Autumn colors

On 22nd October, hubby and I went to autumn leaves festival (momiji matsuri) at Hottai-no-taki. Hottai-no-taki is a waterfall in the southern part of Yurihonjo city in Akita prefecture. This waterfall is one of the most popular spots for autumn leaf viewing in Akita. Hottai Waterfall is about 60 kilometers away from our home, and more than half of the way is curvaceous mountainous road. It took us about two hours to reach there by our car as hubby had to drive very slowly. At the beginning of the curvaceous road near the base of the mountainous area, we noted that the forests were still rather green in color. There were colored leaves here and there but not that significantly striking to our eyes. But as we neared the waterfall located at a higher altitude, we started seeing a fabulous display of autumn colored leaves.

We reached Hottai Waterfall at about 10.30 am. Near the car parking area we saw a colorful banner with ‘momiji matsuri’ written on it. We expected a huge crowd at the festival site but there were only a few people around probably because it was a very cold and cloudy day. The view around us was wonderful and the waterfall looked fabulous. From the parking lot, we walked across a large grassy area and reached near the waterfall. The serenity of the waterfall along with the sound of falling water was very relaxing and peaceful. At the waterfall and the surrounding area, we saw a fabulous display of autumn colored leaves of red, orange, and yellow mixed with green. The view was amazing and I found myself transfixed by the majestic beauty of autumn colors. We stayed near the waterfall and enjoyed the beautiful stunning view for about half an hour. We took several photos of the waterfall and the surrounding area.

‘Hottai Waterfall’ written on a monument sign located at the car parking area

The waterfall and the surrounding area as viewed from the car parking area

I am standing next to ‘momiji matsuri’ banner

The waterfall as viewed while walking along the grassy area

The waterfall and surrounding area

A mountain range near the waterfall

Hubby standing in front of the waterfall

Close-up view of the waterfall

I am standing in front of the waterfall

Hubby standing in front of the colored leaves near the waterfall

Me and the colored leaves

After viewing the autumn colored leaves, we had lunch at a restaurant located near the waterfall. We had noodles, a winter dish named oden, and a delicious grilled river fish named Iwana.

Oden

Grilled Iwana fish

While driving back home, we took a different route down the mountain. We enjoyed a spectacular view of forest trees covered with autumn colored leaves during our drive throughout this mountainous road. The fiery display of vibrant autumn colors on both sides of the road was really grand and splendid.

Vibrant autumn colors along the mountainous road

During our car ride down the mountain, we stopped at an observation platform along the road. From this platform we got a beautiful and amazing view of autumn colors. The effect of color gradation was magnificent, which took our breath away.

Stunning panoramic view from the observation platform

Enlarged view of the left side of the panoramic photo

Enlarged view of the middle portion of the panoramic photo

Enlarged view of the right side of the panoramic photo

When we reached the base of the mountainous area, we saw a bridge with an observation platform. We stopped our car and climbed a few steps that led to the platform. The platform protruded out from the bridge and it was a bit scary to look down. But the views around us were superb. The autumn colors had not yet peaked at this lower altitude. We saw colored leaves here and there along with a lot of fresh green color in the mountainous forest.

Forest and a bridge at the base of the mountainous area

Forest with autumn leaves that are not yet colored to its fiery best

After driving down the mountainous road, we had to drive for another hour to reach home. On our way we saw several horses grazing in a farm field. Hubby was very happy to see horses grazing so peacefully.

Horses grazing in a field

More horses

Hubby enjoying watching the horses

We loved the colored foliage and enjoyed every moment we spent viewing the autumn colors.

Autumn colors

19th October

On 19th of October, hubby and me went to Koyo (also called Momiji) Matsuri (autumn leaves festival) at Hottai-no-Taki. Hottai-no-Taki is a waterfall in Yurihonjo, Akita prefecture of Japan. Besides the waterfall, there is also a short hiking trail, a large grassy picnic place, and a restaurant in the area. This is one of the most popular spots for autumn leaf viewing in Akita.
Hottai waterfall is in the mountains near Mt. Chokai. It is about 60 km away from our home. But it took us almost 1.5 hours to reach there by our car as more than half of the way was curvaceous mountainous road and hubby had to drive rather slowly. We followed the Chokai-kogen route to go to the waterfall. On our way we noted that the forests in the mountainous area were still rather green in color with signs of beginning of the autumn color change of the tree leaves. There were colored leaves here and there but not that significantly striking to our eyes. But as we neared the waterfall, we saw the fabulous display of autumn colored leaves of red, orange, and yellow mixed with green everywhere. The view was amazing and I found myself utterly transfixed by the majestic beauty of the autumn leaves.
It was a very sunny and warm day, and when we reached the waterfall at about 2 pm, the Matsuri organizers were already winding up for the day as it was the last day of the two day festival. However, there were many people around enjoying the riot of autumn warm colors of the mountains near the waterfall. A few groups of people were sitting in circles on the grassy picnic ground and singing Japanese traditional songs while playing traditional musical instruments. Hubby and me enjoyed listening to them. I really loved the colored autumn foliage. We took several photos of the waterfall and the surrounding area.

Me standing next to Koyo (Momiji) Matsuri banner

People in festival mood in the grassy park near the waterfall


Me standing in front of the waterfall


Close up view of the waterfall and surrounding colored leaves


Hubby posing in front of colored leaves


Me sitting and enjoying the colored leaves



25th October

On 19th of October, although the waterfall and the surrounding area located at higher altitudes was full of autumn colored leaves, the mountainous way to the waterfall was still rather green. We wanted to enjoy and view the colored leaves on our drive through this mountainous road also. For this purpose, we went again to Hottai waterfall after a week, that is on 25th of October. Indeed this time, we enjoyed the fiery display of autumn colored leaves on our entire way up to the waterfall. We stopped our car several times to enjoy the view, which was really breathtaking and splendid. Although it was a cloudy and rather cold day, the weather could not dampen our spirits and we enjoyed every moment we spent viewing the autumn colors.

Some photos of the autumn colors on the mountainous way

As we approached the waterfall, we noticed that some of the trees had already started shedding the colored leaves and looked slightly grey. But at the same time, the red, orange, and yellow colors of the leaves looked more strong this week, probably due to the greyish background. However, there were only a few people around enjoying the view as the autumn colored leaves were just past the peak near the waterfall and the surrounding area.

Autumn colors near the waterfall


The waterfall

Autumn colors were just past the peak near the waterfall


Many trees already shed the colored leaves

After viewing the autumn colored leaves, we had sansai (mountain vegetables) noodles and oden (Japanese winter dish consisting of boiled eggs, radish, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavored broth) in the restaurant near the waterfall.

Hubby enjoying eating noodles

The autumn color change of the tree leaves is indeed one of nature's grandest displays of color.