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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[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Photos Vol.2 🌸]
We’re back with another big batch of entries to the “#Gokase Flower Viewing 2025” contest now running on the Gokase Tourism Association’s Instagram account. We’ll be sharing many of the submissions today.💪🌟
@1230fuukeinoturishi
These nostalgic shots capture not only the classic weeping cherry at Josenji Temple but also everyday cherry blossom scenes from the Kuraoka area.🥺
The photographer’s sensibility that turns your eyes not only to the cherry trees but also to the charming mountain flowers is something to admire and learn from…🙏✨
We’ll be featuring entries every day for a while, so please stay with us.🙇♀️
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≪#How to Enter: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 ≫
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account and post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho. Add the two hashtags #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and #date of shooting (for example: #March 20) to your Instagram post. 🤳❤️🔥
Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/...
[Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 through Sunday, May 11, 2025
⚠️ Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before entering.
https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html...
⚠️ Please take full care to avoid accidents when photographing.
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[🌸 Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 — Featured Submissions, Part 1 🌸]
We are sharing entries submitted to the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 contest currently running on the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account.🫡✨
So many lovely entries arrived, and we’ll be showcasing them one after another.👏
@_yuta610
@a2o_yoshino
@aaatkt6
(in no particular order)
Photos feature the cherry blossoms at Josenji, the Harada family residence, Kijiya, and Mikasho Shrine.💡
The daytime blossoms and the night cherry trees are both truly beautiful.🥹💕
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≪How to Enter the Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 Contest≫
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account, then post photos of flowers taken within Gokasecho on Instagram with the two hashtags: Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 and the shooting date (for example: March 20).🤳❤️🔥
Gokase Tourism Association Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/...
[Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025, through Sunday, May 11, 2025
⚠️ Other terms are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Be sure to read them before applying.
https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/ivent/1962.html...
⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while shooting photos.
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Hidden Cherry Blossom Spots in Kuwanochi 🌸
Yesterday, Monday, April 7, the weather turned warm with a gentle breeze and clear skies☀️
It was truly a perfect day for hanami🌸🍡
When people think of cherry blossoms in Gokasecho, the Sanga area is especially famous, but Kuwanochi also hides some lesser-known blossom spots😌✨
Photos 1–3 show the cherry trees you see on the left just before you reach the top of the hill where the road from National Route 218 turns toward Yuhinosato Bridge and meets Prefectural Route 8📸
Two large, pale-pink cherry trees stand between tea fields and a vast blue sky stretching as far as the Aso caldera🌸 It’s the kind of serene satoyama landscape that takes your breath away🥹✨
This place seems to be a well-kept secret with many devoted fans🤭💕
Photos 4–5 show the cherry tree by a private house you’ll find right after descending the lane beside the fire station along Prefectural Route 8📸
A magnificent weeping cherry stands out against a carpet of rapeseed flowers at its feet and the bright blue sky behind it. It’s a vivid, springlike scene🤗✨
Beside it, vivid purple magnolia blooms in profusion, making this spot a joyful celebration of spring🤩
Finally, photos 6–8 show the cherry at Koshoji Temple📸
You have to view it from a bit of a distance to take in the whole tree — it’s very large😳✨
The pure white petals contrast beautifully with the red-and-white mottled camellias planted in front. The sight is stunning and powerful; this cherry tree is well worth a visit🙏💡
That brings us to the entrance of Kuwanochi and ends the cherry tree tour for now😌 Please tell us about your favorite cherry trees too✨
A note on the private houses I featured: these are private properties, so when viewing, please do not enter yards or make loud noises. Observe good manners to avoid bothering neighbors🙇♀️
Now, rain is forecast for this Thursday — will the blossoms be gone then? 🥲 It’s a little sad, but that fleeting beauty is part of their charm🫶 Cherry-blossom showers are poetic; let’s enjoy them to the fullest while they last🌸
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[🌸 Night Cherry Blossoms Around Gokasecho 🌙]
The weeping cherry trees across town are now in full bloom, and their night-time beauty is not to be missed ✨
So, I’ll share the night cherry blossom photos I took on Sunday, April 6th 📸🤗
Josenji needs no introduction, and the weeping cherry at the Harada residence overwhelms you with its powerful presence 😳
It was a clear day, and the moonlight paired beautifully with the blossoms 🌙
The weeping cherries around Josenji’s bell were a little behind, but they bloomed fully and created an elegant scene 👏
Kijiya has finally reached its peak, and the night cherry blossoms reflected on the pond are stunning 🥹✨
Daytime sakura are wonderful, but a night cherry blossom tour is lovely too 😌🌸 Fewer people are around, so you can enjoy them at a relaxed pace 💡
The light-up schedule is as follows: Josenji’s weeping cherry until Sunday, April 13th, and Kijiya’s weeping cherry until Wednesday, April 16th 😊
Please be quiet when viewing at night, since these trees are near private homes 🤫
Also, dressing in dark colors can make you hard to see from cars at night. Wear noticeable colors like yellow or white or use reflectors to avoid accidents 🙏
These weeping cherries will likely treat us to their beauty for a little while longer 😊 Let’s enjoy them safely and courteously ✨
We have received many photos for our ongoing #Gokase Flower Viewing 2025 campaign on the association’s Instagram account (@gokae_kanko) — thank you so much 😭 Thank you 😭 We’re still accepting entries, so please do submit your photos — seriously, please!! 🙇♀️✨
https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/...
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Full bloom of flowers 🌸
Today, Sunday, April 6, brought warm sunshine and a distinctly springlike atmosphere 🌞
The town’s flowers are now at their best ✨
The cherry blossoms and camellias at Mikasho Shrine are also at peak, drawing many visitors 😊
Traffic is heavy, so please take care when passing through!
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🌸 The weeping cherry trees at Josenji are now in bloom 🌸
In Gokasecho, the cooler-than-usual temperatures delayed the blossoms this year, but
the weeping cherry at Josenji has now reached its peak viewing period 🤗✨ (It is not yet fully in bloom!)
You should be able to enjoy the beautiful weeping cherry through the beginning of next week 🌸
The trees are also lit up after sunset, so please enjoy the night blossoms as well 👏✨
Please note that the Josenji illumination will end as soon as the peak viewing period passes 🙏
Expect heavy crowds, especially on weekends ⚠️ Follow the directions of traffic attendants around Josenji and take care when arriving by car 🚗
Nearby weeping cherries at the Harada residence and Kijiya are slowly coming into bloom as well, so enjoy them together 🫶
(And please consider entering photos you take in our association’s ongoing photo contest “#Gokase Hanami 2025” on Instagram 😘📸) https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/...
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Gokase Sakura Project: Cherry Blossom Festival🌸
On Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30, a cherry blossom festival took place around the weeping cherry tree in Kijiya.
This post shows scenes from Saturday, March 29.
Despite the low temperatures, the morning brought sunshine, and the venue buzzed with a wide variety of food stalls and kitchen cars and many visitors.
That evening, timed with the night illumination, members of Naniloa HULA studio performed a graceful hula dance.
Although the stage was set under a cold sky, the dancers’ beaming smiles warmed everyone’s hearts.
As of March 29, about 20–30% of the cherry trees were in bloom overall, so unfortunately they were not at full bloom.
Still, the lights that the students of Miyazaki Prefectural Gokase Secondary School worked hard to install cast a gentle glow that made the venue beautiful even with fewer blossoms.
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[🌸 Gokase Cherry Blossom Viewing 2025 🌸] From Thursday, March 20 to Sunday, May 11!
(Surely) with the last of the snow behind us, the season of flowers is finally approaching Gokasecho ✨ We’re running a spring Instagram campaign too 🤩🙌
Follow the Gokase Tourism Association account (https://www.instagram.com/gokase_kanko/)... and post photos of flowers taken in Gokasecho to Instagram using two hashtags: #GokaseHana2025 and #dateofphoto (e.g., #March20) 🤳❤️🔥
Every day during the campaign, one person will win a mini set of Gokasecho specialty products 🎁✨
This time, amazingly!
During the nighttime illumination of Kijiya’s weeping cherry tree organized by students of Gokase Secondary School’s “Gokase Sakura Project” (March 23 [Sun]–April 16 [Wed] ※updated 4/2), entries featuring photos of Kijiya’s weeping cherry will have double the daily winning chance 😮✨!?
Plus! Outstanding entries will receive a gift box of Gokasecho specialty products 🤩👏
And even more! This time there will also be a “Gokase Sakura Project Award”…🤭🌟!?
Submitted entries will be featured on the Gokase Tourism Association and Gokase Sakura Project social media channels as they are selected 💡
[Period] From Thursday, March 20, 2025 to Sunday, May 11, 2025
⚠️Other rules are posted on the Gokase Tourism Association website. Please be sure to read them before applying. https://www.town.gokase.miyazaki.jp/kanko/index.html...
⚠️Please take great care to avoid accidents while photographing.
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In spring in Gokasecho you can enjoy not only weeping cherry but also rhododendrons, akebono azaleas, and many other flowers 🌸
In the warm weather, how about a flower tour around Gokasecho 🤗?
We sincerely look forward to your participation ✨
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[Announcement ❄️ of Winter Gokase 2025❄️ Results]
Thank you for waiting! !️
Announcement 🥳🎉 of the results of "Winter Gokase 2025"
This time, in addition to the followers of the Gokase Tourism Association's Instagram Account, we decided 👏✨ the winning item by voting by Facebook and Google Form
Thank you to 🙇 ♀️💕 everyone who voted
Now, let's announce the 👇👇👇 results
[🥇 Gold Award]
Mr. @mas8787a
[🥈 Silver Prize]
Mr. @fowafuwarin5
[🥉 Bronze Award]
Mr. @yamabico_san
The Gokase Highland Ski Resort, which has been revived in yellowtail three years, and the winter appearance of Josenji Temple, which enjoys beautiful scenery in both Spring and autumn, won prizes 🤩✨
It is raining today, but there was a lot of snow this year, so ❄️ there are many difficulties, but I am always amazed 👏 by the power of Nature that creates beautiful scenery and by the people who express themselves through the viewfinder
Congratulations ㊗️🥳🎉 to all the winners
And There is a to 😭❤️ 🔥 everyone who applied, voted, and participated
Spring is finally here 🌸
We will inform you of the Spring campaign soon, so when you come to Gokase to enjoy cherry blossom viewing, please take many photos and cry when 😭💕 you participate
💫 Best regards
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【Cotton Cafe】Relaxing, yarn spinning experience 🧶
Today, I would like to introduce ☺️✨ the "Cotton Cafe" held on the third Saturday of every month at the former Kuraoka junior high school "Kuraokakura"
Feel free to Use the café only.☕💕
You can 😌 order delicious homemade cakes and drinks
Today's cake was a cake with kumquat jam and a cake 🍰✨ with apple jam (I had a lot of it, but it was 🤤 insanely delicious)
Everyone was having a relaxing time 🫶 while enjoying reading and chatting
Of course! There is a fee, but you can 🧶✨ also experience yarn spinning
Pick up cotton seeds with a "cotton gin"
↓
Use a tool called a "hand carder" like a large slicker brush to adjust the stream of fibers.
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When wrapped around a winding stick, a bundle of cotton called a "pony" is formed 😌☁️, which looks like a fluffy cocoon
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If you pull this out little by little with a tool called a spindle and twist it, you will get 😳👏 a magnificent thread as shown in the first photo
It seems that 💡 you can adjust the thickness of the finished yarn by twisting the fiber and the amount of force
You can make it thinner or thicker, or try to spin a single yarn with various thicknesses... There are There are fun of spinning your favorite yarn If 🤗✨ you are interested, please try 💪 it
When you visit Cotton Cafe, you don't need to make a reservation or anything, so 👌 please feel free to stop by and enjoy 😌🌿 your own time
【Date & Time】3rd Saturday 13:00~15:00
【Place】Kuraoka Kurara (Staff Room)
〒882-1201 5929 Kuraoka, Gokase-cho, Nishiusuki-gun, Miyazaki Prefecture
【Reservation】Not required
【Fee】Yarn spinning experience 1,500 yen, cotton (with seeds) 400 yen
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