Momiji River runs down through a valley on Mt. Omoshiro, which lies to the northeast of the city of Yamagata.
A hiking course along the valley enables you to enjoy nature throughout the four seasons, and it is very popular with sightseers.
The valley is especially beautiful between late October and mid November when the leaves turn red or yellow; this change is called 'momiji' and is the origin of the name Momiji River.
The 2km hiking course takes about 40 minutes to walk along slowly. Here and there running into the valley are waterfalls such as 'Wisteria Waterfall' and 'Illusional Dragon Waterfall'. Moreover, there are many unique rocks in the valley such as 'Whale Rock' or 'Treasure Rock'. And there are many strange ones, too.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of views of the river; some parts of the river are broad and some run between rocks. The canyon is also very popular among photographers.
Lake Tanzawa is a manmade reservoir in Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is chosen as one of the 50 Scenic Spots of Kanagawa, the 100 Scenic Spots with a View of Mt Fuji in Kanto, and Japan's 100 Reservoirs. The reservoir was formed in 1978 after the completion of Miho Dam on the Sakagawa River.
Tanzawa Lake is a beautiful lake that respects the natural environment, and also has a wonderful view of Mt Fuji from the lakefront. The natural beauty of each season can be enjoyed, such as cherry blossoms in spring, and red leaves in autumn. The lake is also a leisure spot for enjoying boating, fishing and cycling.
On fine days, it is possible to observe 'Sakasa Fuji' (the reflection of Mt Fuji on the lake surface) from the Eisai Bridge, which crosses the center of the lake.
Lake Tanzawa Memorial and Miho Homestead are at the foot of the bridge. The Lake Tanzawa Visitors Center, Tanzawa Forest Museum and herb farm are to the southeast of the lake.
Observation decks and recreation trails are also provided here at Lake Tanzawa. It is a place where you can safely enjoy nature.
Hisetsu-no-taki is located in Asari, Kihou-cho, Minamimuro, Mie Prefecture, and is 30m high and 12m wide.
In olden times, the waterfall was called the 'waterfall of the valley of bamboo' because of the thick bamboo forest in the valley where it falls. The name, Hisetsu-no-taki, derives from Yorinobu Tokugawa's poem written after seeing the waterfall:
Passing over many mountains the river is rich
The surroundings are all of a deep autumn color
The waterfall
One protruding rock being caressed by the water
When the wind blows
The scattering droplets dance like a snow swirl.
While being the easiest waterfall to reach in Kihou-cho, its wonderful surroundings make it seem as though it is a grand waterfall hidden deep inside the mountains.
Asazato Shrine is located to the east of the waterfall, and the stream that leads to the fall runs through the shrine's sacred grounds.
The sight of the water droplets scattering like a snow swirl as they strike the undulating and protruding rock-face gives the observer a subconscious sense of an ethereal, profound atmosphere that seems almost unreal.
When autumn arrives, the leaves of deciduous trees turn color, but because of the strong impression of leaves turning red, the autumnal color-changing of leaves is generally called 'kouyou (red/reddening leaves)'. Accurately defined, leaves that turn yellow are called 'ouyou (yellow/yellowing leaves)', while leaves that turn brown are called 'katsuyou (brown/browning leaves)' and so on, respectively.
No matter the color, the substance that is said to have a large part in causing leaves to turn color is a pigment called anthocyanin.
The color-changing of leaves begins when weather with a minimum temperature of 8 degrees Celsius continues for several days. When the minimum temperature dips below 5 degrees Celsius, the color-changing process becomes faster. The best conditions for beautiful color-changing are, long sunshine duration, strong UV rays, appropriate humidity, and a large difference between day temperature and night temperature.
Almost all of the famous 'kouyou' locations are in environments where these requirements are adequately fulfilled. Along with 'hanami (cherry-blossom viewing)' in spring, the 'kouyougari (red-leaf watching)' of autumn is also a nationwide event.
Located to the east of Mikuriga Lake, Midoriga Lake is a crater lake on the Murodou plains, which is a lava area surrounded by three mountains: Yuzan, Bessan and Jo-dosan.
Midoriga Lake formed in the crater left by an erupting volcano. At 1.6m deep, the water is quite shallow and rocks on the bottom can be clearly seen.
The transparent water reflects the beautiful scenery of the mountain ranges. The real mountains balanced by their reflected image makes an artistic composition. In seasons when lingering snow or fall foliage can be seen, the beauty of the reflected image increases.
By the sides of the lake, the pathways connecting with Mikuriga Lake and Jigoku valley are filled with hikers and sighteers throughout the year. In this area, there are also many alpine as well as water-loving plants such as Fauria crista-galli and Pedicularis chamissonis var. japonica, which is pretty enough for visitors to enjoy when in flower.
The Tateyama Mountain Range (Renpo) is a group of mountains that are an average of 3000 meters high. Tateyama-renpo is the all-inclusive term for the mountain range to the west of the Kokubu River in the Northern Alps. The southern side goes as far as Mount Kitanomata and Mount Kurobegoro, which is situated on the edge of Gifu prefecture. Moreover, the northern and southern ranges are linked to Mount Mitsumatarenge.
The fantastic alpine scenery can be enjoyed from trains, alpine buses, trolley buses, cable cars and cableways. There is an endless stream of visitors throughout the year.
In spring, the Tateyama Kokubu alpine route is opened and anyone can enjoy the 20m-high walls of snow lining it. In summer, the climate is cooler than in the plains and is perfect for trekking and hiking. At this time, the lake reflects the magnificent view of the ranges. In autumn, the fall foliage is beautiful. In winter, the ranges turn completely white and it is the most beautiful period of the year here. In late November, the sight of the first snow is beautiful.
Ootodoro Waterfall is a marvellous cataract located in Sawadani, NakaDistrict, Tokushima Prefecture. The Sawatani River, a tributary of the Sakashuukitou River, has an altitude, is 450m above sea level. The waterfall consists of three levels, but the lower part is itself separated into four levels. The waterfall is also wide and deep. In the upper level, the rock is white, and the water that flows over it is elegant and very beautiful. Its beauty even surpasses that of the Ookama Waterfall, which is one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls. The waterfall is an overwhelming 20m high. The huge volume of water ensures that the surroundings stay moist and green. It is interesting to see the autumn leaves in fall. In winter, the water becomes very transparent and blue. There is a wonderful tranquility. The beautiful valley scenery can be enjoyed in all seasons, with each season adding something special to the waterfall’s scenery.
