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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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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Ume Juice and Umeboshi Making
On a crisp summer day today (June 19), the red, white, and pink azaleas welcomed us cheerfully at Kuraokakurara.
The eldest children from Kuraoka Nursery School and first graders from Kuraoka Elementary gathered to make ume juice and umeboshi.🤗
The children had harvested plenty of fresh ume at the Kuraoka district orchard the day before.😳💕
Under the guidance of the neighborhood’s “ume expert,” who lives in the Kuraoka area, everyone packed the prepared ume into jars.
They will take the jars back to school, turn them over every day, and let them develop until the juices rise.💪
When the red shiso season arrives, they will move on to the next step.💡 It sounds delightful.🥰
It seems the children, now junior ume experts, also took some ume home, so they will likely enjoy processing them at home while passing on what they learned to their families.🤩✨
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[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 🌸 Results Announcement]
Thank you for waiting‼️
Here are the results of “Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” 🥳🎉
This time, in addition to followers of our association’s Instagram account, winners were decided by votes submitted via Google Form and by general voting at four polling stations set up around Gokasecho 👏✨
Amazingly, we received a total of 151 votes 😳❗ Thank you to everyone who voted 🙇♀️💕
We will send a “Voter Prize” to 10 people selected by lottery from among those who voted ✨
We have already contacted the winners 💡 Please note that the notification of winning serves as the official announcement of the winners 🙏
Now, here are the results 👇👇👇
[🥇 Gold Prize]
@reoron001219 (photo 2)
[🥈 Silver Prize]
@_yuta610 (photo 3)
[🥉 Bronze Prize]
@fowafuwarin5 (photo 4)
@sakai_0808 (photo 5)
This time, two entrants shared the Bronze Prize 🎉 Each entry was stunningly beautiful and made us sigh in admiration 🥹✨ As always, we are simply amazed by everyone’s photography skills 😳❗
Also!! We are announcing the collaboration award with the Gokase Sakura Project organized by Gokase Secondary School (@saku_puro): the “Gokase Sakura Project Award” 🤩 👏
The winner is…
[🌸 Gokase Sakura Project Award]
@thusandleavis (photo 6)
Congratulations to all the winners㊗️🥳🎉
And thank you truly to everyone who applied, voted, and participated😭❤️🔥
We’ll have a stretch of steady rain for a while, but hot summer will arrive soon 🎐☀️
Let’s cherish the changing seasons and enjoy the rain and heat alike 💪💕
We hope you’ll join our next event ✨ Thank you very much 🙇♀️🌸
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Fresh green at Unoko Falls 🍃
It feels like May has flown by in no time 😅
Saturday, May 31 in Gokasecho was a delightfully clear day 🌞
At this time of year, Unoko Falls has plenty of water and brilliant fresh greenery ✨
I was soothed by birdsong, the sound of the water, and the breeze 🥰
The light was just right, so I got some great photos 📷
When you walk down to the plunge pool, be careful—wet spots can be slippery, so watch your step 👣
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🌸"Gokase Hanami 2025" Voting Now Open🌸【Until Friday, June 6, 2025!】
Thank you all for entering "Gokase Hanami 2025"!
We held a strict first-round screening by the tourism association staff and selected 12 entries from all submissions🙏✨
From these 12 entries, we would like you to vote to decide the final winners🤩👏
Among those who vote, 10 people will be chosen by lottery to receive local specialties from Gokasecho as a gift🎁💫 We appreciate your participation🙇♀️
Here is how to vote💡
【Voting period: Until Friday, June 6, 2025】
⚠️You may vote by only one of the methods below, one time per account or one time per person.
<If voting via Google Form>
・Go to the "voting form" using the URL below
https://forms.gle/uBpw7C7xFDsDKBo2A...
・Enter your email address (required). You may optionally provide your name.
・Choose one of the 12 entries, check the box for that entry, and submit your response.
⚠️No login is required, but an email address is mandatory, so please note this in advance.
<If voting via Instagram>
・Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/...
・From the post with the hashtag #Gokase Hanami 2025 Voting, choose one of the 12 featured entries and send the photo number by direct message or comment✍
⚠️If you do not follow our account, message exchange may be unreliable and you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please be aware.
<If voting at a polling location>
・Vote at polling stations set up at Gokasecho Town Hall, Gokase Onsen Mori no Yado Kijiya, or the mobile vendor "Gokase Marche" truck.
・Choose one of the 12 entries, write the entry number, your name, and your email address on the voting slip, and place it in the voting envelope.
Additionally, a polling station will be set up at Gokase Secondary Education School in collaboration with the Gokase Sakura Project, and students will also be participating in voting💪✨
⚠️If your email address is missing or illegible due to poor handwriting, you will be excluded from the gift lottery. Please understand.
Please be sure to view the original posts by the entrants before you vote🤗
1 @sokoatari.urouro (photo 1)
2 @fowafuwarin5 (photo 2)
3 @ 920cherry71 (photo 3)
4 @_yuta610 (photo 4)
5 @1230fuukeinoturishi (photo 5)
6 @8215dr72 (photo 6)
7 @code_name_cross_fire (photo 7)
8 @sakai_0808 (photo 8)
9 @reoron001219 (photo 9)
10 @hisabou1958 (photo 10)
11 @landscape133_22 (photo 11)
12 @omilove.1203 (photo 12)
We look forward to receiving many votes from everyone🥰
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🌿New Tea Season🌿
The tea fields in Gokasecho are turning a vivid green😌🍵
The first and second photos show the house in Kuwanochi, in front of which the weeping cherry trees that we introduced in spring looked so beautiful📸✨
Against the fresh green of the remaining cherry leaves, the two-tone tea fields made an incredibly beautiful scene🥺👏
Fresh tea is arriving one after another at the Gokase Specialty Center, and the scent of new tea fills the shop🥰
Enjoy the fragrant, new tea leaves that make you feel as if you are standing right in the tea fields🍵✨
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Shiraiwa Mountain Opening 🌸
Today (May 11), the Shiraiwa Mountain Opening was held at the Gokasecho Highland Ski Area Parking Center😊
A Shinto ceremony took place on the mountain, with organizers and other attendees praying for safety while enjoying the crisp mountain air👏
After the ceremony, those who wished began climbing toward the rhododendron colony💪
Azaleas, Okamenoki, yama-shakuyaku (mountain peony), and rhododendrons appeared to be in full bloom💡
⚠ Notice ⚠
From May 12, Reiwa 7, the town road Hon-yashiki/Hagi Line and the Hagi Forest Road, which provide access to the Goboubatake trailhead (Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe), will be closed to all traffic until further notice due to road disaster recovery work.
To reach Shiraiwa Mountain, Mukaisakayama, and Kiridachigoe, please use the Ogawadake: Tenyabo trailhead (road subsidence, many falling rocks, rough road).
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