Northern lights observed in parts of Japan

Northern lights observed in parts of Japan

An aurora is apparently observed in Teshikaga on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on May 11, 2024. The lights are believed to have been spotted in parts of Japan following a series of eruptions on the sun's surface.

Northern lights observed in parts of Japan

Northern lights observed in parts of Japan

An aurora is apparently observed in Teshikaga on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on May 11, 2024. The lights are believed to have been spotted in parts of Japan following a series of eruptions on the sun's surface.

Steam locomotive runs through Kushiro Marsh in winter

Steam locomotive runs through Kushiro Marsh in winter

TESHIKAGA, Japan - A steam locomotive runs through the snow-covered Kushiro Marsh in the town of Teshikaga in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, on Jan. 18, 2014. The locomotive on the JR Senmo Line began operating to attract tourists in winter. The Kushiro Marsh is the first Japanese marshland registered under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Frozen Lake Mashu

Frozen Lake Mashu

KUSHIRO, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 26, 2013, shows Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, Hokkaido, the entire surface of which has frozen.

Frozen Lake Mashu

Frozen Lake Mashu

TESHIKAGA, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 28, 2012, shows frozen Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, Hokkaido.

Elevated ice cracks on Lake Kussharo

Elevated ice cracks on Lake Kussharo

KUSHIRO, Japan - Photo taken on Feb. 14, 2012, shows a ridge where the ice has cracked on Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, Hokkaido. The natural phenomenon, called ''omiwatari,'' occurs after ice on the surface of the lake repeatedly expands and contracts due to changes in temperature.

Teshikaga police misused 310,000 yen of public funds in 2000

Teshikaga police misused 310,000 yen of public funds in 2000

SAPPORO, Japan - Katsuharu Ashikari (2nd from L), chief of the Hokkaido police headquarters, apologizes to the Hokkaido prefectural assembly on April 6 for the misuse of 310,000 yen in public funds by the Teshikaga police station in Hokkaido.

Cold town in Hokkaido unveils 1st red wine using local grapes

Cold town in Hokkaido unveils 1st red wine using local grapes

Tetsuo Tokunaga (L), mayor of Teshikaga on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, unveils to the media on Oct. 23, 2015, its first red wine made from local grapes. Since the winter temperature in Teshikaga could drop to 20 C below freezing, the town used a grape variety with a high degree of tolerance for cold, granted from another Hokkaido town famous for the Tokachi brand of wine. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Frozen Lake Mashu

Frozen Lake Mashu

TESHIKAGA, Japan - Photo taken Feb. 28, 2012, shows frozen Lake Mashu in Teshikaga, Hokkaido. (Kyodo)

Elevated ice cracks on Lake Kussharo

Elevated ice cracks on Lake Kussharo

KUSHIRO, Japan - Photo taken on Feb. 14, 2012, shows a ridge where the ice has cracked on Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, Hokkaido. The natural phenomenon, called ''omiwatari,'' occurs after ice on the surface of the lake repeatedly expands and contracts due to changes in temperature. (Kyodo)

Sandbaths and swans

Sandbaths and swans

A winter scene at Sandbaths on the shores of Lake Kussharo in Teshikaga, Kushiro, Hokkaido. A large number of swans welcome tourists.

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

A group of Ainu, an indigenous people in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, pray during a ritual to expel the plague god in Teshikaga on April 18, 2020, under a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

A group of Ainu, an indigenous people in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, pray during a ritual to expel the plague god in Teshikaga on April 18, 2020, under a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo