned crane] At Grus, the Akan International Crane Center, the birthplace of artificial feeding, we will hold a day-trip bus tour to watch the cranes arrive, guided by Director Kawase ☺ This rare tour lets you see red-crowned cranes spread their great wings and take flight against the early morning sky ✨ Please join us! Operation dates: Sunday, February 8, 2026 and Sunday, February 15, 2026 Time: 7:00 AM–10:25 AM *Meet at 6:55 AM / KKS Convention Center (Kushiro City Tourism and International Exchange Center) Participation fee: JPY 5,500 (tax included) Capacity: 20 people per tour For details and to apply, please see the website. https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com/overview/19962/...

Get drunk on the delicious flavors of Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture! 😍 Savor smoked dishes and sake at Kaneki-ya in Hakushima-Kitamachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City 🥩🍶 Kaneki-ya in Hakushima-Kitamachi, Naka Ward is a popular stop for many people with ties to Shobara. Here you can enjoy snacks made with Hiba Beef and a range of smoked items from Smoked Hakoda. Kaneki-ya also offers sake from breweries in Shobara City! This time, we explored what makes Kaneki-ya so appealing. [Shobara Sightseeing Guide website "Editorial Report" has been updated!] Read the article here 🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/report/5454...

From Kushiro, Happy New Year again for 2026! The long New Year holidays have ended. How has everyone been? In Kushiro City the red-crowned cranes have arrived for the season, and 100 to 200 birds are currently being observed at the feeding station 😊 Also, from Saturday, January 17, the SL Winter Marsh Train began operating, ushering in the best time to enjoy winter sightseeing! On cold mornings you might see lotus-leaf ice or ke-arashi (steam fog) over the Kushiro River⁈ Viewed from around Nusamai Bridge, the scene becomes even more magical. You can also enjoy winter canoeing on the Kushiro River as it flows through Kushiro Shitsugen! Thanks to the clear winter air, the sunset in Kushiro—hailed as one of the world’s three great sunsets—shines with even more vivid colors, and Kushiro offers many sights and experiences you can only encounter at this time of year. Please come visit us✨ The official Kushiro and Akan tourism site, super fantastic, is here https://ja.kushiro-lakeakan.com// Wishing everyone a great year again this year (^^)

🌼Updated the daffodil bloom status🌼 Some areas are already at their peak but overall the best viewing time seems a little farther away💭🌟 Here is today’s (January 5) condition👇 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260105...

Even after Lake Akanko begins to freeze, the ice remains very thin! It can be hard to see, but hot springs bubble up from the lakebed in places, making the ice dangerously thin. When people work on the ice, they do so only after taking safety precautions. Even with warning signs and ropes to keep people out, local residents sometimes report those who try to venture onto the ice. Going onto the ice at this time of year is a life-threatening risk. Do not go onto the ice under any circumstances.

Roadside Station Iwanai Happy New Year, and best wishes for 2026 🐴 We look forward to your continued support this year 🎍 Roadside Station Iwanai is open from today, Sunday, January 4th! We look forward to welcoming you 😆 Please note that we will be closed on Monday, January 5th This year we tried letting the trendy AI generate images for us 🐟

New Year Greetings and Information on the Operating Status of Tourist and Bathing Facilities Happy New Year. I pray that 2026 will be a wonderful year for everyone. We will continue working to ensure that everyone spending time in Teshikaga this year can enjoy memorable moments, and we appreciate your continued support. (New Year’s Day, 2026) Information about the operating status of tourist attractions and bathing facilities during the New Year period is available on Teshikaga Navi. Please note that hours and opening days may differ from the usual schedule. Also, some bathing facilities may be closed temporarily, so we recommend contacting each facility before you go.

Happy New Year! 🎍 I look forward to your continued support this year. I updated the first blooming status of the daffodils for the new year 🌼! See the blog for details 👇 Wishing everything goes smoothly this year… 🐎✨ https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20260102...

New Year Greetings Happy New Year. We sincerely thank you for your warm support and cooperation in promoting the charms of Tsukigase over the past year. Tsukigase, which has grown alongside its plum trees, reveals a new face with each season and has nurtured itself as a countryside that quietly soothes the hearts of its visitors. This year as well, we hope it remains a place where nature and people live side by side and calm exchanges flourish. The annual Tsukigase Baikei Plum Festival, which heralds the arrival of spring, will be held again this year. Some 13,000 plum trees paint the mountainside, and with river mist rising in the valleys, a scene like a page from a picture scroll unfolds. During the festival, you can stroll the walking trails and enjoy locally made specialties for sale, savoring peaceful moments close to nature. The gentle scent of plum blossoms swaying in the breeze will quietly restore energy to bodies and minds that have passed through a long winter. This year, the Tsukigase Tourism Association will continue to cherish warm connections with visitors while protecting the region’s attractions. We ask for your continued support, and we sincerely pray that the coming year will be peaceful and fruitful for everyone. With that, we offer our New Year greetings. Chairman: Toshiaki Nishioka Photo credit: Kuraya eto Shuji

☆Notice of Closure☆ ⁡ We will be closed from December 31st to January 1st. We will resume normal business hours from January 2nd for the New Year period!

Please visit Izu Shimoda Onsen in 2026 (^○^) 🌼 Shimoda Onsen Narcissus Festival The flowers are expected to be at their best around mid-January ♬ After the narcissus, 🌸 Minamiizucho "Minami no Sakura and Rapeseed Blossom Festival" 🌸 Kawazu Town "Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival" Both are about a 30-minute drive from Shimoda City. Stay at Shimoda Onsen and enjoy the early spring flower relay ✨ Right now, JTB’s website is offering "discount coupons usable at Shimoda Onsen accommodations" (＼(^o^)／) Right now, JTB’s website is distributing great discount coupons usable at Shimoda Onsen accommodations (＼(^o^)／) No minimum fare required: 10% OFF ✨ (maximum discount 5,000 yen) Limited quantity! Take this chance to visit Shimoda Onsen ♨️ https://www.jtb.co.jp/kokunai-hotel/list/22219/?multiarea=22219&suggestkeyword=%E4%B8%8B%E7%94%B0%E5%B8%82&godate=&checkindate=&staynight=1&dateunspecified=1&roomassign=m2&room=1...

Notice about New Year opening hours for the Manda Pit area. Today is the last day of operations for 2025. Thank you to everyone who visited in 2025. We will reopen on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM. The winter light filtering through the brick scenery creates a quiet, photogenic moment. Don’t forget your camera. 🕘 Opening day Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 9:30 AM • Manda Pit Station • Manda Pit Site • Manda Coal Mine Museum • Marugoto Arao Bussankan Hours 11:00–16:30 Mornings, especially early hours, are often a peaceful time to explore, so we recommend them. All our staff look forward to welcoming you. Please add this to your plans #Arao City, Kumamoto Prefecture https://arao-kankou.jp/oshirase/16514/...

Notice of Year-end and New Year Business Hours Thank you for always visiting Roadside Station Ashoro Ginga Hall 21. Our year-end and New Year business hours are as shown in the attached image. Thank you for visiting us many times this year. We look forward to your continued support next year.

🌼Narcissus blooming update🌼 Overall, the flowers are just starting to bloom, and some slopes are already turning white❄️🤍 I summarized the flowering scene with photos on my blog! https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20251226...

[Tokutoku Coupon 2026] Save with coupons at Kawayu Onsen! We’re launching the special Tokutoku Coupon campaign for guests staying in the Kawayu Onsen district! Guests who stay at Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Annex Suikazura, or KKR Kawayu will receive discount coupons worth a total of ¥2,000 usable at participating Kawayu Restaurants and Bars Association members!! Pick up your coupon at your hotel front desk and present it at participating shops marked on the MAP when dining to receive the discount. The campaign runs from January 15, 2026 through the end of March 2026, while supplies last. This is a great deal, so please take advantage of it as one of the pleasures of visiting Kawayu Onsen. [Coupon Distribution Period] Thursday, January 15, 2026 – through the end of March 2026 *Coupons will stop being distributed once supplies run out.

Special coupon offer available at Kawayu Onsen! Tokutoku Coupon 2026 A new savings campaign, the Tokutoku Coupon, has begun for guests staying at hotels affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association! Guests who stay at any of the three participating hotels—Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, or KKR Kawayu—will receive discount coupons worth a total of ¥2,000 to use at participating businesses. Pick up the coupons at your hotel front desk and present them at the shops listed on the MAP to receive the discount. The campaign runs from January 15, 2026, through the end of March 2026, but will end once coupons run out. Take advantage of this great deal to enjoy hot springs and local dining in the Kawayu Onsen area! [Coupon distribution period] Thursday, January 15, 2026 – through the end of March 2026 *Distribution ends when coupons are gone* [Coupon details] Discount coupons totaling ¥2,000 − A ¥1,000 discount coupon valid for payments at snacks and bars (MAP NO 2, 3, 8) − A ¥1,000 discount coupon valid for payments at izakayas, cafes, and other listed establishments (excluding MAP NO 2, 3, 8) [Shops where coupons can be used] 1) Cafe Noble 2) Snack COCO 3) Zakku & Baran 4) Miraku Sushi 5) Inakaya Genpei 6) Izakaya Matsurigura 7) Robata Maruhachi 8) Unite 9) Hokkaido Kitchen 9 Shiro 10) Orchard grass 11) Cream Fairy Tale Chup [Hotels distributing the coupons] Kawayu Kanko Hotel, Oyado Kinkiyu Bettei Suikazura, KKR Kawayu (hotels affiliated with the Kawayu Onsen Ryokan Association) *Only guests currently staying at or who have stayed at the above participating accommodations are eligible* *Guests wishing to use the coupons should request them at the front desk.* [Other information] • Depending on the day of the week and time, shops may be busy. • We recommend contacting each shop in advance for reservations or inquiries. • Shops will tear off the coupon when used, so please bring it as issued. (Coupons that have already been torn will be invalid. Please take care.) [Organizer and coupon issuer] Kawayu Restaurants and Bars Association https://www.masyuko.or.jp/news/tokutoku2026/...

＊＊＊＊🎄 Akanko on December 23 A thin film of ice had just begun to form The wonderful winter season at Akanko is about to fully kick in We look forward to welcoming you But we have a request The ice is still very, very thin Do not step onto it under any circumstances "Watch for falling through ⚠️" Please stay safe and enjoy Akanko to the fullest♪

[Spectacular Views in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture — This Is the Place!] Experience beautiful nature🍃 Top scenic spots in Shobara! Located in the center of the Chugoku region, Shobara covers a territory where 80 percent of the area is forest. This town, where people and nature live together in satoyama-style communities, still preserves natural wonders you won’t find in the city. Here are breathtaking vistas that remind you of the everyday, long-forgotten but precious gifts of vast nature and the kindness of its people. For more details, visit the Shobara Tourism Navi website🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/spot/4019...

🌼We have updated the daffodil blooming report🌼 The daffodils throughout the garden are just beginning to bloom🌱 In some spots, you can already see clusters of blooms appearing✨ See the latest updates on our blog📖 Be sure to check it out👇 https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20251223...

Lantern lighting has begun at Kawayu Onsen! 🏮 Lanterns now hang outside accommodations, restaurants, souvenir shops and other stores within the kawayu group facility district of Akan-Mashu National Park. Follow the gentle glow of the lanterns and enjoy Kawayu Onsen town at night. 💡 https://www.kawayu-onsen.com/feature/889/...

Gokase Highland Ski Resort OPEN ✨ Today (12/19), the southernmost ski resort in Japan, Gokase Highland Ski Resort, opened ❄ An opening ceremony was held from 10:00, and skiers and snowboarders who had been eagerly awaiting this day attended 🎿🏂 The slopes are limited to about half their usual width, but the snowpack is solid 💡 As temperatures drop and more snow accumulates, the slopes should reach even better conditions 😊 Come and visit Gokase Highland Ski Resort this winter 😍⛄

#019 Long time no post! This time, I will introduce two municipalities connected to Tsunocho. I will touch on how those relationships came about, each town’s characteristics, recommended spots, and local foods. [Sister City – Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture] Itoman City sits at the southern tip of Okinawa Main Island. Its population is about 60,000. The city tree is the banyan (gajumaru), and the city flowers are periwinkle (nichi-nichi-so) and bougainvillea. Tsunocho’s bond with Itoman City deepened during wartime (after 1944), when 82 parents and children from Itoman Town (now Itoman City) were evacuated as a group to Tsunocho. Forty years later, people who had been elementary school students at the time visited Tsunocho, which sparked further exchanges, and on December 1, 1993, Itoman City and Tsunocho concluded a sister-city agreement. Exchanges between various organizations continue to this day. [Specialties of Itoman City] ⦿ Seiika (common name: Sodeika) This squid is widely caught around Okinawa Prefecture and ranks among the largest edible squids, reaching about one meter in length and around 20 kilograms in weight. Its texture is pleasantly chewy, and it is used for sashimi as well as fried dishes. ⦿ ITOMAN / S craft beer This happoshu (low-malt beer) features label art meant to match fish dishes and luxuriously uses fruits produced in Itoman. The lineup includes Taman, a salt-lemon beer with fruity flavor and a sharp finish; Akamachi, a tropical beer with rich aroma and bitterness; and Irabucha, a spice beer that balances spiciness with citrus freshness. [Places to Visit in Itoman City] ⦿ Himeyuri Peace Museum Opened on June 23, 1989, the museum preserves the horrors of war and the importance of peace for future generations. Exhibits include belongings of the Himeyuri students, photographs, survivor testimony videos, and dioramas recreating part of the Nanjo army hospital cave and the interior of the Ihara Third Surgical Cave. Many visitors still come to offer prayers for peace. Postal code 901-0344 671-1 Ihara, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture ⦿ Roadside Station Itoman The seventh roadside station in Okinawa Prefecture and one of the largest in the prefecture. The site houses the Itoman City Product Center, a farmers’ market, the Itoman Fishing Cooperative Fish Center, and the Itoman City Tourism Association, bringing together sea and mountain specialties from Itoman. Shoppers from across the prefecture flock here for fresh vegetables and seafood from Itoman. Recommended for food lovers. Postal code 901-0306 4-19-1 Nishizaki, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture [Why Itoman Is Great] In February this year I visited Itoman for the first time as part of an exchange program. What struck me was the warmth of the people. Even strangers felt easy to talk to with no barriers. At the Itoman fair, people knew Tsunocho as if it were natural, and sometimes used dialects so strong I couldn’t fully understand them — yet even that felt warm. During the three-day visit we had welcome parties every night. I had worried about that beforehand, but those worries turned out to be unnecessary. The people of Itoman treated us without formality, offered hospitality, and showed a communal spirit and warmth I had not experienced in Miyazaki, making me want to return. [Friendship City – Saromacho, Hokkaido] Saromacho lies almost at the center of the Okhotsk General Subprefecture and faces Lake Saroma to the north. Its total population is about 4,600. The town tree is the large-leaved linden (Oobabodaiyu) and the town flower is the Ezo-murasaki azalea. Tsunocho and Saromacho began exchanges in 1993 through ties created by Toyo Tire test courses located to the south and north, and various organizations, including chambers of commerce, have deepened friendship through events and booths. In June 2014 they formally concluded an economic exchange partnership, and today each town’s roadside stations sell the other’s specialties. Especially popular is Saromacho’s young scallops, sold at Roadside Station Tsuno — they sell out almost immediately after restocking. [Specialties of Saromacho] ⦿ Scallops from Lake Saroma Scallops harvested in Saromacho, which has Hokkaido’s largest Lake Saroma, have firm flesh, a pleasant texture, and sweetness. As the birthplace of scallop aquaculture in Hokkaido, Lake Saroma scallops grow large and are shipped for raw consumption as shell-on scallops or raw adductor muscle. Processing facilities also make smoked oil–marinated scallops and dried adductor products, which are exported worldwide. These large, delicious scallops even converted me from someone who couldn’t eat scallops to someone who can! ⦿ Pumpkins Pumpkins are rich in vitamins, highly nutritious, and popular as a low-allergen food. At the JA Saroma pumpkin processing plant, pumpkins collected from growers are stored and sorted into fresh produce, winter-solstice pumpkins, and decorative pumpkins for Halloween. They also produce powdered, flaked, and frozen pumpkin paste as processed products. Decorative pumpkins are several times larger than ordinary pumpkins and turn orange through ripening rather than staying green. Their products contain no additives and are used even for baby weaning foods, making them popular as safe, versatile items. [Places to Visit in Saromacho] ⦿ Lake Saroma Observatory Horoiwa Mountain, at 376 meters, sits nearly at the center of Lake Saroma’s coastline. Because no tall mountains surround it, the view from here is outstanding. The Lake Saroma Observatory near the summit is the only place from which you can see the entire lake. You can see the sandbar separating the lake and the sea, the Sea of Okhotsk in the distance, and even the Shiretoko Mountains on the horizon. Enjoy this vast panorama that you can see only here. Postal code 093-0421 Naniwa, Saromacho, Tokoro District, Hokkaido ⦿ Roadside Station Saroma Lake and Bussankan Minori Along Japan National Route 238 facing Lake Saroma, you’ll find the roadside station and product center. The building is designed to evoke the town’s core dairy industry with imagery of a cowshed and a silo. The facility offers rest spaces for tourists and drivers and serves as a gateway for visitors to Lake Saroma. The product center sells local specialties and processed goods such as scallops and pumpkins from Saromacho, making it a hub for souvenirs from eastern Hokkaido. Shipping nationwide is available. The soft-serve ice cream made from local pumpkins is reportedly the shop’s most popular item. Postal code 093-0421 121-3 Naniwa, Saromacho, Tokoro District, Hokkaido [Why Saroma Is Great] First, Saroma’s great natural environment. I went to Hokkaido for the first time last year. What moved me then was the richness and vastness of Saroma’s nature. When people think of Hokkaido, they usually picture tourist spots like Sapporo or Otaru, but I want to recommend Saroma. Major tourist spots have their charms, of course. As someone who loves nature, I found Saroma extremely comfortable. I only stayed two days, but it felt livable enough to consider moving there. Roads are wide, grasslands are expansive, and everything feels huge. It was impressive. Above all, the food is delicious. The scallops that even I, who once disliked seafood, learned to enjoy are from Saroma, and the miso ramen made with Sapporo miso was superb. I also felt the kindness of the people. Perhaps their atmosphere reminded me of Tsunocho, which resonated with me. *I wanted to write more, but I ran out of characters…

🌼The 60th Shimoda Onsen Narcissus Festival🌼 ＼2 days until the opening!／ Today (12/18) we carried out a cleanup at Cape Tsumeki🧹 About 60 people helped, and the park is now fully ready to welcome visitors✨ Planters of narcissus have also been placed at Izukyu Shimoda Station🚉🌼 📅 December 20th, 10:00 — Opening event ・Ribbon cutting ・Shimoda Taiko drumming performance🥁 ・Free kinmedai nigiri sushi for the first 100 visitors ・Ikenodan nitsumiso hotpot served to the first 200 visitors Current bloom status: “Starting to bloom”🌱 We will post occasional bloom updates on the blog during the festival📝 👉 More details here https://www.shimoda-city.info/post/20251218... Enjoy the delicate white narcissus in winter Shimoda❄️🌼

The other day the weather was nice, so I went to the Avenue of white birch trees. The contrast of the blue sky, the snow, and the white birches is beautiful, isn’t it! You can enjoy the beauty of the Avenue of white birch trees in every season, so do visit and see for yourself 😊

[Roadside Stations and Shopping in Shobara, Hiroshima Prefecture — Your Go-To Spots!] Take a spontaneous drive! 🚗 Enjoy local food and shopping at roadside stations Roadside stations brim with local specialties. They gather regional produce and processed goods, and when you spot one during a drive or trip, it’s the kind of welcoming stop you’ll want to pop into—a pleasant place for everyone to relax. Come by and savor Shobara’s food and shopping offerings. Not only roadside stations but also direct-sale markets and product halls Why not drop by for some shopping on your drive ✨ For details, visit the Shobara Tourism Navi website 🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/spot/4015...

Year-end and New Year Business Hours Notice: With just under three weeks left in 2025, we hope this message finds you well and prospering. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members and the many others who have supported us this year. We ask for your continued patronage in the coming year and offer this as our year-end greeting. — Office Year-end and New Year Hours — Tourism Association Office and Tourist Information Center: Closed from December 29, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Normal business resumes on January 5. Please note that bicycle rentals at the Tourist Information Center will also be suspended during the period above. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely yours.

An update from the "Information Broadcast Bureau" on the Kawayu Onsen website has been posted📝🆙 An article about the traditional Kawayu Onsen Caravan (organized by the Kawayu Onsen Caravan Executive Committee), held on November 26—"Good Bath Day"—is now up💡♨️ The article introduces scenes of the caravan, wearing hanten coats of the hot spring source faction and carrying Kawayu Onsen lanterns as it races across Michihigashi🏃‍♀️💨Please take a look✨ 🔗 https://www.kawayu-onsen.com/feature/889/...