#pentax_dfa28105

[pix4japan]

Returning to Satta-Toge Pass for Blue Hour and My First Sunrise of the Year・青の刻と今年初めての朝日を求めて、薩埵峠へ再び

I returned to Satta-Toge Pass in the early hours to finally capture the light trails I missed on my first visit, arriving well before dawn to watch them emerge beneath Mount Fuji. The reward of a winter visit was a snow-capped peak and crystal-clear air, but more than anything, I was simply glad to share the quiet, cold morning with my border collie as the first sunrise of the year unfolded.

光跡を撮るために再び薩埵峠を訪れ、澄んだ冬の空気の中、愛犬とともに今年初めての朝日を静かに見守りました。

Location: Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・04:38

Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter

23 mm ISO 160 for 480 sec. at ƒ/14

Velvia/Vivid film simulation

Read my full write-up (1-minute read) with sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20260104-satta-toge

[pix4japan]

Spring Awakens with Cherry Blossoms and Daffodils in Yamanashi Highlands・水仙と神代桜に見守られる實相寺

Otsuyama Jisso-ji Temple (大津山 實相寺) is home to around 30 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees and 80,000 trumpet daffodils. These vibrant blooms create a striking contrast with the snow-capped peak of Mt. Kaikoma (甲斐駒ヶ岳).

Full write-up (1-minute read) with links to Google Maps and references for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250408-jisso-ji

Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan Timestamp: 2025/04/08・11:54 Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP 45 mm ISO 100 for 1/40 sec. at ƒ/9

[pix4japan]

Doryū Falls: Threads of Water, Breath of the Forest・山梨県「吐竜の滝」：苔と清流が織りなす自然美

Tucked within the lush Kawamata Gorge of the Yatsugatake Highlands, Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryū-no-Taki) reveals another of its many serene faces. Here, spring water gracefully flows over mossy stones like silk spun by nature itself. Its name, “Doryū,” loosely translated as Dragon’s Breath, reflects the blending of Japan’s landscape with mythology.

In my latest write-up, I explore the meaning behind this name, its spiritual roots, and the calm beauty of capturing this quiet waterfall in its natural rhythm.

Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:11 Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP 28 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/20

Read the full story (1-minute read) with links to Google Maps and sources:　https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250827-doryu-falls

[pix4japan]

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・14:20

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

105 mm ISO 100 for 1.3 sec. at ƒ/10

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・14:22

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

58 mm ISO 100 for 1.3 sec. at ƒ/10

Brick Tunnel Beneath Utsunoya Pass・宇津ノ谷峠に残る明治のレンガ隧道

Hidden beneath the forest of Utsunoya-tōge Pass, the Meiji-era Utsunoya Tunnel still carries the atmosphere of early modern Japan.

Officially known as the Meiji Utsunoya Zuido Tunnel (明治宇津ノ谷隧道), the original tunnel first opened in 1876 between present-day Shizuoka City and Fujieda City. The current brick-lined version dates back to 1904, and in 1997, it became the first active tunnel in Japan to be registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (国登録有形文化財).

Read my full write-up (1-minute read) with sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20260104-tunnel

[pix4japan]

Cooling Off with My Border Collie in the Kinomata River・愛犬と一緒に、木の俣川の清流でクールダウン

The Kinomata River (木の俣川; Kinomata-gawa), its waters icy cold even in midsummer, flows south from the steep southern slope of Mt. Megadake (女鹿岳; Mega-dake) in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. For Dale-chan, it was a fun escape from the summer heat of our urban home in Yokohama, offering the perfect combination of cold mountain water and wide-open forest scenery.

This stretch of the river includes walking trails on both sides of the shoreline and is a popular destination for locals, especially young families and groups of students enjoying their summer break. On weekends, the riverbank fills with the sounds of children splashing, couples picnicking beneath the trees, and hikers making their way down from the surrounding foothills.

Near the Kyogan Suspension Pedestrian Bridge, which is located about 520 meters (1,700 feet) downstream from the Kinomata-Enchi Kyogan-Tsuribashi Parking Lot, the flow of the river slows noticeably. Here, a series of natural swimming holes have formed: calm, shoulder-deep pools for adults and broad shallows where parents play with toddlers in gentle, ankle-high currents. The water is clear enough to see every stone on the riverbed, softened by the shade of dense summer greenery.

Although the first step into the water was enough to make me gasp, the chill quickly becomes refreshing. I stood midstream with my camera, letting the cold run around my calves while I worked on a few landscape and pet portraits. Dale-chan waited patiently beside me with her ears perked, dripping wet, and periodically seemed to beg me to splash her with more water.

Moments like these are what make photographing Japan’s mountain rivers so rewarding: a blend of natural beauty, quiet forest air, and the simple joy of sharing the scene with my loyal companion.

Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan

Timestamp: 2025/09/02・13:56

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

105 mm ISO 1600 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/5.6

Links to Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250902-kinomata

[pix4japan]

Exploring the Mossy Wetlands of Gosensui Nature Garden 御泉水自然園の苔むす湿原と夏の涼しさを求めて

Exploring Gosensui Nature Garden in Nagano, where moss-covered stones, wetlands, and forest light create a cool summer escape.

Links to maps and sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250730-gosensui

Location: Gosensui-Shizen'en, Nagano, Japan Timestamp: 2025-07-30・12:59 Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP ① 63 mm ISO 200 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/10 ② 80 mm ISO 400 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/5.6

[pix4japan]

Suruga Bay Sunrise at Satta-Toge Pass, Shizuoka・薩埵峠から望む駿河湾の朝焼け｜静岡

After capturing the soft, warm light washing over the eastern slopes of Mount Fuji, I turned my lens toward the Izu Peninsula across Suruga Bay. There, the rising sun crested the ridge of Mount Amagi (天城山), a range that runs the length of the peninsula roughly 50 km (31 miles) to the southeast fro Satta-Toge Pass.

Despite the midwinter chill, the golden light felt surprisingly warm on my skin, helped by the still, windless air.

Location: Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Timestamp: 2026/01/04・07:07

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

53 mm ISO 100 for 1/100 sec. at ƒ/9

Read my full write-up (1-minute read) with sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20260104-satta-toge

[pix4japan]

Lush Moss under the Flow of Doryū Falls, Yamanashi Prefecture・吐竜の滝を彩る、瑞々しい苔の岩肌（山梨県）

Vivid green moss covers the rocks beneath Doryū Falls (吐竜の滝・Doryu-no-taki) in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Fed by natural spring water flowing through the Kawamata Gorge, the soft cascade nourishes a lush carpet of moss and vegetation, creating a serene and timeless natural scene in the Yatsugatake Highlands.

Whether it’s moss growing on wet rocks, clinging to the side of a tree, or carpeting the grounds of a Japanese garden, I’m always captivated by its vivid green tones and velvety texture. It’s one of my favorite subjects to photograph whenever I discover it while exploring the outdoors with my border collie.

Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan

Timestamp: 2025/08/27・12:05

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

53 mm ISO 100 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/4.5

Read the full story (1-minute read) with links to Google Maps and sources for a deeper dive: https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250827-doryu-falls