Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri in Hiratsuka city (Kanagawa prefecture, Japan): photo, Japanese, link, map...

Colourful annual summer 祭り (matsuri, festival) in Japan: 湘南ひらつか七夕まつり (Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri) in many streets of 平塚市 (Hiratsuka city) in 神奈川県 (Kanagawa prefecture). Photo on the left taken by Sébastien Duval on 08 July 2012.

Cheap 1-day excursion from Tokyo possible by train :)

What is your favourite Japanese festival? (name, location, reason, and link welcome...)

Website of Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri (Japanese only):
http://www.tanabata-hiratsuka.com

Message for the organizers of the festival:

Please also introduce Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival in English on your Website; foreign residents and tourists would have more chances to appreciate all the great things you prepare: parades, dances, decoration contests, evening illuminations... The ambiance is great; help more people enjoy it!

Location of Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival: near 平塚駅 (Hiratsuka train station).
[Google map] http://goo.gl/maps/nOeDx

Sand dunes at Sanin-kaigan National Park (Tottori prefecture, Japan): photo, Japanese, link, map...

Surprising landscape on a trip around Japan: 砂丘 (sakyu, sand dunes) at 山陰海岸国立公園 (Sanin-kaigan National Park) in 鳥取県 (Tottori prefecture). Photo on the left taken by Sébastien Duval on 03 March 2013.

Do you know a surprising natural spot in Japan besides Tottori dunes? Where is it? (name, location, reason, and link welcome...)

Official page of Sanin-kaigan National Park by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment (Japanese only):
http://www.env.go.jp/park/sanin

Message for the staff of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment:

Please, describe the Japanese national parks in English on your Website; foreign tourists, researchers, businessmen... should better know and understand the beauty and diversity of Japan's nature!

Location of Tottori dunes:
[Google map] http://goo.gl/maps/xkJFF

2.000+ y.o. holy camphor tree at Kinomiya shrine (Atami, Shizuoka, Japan): photo, Japanese, link, map...

Vision on a Japanese pilgrimage... A 2.000+ y.o. holy 大楠 (Ookusu, huge camphor tree) at 来宮神社 (Kinomiya shrine) in 熱海市 (Atami city), 静岡県 (Shizuoka prefecture). Follow the link for a photo of the holy tree while waiting for the photos/videos of my travel to Atami in July 2013.

Are such impressive trees common in Japan? Which ones would you point out for a 1-year tour of Japan? (names, locations, reasons, and links welcome...)

Website of Kinomiya shrine (Japanese only):
http://www.kinomiya.or.jp

Message for the head of Kinomiya shrine:

Please, introduce your Shinto shrine and holy tree in English on your Website; foreign tourists would certainly love it! Your Ookusu remarkably expresses the Japanese culture and the vitality of Japan's nature...

Location of Kinomiya shrine:
[Google map] http://goo.gl/maps/YoRT2

Adèla Stefanov's travel photo "Kyoto - Sakura blossoms" (Japanese garden) on Facebook

Photo of splendid cherry blossoms! Spring at a Japanese Garden in Kyoto city/prefecture? If so, which one? I have never seen such a thing in Japan...

Travel photo "Sakura blossoms" shared on Facebook in Adèla Stefanov's album "Kyoto":
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150729256694787

Winter cherry blossoms at Sakurayama park (Fujioka, Gunma, Japan): photo, Japanese, links, map...

Great sight during a travel in Japan: 冬桜 (Fuyu-zakura, winter cherry blossoms) at 桜山公園 (Sakurayama park) in 藤岡市 (Fujioka city), 群馬県 (Gunma prefecture). Photo on the left taken by Sébastien Duval on 02 December 2012.

Do you know another good spot to see winter cherry blossoms in Japan? Where is it? (name, city/region, link...)

Official page of Sakurayama park by Fujioka city (Japanese only):
http://www.city.fujioka.gunma.jp/kakuka/f_onishi/sakurayamakouenn.html
[Short URL] http://is.gd/fujioka_sakurayama

Message for the staff of Fujioka city and of Japan National Tourism Organization:

Provide at least a short page in English please...

Location of Sakurayama park:
[Google map] http://goo.gl/maps/DvQJn

Earthquake information services in Japan

Earthquake information by the Japan Meteorological Agency:
http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/quake_singendo_index.html
Short URL: http://is.gd/jp_quake

What earthquake information service would you recommend to long-term travellers in Japan? Why? (English, Japanese...)

Welcome to Inner Japan in 365 Days!

Welcome everybody on the brand new blog Inner Japan in 365 Days!

I am preparing a (365 days?) complete tour of Japan! Why? For great and unusual landscapes, encounters, experiences... :)

Expect links for unusual Japanese places, events, people, activities... as well as thoughts and trip reports!

Your comments, suggestions and questions are all welcome :)

Thanks for sharing the blog posts around!