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| Building Reflections (Nagoya) - Japan 2024 |
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| Pedestrians Crossing (Nagoya) - Japan 2024 |
We've stopped in Nagoya several times, but only to change trains. This time we were catching a shinkansen to Kyoto. Photos taken from an upper train platform using a Sony RX100.
Someday we'll have to actually, you know, go into the city.
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| Dog (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
Seen as we were checking out the various shops on this particular street.
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| Cat Statue (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Morning Fog (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
Last morning in Takayama: chilly and foggy. After visiting the morning market, we checked out of our hotel, walked over to the train station (without luggage, which was on its way to Kyoto) and boarded the train (somehow unaccountably late) for Nagoya.
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| Dried Flowers, Bicycle (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Maple Leaf, Pine Needles (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
I think it was Hali that noticed the basket of dried flowers. Leaf and pine needles were seen walking by moss-covered temple steps.
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| Miyagawa River, Sunrise (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Morning Market (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
We bought something at the market, but I can't remember what.
EDIT: Per Hali, in the comments: "We got some dried Persimmons, fresh Apples, and Pastries. I think there was one more thing, but I can't remember now."
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| Gate (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Flowers (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Figurines, Self-Portrait (Takayama) - Japan 2024 |
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| Azusa River (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Hotaka Mountains, Azusa River (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
"The Azusa River is 65 km long with a watershed of 559 sq km, and has its source on the southeastern slope of Mount Yari in the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. The river flows through the Kamikōchi (上高地, Upper Highlands) valley - designated as one of Japan's National Cultural Assets, on the list of Special Natural Monuments and Special Places of Scenic Beauty."
Our route crossed a bridge over the river and we arrived at the main visitor center. Exploring a short distance beyond the center we got treated to an expansive view of river and mountains.
By this time we were getting a little tired. We managed to get seats on a bus that was just departing for Takayama, where we had a nice lunch at a small tempura / udon restaurant.
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| River, Trees, Mountains (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Trees, Mountains (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
The sun was pretty low, giving me some nice lens flares.
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| Ducks (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
Mallards: Kamikochi’s Permanent Residents
"As you may have gathered from the title of this post, mallard ducks (called 'magamo' in Japanese) have a special quality which strengthens their association with Kamikochi. The mallard itself is by no means a rare species. Of the 130 species of birds confirmed to reside in Kamikochi, though, it is one of only 20 species that winters there."
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Didn't expect to see them in Kamikochi! (More likely viewed down by the pool or Vik's Chaat restaurant in Berkeley.)
Photo taken with a Sony RX100 digital camera.
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| Autumn Trees (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Azusa River, Trees (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
Larches.
"Known as karamatsu in Japanese, larches are endemic to some of the colder regions in Japan. Every autumn, their needles turn yellow before gradually falling off the trees, and growing back the following year to repeat the cycle anew. They are distinguished from other similar species in that they alone are classified as deciduous conifers. Larches are perhaps the tree most closely associated with Kamikochi in the autumn."
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| Hotaka Mountains (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Hotaka Mountain Range Sign (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
Eventually the marshy area gave way to more solid ground. Coming out of the trees we came upon this meadow featuring a view of the stark Hotaka Mountain range.
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| Frost on Grass (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Trees, Reflections (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
Very cold! Actually, it was the last week the park was open before closing for the winter season. This section was wet and marshy . . . boards have been installed for hiking purposes.
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| Hiking on Boards (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Pond, Trees, Mountains (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| Pond, Reflections (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
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| View from Bus - Japan 2024 |
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| Bus in Tunnel - Japan 2024 |
"Kamikōchi (上高地, Upper Highlands) is a remote mountainous highland valley within the Hida Mountains range, in the western region of Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
"It has been preserved in its natural state within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. It is designated as one of Japan's National Cultural Assets, on the list of Special Natural Monuments and Special Places of Scenic Beauty. It is sometimes referred to as the 'Japanese Yosemite Valley,' although it is considerably smaller than its Californian counterpart."
After arriving in Takayama after our Tanekura excursion we wandered around the town and ended up having dinner at a nice Hida beef restaurant. But most importantly, we purchased tickets for the next day's 7AM bus to Kamikochi, which had been on our to-do list for quite some time.
Even though we got to the bus depot early there was already a surprisingly long line waiting to board. Luckily, a second bus soon appeared and we got on. We transferred to a dedicated park bus and after a short ride got off at Taisho Pond.
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| Hiking Down to Taisho Pond (Kamikochi) - Japan 2024 |
