Mount Norikura in Golden Hue

Autumn colors coming down from the mountaintop

Takako Sakamoto Oct 23, 2014 - 2 min read

<p>The view from the 'Three Waterfalls Rest House': Autumn leaves are within your reach now!</p>

<p>On the way to one of the Three Major Waterfalls of Mount Norikura, 'Three Waterfalls'</p>

<p>Cold air and the blue sky enhance the brilliance of autumn leaves</p>

<p>Natural blind made of conifer trees...yet the morning sunshine is blinding</p>

<p>Yellow tree reaching high up to the clear blue sky</p>

<p>Far-away mountains attired in colorful autumn costume</p>

<p>Maple leaves shining like jewels...their translucent radiance looks like a piece of a drawing</p>

I visited Norikura Highlands on October 23, two years ago, to see the autumn leaves on the 'Echo Line' and at 'Tatami Daira', but I came too late!

Since the autumn leaves at these locations were finished, I explored the highlands instead. But the mountains I saw from here were in the peak of the autumn season, shining brightly in golden and vermilion hues. Cold air and the clear blue sky enhanced the brilliance of the autumn colors. I realized that the autumn leaves on the lower part of the mountains are as beautiful as they are at the top.

As I had slept just a little at home before I departed in the middle of the night and drove five hours to reach here, the brilliance of the autumn leaves here was too blinding to my sleepy eyes. If I lied down I would have fallen asleep right away, but I didn't want to miss even a moment to see this wonderful scenery under the bright morning sun. I appreciated the autumn colors in the deep mountains here to the fullest, then slept like a log when I got back home.

Autumn Colors of Norikura Highlands 1. Freezing Dawn at Norikura Highlands 2. Mount Norikura in Golden Hue 3. Translucent Norikura Highlands

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...