We didn’t make it quite to the top of the mountain, but our hike in the eastern part of the Japan Alps was on a completely clear Sunday. We could see snow-covered peaks to the Northwest, big stands of birch trees with leaves already turned to yellow, a cold mountain stream stumbling over rocks, and still a few flowers and grass blossoms tucked between rocks and under green ground cover. I’m having fun learning how to use my new (hand-me-down) Canon PowerShot S100 camera.
Besides the skiing–this isn’t far from Nagano where the 1998 Winter Olympics were held–this area is filled with rugby and soccer fields. The 2019 Rugby World Cup will be in Japan, the first time ever in Asia.
We’re staying at a funky family-run ski house called Alice Lodge, outside the little ski village of Sugadaira.
6 responses to “Autumn Leaves in Japan Alps”
Looks like a beautiful place to visit. Good luck with your new camera. That’s always a challenge:-)
Thanks, Irene. I’m finally a manual settings girl! My only frustration with the camera so far is that I can’t see Mt. Fuji through the clouds.
What great colors!
Yes, Billie, it was fun to see the changes as we progressed higher. I liked the fact that these leaves were betwixt and between. Thanks for the note.
I usually think of blossoming cherry blossoms when I think of Japan. Obviously, an autumn visit also provides some “eye candy” as I believe you put it elsewhere.
Thanks, Suzanne, for taking a look. The best part of the day was climbing from green ground cover and pines at 1600 meters, to completely yellow birch forests at close to 2000 meters. (But I’d still love to see cherry blossom season here. It’s probably even shorter than the season for climbing Fuji-san!