Autumn Colors Report 2014 - Visiting Okutama at the End of Autumn to See Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall with Autumn Colors

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/200 sec, ISO-100)

Thank you for visiting my page! I will show you how beautiful Okutama is at the end of autumn!

I've been reporting a lot of  autumn colors this year, and each of them has beautiful elements worth visiting for. But I forgot one thing. I haven't shooted waterfall with autumn colors!

I have already shooted a row of three waterfalls - Mitsugama-no-taki Waterfall, Nejire-no-taki Waterfall and Ootaki Waterfall in this area. So I decided to see another big one. That is Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/4000 sec, ISO-100)

Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall is located at Mt. Kawanori. The starting point is very close to Hatonosu Station, but keep in mind that it is easy to get lost on the way. I did get lost. *laugh*

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

After a bit of walk, an open space appeared between the trees.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

The space has a rest area made of woods and stones. It was pretty comfortable to stay under the warm sunlight and the autumn colors. After a brief period of rest, I started to walk again.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/125 sec, ISO-100)

I'm going into the shade.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/125 sec, ISO-100)

The trees are high with plenty of leaves. The inside looks quite dark.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/4, 1/60 sec, ISO-800)

I shooted some leaves in the shade. It turned out that the season of autumn colors is about to end in the mountainous area of Okutama. Let's see the photo below.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/160 sec, ISO-100)

Most of the mountain trail is like this. There are a lot of trees, but most of them have already lost their leaves.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

I am about to reach the peak of Mt. Kawanori. There're no autumn colors left here, too.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2.2, 1/4000 sec, ISO-100)

I arrived at the peak. It took less than 3 hours including the time of taking photos and getting lost. Well done!

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

Here's a view from the peak. Wow, I can hardly see any autumn colors...

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO-100)

I shooted a group of withered leaves. Mt. Kawanori is definitelly welcoming this winter.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

But don't forget about the main purpose of today's climb. The purpose is to see a waterfall with autumn colors. There's a possibility that Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall does have autumn colors in its surroundings since it's located in the lower altitude. Then, let's go down!

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-800)

I got into the shade again. This area had numerous fallen leaves. I felt comfortable in the chilly air.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

After walking through the shade, I went into the way on the traverse. It reminded me of the signboard saying "Lots of Fall Accidents When Going Down. Watch Out!".

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (12mm, f/8, 3.2 sec, ISO-100)

Once you fall from the way, it must be quite hard to get back from the bottom of the valley. I know that this mountain is quite popular among beginners. I also found today that there were so many elderly men and women here. We must watch out.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

Sometimes, the trail was surrounded by the warm atmosphere. So comfortable!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/4, 1/30 sec, ISO-200)

The more I went forward, the more autumn colors I found in my surroundings. I hear a sound of water. Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall is nearby.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (18mm, f/22, 6 sec, ISO-100)

Oh, I found it! I found Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall at the back of the trees! The water flows gently from the above. Luckily, there are some autumn colors right next to the waterfall.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/22, 6 sec, ISO-100)

I got a close-up image of Hyakuhiro-no-taki Waterfall. I want to use the words like "gentle", "elegant" and "clear" to describe it.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/22, 10 sec, ISO-100)

Now, I'm going back to the foot of Mt. Kawanori, missing the beautiful waterfall.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/30 sec, ISO-640)

It was already night when I arrived at the station. When I was about to get into the station, I realized that the stars were shining more clearly than any other skies that I've ever seen here. I decided to go out again to shoot the sky.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (23mm, f/5.6, 36.5 sec, ISO-8000)

Ohh... So romantic... I'm under the sky with uncountable number of stars.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (23mm, f/5.6, 1288.4 sec, ISO-100)

I tried long exposure of the starscape, too. The image was so clear that it looked like a photo on science textbooks. We will have more beautiful starscape in winter, hopefully including the Milky Way in Tokyo. I'm looking forward to it!