EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Takeda Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, dedicated to the kami (deity) of Takeda Shingen. Takeda Shingen was a feudal lord in Kai Province durring the Sengoku period of Japan. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Shrine; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/11; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Shingen; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period

Also, please visit the article on https://etsuo.tokyo/2019/12/.

Guardian Dogs, Takeda Shrine, Kofu, Yamanashi, 7/20/2025

Shinto shrine guardian dogs, a pair of statues, often lion-like, are known as komainu that are traditionally placed at the entrance or within Shinto shrines to ward off evil spirits and protect the sacred space. These statues typically stand as a pair, with one often having its mouth open (representing the “a” sound, symbolizing the beginning) and the other with its mouth closed (representing the “un” sound, symbolizing the end). Together, they are thought to represent the totality of existence and are a common sight at Shinto shrines in Japan. Komainu are an integral part of the Japanese religious landscape, embodying both the protective function of guardian figures and the symbolic power of sacred spaces. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu; (In Japanese) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8B%9B%E7%8A%AC; https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/learn/home/dictio/choukoku/komainu/

Oyanagawa (Oyana River) Valley is located in the town of Fujikawa in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The Oyana River is originated in the Genji Mountain running through the Oyanagawa Valley and runs into the Fuji River.

Oyanagawa Valley, Jikkoku, Fujikawa-cho, Yamanashi, 7/19/2025

Oyanagawa Valley, https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/49?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en; https://www-town-fujikawa-yamanashi-jp.translate.goog/kanko/docs_kanko/2023090800075/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

Itajiki Valley is located in the town of Kawakubo in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The Itajiki River is originated in the Deep Shosen Gorge running through the Itajiki Valley and runs into the Arakawa River.

Itajiki Valley, Kawakubo-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 7/20/2025

https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/

Itajiki Valley, (In Japanese) https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/%E7%A7%98%E5%A2%83%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9.html

Human activities have been significantly impacting the natural world, leading to a range of environmental problems like habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution. These issues, in turn, threaten biodiversity, ecosystem health, and human well-being. From the recent scientific articles, let’s see the current situations of the earth.

The five biggest threats to our natural world … and how we can stop them https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/14/five-biggest-threats-natural-world-how-we-can-stop-them-aoe 

From Pollution to Solution: a global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution

https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8047115

https://www.unep.org/interactives/pollution-to-solution

Biodiversity: Around one-quarter of freshwater animals threatened with extinction

Sayer, C.A., Fernando, E., Jimenez, R.R. et al. One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction. Nature 638, 138-145 (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08375-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08375-z

Environment High concentrations of nanoplastic particles found across the Atlantic

ten Hietbrink, S., Materić, D., Holzinger, R. et al.  Nanoplastic concentrations across the North Atlantic. Nature 643, 412–416 (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09218-1

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09218-1

Climate change: Whales faeces record warning-related toxic signal blooms

Lefebvre, K.A., Charapata, P., Stimmelmayr, R. et al. Bowhead whale faeces link increasing algal toxins in the Arctic to ocean warming. Nature (2025).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09230-5

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09230-5

Ecology: Inhibiting locust swarm behaviour

Guo, X., Gao, L., Li, S. et al. Decoding 4-vinylanisole biosynthesis and pivotal enzymes in locusts. Nature (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09110-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09110-y

More general information:

Biodiversity: state of habitats and species https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/biodiversity

Biodiversity – our strongest natural defense against climate change https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Human Impacts on the Environment https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-human-impacts-environment/

Human impact on the environment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_impact_on_the_environment

The peak of Mount Nyukasa is located on the border of the town of Fujimi and the city of Ina in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

The peak of Mount Nyukasa, 1955m above see level, the town of Fujimi and the city of Ina, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

Mount Nyukasa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Nyukasa

Nyukasa Wetland, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

Japanese meadowsweet (Filipendula multijuga), Nyukasa Wetland, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipendula_multijuga

Japanese iris (Iris ensata) and Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum), Nyukasa Wetland, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/nohanashoubu.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_ensata; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_japonicum

Lichens and mosses, Mount Nyukasa, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

Old man’s beard (Dolichousnea longissima), Mount Nyukasa, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture, 7/12/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolichousnea_longissima

Also, plese refer to Fujimi Panorama Resort for the gondra ride and the wetland plants: (In Japanese) https://www.fujimipanorama.com/summer/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retro_style

The Shimizu Station-Ginza Shopping District is located next to JR Shimizu Station in Shimizu-ward in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

Toy & Hobby Shop KADOYA, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 7/03/2025

(In Japanese) https://shimizu-ekimaeginza.com/shop/dally_necessltles/kadoya/

Stationery MARUYAMA, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 7/03/2025

(In Japanese) https://shimizu-ekimaeginza.com/shop/dally_necessltles/maruyama/

Candy, Toys and Miscellaneous Goods YAKICHI, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 7/03/2025

(In Japanese) https://shimizu-ekimaeginza.com/shop/grocery/%E9%A7%84%E8%8F%93%E5%AD%90-%E5%BD%8C%E5%90%89%EF%BC%88%E3%82%84%E3%81%8D%E3%81%A1%EF%BC%89/

Small-Time or Penny Candy Stores, https://pennycandy.com/; https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/cool/09-02-07/index.html; https://www.instagram.com/p/CwbYnz3Pl38/

Views of Mount Fuji from Okuniwa, Narusawa, Yamanashi, 6/28/2025

Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), Narusawa, Yamanashi, 6/28/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larix_kaempferi

 Northern Japanese hemlock (Tsuga diversifolia), Narusawa, Yamanashi, 6/28/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuga_diversifolia

https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/98?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en; https://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/index.html

Pink Wintergreen (Pyrola asarifolia subsp. incarnata):

https://www.pmnh.org/wpa/plants/files/2105benibanaichiyakuso01.html

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%99%E3%83%8B%E3%83%90%E3%83%8A%E3%82%A4%E3%83%81%E3%83%A4%E3%82%AF%E3%82%BD%E3%82%A6

Pink Wintergreen, Mount Fuji, Narusawa, Yamanashi, 6/25/2025

FYI (In Japanese) https://www.sankayoh.com/%E8%A4%87%E8%A3%BD-%E9%87%8E%E5%B1%B1%E3%81%AE%E6%A4%8D%E7%89%A9

White Japanese Meadowsweet (Filipendula purpurea f.albiflora): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipendula

White Japanese Meadowsweet, Kiyosato, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 6/21/2025

Lake Yamanaka from the 5th Waypoint of Mount Fuji, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 6/20/2025

Mount Fuji over Lake Kawaguchi from a sightseeing boat, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 6/20/2025

Japanese maple trees with fruit, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 6/20/2025

Japanese maple (Acer palmatum): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_pictum_subsp._mono

Hydrangea Annabelle flowers, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 6/20/2025

Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrangea_arborescens; https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=s940

Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki,’ Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 6/20/2025

Salix integra ‘Hakuro Nishiki'(Salix integra): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salix_integra

Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis grandis) flowers are blooming in Seisen-ryo, Kiyosato, in the city of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconopsis_grandis

Another species of the blue poppy Meconopsis gakyidiana is the national flower of Bhutan.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meconopsis_gakyidiana

Seisen-ryo, Kiysato, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 6/19/2025

Seisen-ryo, Kiysato, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 6/19/2025

Seisen-ryo, https://seisenryo.jp/