The beautiful Nature landscape of the Aso Mountains Unfolds, and it is a mountain towns with a population of about 3,000 people (as of June 2024) with a high elevation overall.
Traditional agriculture is thriving, and in addition to delicious Rice and vegetables, "Gokase Wine" made from 100% Gokase grapes is also popular.
In winter Japan the southernmost natural snow ski resort offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Aso Mountains seen from and Slope.
We look forward to seeing you in Gokase Towns!
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【👒Summer in Gokase 2025 Photo Submissions — Spotlight 1👒】
We are featuring photos submitted to the "#Summer in Gokase 2025" contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account!
@goto0619
@niidome2110
@sakai_0808
Thank you for your submissions 😆✨
We are still accepting entries!!
How to enter (Submission period — through September 15)
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account (@gokase_kanko) and post with the hashtags "#Summer in Gokase 2025" and "#Gokase" 📸
We look forward to your entries 🙇♀️✨
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A Long-Awaited Hike up Mt. Shiraiwa 👟
From the 13th to the 17th, the town road Hon’yashiki–Hagisen reopened to regular vehicles, so I left my car at Gokasecho Highland Ski Area’s Ski Center and hiked up Mt. Shiraiwa 💪
Because the management road up to the ski area still prohibits ordinary cars, I first headed on foot for the Gobobatake trailhead ✨
About 30 minutes after starting, I reached the Gobobatake trailhead 💡
From there I set off on my long-awaited hike up Mt. Shiraiwa 😊
The trail was rough at first, but it was generally easy to walk and the cool weather made the climb comfortable ✨
At the summit I exchanged valuable information and learned about conditions on nearby peaks 👍
The photos show an asagi-madara butterfly and alpine wildflowers I encountered along the way 🥰
It felt great to hike Mt. Shiraiwa again and it was a refreshing experience 😆
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Sunset Village Sculpture Symposium
This year again, works by Yoichi Okumura, who lives in Miyazaki City, have come to Gokasecho✨
These gentle pieces reflect Okumura’s warm personality😊
Although stone is usually thought of as hard, he can express it so softly😲
Looking at the works gives you a cozy, warm feeling🥰
A picture book about a snowman was also placed there to help visitors feel a little cooler⛄
You could also watch the creation process👀
The stone’s sheen is different before and after, isn’t it!? (Maybe it’s the photographer’s skill…😅)
By the time he arrived in Gokasecho, he had already created about seven pieces✨
He is expected to dedicate a work to Furudono Shrine again this year, which is something to look forward to🎵
You can see the exhibition and Okumura’s working process below Furudono Shrine💡
He is scheduled to stay in Gokasecho until September 3, but since there will be tidying up and other tasks, it might be best to visit in August😊
*Note: Okumura will be absent on August 7.*
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Summer has arrived 🌻
Last week Gokasecho saw many rainy and cloudy days, but this week the weather has been pure summer ✨ with the sun dazzling every day 😎
I drove out to Shirataki to look for a bit of cool air 🚗
Just watching the water fall from a drop of about 20 meters felt refreshing 😊
Along the way there was a sunflower field in full bloom 🌻
It was a spot I’d never known about before, so I felt like I’d discovered a great treat 🎵
People often picture Miyazaki Prefecture as hot, but Gokasecho sits surrounded by high mountains ⛰
Because of that, average summer temperatures are a few degrees lower than other parts of the prefecture, and mornings and evenings can be chilly enough to need a light blanket. Many nights you can sleep soundly without air conditioning 😉 (Last night was actually quite cool and I slept under a blanket 😅)
Escape the summer heat and come refresh your body and mind in Gokase this summer ✨
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Gion Shrine Summer Festival
July 15 was the Gion Shrine’s summer festival⛩
We covered the Morimaki ritual held before the ceremony📷
They shaped the makaya grass gathered that morning into the form of Yamata no Orochi💪
Makaya is stiff, and twisting large amounts at once is a real challenge😅
Still, the Morimaki Ritual Preservation Society finished it with impressive skill✨
The amazake prepared overnight also turned out exceptionally tasty this year😆
There were many more visitors this year, which made us happy😁
The local community cherishes their “Gion-san”
It will surely continue together with the community going forward🥰
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Sunset Village Marche & KIDS Festa
On Sunday, July 13th, Sunset Village Marche & KIDS Festa took place in the wine hall at Gokasecho Winery.
Rain fell while we were setting up, and the weather caused some worry, but though there were occasional heavy showers, we also saw sunny spells.
With many stalls and stage events, the place buzzed with families and visitors.
The water play area was a huge hit with the children.
Kids went wild with the full-scale water guns and pools.
Huge numbers of soap bubbles floated out from the bubble booth, too.
Seeing so many children smile made this a day that brought smiles to all of us.
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Today (July 10) I covered a hop harvest 😆
It was my first time seeing this year’s hop field... and it was spectacular✨✨
Straight-reaching vines, healthy dark green leaves, and clusters of hops hanging like little bells…!!
“It’s a shame this view will be gone after today!” I said as I gazed with the grower 👀
With preparations complete, it was time to harvest 💪
There were so many cones that even removing the supporting wires was a struggle 💦
We filled bags with the harvested hops, and I worried they might not all fit on the truck we were loading back with today 😂
These hops will be processed into beer with a fresh, lively aroma 🍺
I tasted last year’s brew too — it had a refreshing scent and went down easy 😆👍
I can’t wait to try this year’s beer 😍
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Relax at Kurunconne 😌🌿
Today I stopped by Kurunconne 🤗✨ (Yes, I was working properly!)
For the meeting I ordered a craft cola and a Mix Berry smoothie 😚🍹
Both are a treat to look at 😆
The craft cola is different from regular cola — it gives you that “I’m drinking something good for my body!” feeling, with no guilt. It has a nice spice kick and is perfect for the season when you want something refreshing ✨
The Mix Berry smoothie offers natural sweetness from the ingredients alone… it satisfied both my thirst and a little hunger — a blissful drink 🤤 There are many varieties, so it’s fun to try different ones 💫
They also offer light meals and desserts, and takeout is available 🥪✨
The shop has lots of manga and hosts many healing events every day ✨
I tried a tarot-like reading where you pick one card from 100 based on the theme “for this version of myself…,” and the message I received was very uplifting and gave me energy 💪❤️🔥
They sell fun goods and body-friendly foods, so there are endless ways to enjoy the place 🤗🎶
Be sure to check out Kurunconne’s account too 🙌
kurun→https://www.instagram.com/kurun2424/...
conne→https://www.instagram.com/conne.jp/...
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Hydrangeas are beginning to bloom
Hydrangeas, the flower that symbolizes the rainy season, are starting to bloom across Gokasecho 🤗✨ (Photo: Kuwanochi area)
From pale blue to deep blue, pink and purple…
Their round shapes draped in refreshing colors look utterly charming 🥰
The lacecap hydrangeas also show a delicate beauty, like quiet sparklers 😌
We saw many bushes that haven’t bloomed yet, so they should continue to delight us for a while ✨
Rain is forecast again from tomorrow, but isn’t viewing hydrangeas dotted with raindrops a rather poetic pleasure 😆?
This season can easily bring people down, so let’s find small joys and keep our spirits up 💪✨
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