Nagoya, Japan: Cherry Blossoms In Bloom

 Cherry Blossoms are hard not to appreciate, what with their short blooming period, elegance and soft petals.

Surrounded by Cherry Blossoms under the grey sky. If the sky had been clear I think these Cherry Blossoms would have been really beautiful. If you can get up close to the Cherry Blossoms you can appreciate their beauty. Enjoy them while they last!

Nakatsugawa, Japan: With the Last of Light

The sun was setting and the light reflected off the snow capped mountains beautifully. In this sleepy little town where the main occupation is farming they have the opportunity to enjoy a magnificent sunset almost everyday. 

 How often do we miss things that are right in front of us, because we see it everyday?

Yes, this photo isn't much of anything, but I have a good reason behind taking it. It's a blah photo, but this photograph will forever help me to remember just how enormous the sun was right before it slipped over the horizon. We couldn't find a good spot to stop the car to take a picture, but I couldn't stop thinking how huge the sun was. The only time I have seen it that huge was in a movie and I didn't think it was possible to be that big. I felt like I was staring at a planet as I approached it. I don't know what caused the sun to be so big, but I have a feeling I won't have a chance to see it that big again.

Have you ever taken a photograph right after it disappeared, but kept the photograph anyway because of the memory?

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Late Afternoon Light

The late afternoon light was gorgeous. It made us stop and take in the view. Wouldn't you if you saw this?

Living in the city we don't get views like this very often, so we had to appreciate the beauty of the afternoon.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Curves and Patterns

 Sometimes we can find curves and patterns in places we least expect. Of course, in nature it happens most often.

I don't know what caused the rocks to become yellow, but it made the rocks stand out in the water. I wished I could have gotten closer, but it was a restricted area. Apparently, some of the river water is collected for use (where I don't know, maybe in Nakatsugawa?)

 I really liked the lace like pattern that came out of this photograph. It made the water seem soft and gentle.

Please excuse the finger in the lens. I keep forgetting that my GoPro is a wide angle lens meaning that it will capture anything that slips past the sides of the camera. Otherwise, I wanted to share the view of the mountains. It was late afternoon and the sunlight was comforting in the cold.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Fear of High Places

 With all the cable bridges that I had crossed on this day, I became a little fearless....sort of.

I decided to look over the edge with my camera (just sticking my hands over the side of the cables was scary enough for me).

 But, I was able to capture the view I had from the top of this bridge, It was beautiful once you got over the thought of "What if I fall?" or "What if the cable breaks?".

Looking back the bridge wasn't so scary. Maybe it was because I faced my fear and looked over the edge and crossed the bridge or maybe it was just because I was on the other side. Either way I made it with no problems.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Surrounded

 

 Here, too the water was clear and blue. It kind of looked like there is a cave under the rocks, but one, it was freezing the day we were there. Two, who knows how strong the current is here and three, how safe is it really to go exploring with no one around? Probably not really safe, so we continued on.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Sheer Rock Cliffs

These cliffs were huge. We had to climb up a set of stairs and cross a bridge to get to the top of them. I enjoyed walking around this carved out space. It really gives the feeling of being out in nature...also a little scary since the rocks had to fall off at some point and maybe some more will in the future with the way the land changes all the time.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: The Other Waterfall

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Waterfall

 The waterfall in Nakatsugawa was partially frozen. If we had been able to go a few days earlier we probably would have seen a completely frozen waterfall. Unfortunately, the middle of the waterfall had already fallen, but it was still beautiful.

 The sound of rushing water, the sunlight and the trees surrounding us really made us realize we were kind of out in the middle of nowhere.

Visiting this area was well worth the hour and a half drive from Nagoya.

This wasn't the only waterfall in the area. We walked, climbed and slide around the area for a while just discovering what nature had made so far. I will share more photographs next time!

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Frozen Water Drops

We were on our way to see a waterfall near here when we noticed that....

a lot of things had ice forming on it from the water continuously splashing on them.

This tree was one.

This tree branch was another victim. As well as parts of the water wheel.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: In the Countryside

 

Just looking at the mountains reminds me of the fresh air and beautiful day we enjoyed that winter day.

Nakatsugawa, Japan: Wishing it was swimming weather

If only it had been warm enough to go swimming.

I would have been in the river in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, it was so cold that there were icicles on the rocks.

Maybe a trip in the summer is required.