14th Nov 1998: Mitarai Keikoku in Nara Prefecture
Mitarai Keikoku located in Tenkawa Village, Nara Prefecture, is a nature-rich valley that becomes beautifully adorned with vibrant autumn foliage each year. The best time to view the fall colors is typically from early to mid-November. During this season, the emerald-green streams, cascading waterfalls of various sizes, and the vivid reds and yellows of the trees create a truly breathtaking landscape. Well-maintained walking trails and suspension bridges allow visitors to enjoy the harmony of waterfalls and autumn leaves as they stroll through the gorge. In particular, the view from the suspension bridge—looking down at the waterfall framed by colorful foliage—and the reflections of the leaves on the crystal-clear water are especially popular among photography enthusiasts. During the peak season, the area becomes quite crowded with tourists. To avoid the crowds, I arrived in the middle of the night, took a short nap in the parking lot, and then enjoyed photographing the gorge in t...