As extreme heat continues to grip Japan, a tectonic shift may be underway in the nation’s summer tourism scene toward cooler locations. But recent temperature spikes in mountainous areas show there may be no escape. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2025/08/24/climate-change/heat-waves-cooler-vacation-destinations/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #environment #climatechange #heat #heatwaves #nagano #tochigi #hakuba #climatechange #tourism
Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko visited the Ohinata settlement in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, during their summer break in the resort town. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/24/japan/emperor-emeritus-postwar-settlement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #emperorakihito #empressmichiko#imperialfamily #karuizawa #nagano #wwii
Facing the growing threat of defeat, the military planned to move its headquarters from Tokyo to an area that is now a part of the city of Nagano. Construction continued until the day of Japan's surrender in the war. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/19/japan/society/nagano-hq-replacement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #nagano #tokyo #wwii
The resort town of Karuizawa has long been associated with summer retreats, and serves as a muse of sorts to writers such as Minae Mizumura who sees it as being uniquely situated between Japanese and Western culture. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/08/books/minae-mizumura-karuizawa-literature/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #books #books #minaemizumura #literature #karuizawa #nagano