Popular Post muikabochi 208 Posted November 7, 2012 Popular Post Share Posted November 7, 2012 I have always wanted to get to Nikko in peak autumn season and have been trying to time it this year, checking the reports and forecasts. Yesterday was looking like it would be nice and sunny all day and so off I went, starting out at 6am. The route from here is the Kanetsu Expressway down to Numata, then taking Route 120 east through Katashina, past Marunuma and over Konsei Pass into Tochigi, past Chuzenjiko Lake and Kegon Falls and then down into Nikko. From Katashina onwards, it was spectacular full on autumn colours. It was the faded out late autumn look as I got higher towards the Konsei Pass - there was even a bit of snow by the side of the road and a bit icy. I could too easily go overboard on the adjectives to describe how beautiful it was, such was the vivid colours on show. It truly is a beautiful area, I actually got quite emotional from time to time. The only adjusting I have done on some of these photos is taking out some hightlights and bring out shadows but for the most part they are as they were. --- These are by one of the lakes up near Marunuma Kogen just before the Konsen Pass. I spotted the guy in the boat and thought it might make a good pic, so took a bit of a detour down to the side of the lake. The obligatory Kegon Falls photos. Sadly, there were some big clouds above blocking the sun that didn't seem to want to move, so didn't catch it at the best time - nice rainbow though. The Japanese Garden by the temples. Just stunning. The first few minutes I went in the clouds were still hanging about and I was disappointed. Then the skies cleared and the sun came out. What a contrast that made. It went from being pretty to absolutely spectacular within the space of a few minutes. I spent over an hour in this small garden just trying to soak it all up, almost didn't want to leave... 4 Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 7, 2012 Author Share Posted November 7, 2012 After spending time in the beautiful garden it was on to the temples and shrines. And stone lantern thingies. It was pretty busy, perhaps as you might expect in peak autumn - if this was a Wednesday, I would not want to be there at the weekend! After a bizarre hail/sleet (?) storm - it actually went dark and ice was falling from the sky! - it suddenly totally cleared up again and the sun was out. Very strange weather indeed. And what happened to the sun-sun-sun-sun forecast for the day? Next I drove up to Kirifuri Kogen, the mountain going up behind Nikko. There used to be an open skijo up here, but not now. Then it was time to make my way back to Niigata. This was just before the sun went down near Yumoto Onsen on the way back. Beautiful region. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Stunning pics. Looks like you timed it just right, freak ice from sky aside! Link to post Share on other sites
charlotte 0 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Those colours are incredible. And to think, yesterday I was sat at my desk in the morning doing nothing and then had to sit in a useless meeting all afternoon. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Lovely. It's great that you go to Nikko and still end up posting photos of trees. I've not been out and about that much, but the long summer and abrupt snap to autumn have the colours looking fantastic this year. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Not only trees, but lanterns. There's some temples in there! Autumn is mostly about the trees anyway. Looks fantastic. Link to post Share on other sites
DoctorOctopus 2 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Beautiful. Those first ones of the dude on the lake are very cool. Been a while since I went to Nikko. Must get back there. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Me too. I was a bit rushed when I went before. Beautiful photos as always, mr muikabochi. No monkeys? Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 amazing Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Not only trees, but lanterns. There's some temples in there! Autumn is mostly about the trees anyway. Looks fantastic. You can't beat nature! (fwiw, the light looks too bright for optimally photographing the shrines) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 Well, I like trees! Been to Nikko a few times and have lots of temple photos - there were too many people around to get good shots really as well. I'm not keen on people-populated photos. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 (fwiw, the light looks too bright for optimally photographing the shrines) You're right Mr Wiggles, at times it certainly was. There were clouds in and out during the morning while I was at the temples, I have a fair few that have either that dull or washed out feel. Not good looks those. I won't post them. Light hey, it can really make or break photos in a big big way. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Nikko is certainly a place for anyone visiting Japan to see. I prefer it to Kyoto. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Kyoto is more of a collection of places. Throw in Ohara and Kurama and Uji and Arashiyama, and there is plenty to enjoy. With the leaves being so good this time, around here anyway, it might be a good year to go and battle the crowds there. You need to get yourself a garden Muika! If you do, maples and stone lanterns are not expensive. A Japanese maple (or "acer" if you're a poncey person on a British gardening program) that will cost hundreds in the UK can be had for a few thousand yen in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 :thumbsup: Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 What waterfall is this muika? Link to post Share on other sites
HeatherLocklearRocks 1 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Stunning. Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 That's up on the way to Kirifuri Kogen, can't think of the name. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Nice pics Muika. I'm glad you focussed on the trees and gave the temples a miss.....I'm waaaaay temple-d out. The scenery looks stunning, haven't been up that way. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 There is some temple in there!! I think that waterfall is called Kirifuri-no-taki 霧降の滝 You walk down about 300m to a viewing platform and can just see it from there. Definitely worth a visit Tubby, outstanding area. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Some of those colours are almost unreal. Great timing dude! Link to post Share on other sites
Criz 0 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Wow that place looks amazing. About how long do those colours last? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Someone else will know that more than me - about a week of peak times? Though do different trees go at different times I suppose? Actually I know nothing. Other than them there damn pretty photos. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 About a week sounds right. We chose the trees for our garden mainly based on autumn colour but they don't change at the same time. We've got three very similar looking maples, but there is a lot of variation among them. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Very nice, muika. Somehow imagine that had I tried to take the same photos, they would all have come out grey. How was the Iroha-zaka? I heard it was a parking lot last week, just totally jammed, even on a week day. Link to post Share on other sites
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