Category Archives: News & Events

Heritage Stone Exhibition at the Stone Museum of a Hundred Years

A special exhibition will be held at the Stone Museum of a Hundred Years in Kasama City, Ibaraki, celebrating the designation of granite from the Tsukuba Mountain Range as a Heritage Stone by the IUGS on July 6, 2024 — the first in Japan and East Asia, and the 55th worldwide.

Known locally as Makabe Stone (Sakuragawa City) and Inada Stone (Kasama City), this granite has long been used in historic buildings such as Akasaka Palace and Nihonbashi Bridge.

The exhibition will showcase the certification, stone samples, and panels introducing its cultural and historical value.

Dates: July 15 – October 26, 2025
Venue: Stone Museum of a Hundred Years, 2307 Inada, Kasama (next to JR Inada Station)
Admission: Free
Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM (until 4 PM from October)
Closed: Mondays (or the next weekday if Monday is a holiday)

Don’t miss this chance to learn about a local stone with global recognition!

A Spectacular Finale with Nomura Fireworks!

I had the pleasure of attending the Kasama Sports & Food Festival held at Shishido Hills Country Club on Saturday, June 7th.

The grand finale was an unforgettable display by Nomura Fireworks Co., lighting up the night sky with breathtaking beauty.
The powerful bursts of color and sound drew a wave of applause from the crowd — it truly moved everyone.

It was a magical night to remember. Bravo to Nomura Fireworks for such a stunning performance!

🏨 New HOTEL R9 Construction Spotted in Kasama!

While passing by Tomobe Driving School, I discovered a new construction site for the business hotel “HOTEL R9 The Yard” in Kasama.

The wide site is lined with stylish container-style units, each apparently designed to function as individual guest rooms.
This hotel will mainly serve business travelers, but it’s also built with disaster response in mind — ready to be dispatched as a rescue hotel to affected areas when needed.

It looks like it will be a convenient stay for both business and leisure.
We can’t wait to see it completed!

Healing Through Handmade – Adorable Ceramics from Ōkubo Kōbō

If you’re looking for something heartwarming at this year’s Kasama Himatsuri, don’t miss the charming ceramic creations from Ōkubo Kōbō. Their adorable animal-themed pottery—featuring tiny creatures perched ever so gently on cups and plates—is simply irresistible!

We’re happy to hear that they’ll be participating in this year’s festival as well, so be sure to keep an eye out for their booth. If you spot it, definitely stop by and take a closer look!

🎪 Kasama Himatsuri Pottery Festival
📅 April 29 (Tue) – May 5 (Mon), 2025
🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Kasama Geijutsu-no-Mori Park Event Plaza