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.

Omagari Fireworks Festival

On 27th August, hubby and I went to see Omagari Fireworks Festival in Daisen city of Akita prefecture. It is one of the major fireworks festivals in Japan that has been held since 1910. It is an annual national fireworks competition held on the dry bed of Omonogawa River, where selected fireworks artists from all over Japan compete to show off their techniques. The competition is divided into three categories, which are daytime fireworks hiru-hanabi, 10-gou warimono (30 centimeters round shell fireworks), and creative fireworks sozo-hanabi. Sozo-hanabi was introduced in 1964. This year was the 85th edition of Omagari Fireworks Festival, and about 17000 fireworks were displayed. The festival attracted about 700000 spectators from entire Japan to Daisen city. For those who are interested, the details about Japanese fireworks, shapes, and sizes can be found at this homepage (please click here).

We started from our home at about 10 am and took two foldable picnic chairs and a picnic sheet with us. It took us about 1.5 hours of car ride to reach Daisen city. Hubby had to park our car at a parking area that was very far from the fireworks display venue. So we had to walk for almost an hour to reach the venue. On reaching the festival site, we searched for an open area for seating and were lucky to get a nice place to sit within ten minutes of our search. After getting a seating area, we realized that it was just 1 pm and still many hours remained for the fireworks display to begin. It was a sunny and hot day, and impossible for us to sit under direct sunlight for another 4.5 hours. So we left the fireworks venue and went to a nearby place where there were many trees with shades. We spread a picnic sheet and sat under one of the trees. Hubby bought yakisoba, yakitori, kakigori, and cold drinks from a nearby food stall. We had a picnic and enjoyed eating and drinking while relaxing in the shade of the tree. We spent about four hours in the tree shade.

Hubby relaxing

Hubby relaxing in the shade of a tree

The trees were huge

The display of daytime fireworks hiru-hanabi started at 5 pm but we skipped seeing it as we were not much interested. At about 5.45 pm, we walked back to the fireworks venue and sat at the seats that we had reserved earlier in the day. There were so many people around us and all were busy eating and drinking with friends and relatives.

Many people around us at the fireworks display venue

I am relaxing at the seating area we reserved at the fireworks venue

At 6.50 pm the nighttime fireworks display started with an ‘opening event’. Hubby took a few photos and I compiled a video of this fabulous fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of the ‘opening event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the ‘opening event’ of the fireworks display

Next, the national creative fireworks competition sozo-hanabi started. This year twenty seven fireworks artists and manufacturers from all over Japan competed and showed off their techniques. There were spectacular displays of fireworks that used latest and highly advanced fireworks technology and very intricate techniques to form various kinds of colorful shapes and patterns in the night sky. Hubby took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled three videos of some of the creative fireworks displayed.

Hubby enjoying one of the creative fireworks display

Various fireworks patterns of the creative fireworks competition

More patterns of the creative fireworks competition

Several more patterns of the creative fireworks competition

Yet more patterns of the creative fireworks competition

A compiled video of a few of the creative fireworks displays

Another compiled video of a few more of the creative fireworks displays

Yet another compiled video of a few more of the creative fireworks displays

In between the creative fireworks competition, there were a few grand displays called ‘special event’. These fireworks displays were not included in the competition but were wonderful and choreographed to exciting popular music. The fireworks rose into the sky one after another and then exploded into spectacular colorful patterns. Hubby took a few photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled a video of one of the ‘special events’ of the fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of one of the ‘special events’ of the fireworks display

Several more patterns of the ‘special event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the ‘special event’ of the fireworks display

In addition, there was a fireworks display called the ‘main event’ where different fireworks artists and manufacturers collaborated to give an exquisite display of colors, lights, patterns, and sound. The theme of the six-minute event was ‘Oshu shoko - yukyunaru ougon no inori’ which means ‘a new dawn for Oshu - eternal golden prayer’. This theme of the ‘main event’ was to remember and pray for those lost in the March 11 earthquake disasters and expressing hope for a recovery of the disaster struck areas. We were overwhelmed by the masterpieces and passion of the fireworks craftsmen that were on grand display. Hubby took many photos of the fireworks patterns and I compiled a video of this fireworks display.

Various fireworks patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

More patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

Still more patterns of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

Hubby overwhelmed by the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

A compiled video of the ‘main event’ of the fireworks display

The display of creative fireworks by various fireworks manufacturers continued after the ‘main event’. At about 9.30 pm, there was a ‘final event’ where a fantastic display of mostly round shell fireworks was carried out. We left the fireworks venue before the display of the ‘final event’ began but saw it while walking back towards the car-parking area. Hubby took a few photos of the fireworks patterns.

Various fireworks patterns of the ‘final event’ of the fireworks display

It took us about one hour to walk back to the car-parking where we had parked our car. It was about 0.15 am of the next day when we reached back our home. We loved Omagari Fireworks Festival and the grand display of color, sound, and light.