Author: Benkei

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Horse; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexagenary_cycle

Kadomatsu made of bamboo, Takanaricho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

Kadomatsu: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu; https://chikutan.net/news/820/

Year of the Horse Daruma doll (made by Arai-darumaya), Kofu, Yamanashi, 01/01/2026

(In Japanese) https://arai-darumaya.com/

Mount Ishiwari is located in the village of Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Ishiwari Shrine is situated at the 8th waypoint of Mount Ishiwari. First, you have to climb 403 steps to reach the trail leading to the shrine. The summit of Mount Ishiwari is 1,413 meters (approximately 4,636 feet) above sea level, and that of Mount Hirao is 1,318 meters (4324 feet) above sea level.

Ishiwari Shrine, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Ishiwari, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Views from Mount Hirao, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Sign of the Tokai Nature Trail and small pine cones, Yamanakako, Yamanashi, 12/31/2025

Ameya Yokocho, commonly known as “Ameyoko,” is a shopping district in Ueno, Tokyo, Japan with its bustling, old-Tokyo atmosphere, diverse and discounted goods, and wide variety of street food and international cuisine. It provides an energetic and authentic experience of local Japanese commercial culture that contrasts with the more modern parts of Tokyo.

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/71/index.html; https://joyn.tokyo/life-guide/tokyo/ueno-guide

Ameyoko District in Ueno, Taito-ward, Tokyo, 12/24/2025

About the historical part of Ueno:

Ueno Tosho Shrine: https://www.uenotoshogu.com/en; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueno_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB

Ueno Tosho Shrine is a Shinto shrine built in 1627 to commemorate Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate in the Edo period. The existing shrine building was rebuilt by the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Ieyasu in 1651. The architectural style of the shrine is “gongen-zukuri,” a representative architectural style of the Edo period. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishi-no-ma-zukuri

There are a lot of copper and stone lanterns at Ueno Tosho Shrine. They represent loyalty, spiritual guidance, and offerings of light (dōmyō kuyō) from feudal lords (daimyo) to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, symbolizing their devotion. Even though they’re no longer lit, they serve as grand historical markers of the Edo period’s power and faith. About 250 lanterns were donated from all over Japan by various daimyo, who competed to see who could offer the most magnificent contribution. There are 48 copper lanterns and about 200 stone lanterns at Ueno Tosho Shrine.

Ueno Tosho Shrine, Guguardian Lions, and Five-Storied Pagoda, Ueno Zoo, Ueno Park, Ueno, Taito-ward, Tokyo, 12/24/2025

Komainu or Guardian Lions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_guardian_lions

The five-storied pagoda belonged to Kanei Temple. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kan%27ei-ji

Five-Storied Pagoda at Horyu Temple: https://www.horyuji.or.jp/en/garan/gojyunoto

Significance and Positioning of the Tosho Shrines

Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine, Nikko Tosho Shrine, Ueno Tosho Shrine, these three shrines are all dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, who was deified after his death with the name Tōshō Daigongen. Their respective positions are as follows:

Mount Kuno Tosho Shrine: The original burial place. Ieyasu requested in his will that he be buried on Mount Kuno immediately after his death in 1616 to become the guardian deity of peace for Japan. It is the oldest Toshogu shrine and a National Treasure.

Nikko Tosho Shrine: The final resting place and grand monument. Ieyasu’s grandson, the third shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, relocated his grandfather’s spirit (and possibly remains, according to some interpretations) from Mount Kuno to Nikko in 1617.

Ueno Tosho Shrine: A branch shrine for Edo residents. Founded in 1627, it served as a place of worship for the people of Edo who could not make the journey to Nikko.

https://www.toshogu.or.jp/foreign_language;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikk%C5%8D_T%C5%8Dsh%C5%8D-g%C5%AB;

https://www.uenotoshogu.com/en

Yuzu (Citrus × junos) is a citrus fruit and plant in the family Rutaceae of Chinese origin. Yuzu has been been grown mainly in Kochi Prefecture in Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzu; https://www.kpta.or.jp/yuzu/

In Yamanashi Prefecture, the town of Fujikawa is well known for its produce.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujikawa,_Yamanashi; https://www-town-fujikawa-yamanashi-jp.translate.goog/kanko/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

Yuzu (Citrus × junos), Showa and Fujikawa, Yamanashi, 12/21/2025 and 12/19/2024

Today is the winter solstice in this year. Traditionally, people take a yuzu bath on the winter solstice in Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuzu_bath

From the NHK Wold Japan News “Capybara soaking in a warm bath”: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20251222_08/

An exhibition titled Challengers of “Japanese Painting”: Their Struggles and Pursuits has been held at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan from December 6, 2025 through February 1, 2026. The paintings shown below are those photographing was permitted.

https://www.iwafu.com/en/events/1045396; https://www.art-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp/; https://www.art-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp/english/

A Church in the Night 1912-14 by Kawasaki Shoko and Early Summer at the Bay 1919 by Anayama Shodo, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/18/2025

Utsukushi-gahara 1938 by Mochizuki Shunko and Scenery of the Riverside District 1931 by Yamada Shingo, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/18/2025

Martins 1939-40 by Kondo Kennen and Karma (Deed) 1980 by Saigusa Shigeo, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/18/2025

Ichijo-Modori-bashi Bridge 1925 by Kondo Koiciro and Mother and Child 1966 by Nomura Seiroku, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/19/2025

From Challengers of “Japanese Painting”: Their Struggles and Pursuits at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art

An exhibition of Mount Fuji Ranger Picture Report 2025 has been held at the Kofu City Library in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan organized by the Yamanashi Prefecture Promotion Council for the Mount Fuji Charter from December 9, 2025 through December 21, 2025. Mount Fuji and Aokigahara Forest areas are rich in nature; however, the areas have been polluted with industrial and household wastes causing environmental strain despite the areas are inside the National Park and being a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 2013. Don’t you think something is wrong?

[right/middle] Japanese Goldthread (Coptis quinquefolia), a seedling of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata), Monotropastrum (Monotropastrum humile), Destroying angel (Amanita virosa) [right/low] Ice stalagmite, Futarishizuka (Chloranthus serratus), Tamagotake (Amanita caesareoides), Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus)

[left] ~3000m: Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris); ~2400m Treeline: Japanese accentor (Prunella rubida), Spotted nutcracker (Nicifraga caryocatactes); ~1500m Mountain forest, Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Japanese leaf warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus); ~800m Northern Mount Fuji area: Willow tit (Poecile montanus), Varied tit (Sittiparus varius), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Narcissus flycatcher (Ficedula narcissina), Chestnut-eared bunting (Emberiza fucata). [right] (In different locations) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Alpine accentor (Prunella collaris), Swallow (Hirundo rustica), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), Bull-headed shrike (Lanius bucephalus), Chestnut-eared bunting (Emberiza fucata), Japanese robin (Larvivora akahige)

[left] (Chicks and adults) Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni), Japanese leaf warbler (Phylloscopus xanthodryas), Mute swan (Cygnus olor), Cinereous tit (Parus cinereus), Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus). [right] (In different locations) Cinereous tit (Parus cinereus), Willow tit (Poecile montanus), Coal tit (Periparus ater), Varied tit (Sittiparus varius), Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), Warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus), Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Japanese pygmy woodpecker (Yungipicus kizuki)

Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Fruits of flowering dogwood trees, Kofu City Library, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/17/2025

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_florida

Mariko Chigira is a paper collage artist based in the city of Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Her exhibition titled Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here” has been held at the Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum in the city of Minami Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan from June 15, 2025 through March 10, 2026.

Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum: https://www.minamialps-net.jp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025_minamiALPS_chigira_A4.pdf; https://www.minamialps-net.jp/cat_news/384555#; https://www.minamialps-net.jp/

Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

A 115-year-old cedar tree, born in 1890 and 115 years old in 2005; Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese cypress -(Chamaecyparis obtusa), Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora), and Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here,” Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Mariko Chigira Original Collage Exhibition “It’s Just Here,” Minami Alps-City Ashiyasu Mount Museum, Minami Alps-city, Yamanashi, 12/15/2025

Minobusan Kuonji (Mount Minobu Kuon Temple) is the head temple of Nichiren Shu (sect) Buddhism located in the town of Minobu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. https://kuonji.jp/english/

Also, please refer to the GALLERY, MINOBU 2017/01/05 (https://etsuo.tokyo/photogallery/#MINOBU).

Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

The Okunoin Approach East Course: https://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/hiking/east.php

Mount Minobu Kuon Temple and its Okunoin, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Japanese cedar trees, Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptomeria

Momi fir (Abies firma): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_firma, Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina): Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Oriental paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgeworthia_chrysantha, Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

Shikizakura (Cerasus × subhirtella ‘Semperflorens’ Miyoshi), Mount Minobu Kuon Temple, Minbu, Yamanashi, 12/13/2025

(In Japanese) https://www.hananokai.or.jp/sakura-zukan/shikizakura/; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B7%E3%82%AD%E3%82%B6%E3%82%AF%E3%83%A9

The base station of the Minobusan Ropeway is located behind Mount Minobu Kuon Temple and connects between Kuonji Station and Okunoin Station in just 7 minutes. The elevation of Kuonji Statin is 390 meters above sea level. Okunoin Station is located at the sumit of Mount Minobu and it’s elevation is 1,153 meters above sea level. The distance between the two stations is 1,665 meters.

Mount Minobu Ropeway: https://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/; https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/recover/minobusan-ropeway.html

I had an opportunity to visit the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It was created to research and develop next-generation energy systems, primarily focusing on Power-to-Gas (P2G) technology to create a CO₂-free hydrogen society. P2G is a technology that converts surplus renewable electricity (from wind or solar) into storable gaseous fuels like hydrogen or synthetic natural gas. All current P2G systems start with electrolysis splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. In a “power-to-hydrogen” system, the resulting hydrogen is injected into the natural gas grid, or is used in transport or industry rather than being used to produce another gas type.

Power-to-Gas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-to-gas

Yamanashi Prefecture is a significant hub for hydrogen and fuel cell research and development (R&D), featuring a strong academic-industry cluster centered around the University of Yamanashi, world-class facilities like FC-Cubic, and the Hydrogen Technology Center, focusing on the entire hydrogen cycle from production (including green hydrogen) to use, fostering innovation and attracting related businesses through supportive government initiatives. 

Komekurayama Solar Power Plant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komekurayama_Solar_Power_Plant

Yamanashi Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Support: https://www.yiso.or.jp/yhfc/en/index.html#gsc.tab=0

Yonekurayama Next-Generation Energy Systems Research and Development Village: https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/newene-sys/nesrad.html (Komekurayama can be read as Yonekurayama in the Japanese writing system)

Some equipment in the Komekurayama Electric Power Storage Technology Research Site, Kofu, Yamanashi, 12/09/2025

Also, please read the related article, Hydrogen As a Next-Generation Energy Source: https://yamanashietsuo.net/hydrogen-as-a-next-generation-energy-source/

FYI

Launch of Suntory’s Green Hydrogen Park Hakushu: A New Journey in Energy “Born from Water, Returning to Water”: https://www.suntory.com/sustainability/story/024/

Overview of P2G System at Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant and Suntory Hakushu Distillery: https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/hd/newsroom/press/archives/2025/pdf/251011e0102.pdf

Technical Development, Iwatani Advanced Hydrogen Technology Center: https://www.iwatani.co.jp/eng/business/rd/hydrogen/high-pressure/

Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Hydrogen_Energy_Research_Field; https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/800013531.pdf

The Kitayatsugatake Ropeway is located in the Kitayama region in the city of Chino in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The Base Station of the Kitayatsugatake Ropeway is 1771 meters above sea level.

Ropeway Base Station, Kitayatsugatake Ropeway, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 12/06/2025

Kitayatsugatake Ropeway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitayatsugatake_Ropeway

Needle ice and snow, Kitayama, Chino, Nagano, 12/06/2025

Needle ice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needle_ice

Enkianthus perulatus (dodan-tsutsuji): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enkianthus_perulatus