Hello everyone. This is Tomohiro Nakamichi from Shibecha Town. This is the seventh installment of "A Fine Day in Shibecha," a series where I share the charms of Shibecha Town from my perspective. While cherry blossoms are blooming in the Kanto region and news of pollen is buzzing, the breeze in Shibecha is gradually starting to feel like spring. The snow is slowly melting, and I'm feeling a little sad that winter is finally coming to an end.

This time, I'd like to introduce Kaori Miyazawa, who takes landscape and railway photographs in Shibecha Town.

She usually works with me in the Transportation and Disaster Prevention Section of the Shibecha Town Office, and we've become good friends over the past year. Ms. Miyazawa has been photographing Shibecha long before I moved to the town. When Ms. Miyazawa first started taking pictures, she says many people around her asked her that question. But Ms. Miyazawa thought to herself, "There are so many beautiful places in Shibecha, how can they wonder what there is to shoot?"

At the time, social media like Instagram was gaining popularity. However, a search for Shibecha Town would only bring up everyday posts, with almost no beautiful nature photos. That's when Ms. Miyazawa decided, "If that's the case, I'll show them!" and took action.

Ms. Miyazawa's Instagram page. It features beautiful scenery not only from Shibecha but also from the neighboring town of Teshikaga.

Ms. Miyazawa began posting photos of Shibecha on Instagram around 2018. A few years later, she noticed that people started coming to the photo spots where she used to be the only one.

"When I talk to people who come to take pictures, some say they came after seeing my Instagram. When they show me the photos they saw, I sometimes realize it's the same composition as a photo I took."

Ms. Miyazawa's photos were undeniably promoting the town. "This might disappear someday. With that in mind, I want to preserve it for the future."

Ms. Miyazawa doesn't just photograph landscapes; she also continues to photograph the Senmo Main Line that runs through Shibecha Town. The steam locomotive that runs through Shibecha every winter is also one of her cherished subjects. In 2021, she won the Excellence Award at the SL Photo Contest held in Shibecha Town.

The steam locomotive running through the morning glow at Lake Toro.

The photo that won the Excellence Award at the 2021 "SL Photo Contest".

This time, I had the chance to accompany Ms. Miyazawa on a photoshoot. We met at 5 a.m. at the Sarurun Observatory on Lake Toro. After walking on a snowy path in minus 20-degree Celsius weather, we were greeted by a breathtaking view that one might only see a few times a year.

"Kan-zakura" (Winter Cherry Blossoms) photographed by Ms. Miyazawa. The title compares the rime ice to cherry blossoms.

In Ms. Miyazawa's photos, I feel a love that goes beyond mere composition and technique—a love for Shibecha, a love for nature, and a love for railways. On social media, well-known, conspicuous tourist spots tend to be popular, but Ms. Miyazawa shows us that Shibecha Town also has countless such spots. She will surely continue to share the charms of Shibecha through her social media. I, too, want to continue sharing the stunning views and attractions of Shibecha alongside her.

You can find Ms. Miyazawa's Instagram here. And please also watch "Chronicles of Shibecha People," a video I mentioned earlier that shows her photoshoot at Lake Toro and her thoughts on photography. I'm sure it will change your image of Shibecha Town.


What did you think? With the new fiscal year starting in April, many of you may be starting new systems or new lives. I also plan to fully enjoy my second year in Shibecha and continue to share its charms.

On the Shibecha Town Community-Reactivating Cooperator Squad's YouTube channel, we share various attractions of Shibecha through beautiful videos. Please check it out as well.