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

On October 9th, hubby and I went to see autumn foliage at Mount Hakkoda. Mount Hakkoda is the name given to a range of dormant volcanic mountains located in Aomori city of Aomori prefecture. The volcanic mountains consist of Northern Hakkoda and Southern Hakkoda group. Visitors can enjoy the natural landscape that greatly varies with seasons. The area is dotted with wetlands and is carpeted by dense virgin forests of beech and Marines’ fir trees. Mount Hakkoda is famous for alpine vegetation and in autumn the mountain range is beautifully colored with the red, orange, and gold-tinted leaves of maples and rowans. Winter sports such as alpine skiing and snowshoe walks are also popular at Mount Hakkoda.

Mount Hakkoda is located 240 kilometers north-east of our home. We started from our home at about 7 am and it took us about 4.5 hours to reach there by our car. As we neared Mount Hakkoda, we started seeing beautiful colored foliage all around us. After about 4 hours of car ride we reach a bridge named Jogakura Bridge where there was a rest area nearby. Hubby stopped the car at the rest area and we walked along the bridge to observe the colorful autumn view of Mount Hakkoda. Jogakura Bridge connects two mountains of Hakkoda Mountain range. This bridge is the longest deck arch bridge in Japan which is 360 meters in length and 122 meters above Jogakura Stream. The bridge commands an impressive view of Jogakura Gorge and offers a bird’s view of Hakkoda Mountain range. The bridge is a scenic spot and the autumn colors looked wonderful here. The magnificent autumn colors seemed to be in harmony with the bridge. We spent 20 minutes enjoying the nature around us.

Autumn colors in Hakkoda Mountain range

Autumn colors in Hakkoda Mountain range

Jogakura Bridge and autumn colors

Jogakura Gorge

I am enjoying the autumn colors near Jogakura Bridge

Hubby standing at Jogakura Bridge

After enjoying the views around Jogakura Bridge, hubby drove another 6 kilometers through mountainous road and reached the western base of Mount Hakkoda. We enjoyed the spectacular view of forest trees covered with autumn colored leaves during our drive throughout this stretch of mountainous road. At the car parking area near the western base of the mountain range, we took a few photos of us standing next to red colored leaves.

Autumn colors along the mountainous road

Autumn colors along the mountainous road

Autumn colors along the mountainous road

Hubby standing at the western base of the mountain range

I am standing at the western base of the mountain range

There is a ropeway named Hakkoda Ropeway that runs from the western base of the mountain range to the top of Mount Tamoyachidake, which is one of the mountains of Northern Hakkoda Mountain group and is 1324 meters above sea level. The ropeway is an aerial tramway with two track cables. The ropeway travels a distance of 2.4 kilometers and takes about 10 minutes to reach the mountaintop. The gondola of the ropeway can carry 101 people at a time and travels at a speed of about 5 meters per second. There are only two stations for this ropeway. We travelled by this ropeway and enjoyed the wonderful autumn colors.

While entering Hakkoda Ropeway base station named Sanroku, we saw a gondola returning to the station right above us. Inside the base station, we bought tickets worth 1800 Yen per person as admission fee for the ropeway travel. That day there were a lot of visitors and we had to wait for almost 40 minutes to ride the ropeway. As soon as the gondola departed the base station, we started getting magnificent view all around us. An extensive forest spread below us and there was a fiery display of autumn colors on our entire way up to the mountaintop. We thoroughly enjoyed a 360 degree view from the ropeway, which was really grand and splendid. The vibrant colors cheered us up. I compiled a video of this ropeway travel from the base station up to Tamoyachidake mountaintop. On reaching the top, we took a few photos of the bright autumn colors from the gondola.

Ropeway gondola near Sanroku base station

Waiting at the platform of Sanroku base station to enter the gondola

A compiled video of our travel by ropeway from Sanroku base station to Tamoyachidake mountaintop

Bright autumn colors as viewed from the gondola at the mountaintop

After coming out of the mountaintop ropeway station named Sanchou, we took a few photos in front the station. Next, we went to the observation deck located at the rooftop of this station building. The construction of this rooftop deck was completed on September 27th, just two weeks before our visit. Prior to that, visitors had access only to an observation deck located inside the station building. From the rooftop observation deck, we got a beautiful and amazing view of autumn colors. The effect of color gradation was magnificent and unique, which simply took our breath away. The view was amazing and I found myself utterly transfixed by the majestic beauty of the autumn colors. The weather conditions kept changing dramatically at the mountaintop. It started raining when we were at the rooftop observation deck, and therefore we had some difficulty to optimize the camera settings to take photos. We enjoyed the beautiful stunning views from the deck for about 20 minutes.

I am standing in front of Sanchou ropeway station at the mountaintop

I am standing next to a map at the mountaintop that explains about the walking trails which is a popular activity at Mount Hakkoda

Stunning view from the rooftop observation deck

View from the observation deck

View from the observation deck

I am standing at the observation deck

Hubby standing at the observation deck

Bright colors as viewed from the observation deck

View from the observation deck

I am standing at the observation deck

View from the observation deck

Beautiful view from the observation deck

Afterwards, we went to a restaurant located inside the mountaintop ropeway station building and had hot coffee and corn soup. It was rather cold at the observation deck, and so the hot soup and coffee felt so good.

Hubby having hot coffee

It was so serene at the mountaintop and we felt relaxed and peaceful. After spending about 50 minutes at the mountaintop, we stood in the long queue of visitors waiting to take the ropeway for returning back to the base station. We had to wait for about 45 minutes to enter the gondola at the mountaintop station. Fortunately the rain stopped and the sun came out during our return trip. At Tamoyachidake mountaintop and the surrounding mountain ranges, we saw a fabulous display of autumn colored leaves of red, orange, and yellow mixed with a bit of green. Hubby took a few photos during the return trip. I compiled a video of the view from observation deck and the view from gondola of the ropeway during the return trip.

A compiled video of the view from the observation deck and the view from gondola of the ropeway during the return trip

View from the gondola during the return trip

View from the gondola

View from the gondola

View from the gondola

View from the gondola

View from the gondola

The gondola almost reached the ropeway base station. Cars parked at the parking area near the base station are seen.

It was very refreshing to view the autumn colors. It was about 3 pm when we reached the base station of the ropeway. Later hubby drove up to Hachinohe city in Aomori prefecture. Hachinohe is about 85 kilometers away from Mount Hakkoda and it took about 2.5 hours of car ride to reach the city. We enjoyed colorful autumn foliage along the mountainous road for almost an hour during this ride. We spent the night at a hotel in Hachinohe city. We reach the hotel at about 6 pm and had dinner at a nearby restaurant. We went to sleep at about 7.30 pm as hubby was tired due to driving almost the entire day. The next morning, we visited Hachinohe Fishery Museum about which I will write in the next post.