Tokyo is visited by about 1.3 million tourists per day. There are plenty of high-spots in this megatown, from historic spots to subculture experiences, but changing the viewpoint, you will get to see the other side of the city. Certainly, it is interesting to visit Asakusa or Japanese gardens such as Hama-rikyu to touch the deep Japanese culture, but the reality of Tokyo can be enjoyed in an easier way using a bus tour.

These days, navigation services are available in English, Chinese and Korean, making the trip fully enjoyable even for solo travelers. Among these bus tours, "Sky Bus Tokyo" is particularly handy, driving one round from Tokyo Station to the areas around the imperial palace. The bus can be easily spotted; a red double decker with an open top.

Sky Bus is the popular sightseeing bus operating regularly, used by approximately 500 thousand passengers since the start of the operation in 2004. With the concept of "cheap, near, and short," participants can sit on the bus and enjoy a fifty-minute drive around imperial palace surrounded by the mote, Ginza with famous department stores and boutiques, and Marunouchi, the business town with the top companies in Japan. The time schedule is one bus per hour from 10am to 6pm. The fare is 1,500 yen per adult (over 12 years old), and 700 yen per child (4 to 12 years old). Reservation can be made from a week in advance. In addition, "Classic Sky Bus Tokyo," resembling the streetcar in San Francisco, started its service in the same route from August 2009.

The seat is on the second level of the double-decker bus, and taking a seat in the open-air seat without ceilings, you can enjoy a fresh bus cruise under the sunlight on sunny days. Though the imperial palace is in the very middle of Tokyo, it is a place where nature full of green is unexpectedly preserved.

Here is a brief explanation of the course.

The bus starts in front of Mitsubishi Building near the South exit of Tokyo station. After reaching the imperial palace through the office buildings in Marunouchi area, the bus runs counterclockwise seeing the mote with lines of willow tree on the left hand side. The imperial palace is located at a site where Edo Castle, Tokugawa Shogun's residence was built. Unfortunately the donjon has disappeared, but up to today, the stone walls and some parts of keeptowers remain within the premise as a historical heritage.

Along the mote, after passing by Otemon and Hirakawamon, the bus drives in front of the National Museum of Modern Art and through Uchibori Street, then by the Supreme Court and head off to the Diet.

The pavement along the mote is famous as a jogging course and many runners are seen day and night. There are many trees around the course, especially from Chidori-ga-fuchi to the Diet where transition of the season can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Turning left in front of the Diet, the bus proceeds onto the government office area in Kasumigaseki. Going pass Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the bus reaches Sakuradamon-mae and then to Harumi Street. The next highlight is Ginza. Turning left at the corner of Ginza 4th Avenue Crossing, the bus enters Ginza Street with lines of major department stores such as Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, and Matsuya; a famous sightseeing spot where tourists visit at least once. After going one round, the bus returns in front of the imperial palace again.

Though the duration of the ride is less than an hour, tourists can sit down on the tour bus and take a look at some live aspects of Japan from historical sites to the cutting-edge business towns, which will make you feel like gaining a lot of experience at once. It is soon the best season for the bus tour. For your information, raincoats are available when it is raining.

"Sky Bus Tokyo" HYPERLINK

http://www.skybus.jp/home/index.html

You will come to know how nice the views in Iiyama are when you learn that the beautiful scenes showing the four distinctive seasons of Japan in "Amidado dayori (Letter from the mountain)," an emotion evoking movie that was released in 2002, were shot in Iiyama.

The Iiyama City Tourist Association organizes a tour for overseas guests to visit this beautiful countryside, offering nostalgic Japanese scenery and experiences of the life, culture and events of the people living in the village. The tour itinerary includes visits to Shinto shrines in Kosuge-no Sato, which is the largest Shugendo practicing ground in Kita-Shinano, the opportunity to experience zazen in a Zen temple, a forest walk in the "Haha no Mori (Mother Forest)" natural beech woods (a forerunner in forest therapy) and various hands-on craft classes such as plant dyeing of Japanese towels and crafting postcards with handmade Japanese paper - each of which will all allow you to experience the lifestyle of the local people. Indeed, the itinerary is filled with a variety of events that allow you to experience local life. Also included in the itinerary is the chance to visit the "Gosoku Daidaikagura" festival, which is recognized as an intangible cultural asset by the prefecture. "Gosoku Daidaikagura" is a festival that has a history of several hundred years and its dance is performed to pray for world peace and bumper crops. The dance numbers include "Tengu ni yoru shimekiri (A long-nosed tengu goblin cutting sacred straw festoons)," "Tengu-mai (the dance of the long-nosed tengu goblin)," "Uzume-no mikoto no mai (the dance of the goddess of dawn and revelry)" and "Naginata no mai (the dance of the naginata polearm)," all of which demonstrate Daidaikagura's grace with powerful dynamism. After the day events, onsen spas overlooking the peaceful rustic scenery will relieve your fatigue while the local cuisine is served for dinner. The tour itinerary is designed to let the participants fully enjoy the charm of Iiyama nurtured through its history and climate.

Since this event is planned as a focus group tour of Iiyama in Kita-Shinshu to introduce the area to overseas guests, the participation fee is set at the special rate of 10,000 yen inclusive of accommodation and meals. Although the travel expenses to and from Iiyama are borne by each participant, a two-night, three-day trip from Tokyo costs less than 20,000 yen including accommodations and meals if traveling by bus both ways. Why not take the chance to experience traveling into a different culture, rural lifestyle and traditional events that you will never experience in Tokyo?

Accommodation:
Minshuku in the Togari Onsen district in Iiyama

Requirements for participation:
(1) Overseas guests and their families residing in Japan holding Western citizenship
(2) Those who can attend the wrap-up meeting to exchange opinions at the end of the tour

Application:
Send the participant's name, age, address, contact details and country of birth to the Iiyama City Tourist Association by FAX or e-mail (due no later than September 10).

Enquiries:
Iiyama City Tourist Association
Tel: 0269-62-3133, Fax: 0269-81-2156
e-mail: info@iiyama-ouendan.net

Itinerary
21Sep (Monday Holiday)
12:00 Meeting place, Departure: Nagoya Station
13:30 Arrive in Iiyama Tour of "Furusatokan" (town Museum)
          and "Dentousanngyoukaikan" (traditional handicrafts museum)
14:30 Visit some temples
16:00 Visit the temple "Jouhukuji" to experience " Zazen"
17:00 Arrive Togari (accommodation)
18:00 Dinner and exchange
22Sep (Tuesday Holiday)
9:30 Tour of beech trees and tie dyeing using plants
12:30 Lunch at "Keyaki Café" Hokuryuko
14:30 Visit "Kosuge shrine, terraced paddy fields in Fukushima and
          Amidadou (used in  the filming "Amidadou dayori)
16:00 Flea market
17:30 Free time
19:00 Enjoy festival food
22:00 Tour of Intangible folklore cultural asset "Gosoku Daidaigagura
          festival"

23Sep (Wednesday Holiday)
10:00 Experience making the officially designated traditional craft
          "Uchiyamagami" (Japanese paper)
11:30 shopping by Chikumagawa (Road's station)
12:30 Opinion exchange over lunch
14:00 Leave Nagoya Station
15:30 Arrive in Nagano station, Say our farewells
※Schedule may changes depending on the weather
※Travel expenses to Nagano station are the participate 's responsibility
 
 

The official name of the fireworks display in Omagari is the "Zenkoku Hanabi Kyogi Taikai (National Fireworks Competition)." In the competition, a number of fireworks craftsmen selected from all over the country compete in three categories: "hiru-hanabi (day fireworks)," "10-go warimono (shakudama, which are 12-inch round shell fireworks)" and "sozo-hanabi (creative fireworks)." Only those fireworks craftsmen who have enough skill to make shakudama shells with a central pattern - a skill that requires a great deal of ability - are allowed to participate.

Omagari was the first competition in Japan to incorporate "sozo-hanabi (creative fireworks)" as one of the categories for its evening display in 1963. It is said to have been born from the efforts of the fireworks craftsmen and the question "Why are all fireworks round?" that occurred to the Chairman of the competition at the time. In this category, "katamono (pattern-shaped)" fireworks that form various kinds of shapes such as letters of the alphabet, a pair of glasses or animation characters created as a result of thinking outside the box decorate the sky. In recent years, fireworks displays are sometimes orchestrated to music, offering greater enjoyment to the audience.

Although fireworks have an image of being an evening event, a hiru-hanabi (day fireworks) competition is held in daylight using enryu (smoke dragon) and warimono (round shell) fireworks. Instead of using light in the night sky, enryu (smoke dragon) fireworks form patterns with colorful smoke (red, yellow, green, purple, etc.) and they look like beautiful "suiboku-ga (traditional monochrome ink painting)" painted in the sky. Warimono (round shell) fireworks, on the other hand, are highly advanced fireworks that use very intricate techniques and look the same as night fireworks.

The fireworks overwhelm the enormous 650,000-strong audience that gathers at the venues on the Omonogawa River and in the Riverside Sports Park. The audience enjoys the atmosphere of the event, becoming intoxicated by the sounds that rattle their bones as the colorful flames dance in the night sky. They watch as the fireworks rise into the sky one after another in rhythm to the music as if alive, reflecting on the surface of the river as they explode. The masterpieces and passion of the fireworks craftsmen will once again produce an exquisite evening this year.

Omagari Fireworks Official Website                     http://www.obako.or.jp/kaigisho/01_hanabi/01_hanabi.htm                                                      

Photos provided by
Omagari Chamaber of Commerce

Many flower enthusiasts also love the wide variety of blossoms that the area offers. More than twenty types of flowers color the fields from mid-May to late-September, including poppies, moss phlox, lavender, lilies of the valley, blue honeysuckle, sunflowers and cosmoses. The long blooming season means you can enjoy different types of flowers each time you visit.

Although renting a car is the easiest way to reach each viewing spot, you can also take advantage of a convenient tour bus that only runs in the summer and takes you on sightseeing excursions of the surrounding area. If you are up for something new, renting a bicycle may be your cup of tea. It is a nice way to slow the pace of your experience and feel the gentle breeze as it caresses the stunning fields of flowers.

http://www.furanotourism.com/english/home.htm

Photos provided by
Furano Tourism Association

This is because the mountains in Aso are not covered in tall trees, but with wide open meadows. As mountains covered with soft green leaves look smoother than those covered with forests, the green silhouettes of the peaks clearly stand out against the background of the bright blue sky when you look at the entire mountain range from a distance.

The truth of the matter is that the green meadows, which are the pride of Aso, were not formed naturally. They are the result of human activity carried out over the past several hundred years. They have come about through the endeavors of people to pasture cattle and horses and make hay to feed them during the winter.

Around the time of the spring equinox, all of the fields are burned together in order to exterminate harmful insects and encourage the sprouting of new grass. The charred mountain surfaces wear an entirely new yellowish-green costume in May as early summer comes and the mountains present their most beautiful look of the year.

As if rejoicing in this change of costume, a total of 350,000 Kyushu azaleas bloom in their full glory near Suisen-kyo Gorge and around the summits of the mountains. It makes you feel as if you are walking through a field of azalea flowers when you walk on the mountain trail at Suisen-kyo Gorge. You will enjoy the view of the mountain range from the lookout, which looks like it is capped with pink snow.

Around this time, the cattle are sent out to pasture and pastoral scenes of both brownish red and black cows grazing in the meadows can be seen. In particular, the scene of cows and horses drinking from a large pool of water at Kusasenrigahama is one of the emblematic images of Aso.

Inside the caldera surrounded by mountains, the people living in Aso actively start engaging themselves in agriculture. It might be that the beauty of Aso in the early summer is created by the vivid impressions of the people, plants and animals living there enjoying their shining existences.

Aso Tourism Association
http://www.aso.ne.jp/~aso/index.html

Photos provided by
Aso Tourism Association

"Koinobori" carp streamers are a traditional feature of Children's Day on May 5. The beautiful sight of a row of carp, colorfully dyed in red, blue, black and yellow, all swimming against a deep blue sky makes you feel nostalgic for some reason.

Koinobori-flying events, with vivid arrays of carp streamers fluttering in the sky, have become a common sight in many parts of Japan and the "Koinobori River-crossing" event in Shimanto, Kochi is said to have been the first of its kind. It all started in the 48th year of Showa, over 36 years ago, when a young man in Shimanto village heard little boys discussing the fact that when they got older, their streamers wouldn't be used anymore. The man proceeded to collect all the streamers from the boys and set them up together. Although there were only around 50 streamers at the outset, many more were sent to the town from all over Japan every year and now about 500 carp streamers fly over the river. The streamers float in perfect harmony with the tranquil landscape of the upstream region of the Shimanto River, renowned as being Japan's last remaining clear stream. Each spring, the event attracts many visitors, from both near and far.

This year's Shimanto "Koinobori River-crossing" will be held between April 12 and May 16. Against a backdrop of gently-hued spring mountains, the magnificent sight of radiant carp streamers swimming in the wind over the river is truly one of Japan's precious landscapes to be preserved for future generations of children.

Town Office of Shimanto, Takaoka-gun, Kochi Prefecture:
http://www.town.shimanto.lg.jp/

Photos provided by 
Town Office of Shimanto

As vortexes are formed by the ebb and flow of the tide, they reach their biggest size of more than 20-meters in diameter during the spring tides in the spring and fall. Accordingly, the annual opening ceremony, known as "Uzu-biraki," is held sometime between the end of February and early March at the whirlpool-viewing tour boating dock, marking the official arrival of the Naruto Whirlpool season.

The deafening and dynamic whirlpools can reach speeds of 20 kilometers per hour.

Getting up close on a tour boat is the classic way of experiencing this amazing phenomenon. Watching powerful whirlpools amidst the bellowing tides makes you feel as though you are on the verge of being dragged down into the bottomless depths. The magnificent sight of the vibrantly-moving whirlpools that appear, vanish and re-appear as they cross each other's paths is like witnessing a roaring thunderstorm raging in the ocean. It is easy to see why it was selected as one of Japan's top 100 soundscapes.

The powerful current also adds another joy to the spring season. Naruto's famous tastes from the sea; Naruto wakame (seaweed) and Naruto dai (red sea bream) are both known for their firm texture created by the constant buffeting of the current. Naruto wakame is at its best between February and March and soft-pink Naruto dai is in season when the cherry blossoms begin to display their similar springtime hue.

Another sight the season brings is the pilgrims en route to visiting Shikoku's eighty-eight temples. Avoiding the chill of winter, many set out on their journey during this warm season. The first and second temples on the pilgrimage route, Reizan-ji and Gokuraku-ji, are located in Naruto and attract pilgrims from all over Japan at this time of year.

The warm climate of Shikoku brings the early arrival of canola flowers in mid-March, as the buds begin to blossom on the cherry trees. The white-clad pilgrims in sedge hats, treading small paths surrounded by yellow canola or lingering at temples graced by blossoming cherry trees, are also part of the beautiful scenery of Naruto's spring. Locals say that they know winter is over when they hear the clear tinkling of the pilgrim's bells. Dynamic whirlpools and pilgrims are just two of the unique spring sights to be experienced in Naruto.

Naruto Tourism Association
http://www.naruto-kankou.jp/

Photos provided by 
Naruto Tourism Association

Winter at the Kenrokuen Garden is popular among visitors for the tasteful atmosphere created by the snow-laden trees and architectural structures. The Kotojitoro stone lanterns, lightly accented with snow and the famous pine tree called "Karasaki-no-matsu," which is supported with ropes (Yukizuri) to help the tree withstand the weight of the snow, reflect serenely on the Kasumiga Pond. This scene is representative of the lavishness of the Kaga culture, as well as the austerity of the northern region that Kanazawa embraces.

There are several types of Yukizuri, only seen at this time of year, including Shibori, Mikizuri and Takematazuri. In particular, the intricate, conical-shaped Ringozuri ropes, used for evergreens and ancient trees such as the Karasaki-no-matsu pine, offer visitors a sight of exquisite beauty. The Ringozuri in the snow-reflected light creates a surreal atmosphere when illuminated for a limited time.

The story of the Kenrokuen Garden may sound very grand and formal, but the garden was once simply thought of as a park by locals. Commuters walking though the garden on the way to work or school and children playing tag and hide-and-seek were a common sight until admission fees were introduced in 1976. While things have changed, the Kenrokuen Garden has become renowned for its increasing beauty and as a symbol of Kanazawa, one that marks the changing seasons with its seasonal colors and features such as Yukizuri and cherry-blossom viewing events.

Kenrokuen
http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/e/index.html

Photos provided by 
Ishikawa Prefecture  

Both visually stunning and essential to daily life, Abashiri's drift ice is truly a blessing from the Siberian winter.
Drift ice is a dramatic attraction for winter visitors, but it has always been an integral part of life for the people of Abashiri. Because ships can no longer leave the harbor when the ocean is covered in ice, the arrival of the drift ice signals an extended holiday from fishing. During this time, the drift ice promises to bring in plentiful nourishment in the coming year in the form of a bountiful catch. Citizens also enjoy the time of the drift ice by making drinks with it, catching "drift ice angels" (cliones), and other fun activities.

If you listen carefully, you can hear the creak, creak of the colliding ice, or the "song of the drift ice". It is said that on quiet nights, the sound can be so loud as to startle those who hear it. The drift ice takes a completely different form and gives an entirely new impression on each viewing, and experiencing each of these transformations is what truly appreciating drift ice is all about.

When the Hokkaido winter comes to Abashiri City, blowing icy wind that stings the cheeks, it signals that the drift ice is on its way. The ice arrives driven by the Siberian north wind, transforming the bleak winter Okhotsk Sea into a white panorama.

It all begins when the surface of the ocean freezes upon contact with the approaching drift ice, creating the hasu-kōri, or "lotus ice". The lotus ice is patterned in fine interwoven strands like the leaves of a lotus flower--so thin that looks as if it would shatter on contact. The ice slowly packs together, and the drift ice soon arrives. The ice may also crash into other ice and be cut by waves into sculpted shapes known as "anvil ice".

The drift ice can usually be spotted from the coast around the end of January, arriving at the shore around the first of February. The Okhotsk Sea then remains covered in drift ice for about a month. Looking down from an elevated vantage point such as Notoro-Misaki, one sees a vast, pure white world resembling endless snow-covered fields. Going down to the beach, one can touch the drift ice that has washed onshore, or board an icebreaker for different experience: a dynamic journey into the ice fields themselves.

The drift ice can go through numerous transformations in the span of a single day. On clear days it reflects the sky, turning a soft blue in the daytime and coloring orange at dusk--creating a magical atmosphere that is nearly impossible to describe. The drift ice itself continues to move slowly, never keeping the same shape. Sometimes, drift ice that covers the entire seascape can disappear by morning with a southerly overnight wind.

Abashiri City Tourism Section
http://abashiri.jp/tabinavi/index.html

The Pageant began in 1986 with a simple desire on the part of the people of Sendai. The response was overwhelming, and the event grew in scope. Visitors from all over Japan now come to Sendai for the Pageant, totaling nearly 2.6 million last year. The lights extend from Sendai station for 500 meters down Aoba Boulevard, and another 500 meters down the beautiful tree-lined  Jozenji Boulevard. Another canopy of trees extending 800 meters is transformed into an otherworldly tunnel of light.

The most spectacular sights of the Pageant are when the lights are turned on every evening at 5:30pm and the Starlight Wink. The Starlight Wink occurs when all the lights are turned out about one minute prior to six, seven, and eight o'clock each night, and then relit all at once. The rows of bare winter trees are instantly wrapped in light as the spectators let out a cheer, and the joyful voices echo throughout the city of Sendai.
.
There are a host of other winter events taking place in Sendai during the pageant period. On December 23, enjoy a parade of costumed Santas enacting "Santa's Forest Story", as well as musical performances and other events. In addition, a Symbol Tree makes its appearance at the civic square in Kotodai Park. Each year the color of the Pageant illumination changes, filling visitors with anticipation of what color this year will be.

Experience the sparkle of nearly 600,000 lights glittering in Sendai in the heart of winter. The lights represent the warm wishes of the people in Sendai, who hope to send them out to every man, woman, and child throughout world. The Sendai Pageant of Starlight will touch your heart this year as well.

▽ Sendai Pageant of Starlight 2008
http://www.sendaihikape.jp/index.html

Photos provided by
The executive committee:
Sendai Pageant of Starlight 2008

The biggest attraction of the Sunday Market is undoubtedly engaging in conversation with the stall owners while shopping. This is a "communication market," where people encounter the dialect and culture of the area and the warmth of the local people. If you become acquainted with the stall owners, your relationship will exceed that of simply customer and seller. You soon find yourself keeping the stall owners informed about your life or discover that the stall owners are throwing in a little something extra when you make a purchase. Even if you are a tourist, you will still enjoy chatting with the local people as they tell you how to cook the local products that they have on offer in their stalls. The eye-catching price tags and explanations of the items reveal the personalities of the stall owners. The stall owners approach the Sunday Market as if they were exhibiting works of art.   

One of the reasons why the Sunday Market attracts so many people is its wide range of merchandise. There is an excellent variety of fresh home grown vegetables and fruits. Indeed, the market has every kind of merchandise on display in the stalls, from farming utensils, antiques and clothing, to forged steel cutlery, plants and seedlings. 

The most popular items at the Sunday Market include blue crabs, the most luxurious crabs in Kochi Prefecture, sweet potato tempura coated with sweet batter and Japanese cleyera shrubs. Specialty products from Kochi, such as Niitakanashi pears, which are known as the "king of pears" for their superb taste, flavor and size, Shihotake bamboo shoots and strong-tasting and very sweet Suishobuntan citrus fruits - all of which are in season now - are available at the market. Some people can be seen looking around the stalls carrying ginger-flavored local specialty drink "hiyashiame," which is sweetened with brown sugar. Even though the number of visitors from outside the prefecture is increasing, the market remains focused on local daily life and hasn't become a market geared toward tourism, which is probably the reason why it continues to attract people from both inside and outside Kochi.    
 
The Sunday Market is open from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every Sunday from October until March. It is best to visit early in the morning if you want to fully enjoy the market, since some of the stalls close around 3:00 p.m.

Reference Website
▽Kochi city: General affairs Department
http://www.city.kochi.kochi.jp/joho/hp/index.htm

Most people notice the coming of autumn with the changing colors of trees and mountains. However, plants aren't the only thing that change color in fall.

The sky is one example. Temperatures drop, and the sky's true beauty is revealed in the clear air during this season.

The amazingly bright red color of sunsets is especially impressive, even stirring.

There are many cities and towns that advertise themselves as "the town where you can see the sunset", and Sakaide City, which faces the Seto Inland Sea is among them.

The bright orange sky, pierced by the sun, seems to gradually burn as time passes, until it is steeped in a distinct vermillion, as the setting sun looms large.

The moving waves of the Seto Inland Sea reflect the light magnificently, and just after the sun sets, rays of light burst upward as if the sun has truly sunk into the sea.

There are ten famous locations from which the sunset is especially beautiful, and each view has its own unique charm.

The view from "Sagamibo" is particularly breathtaking.
There, the floating silhouettes of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and the Seto Ohashi Bridge join with the red sunset, adding an intricate beauty to the scene.

In addition, the shadow of a pleasure boat built along the lines of the "Kanrinmaru", a ship dating from the "Bakumatsu" period (from about 1850 to 1870), gives the illusion of having stepped back in time to that bygone era.

Viewed from the natural treasure that is Goshikidai, the evening lights of the city spread below combine with the Seto panorama for a spectacular sight. Visitors can also enjoy viewing the changing leaves of Iroha maple and mountain oak trees, as well as the red fruit of arrow wood and Japanese silverberry plants.

Three other famous things you can enjoy in this season are the kintoki potato, kintoki carrot, and kintoki mandarin orange, which are together known as the "san-kintoki". The kintoki mandarin orange has a rich red color and sweet flavor - quite like the Sakaide sunset.

The tastes of autumn go without saying; kintoki potatoes, kintoki mandarin oranges that are available until January, and the kintoki carrots that adorn New Year's feasts all give the palate its own fun during this season of Sakaide sunsets.

▽tangerine image
Kagawa Prefecture: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Division
http://www.pref.kagawa.jp/nousei/santa/

In this beautiful high country of breathtaking vistas, created by the surrounding 3000 meter peaks of the Northern Alps and the elegant Myojin and Taisho ponds, one can also look near their own feet to see the grass and flowers telling of the coming autumn.

Different from the colorful plants of summer, these plants, such as valerian and magnolia varieties, project a calm, austere feeling of beauty with their white, yellow and blue flowers.

The wild chrysanthemums and cimicifugas are especially impressive. The white ring created by each chrysanthemum flower is breathtakingly bright, while the cimicifuga's white ears of as much as 30cm sway in the breeze, giving a mysterious atmosphere that combines beautifully with the surrounding quietude.

At this time of year, the mountains of the Northern Alps begin to change color, and the color of the entire scene begins to deepen.

Once autumn is in full effect in mid-October, the Kamikochi area's larch and white birch trees are imbued with yellow, reflecting wonderfully off the surfaces of the Azusagawa River, Taisho and Myojin Pond.

Around this time, monkeys can be spotted near walking paths, gathering food for the coming harsh winter and carrying their spring-born young on their backs.

Recently, these monkeys have been reported on the news as seeking food by stealing from humans, but this is not the case in Kamikochi. In order to preserve the environment and ecosystem, the leaving out of garbage and giving of food are prohibited.

Visitors are also asked to participate in environmental protection activities, and yet some 2,000,000 visitors gladly come to enjoy Kamikochi each year, a testament that it is an ideal place for people and nature to truly coexist. This coexistence is the key to enjoying intimately that delicious hint of autumn.

The peninsula, extending vertically 70 kilometers from Cape Shiretoko, is a paradise that features the mountains of Shiretoko, rivers, lakes, greenery, and seas, and also hosts various animals.

Animals found in Shiretoko include brown bears, owls, sea eagles, and other species that are at risk of extinction. In winter, animals such as sea lions and seals come to the seas nearby.

There are also many varieties of plants, from the eggplants that flower in the coastal areas to the water musaceae that spread in the lake wetlands. Further, on the 1600-meter Rausu Mountain can be found naturally occurring high-altitude plants such as the Shiretoko violet and the Ezonotsugazakura.

Of course, Shiretoko is not just remarkable because of flora and fauna, but is also renowned for its dynamic natural geography. This includes the five lakes that reflect the Shiretoko mountain ranges, majestic cliffs from which waterfalls crash into the sea below, and much more.

As the short summer, in which the Ezosukashi lily and Shiretoko violet bloom, fades away, the mountains seem to burn as the autumn leaves change into brilliant colors, creating a beautiful scene.

At this time, animals begin to prepare for the next season by getting their offspring ready to survive; this is symbolized by the salmon that return upstream to spawn in the rivers that run below the mountains.

As the region passes out of the winter, in which the entire world is enveloped in white, new life is born in spring, and visitors can enjoy the fleeting world of green again.

These natural surroundings have been protected through time by their harsh conditions, which have served to keep humans out.

The sight of these plants and animals gallantly surviving in such an unforgiving environment is perhaps another layer of the attraction that Shiretoko offers.

Reference Website
▽Shari commercial tourism section
http://www.town.shari.hokkaido.jp/
shiretoko/

Did you know that during the summer, To-Kae, a lantern festival is held at Nara Park? Twenty-thousand lanterns are placed each day somewhere in the sprawling park, for a total of 200,000 throughout the fantastic event.

A toka (lantern flower) is so-named because a flower shape appears on the wick of the burning candles. Since long ago, when a toka has been formed, it has been seen as an auspicious sign. Due to this history, each lantern is lit with the wish that "All who visit the festival might have happiness."

The sight of the festival is something akin to seeing stars shining on the face of the earth, or perhaps seeing flowers blooming amid the night. Depending on the place, when, and the state at time one views, the candle light dances about as if by magic.

The sides of paths are lit as if to guide visitors, and the flames are arranged so as to cause famous places and historic sites to stand out. The carpet of light created at the climax in Ukigumo Park achieves a magnificent harmony between the arts of antiquity and the craft of modern man.

Throughout the venue, the soft sounds of the piano, ocarina, and erhu serenade visitors, giving a feeling of romance and seemingly connecting 1300 years of history to the present.

Actually, the To-Kae was originally conceived to draw summer visitors back to Nara from the modern amusement parks in surrounding prefectures, which had begun to spring up. However, it now functions not as a mere lure to guests, but has been shaped by people in the community, and is a mainstay event beloved by citizens. This festival, created in modern times, has become a solid, new tradition, breathing life into the old capital of Japan.

Photos courtesy: Nara City Sightseeing Information Center