Myojin-ike Pond in Kamikochi is an hour's walk from Kappa-bashi Bridge. I walked north along the right riverbank. Hodaka Shrine, which protects the entire area, sits beside the pond. And the pond sits just below the cliffs of Mt. Myojin. The sheer surface of the rock cliffs and the dead trees from past volcanic eruptions are clear examples of the intense nature of Kamikochi. But on this day, I had very nice weather. A blue sky and beautiful greenery reflected on the pond's crystal clear surface. In the middle of the winter, the lowest temperatures fall below 20℃. But even so, the water doesn’t freeze completely due to an underground stream that continuously flows into the pond.
I sat on the banks of the pond in the early morning before the shrine’s annual ritual on October 8. I was just fascinated by the mystical beauty of Kamikochi and this very tranquil setting.
Tomoko Kamishima @tomoko.kamishima
Japan is a small island nation, but we have a huge number of surprising things to discover here. Many of these delights can be found when you step off the main street onto small side paths. I really enjoy studying about and researching various aspects of traditional Japanese culture, and then sha...
