Today's print edition Home Delivery 1925googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The earthquake which smote Toyooka and Kinosaki on Saturday seems to have been quite as potential a destructive agency as was the visitation Tokyo and Yokohama sustained two years ago That loss of life and damage was less severe was only due to the limited area affected and to the fact that the smitten regions were small and uncongested country towns In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division MURFREESBORO – It didn’t take Zac Curtis long to replicate the success of his predecessor Four seasons after taking over Loretto's baseball program after longtime coach Gary Lamm retired Curtis has led his Mustangs to the program’s second state title The Mustangs won the TSSAA baseball Class 2A state championship with a 4-3 win over Huntingdon on Friday at MTSU a year after the team failed to reach the state tournament “I think we've had some good teams in the past four years," said Curtis "But this team just had a different determination and had a different grit about them “They had one goal and they weren't giving up on that goal until they got it they were going for it … and I think they just propelled our program for another generation of kids to come.” Live updates: TSSAA state tournament: 2024 championship live updates from Friday took the program over in 2021 just a few years removed from Loretto’s first state title in 2017 Following up a coach as successful as Lamm Curtis built upon the culture already well established during Lamm’s tenure “He's had to make it where he had it his own way," Carter Daniel said (and Curtis) came in and kept those things but has also done stuff the way he wants to is one of the few seniors to have spent all four years under Curtis Alongside him was team manager Shousei Toyooka who has had just as great an impact on the Mustangs as any player in his four years with the program I've done a lot for this team; I put in over 800 hours on this team I love to see the team that I've been with so long succeed and win like this," Toyooka said holding up that trophy is something else.” Loretto had gone six years without a championship game appearance and seven years without a state title but they hope this win will be the start of a new chapter for Mustangs baseball they got put out in the sub-state as freshmen (The next year) they lost in the (state) tournament to the eventual champs," Curtis said "So they know nothing's ever going to come easy to them Everyone's going to bring their A-game against us I think they just set up this program for a long time.” Harrison Campbell covers high school sports and more for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp Gunma — About 10,000 old Japanese daruma dolls were ritually burned during a memorial service for the good-luck talisman figures which represent the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The service was conducted by the prefecture’s Gunma Daruma Doll Manufacturers’ Cooperative Union The manufacturers collected the dolls from Takasaki residents during the Takasaki Darumaichi market the dolls were burned as priests chanted sutras and members of the cooperative union prayed for prosperity in business and world peace JR Shinetsu Line will have a new station in the city which has been named Toyooka Daruma Station “Sales of daruma dolls are growing higher and higher every year,” said Masahiro Yoshida “I hope people will continue to live with these dolls for a long time.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun also known as Konotori and a Special Natural Monument of Japan have been returned home to the abundant wetlands of Hyogo prefecture along the Maruyama River going through Toyooka city This came as a success of a decades-long breeding and habitat preservation program led by the locals The City of Toyooka and its residents are excited to invite visitors on exclusive tours to learn about the closeknit ties between humans and these majestic birds while experiencing the rich culture of the region Toyooka’s Konotori have long been a local icon both culturally and historically the city's famous hot spring resort area will be met with the stork's powerful symbolism throughout the historical town Legend has it that some of the resorts' springs were discovered when an injured stork was healing its wounds in the sacred waters Programs come in a wide range of styles and trip lengths Itineraries feature private excursions to Konotori conservation centers guided tours of city's Ramsar-designated wetlands and visits to wildlife observatories not open to the public Unique experiences within some of Toyooka’s most scenic backdrops are included with each program such as hiking through the Kannabe Highlands savoring private lunches in the lush verdure of the regional forests and trying out unforgettable cultural activities Tours tend to include luxurious accommodation in Kinosaki Onsen at one of the elegant traditional Japanese-style ryokans Throughout the tours and across a range of optional activities participants have the opportunity to meet and interact with the people of Toyooka Experience all angles of Toyooka through one of these exclusive programs from its environment and ecology to local spiritual practices and craftsmanship Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience These traditional Japanese inns date back to medieval times and weary samurai travelers Some ryokans have turned an eye toward the future Mitchell Friedman is the Global Hotel Editor of The MICHELIN Guide From listening bars to neighbourhood restaurants explore all the top recommendations from Chishuru’s Adejoké Bakare One of the most prominent chefs serving Indian cuisine talks India and his New York Update your must-visit list with The MICHELIN Guide’s new London restaurants the best hotel rooftops are a go-to when you touch down What the MICHELIN Guide Inspectors Saw in 2025 The Mexican capital takes center stage alongside the culinary world's top talents From Texas Barbecue to Mexico City's cutting-edge dining these new MICHELIN Guide hot spots promise unforgettable vacations and world-class cuisine These are the best lake vacations for a summer break from Lake Tahoe in the US to Lake Como in Switzerland and the MICHELIN-recommended restaurants and bolt holes to bed down in when you visit The MICHELIN Guide Inspectors have already added hundreds of hotels to the MICHELIN selection in 2025 we’re highlighting a special list of 10 that thrive in the sunny season where do fashion’s biggest names retreat for a bite and a bed We imagine the post-Gala sanctuaries of the chicest attendees these iconic chefs mentor professional chefs who have an ego Who knew brisket and biscuits could be so good From tartan fabrics and stag antler furnishings to rare Scotch whiskies and castle views you'll have no doubt which country you're in when staying at these Michelin-Key hotels she has championed America’s farm-to-table movement for 54 years Non-members can add the privileges at checkout through our 30 day free trial By continuing I accept the Terms & Condition and Privacy Policy. I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels in the little spa town of town of Kinosaki Onsen Nishimuraya Honkan builds its reputation on spectacular execution of the historical hallmarks that define a ryokan Not to say it eschews electricity or other such modern comforts \u2014 this is a luxury boutique hotel It just happens to be a luxury boutique hotel whose charms are best experienced from the floor It\u2019s from the floor that you\u2019ll most enjoy the perks and particulars of Nishimuraya Honkan\u2019s design \u2014 especially the rustic simplicity of sukiya a form of architecture made famous by Japan\u2019s iconic tea houses at first you think it is just another guest room,\u201d explains Colin Fukai But sit down and another world opens up to you you become eye level with the gorgeous pond and garden of the neighboring suite specifically for the purpose of sharing its garden view without betraying the privacy of the guest room itself and you\u2019ll find a window above the stairs that frames a pine tree \u2014 a natural and consciously designed device to encourage appreciation of the seasons \u201cI imagine it is kind of funny to see that one of the top \u2018features\u2019 of a suite is the shadow a tree casts on the wall at a certain time of day,\u201d laughs Fukai \u201cit does represent the importance of both nature and the \u2018simple yet deep\u2019 [concept] when it comes to Japanese guest room architecture.\u201d In its seventh-generation of ownership after its founding in 1854 praised on list after list of the most beautiful or most luxurious ryokan in the world it\u2019s not wrong to call Nishimuraya Honkan traditional your word choice depends on your perspective \u201cForeign guests would probably label it \u2018traditional\u2019 while domestic guests would probably say \u2018retro,\u2019\u201d muses Fukai It\u2019s a clarification that cuts to just how easy it is to romanticize the culture a ryokan represents without completely understanding its context or the commitment it takes to conjure this type of luxury experience The reasons other ryokan have moved on from certain practices are not always purely stylistic Fukai cites a decreasing Japanese population as one reason some ryokan have had to slim down their staff and operations and why dining halls sometimes replace the \"retro\" practice of one-on-one meals in the guest rooms it\u2019s exactly that type of intimate interaction between staff and guest that\u2019s still prized above all else a personal concierge (nakai-san or heyakakari-san in Japanese) to help you get acquainted with the place and the town And if you find that concierge asking about your evening plans The room attendant doesn\u2019t just serve your evening meal \u2014 an elaborate multi-course kaiseki dinner that features (depending on the season) the Matsuba crab or Tajima beef that makes this region famous \u2014 they clear away the table too to convert your dining room into a bedroom and details like the gorgeous public garden dotted with lanterns and koi contribute to a particularly tranquil way of experiencing the world The requisite onsen (hot spring baths) are another the ease and comfort of the experience again mask the give and take between traditional experience and contemporary demands ryokan in Kinosaki never featured their own onsen baths instead guiding visitors to the seven public ones around town The town\u2019s services appreciated the foot traffic and the arrangement ensured the precious natural waters weren\u2019t over-tapped But with more and more guests finding Kinosaki easily accessible by train Fukai compares the expectation of a ryokan to have its own onsen with that of a hotel in Las Vegas to have its own casino town leaders compromised: ryokans could have their own hot spring baths but they\u2019d be limited in size \u2014 and never private to one guest room Tokyo and Kyoto aren’t the only worthwhile destinations to visit in storied Japan but they’re often the only ones Americans know about The nation's smaller towns offer plenty of attractions from a land where oriental white storks fly overhead to a historic town memorable for its hot springs to another notable for its close proximity to the stately and picturesque Mount Fuji They’re also perfect complements to a longer tour throughout Japan offering less-crowded destinations with just as much culture history and gastronomic adventure as the larger cities located on the northern coast of southwestern Japan can be accessed from Kyoto or one of the other cities in the region It’s a beautiful town offering opportunities to enjoy Japanese culture at its most elemental or pub-style restaurants offering delicious regional dishes The town is home to the country’s oldest wooden market which offers freshly grown produce and flowers known for its history of producing high-quality bags where travelers can pick up a bag or wicker trunk whose legacy reflects the town’s 1,200-year-old bag-making history The town is located near two very special natural landmarks where columns of basalt rise to the sky in a staggeringly organized manner This gorgeous bird was once found all across Japan but was threatened nearly to extinction in the mid-1900s It was in Toyooka City that residents captured some of the last wild oriental white storks and began breeding them in an effort to continue their species Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork in Toyooka is a free family-friendly attraction that includes educational activities along with wildlife viewings Kinosaki is a historic town along the Maruyama River in Hyogo Prefecture residents and travelers to the town have been soaking in the springs since the year 720 A.D which means that travelers with tattoos that cannot be hidden won’t be denied entry to the springs This picturesque town is perfect for visits throughout the year when a layer of soft snow covers the tiles roofs and cobblestone streets which includes a stop where hikers can view the valley below there’s no limit to cultural and historical experiences in Kinosaki calligraphy workshops and a stop to Osenji Temple are a must for travelers who’d like to immerse themselves in Japanese culture The immersion goes even further at the Nishimuraya Honkan where guests can stay in a traditional ryokan-style property with an indoor and outdoor onsen for guests to enjoy The closest city to the esteemed and picturesque Mount Fuji is Fujinomiya The city is the starting point for two routes leading to the top of Mount Fuji and is an ideal destination for active adventurers Travelers can learn about the region’s historic significance at the Mt then prepared adventurers can start their trek upwards into the clouds with the Fujinomiya Trail or Prince Route Families or travelers who’d rather not trek the mountain can also enjoy tours around the mountain from just hiking to whitewater rafting and more Other travelers can enjoy visiting Mount Fuji Sengen Taisha Shrine which has a 2,000-year history as one of the most important shrines of the region Travelers can also purchase and learn how to wear a traditional Japanese kimono and try locally crafted sake made from Mount Fuji's snowmelt from the Shiraito Falls Travelers can take the Yakisoba Express Bus which goes directly to the town from Tokyo making this a great addition to any Tokyo visit Located near Mount Fuji is another town notable for many of its adrenaline-inducing attractions many golf courses and the start of the longest trail up Mount Fuji offers plenty to enjoy Gotemba is also known for its many hot springs which makes for a perfect end to a cold hike or outdoor activity Gotemba is also where outdoor lovers can enjoy a luxury glamping experience with Fujino Kirameki luxurious accommodations and excursions like forest walks travelers can enjoy the best of adventure travel without skimping on the luxury travelers to the tea-rich Shizuoka Prefecture should consider Atami City as a great base for their explorations of Japanese culture and food views of Mount Fuji and plenty of delicious seafood dishes for the adventurous eater This city is also known for three of its luxury accommodations The Momoyama Gaen by The Curation Hotel offers Japanese design in locally sourced materials and craftsmen complete with an onsen and art from the Japanese Edo period Tounoya-an by The Curation Hotel is a historic Japanese kominka a stunning villa complete with an on-site onsen and modern accommodations Suto-suien by The Curation Hotel is another kominka property which fuses two Japanese styles together to create a truly unique blend of wabi-sabi A hot spring town in rural Japan is eyeing an uptick in eco-tourism due to the success of environmental initiatives to re-wild a rare breed of oriental white stork has restored its population of oriental white stork since work to save the endangered species started in the 1960s oriental white storks were only present in a handful of regions including Toyooka about 140 of the birds fly in the skies above Toyooka and live in the city’s organic rice paddies Efforts to revive the oriental white stork population have increased the diversity and number of many other species in Toyooka giving the city a further boost as a green destination The city is now home to 280 bird species as well as hundreds of kinds of other wildlife The city supports 45 per cent of the total 633 species found in Japan Kinosaki has developed a raft of stork-related tours hopes to attract visitors who are interested in nature wildlife and the environment or who simply want to spend time in an environmentally friendly and sustainable destination A five-hour tour of the Toshima Hachigoro Wetlands aims to introduce revived habitats and the diverse wildlife they support such as insects including rice paddies converted into wetland which have been registered under the Ramsar Convention Guides will point out the wildlife and efforts by local stakeholders to create an optimal environment for the storks These efforts include developing shallows along riverbeds transforming unused rice fields into biotopes and fostering corridors to connect key wetlands for the birds’ easy movement visitors are served a lunch featuring organic vegetables and Stork Natural Rice The tour will be held in full for the first time from April 1 to November 30 including incentive travel and teambuilding segments It is expected to generate awareness of Toyooka as a destination for bird lovers and environmentally conscious travellers as well as draw greater numbers of visitors to Toyooka’s other wildlife-related tourism offerings coordinator of international relations at Toyooka Tourism Innovation five million people had visited the city’s Stork Museum since its opening in 2006 the year after the storks were released back into the wild by members of the Imperial Family in a prestigious ceremony A Stork Tourism Guide has also been produced to offer information advice and tips for visitors to make the most of their stay With the rise in popularity of outdoor and off-the-beaten track tourism offerings due to demand for social distancing and growing awareness in Japan of the need to support activities that contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Toyooka’s tourism stakeholders are poised for rapid growth Their hopes have been buoyed by the city’s listing in the 2021 Top 100 Destination Sustainability Stories a global initiative by the Netherlands-based organisation Green Destinations “This recognition is definitely helping us to raise awareness of Kinosaki as an eco-tourism destination,” said Nunez Seafront stays and heritage charm at Penang Marriott Hotel Is Your Business Listed On TTGmice Planner Online a small temple surrounded by mountains in Toyooka City is suddenly bustling with visitors eager to get a glimpse as the Dodan-Tsutsuji trees’ leaves turn a brilliant red across the tatami-mat room and through the opened sliding paper doors is a view like that of a framed masterpiece painting When the garden lights up just as the sun sets a shade of red dimly tints the tatami floors The Ankokuji is a Zen Buddhist temple belonging to the Daitokuji school of the Rinzai sect the main temple was rebuilt in 1904 at its current location The Dodan-Tsutsuji trees (scientific name Enkianthus perultas) were planted on a hill at the back of the temple Some of the older trees are estimated to be over 150 years old have increased to grow from over 10 different stumps now due to heavy snowfall in the area of the temple the branches of these Dodan-Tsutsuji trees grow horizontally measuring at over 10 meters long to the left and right The trees are therefore sometimes referred to as a “Natural Work of Art Made by Snow.”    During the peak autumn foliage season in November the temple’s main hall opens to the public for a limited period of two weeks The spectacular scenery brings in around 3,500 visitors per day on the weekends “My daughter is nine months old and is just starting to recognize colors I brought her here because I want her to feel the vibrant red colors that nature offers us,” said Satomi Yano cradling her daughter in her arms and looking fondly at her takes pride in “the Zen teaching of ‘Knowing Thyself,’” meaning “to look carefully where your own footsteps fall and look back at oneself.” He then superimposes the concept onto the Tsutsuji trees which powerfully spread their roots over many long years but to live each step of the present day to the fullest That’s what the trees seem to be preaching us.” This year’s public access to the temple’s main hall ended on November 20 the limited-time-only natural “masterpiece painting” can be encountered again next year (Click here to read the related story in Japanese.)     You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Beloved as birds of happiness and good luck the Oriental white stork once thrived in abundance throughout Japan until the onset of World War II In a race against the odds to increase food production for a starving population farmers throughout Japan increased pesticide and fertilizer usage As this became the new normal after the war ecosystems and species suffered lasting damage and Japan’s birds of good luck were no exception As pesticides and fertilizers polluted the nation’s rice fields — the stork’s usual feeding grounds — the final blow was struck in Toyooka in 1971 when the last wild Oriental white stork disappeared from the skies of Japan a promise was made — the residents of both Toyooka and Kinosaki Onsen would make it their unwavering mission to revive the species and bring the birds back to the wild After years of efforts from a trial-and-error breeding program using captive storks and the first storks to return to the wild were released in 2005 their numbers continue to grow — over 300 Oriental white storks now spread their wings above Toyooka and Kinosaki Onsen delivering happiness and luck to residents and visitors below bird-watching and unique organic culinary experiences As a 2021 Green Destination Toyooka invites people to rediscover themselves in the town of Oriental white storks Japan’s treasured birds of happiness and good luck Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027 A pair of divers captured the moment they came face-to-face with a giant squid — which are rarely seen alive by humans Yosuke Tanaka and Miki Tanaka filmed their close-up encounter with the huge creature when they were diving off the coast of Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture which was recorded on the couple’s underwater camera shows the 8-foot-long squid floating in the waters ScienceAlert reports that the couple who operate a diving business in Toyooka city in the Hyogo region were told about the giant squid by a fishing equipment vendor who had seen it in a bay The pair decided to take their boat out to get a glimpse of the creator as it floated near a rocky shoreline “There it was. It was an enormous squid,” Yosuke Tanaka tells AFP. “We didn’t see the kinds of agile movements that many fish and marine creatures normally show,” he adds “Its tentacles and fins were moving very slowly.” Tanaka says that he could see that the squid was a powerful predator I thought it would be dangerous to be grabbed hard by them and taken off somewhere,” he recalls I was so happy that the squid was within my reach but its eyes were so big It was so big that I started to feel scared.” Tanaka says that his experience with the giant squad was a memorable one I think there is nothing rarer than this,” he explains “I have heard not a lot is known about this creature I’d be happy if this helps us learn more.” According to National Geographic the giant squid remains largely a mystery to scientists despite being the biggest invertebrate on Earth The largest giant squid measured 59 feet in length and weighed nearly a ton Giant squid are known to live in the waters around Japan Seeing them alive in the wild remains very rare Giant squid are scarcely known to leave the deep sea and swim along the coast Their inhospitable deep-sea habitat has made them extremely difficult to study and almost everything scientists know about giant squid is from carcasses that have washed up on beaches or been hauled in by fishermen Image credits: Feature photo sourced via YouTube/Science Alert Become a PetaPixel Member and access our content ad-free Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Hyogo Prefecture—Two scuba divers captured rare photos and video of a giant squid slowly plodding along off the coast here and unusually close to the surface Giant squids are one of the largest invertebrates known and live in the deep sea but many aspects of their lives remain a mystery and it is incredibly rare for humans to see them up close a 46-year-old fishing equipment shop owner living in Toyooka was on a boat near a port in the city around 4 p.m 6 when he spotted the large squid thrashing its tentacles around near the surface of the sea a 34-year-old diving instructor who also lives in Toyooka that day and saw the roughly 2.5-meter-long giant squid swimming at a slow pace They approached close enough to be able to touch the squid with their hands so that Yosuke could photograph it while Miki took video But Yosuke said they also kept their distance He said he wanted to ensure he was not too close to the squid’s tentacles because they were very thick and looked dangerous an honorary researcher at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo was the first ever in the world to successfully shoot video of a living giant squid in 2006 Kubodera said giant squids live around three years at most and that the giant squid spotted in Toyooka is probably 1 to 2 years old Experts believe giant squids usually live at a depth of 600 to 1,000 meters where the water temperature is 4 to 10 degrees the giant squid was spotted at a depth of around 5  meters where the water temperature was about 13 degrees “I think the squid moved to the relatively warm sea near the coast to escape from the cold winter seawater,” Kubodera said Squid statue paid for with COVID-19 funds inks following in Noto Whale called ‘Yodo-chan’ barely moving in Osaka Bay South America squid left exposed amid surge in China fishing Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Performing arts festivals and opportunities to enjoy live entertainment have been few and far between this year due to the ongoing pandemic has high hopes for his version of France’s famed Avignon Festival Hirata’s Toyooka Theater Festival is set to take place from Sept which borders the Sea of Japan in northern Hyogo Prefecture.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); as well as wetlands that serve as breeding grounds for rare kо̄notori (Oriental storks) Tajima was hoping to see an influx of tourism this year before the pandemic hit Now locals are hoping the two-week festival will help entice visitors back to the area Performances will be held at various venues in and around the small city of Toyooka after which the event is named Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Partners Information: Knowing that an inspiring feel-good story is what we all need right now, Kinosaki Onsen one of Japan’s Best Hot Spring Towns is sharing the uplifting story of one of Japan’s most impressive environmental miracles – one which has seen over 200 native birds brought back from the brink of extinction Unlike the bustling cities of Tokyo and Osaka in Kinosaki Onsen and surrounding areas you can come across various wildlife and other creatures coexisting with the locals One of these is a beloved symbol of Toyooka City These birds tell the story of Toyooka’s promise to reintroduce them back into the wild the Oriental White Stork once lived in the wild in Japan Part of the reason they disappeared was due to the pesticides that were heavily used in the farmlands of the nation Toyooka City felt responsible for this tragedy and thus made a promise to help reintroduce the Oriental White Stork into the wild a breeding and research facility was created to begin breeding and raising them in captivity chicks could not hatch for many years due to the adult storks’ chemically damaged bodies Thanks to a donation of six young storks from Russia the city was able to continue their efforts a miracle occurred when the Oriental White Storks produced a healthy chick achieving successful breeding for the first time Chicks have successfully hatched every year since After half a century of various efforts from Toyooka City the first storks were successfully reintroduced into the wild in 2005 the number of Oriental White Storks in the wild has reached 200 an amazing milestone for the species and the city Such a feat of environmental restoration serves as an inspiration for the world visitors can spot many Oriental White Storks especially at the Hyogo Park of the Oriental White Stork a conservation site which includes a museum The park has videos on their Facebook page Farmers in the area use an environmentally-friendly method for cultivating rice that does not rely on agricultural chemicals which supports a clean ecology for the storks and other wildlife A portion of the profits from sales of this ethically-sourced rice visitors to the area can join an Oriental White Stork Tour to learn about how the city is committed to strengthening the ecology of the storks and fulfilling their promise of returning the Oriental White Storks to Japan’s skies Visit environmental agriculture sites that aim to create a rich natural environment where storks can live Guests will also get to try organic rice and vegetables that positively impact the ecosystem as well as explore the area’s lush wetlands https://visitkinosaki.com/things-to-do/oriental-white-stork-attractions/ Hyogo — A purification ceremony for used bags sent from all over Japan took place at a shrine in Toyooka Toyooka is one of the top producers of bags by municipality and most of the domestically made bags being used today are said to be from the city A local industry group started the ceremony to promote Toyooka as a major bag producer in Japan the ceremony was held at Yanaginomiya Shrine which is dedicated to the worship of a deity of bags as it was founded by wicker basket vendors in 1935 A priest conducted a purification ceremony on various bags placed in front of the shrine One of the school bags was accompanied by thank you notes suggesting that it contained many fond memories for children and their parents some of the bags will be recycled or reused The cost for the service ranges from ¥2,000 to ¥4,000 In what campaigners are calling a world first Quebec’s National Assembly voted Tuesday afternoon to ban new oil and gas exploration and shut down existing drill sites within three years even as the promoters behind the failed Énergie Saguenay liquefied natural gas (LNG) project try to revive it as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “By becoming the first state to ban oil and gas development on its territory, Quebec is paving the way for other states around the world and encouraging them to do the same,” Montreal-based Équiterre said in a release it is important that the political will that made this law possible be translated into greenhouse gas reductions in the province since Quebec and Canada have done too little to reduce their GHGs over the past 30 years.” but we still have to deal with the legacy of these companies,” added Environnement Vert Plus spokesperson Pascal Bergeron “Although the oil and gas industry did not flourish in Quebec it left behind nearly 1,000 wells that will have to be repaired We now expect as much enthusiasm in the completion of these operations as in the adoption of Bill 21.” View our latest digests part of a list of a dozen jurisdictions that did not include Canada Quebec’s legislation commits the government to cover 75% of the shutdown and remediation costs for the 62 sites across the province and compensate fossils for any exploration permits they received after October 2015 That made for a less complete win than climate and energy campaigners were aiming for and prompted the opposition Québec Solidaire to vote against the bill Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec “again lacked the political courage to refuse any financial compensation” for the industry Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonatan Julien said the bailout would cost about C$100 million “The oil and gas companies have already siphoned millions of dollars from us and the government wants to give them more?” QS co-spokesperson Manon Massé said yesterday In a series of tweets late Tuesday afternoon, Équiterre Climate Policy Analyst Émile Boisseau-Bouvier still declared the news a victory for transparency and well inspection and praised the parties in the Assembly for working across partisan lines to get the bill passed “We want to see more of that on environment,” he said “It’s a shame to see more government compensation for oil and gas companies,” but legal research showed only a low probability of international legal challenges to the bill “This win belongs to the thousands of citizens who have mobilized against fossil fuels for decades.” The CAQ government’s generosity didn’t stop Quebec Energy Association President Éric Tétrault from vowing legal action “By limiting its compensation to the cost of the permits Quebec is inviting strong opposition from the industry which would have liked to have been compensated for potential revenues from oil and gas extraction,” Le Devoir writes and other impacts on traditional Innu territory The project “was rejected by both the federal and provincial authorities in recent months on environmental grounds,” Bloomberg writes. Quebec slammed the door again in early March not long after the invasion of Ukraine began But the company says it “has since been contacted by numerous stakeholders inside Canada and Europe requesting help to solve the continent’s energy security challenges,” Bloomberg says See that the old horse and buggy way of doing the right thing is invest in innovation and offer the masses or investor a reason to see no value in retaining it You increase your income and even better open a major market to make Putin thinking also out dated But all we get is less jobs and higher cost by having “We” ending for anyone seen as being part of sustainable change Copyright 2025 © Energy Mix Productions Inc Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Japanese version The exhibition features interactive installations and pictures/texts to illustrate eco-friendly agriculture and food Toyooka Mayor Nakagai presents a set of life-sized models of an Oriental white stork family to mark the special occasion Toyooka Mayor Nakagai (third from right) travels all the way from Japan to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct 1 ecological restoration is one of the latest global trends that require dedication and hard work To promote sustainable agriculture and international exchanges the “Flying Birds over the Field: Eco-Friendly Agriculture Exhibition” co-curated by the NTU Agricultural Exhibition Hall and the city of Toyooka in Japan was unveiled at the Agricultural Exhibition Hall on October 1 Mayor Muneharu Nakagai (中貝宗治) of Toyooka and Mr the curator of the Toyooka Municipal Museum of the Oriental White Stork traveled all the way from Japan to participate in the grand event Mayor Nakagai also presented the Agricultural Exhibition Hall with a set of life-sized models of an Oriental white stork family to mark the special occasion Dean Huu-Sheng Lur (盧虎生) of NTU’s College of Bioresources and Agriculture pointed out that modern agriculture and diet often cause pollution and damage to the environment this exhibition was organized to reconnect people with agriculture so that they can begin to realize how their seemingly simple food choices have great impact on our environment and future the head of the Agricultural Exhibition Hall and Chairman of the NTU Department of Bio-industry Communication and Development shared a local example of eco-friendly farming the eagle population vanished from Donggang An ecological investigation revealed that local farmers used highly toxic pesticides to kill turtle doves and sparrows during the harvest season causing the eagles to die of indirect poisoning After adopting an eco-friendly approach inspired by Toyooka Similar examples of Oriental white storks in Toyooka and greater painted-snipes in Yilan were also displayed at the exhibition Oriental white storks almost became extinct at some point due to the increasing demand for produce Mayor Nakagai eventually managed to restore the environment by changing farmers’ methods and producing “stork-friendly rice.” Success stories of eco-friendly agriculture demonstrate that human beings can coexist with nature in peace With the help of high-tech and interactive devices as well as interactive installations the visitors can enjoy a sensory experience that replicates the habitats of these birds at the exhibition An international forum on the positive influence of eco-friendly agriculture was also held on the same afternoon It is NTU’s sincerest hope that the exhibition will encourage people to make environmentally-friendly food choices to create a better world for future generations NTU wins the 2024 “National Sustainable Development Awards” for exerting influence in higher education Chih-Kung Lee of NTU’s Institute of Applied Mechanics elected NAI Fellow NTU Launches Startup Initiatives at Zhubei Campus 2024 NTU-KU-UHH Trilateral Symposium: Uniting for Sustainable Future and Next Generation Signing Ceremony for the donation of “Next-Generation Smart 3D Geospatial Information Center” at NTU Zhubei Campus No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106319, Taiwan (R.O.C.) Phone：+886-2-3366-3366 Copyright © 2023 National Taiwan University [Kobe Shimbun] “Suitcase Alley,” in the commercial district of the city of Toyooka Here Hashimoto Takahiro—manager of Artisan Avenue an outlet for the manufacturers operating under the Toyooka Kaban brand—proclaims proudly “This bag is made of discarded fishing nets!” The store’s shelves are stacked with shoulder bags and tote bags with prices ranging from around ¥23,000 up to almost ¥80,000 advertising the raw material making up these products Facing competition from cheap goods from China and other imported products the 11 members of the Toyooka Kaban consortium are counting on the power of their entirely domestically produced wares The Hyōgo Prefecture Bag Industry Association was founded in 2006 and only products that go through its rigorous certification process can use the Toyooka Kaban brand name A study on how to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals kicked off two years ago On learning of the production of materials using recycled fishing nets through the Tokyo-based Alliance for the Blue set up by the Nippon Foundation to reduce ocean waste and recycle marine resources known in particular for its catches of snow crabs a Hokkaidō fishing net merchant starts by collecting nets that have been used for salmon catches; these are then recycled into resin pellets by a Tokyo materials recycling firm These are then spun into thread and woven into fabrics by an Osaka textile company This is a cooperative project on a national scale At present the 11 companies that manufacture under the Toyooka Kaban brand produce a wide variety of models ranging from tote bags to Boston bags The Toyooka Kaban Artisan Avenue store sells about 70 pieces a month and there are even waiting lists for certain models Morito the Osaka-based company that developed the fabrics is also searching for ways to turn fishing nets that have been used locally into materials working together with Hyōgo’s Tajima Fisheries Cooperative The nets used for crab fishing are very tough meaning high recycling costs and considerable difficulty turning them into products but the company has picked up some fishing nets that are easier to recycle and is planning to produce small articles that can be used by fishers on-site is currently working on producing a school bag is expecting great things from greater exposure to the younger generation on the premise that “it would be good if items they use on a daily basis help them learn about environmental awareness.” The Toyooka Kaban recycled-net bags can also be bought online through the Toyooka Kaban Artisan Avenue web store The Toyooka Kaban manufacturers have gone beyond just bags to develop smaller purse and accessory product lines The accessories make use of leftover leather and cloth cuttings from bag production and include products ranging from pouches to key cases and coin purses Production of purses started in 2018 during a technical training seminar for the craftspeople The accessories were launched in the following year after small pouches were brought by a partner company to a certification meeting of the Hyōgo Prefecture Bag Industry Association Leather-cutting waste is always generated in the bag manufacturing process Using these cuttings for the Toyooka goods not only reduces waste output it also generates one-of-a-kind products that make popular gifts Some of the manufacturers are also looking into making products that have been tanned using pomace the solid material left over from the winemaking process Their aim is to reduce environmental impact by avoiding the use of chemical agents Banner photo: Bags that are made using recycled fishing nets The fishing nets are also on display at Toyooka Kaban’s Artisan Avenue Japanese version Infrastructure rooted in the local community 〜Creating an abundant environment where storks can live as well〜 a large-scale wetland restoration project is currently underway to restore the habitat for various creatures such as those existing in the former wetlands around the Izushi River.Further discussions are being undertaken on national municipal and regional levels not only to restore the former wetlands but also to preserve the environment in the hopes of passing it on to the next generation Specific plans are being created for wetland regeneration including future maintenance and management Efforts are being made to use local resources now and in the future such as by entrusting substantive management such as weeding work to the local community the project is attracting interest as a place for CSR activities by private companies that support the wild stork reintroduction project including the use of local elementary schools as an environmental learning venue.In this restored wetland environment can be observed among the abundant wetlands Japanese version このサイトを利用するには、コンテンツブロック機能（広告ブロック機能を持つ拡張機能等）を無効にしてページを再読み込みしてください。 Yamaha’s Toyooka Plant is located in Iwata City which offers a view of Japan’s emblematic Mt This is a production center for musical instruments that boasts a worldwide scale A variety of instruments including trumpets In a corner of this enormous plant is a space no larger than a school classroom which is filled with well-worn equipment and molds craftsmen shape a single sheet of metal into a distinctive curved form Here is where they manufacture the custom-made Vienna horns used by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra This author was given the opportunity to report on the factory floor The difference between a Vienna horn and an ordinary horn is “like the difference between a wagon and an automobile” (Yamaha Publicity Department) the Vienna Philharmonic uses a variety of antique-style instruments that differ from off-the-shelf items in order to accurately reproduce the sound at the time the pieces were composed The differences in the construction of the instruments impart completely different nuances to the sound Even a complete layman such as the author was able to tell the difference when comparing the sounds The difference is particularly striking in long Yamaha first began working on instruments for the Vienna Philharmonic in the 1970s.The Vienna Philharmonic’s instruments are custom-made items but the factories that had manufactured them in Europe suffered from financial difficulties and a lack of new craftsmen entering the trade In order to preserve the traditional sound some orchestra musicians commissioned Yamaha to manufacture them “Can we entrust our sound to craftsmen outside Europe?” these were mainly instruments with which Yamaha had no prior experience and there was no guarantee that they could manufacture high level instruments Yamaha was first sounded out regarding Vienna-style trumpets but their level of performance received high praise from the orchestra This led to them commissioning Vienna horns as well They currently work on other Vienna-style instruments such as the oboe and bassoon Director and Managing Executive Officer Hiroo Okabe received the Merit Award of the Province of Vienna in recognition for his contributions to the development of Viennese musical culture In contrast to the approximately 5,000 commercially marketed horns produced annually at the Toyooka Plant (a rate of roughly 25 per day) only 10 to 15 Vienna horns are made in a year It takes about one month to manufacture each one which employs around 700 craftsmen making wind instruments there are only two technicians that handle the entire production process for a horn alone If you narrow it down to just the manufacturing of Vienna horns who has 36 years of experience making wind instruments “Even now there are still some points that present difficulties such as continually applying the same force to the press.” mechanization has advanced in order to produce a large quantity of instruments efficiently with some aspects of the process like coating and washing being automated there is still much work that relies on human hands even the slightest slip will change the sound quality The welding is done by workers using the soldering method who understand how the metal expands and contracts when subjected to heat and each is responsible for a single type of instrument The assembly floor is lit by more than double the number of lights than other floors to ensure that even minor imperfections are not overlooked each instrument is inspected and actually played to ensure there are no defects you can perpetually hear the sound of instruments being played Instruments manufactured here are not shipped without passing through this final inspection by human hands The Toyooka Plant produces instruments in a wide range of grades from the instruments of the world’s greatest orchestra to those used by an elementary school fife and drum corps What supports this organization is the expert techniques of its craftsmen Japanese version Places featured this week include a 130-year-old sake brewery and a famous shopping street full of bag shops and even a unique vending machine for tote bags We continue our two-day train journey along Kyoto Tango Railway’s Miyamai and Miyatoyo lines which connect Kyoto Prefecture to Hyogo Prefecture we have to look for a restaurant for dinner as we checked into Amanohashidate Hotel late Most of the eateries are closed but we manage to find a ramen shop which is still open We enjoy the noodles with a soup made of chicken and pork bones We start the second day with a relaxing bath while enjoying the view of Amanohashidate Amanohashidate Hotel has private open-air baths we search for more spots with a great view of Amanohashidate A local tells us about “Amanohashidate View Land” and highly recommends we try out “matanozoki” All we need to do is to bend over and look at it between our legs So we take a monorail and head to “View Land” at the mountain peak There is also an amusement park and restaurant here After seeing Amanohashidate in the “matanozoki” position we head by the 10.15am train to Yosano Station A local tells us the town is known for its Tango crepe fabric and there is a famous street showcasing this workshops for weaving the fabric and the historical museum are rather far away if we were to walk there So we drop by a hair salon and ask the owner to suggest another famous place He mentions a sake brewery called Yosamusume Shuzo The wife of the hair salon owner offers to drive us there the sixth-generation owner tells us Yosamusume Shuzo opened in 1887 and besides sake it also produces plum wine and sparkling sake The products are mainly exported to other countries Yosamusume sake is produced using rice and water from Yosa It is bright yellow in colour as the sake is poured into bottles without filtering We get to sample some of the light and dry sake The sake brewery’s owner gives us a ride to Yosano Station We catch the 12.45pm train and head to Yuhigaura-Kitsu-onsen Station We want to have lunch but the restaurants suggested by the locals A shop called Kanihan sells souvenirs and also serves local seafood and its restaurant Koppe we take the 3.25pm train to the terminal station We find out from a passenger that the town is famous for producing bags and leather products There are more than 10 bag manufacturers in Toyooka 80 per cent of the bags in Japan were produced here a local we speak with highly recommends we check out the city’s famous Caban Street It has been around since 2005 and 14 out of the 25 stores sell bags One of the shop owners shares with us that a single sheet of leather is used to make only one bag He also leads us to a one-of-a-kind vending machine for tote bags of various styles and designs It is the brainchild of the shopping street association and the bags have become very popular 1) A unique way to see Amanohashidate is to bend over and view it “upside down” between your legs 2) Caban Street near Toyooka Station is known for its bag shops and even a bag vending machine Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us TERMS OF USE: Some of the information on this website may have changed since the time of writing. By continuing to read this article, you agree to be bound by our Terms of Use and Disclaimer and verify any information before taking action DISCLOSURE: Some of our articles may contain affiliate links or sponsorships (disclosed at the bottom) When I told my friend Tom we were going to this part of the country he said there’s a good chance we’d be eating the best crab in Japan they put us up in these Japanese-style inns where I was treated to one of the most amazing meals I’ve ever had in Japan – Matsuba crab it was like being led to a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow This was my first time staying at a Japanese-style inn and I loved it. I had no idea I would sleep so well on the floor! I enjoyed it so much that I booked three rooms just like it on a recent trip to Sapporo, Yufuin I often get lower back pains when sleeping but I didn’t experience any of that here I guess sleeping on a firmer surface helps we plan on visiting Japan at least once a year for the next five years so I intend to make similar arrangements whenever possible I like how spacious the room feels without the clutter of furniture You can stay for considerably less than that at a hostel If you don’t care to spend too much on accommodations then an inn like this probably isn’t for you But if you don’t mind spending a bit more to get the full Japanese experience If you’re considering a stay at this inn then please be advised that the JPY 8,400 a night is for 2 people and doesn’t include breakfast Breakfast can be had for an additional JPY 1,000 I don’t know how much a Matsuba crab feast would run you but if you love crab and have money to burn It’s an experience you won’t soon forget If you’re looking to visit the Toyooka area and would like to book a room at Nashikisou, then you can do so through Booking.com MAKE A RESERVATION: Booking.com I was a guest of JR West and given free room and board for one night at Nashikisou. Along with a group of bloggers/media from four countries, I was invited by JR West to promote Western Japan the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we’ll get a small commission if you make a purchase at NO extra cost to you We really appreciate your support as it helps us keep this website going Categories DESTINATIONS, JAPAN Kannabe Sanso Waraku: Where to Eat Soba & Tempura in Toyooka Website#ee76af9742ceed00b6d9be29{display:none} Great experience and amazing inn that allows to feel the spirit of medieval Japan "This is the BEST representation of my country food that I have ever seen. I’m very protective of our things and this made me proud. Thank you."– Erica on our Argentina food guide "We had the Quesabirria at Tacos Don Juan today and WOW!! That was the best taco yet! Thank you for the awesome article."– Tiffany on our Mexico City taqueria guide COPYRIGHT POLICYUnless otherwise stated, all photos, text, graphics, and videos used on this website are the intellectual property of Will Fly for Food and its contributors and protected by copyright laws. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. You can refer to our Intellectual Property policy for more information AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSUREwillflyforfood.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Early this year, I went on a JR West sponsored FAM trip that took us to places of interest in Western Japan. They took us to Amanohashidate and Kinosaki Onsen beautiful atmospheric places that I had never heard of prior to this trip On the last morning of our tour, they took us on a memorable hiking experience in the highlands of Kannabe. It’s an idyllic mountain range with a few small ski resorts just two-and-a-half hours from Osaka or Kyoto then it’s a good place to go on a quick skiing or snowboarding side trip from either city we didn’t get to do either but we did try something fun which I had never experienced before today – snowshoeing up a volcano I was so grateful for this trip because it taught me a lot about Japan. It showed me that there’s a lot more to this fascinating country than popular places like Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo I actually enjoyed these lesser known destinations more Many people go to Osaka or Kyoto in winter so if you ski or want to experience it for the first time None are big like Niseko in Sapporo but they do have a range of trails to accommodate skiers of all levels They also allow night skiing and even have kimono skiing That’s something I would definitely love to try they offer other activities as well like paragliding It takes a little over 2 hrs to get to Ebara from Kyoto by JR Train. The Japan Rail Pass and Kansai Wide Area Pass are valid between Kyoto and Ebara it’s about a 30-min bus ride to Kannabe via the Zentan Bus Kannabe Kogen Line It takes about 2.5 hrs to get to Ebara from Osaka by JR Train The Japan Rail Pass and Kansai Wide Area Pass are valid between Osaka and Ebara This trip was made possible by Cebu Pacific Airlines and JR West We were guests of JR West and taken on a FAM trip to promote the Kannabe area and Western Japan opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone Nemuro Hanamaru: One of the Best Kaiten-Zushi Restaurants in Sapporo Website#d51a9256d650f58ea08e163b{display:none} is it possible to go here from osaka on a day trip we dont want to stay overnight as we only have 4days in osaka im planning to side trip this on our 3rd day just because i want to experience snow it's 2.5 hours each way but it's definitely possible We once did a day trip from Seoul to Jinhae which is 4 hrs each way Just be sure to check weather updates to confirm that there is snow in Toyooka before you go Hope that helps and have a great time in Japan We're going 2nd week of November and I'm not sure if there's already snow by that time I don't think you'll find snow that early Hi is this place snowing all the time through out the year It's pretty easy so it's a nice leisurely thing to do Best to contact the Hidaka Kannabe Tourist Association for inquiries (contacts listed above) we stayed at this nice homestay called Nashikisou Email: Email Us Here Website: Visit Our Website One of my favorite episodes of No Reservations was the one where Anthony Bourdain goes to a soba restaurant near the ski slopes of Niseko In that episode was a scene that forever changed how I look at soba The scene starts in the soba master’s rustic Light streams in through a window just above his head so it appears as if he and the dough are glowing against the kitchen’s dark walls You can clearly see the flour dust billowing from his hands as he kneads and rolls the buckwheat dough into a flat sheet He then folds the sheet several times before slicing it into perfectly even strips for boiling I’ve never seen anyone make soba noodles before but it was apparent from the way the man worked that he’s been doing this for decades I’ve always preferred rice over noodles but seeing that man craft soba with a zen-like fluidity made me crave for it in a big way It was ski season when Bourdain went so watching that scene made me forever associate soba with cold weather and snow It seemed to me like the perfect combination one that I had the privilege of experiencing today I’m not an expert on soba noodles but I enjoyed these immensely. It was everything I had come to expect since watching that Hokkaido episode of No Reservations. You can eat them any time of the year but having them in winter felt so right. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I recently wanted to have them for lunch after a morning of skiing in Sapporo And I can understand why they’re often paired with tempura The contrast between the cold chewy texture of the freshly made soba with the crunchiness of the tempura was wonderful We were guests of JR West so we didn’t pay for our meals but a soba lunch at Kannabe Sanso Waraku ranges from JPY 1,000-2,500 according to the Hidaka Kannabe Tourism Association website It’s in Japanese but you can use Google translate to get a rough translation Their full menu isn’t posted but you’ll see that they offer Tajima Beef course sets as well for a reasonable JPY 3,000 If you’re on a skiing trip in the Toyooka area then I suggest giving this restaurant a try We had lunch at Kannabe Sanso Waraku courtesy of JR West We were guests of JR West and taken on a FAM trip to promote Western Japan Kinosaki Onsen: Scenes from an Onsen Town in Hyōgo Website#ca09870c964611ebbfe4e5d5{display:none} Email: Email Us Here