We recently visited an amazing Onsen at Lake Kawaguchiko. I had the most perfect view of Mt Fuji right from the outside bath so much so that I had to sneak my camera in to take some photos.
Landscape Photography Japan, Love of Fuji
Mt Fuji has an amazing beauty and it’s understandable why it has been featured in so many artworks over the History of Japan. When you see it in person you fall in love, your jaw drops open and you gaze with amazement. It is impressive in it’s enormity and its symmetrical simple beauty. It is the most photographed mountain in the world and it’s hard to be around it long without wanting to turn your camera towards it and take one more image. My love is ongoing and so is my pursuit of the prefect image.
Travel Photography, Owakudani, Hakone, Japan.
Owakudani is a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs located inside Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park of Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture. You can really sense volcanic activity from a safe distance and the site has been a sulphur mine and a source for the Onsen water that feeds many of the local hotels. It is a popular tourist site and kuro-tamago (黒卵, lit. "black egg") is a local specialty of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs. The eggs turn black and smell slightly sulphuric; eating one is said to add seven years to your life.
When we visited the alert level was lowest at 1 but this area can experience many earthquakes and is sometimes shut due to the volcanic activity. It’s a great place to visit with your camera and to photograph some other worlds scenes.
Travel Photography, Nokogiriyama in Chiba, Japan.
Nokogiriyama in Chiba is a beautiful day trip from Tokyo and features a thirty one metre high sitting statue of Buddha. However it also has many other beautiful attractions and it’s definitely worth climbing up and down this mini mountain to see all the amazing sights. I just did it with my family on a humid 35 degree day and it was a sweaty expedition but definitely a worthy day-trip.
The temple on this site was established over 1300 years ago and the main attraction, the Big Buddha that was carved in 1783 is relatively young in comparison. Scattered through the trails of Nokogiriyama, are more than 1500 statues depicting Arhat (mortals who have attained enlightenment). Each Arhat is said to have a unique facial expression, posture and attitude based on an actual person and photographers can spend hours photographing the amazing craftsmanship and history of the place.
The site has been used as a quarry and the deep cuttings into the stone add an interest to this location that set it apart from many of the other historic temple locations nearby.
Landscape Photography. A quick hike to the The Rock Gardens at Mt Mitake, Ome, Tokyo.
On Mt Mitake in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park on the edge of Tokyo prefecture there are some beautiful hiking trails and exquisite landscapes. I often find myself saying that Japan is a landscape photographers paradise but it truly is. The four seasons ensure that the landscape is constantly evolving and you often find a new and glorious aspect each time you return.
On this day I hiked with my family to the Rock gardens. The clear mountain stream, the surrounding forest, and the stunning, moss-covered rock formations make this a place of true beauty. Waterfalls are considered as sacred in Shintoism and the majestic beauty of these natural formations inspires awe. There are Shinto torii gates and shide paper streamers marking the entrance to a waterfall as sacred ground inhabited by a deity. A great hike and beautiful place to photograph the landscape.
