Autumn Colors Report 2014 - Kamakura to See Last Autumn Colors This Year

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/3.5, 1/125 sec, ISO-400)

I'm visiting Kamakura to see the last autumn colors this year! As I wrote in my diary ten days ago, Kamakura welcomes autumn colors the latest in Japan. We can see autumn colors in Kamakura even in the end of December. This is simply great because Kamakura can be the last hope for people who miss autumn colors in winter.

Autumn Colors Report 2014 – Late Arrival of Autumn Colors at Kamakura!

This time, I went around some temples of Kamakura to see the autumn colors. The first place is Moriyoshi Shinno Grave, which is located in the east of Kamakura.

(By the way, I changed the watermark of the photos because this watermark looks more clear when the photos get smaller.)

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-320)

The grave is surrounded with many trees, and some of them have autumn colors now.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (13mm, f/5, 1/30 sec, ISO-320)

The stairs are quite long and high. It can be a good exercise to walk up and down the stairs.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-200)

To my surprise and disappointment, I couldn't approach the grave on the top of stairs. But this disappointment was soon to disappear.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-400)

As I started to go down the stairs, I realized how spectacular the view from the top is. The combination of the autumn colors, the steep stairs and the town of Kamakura has fermented my mind.

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

After dropping in at Moriyoshi Shinno Grave, I arrived at Zuisenji Temple, a temple in the mountainous area of Kamakura.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec, ISO-800)

The bamboos are growing high towards the sky.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (70mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO-200)

Ah, I forgot to take photos of the inside of Zuisenji Temple because I was into taking portraits of my friends... I must take a good balance of portraits and landscapes.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO-1000)

This is one of a few photos of the autumn colors in Zuisenji Temple. I pretty enjoyed the temple because it reminded me of a cool atmosphere of temples in Kyoto.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/8, 1/50 sec, ISO-500)

The third destination was Kotokuin Temple, where I saw the Great Buddha and Hydrangea in June.

Hydrangea at Kotokuin Temple

People were holding theirs umbrellas because it was raining a bit hard.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO-500)

But these autumn colors blew away my worries. The left area of the Great Buddha, where some Hydrangea bloomed in June, had some beautiful Japanese Maple trees! The trees are pretty low, and can be a good subject of photography.

Canon EOS 6D, Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD (200mm, f/4, 1/100 sec, ISO-250)

The Japanese Maple leaves here looked beautiful to me because they were wet and fresh in the rain.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-500)

The last destination was Hasedera Temple. I was here in June, too.

Hydrangea at Hasedera Temple

I enjoyed the autumn colors of Japanese Maple trees in the garden.

Canon EOS 6D, Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 IIDG HSM (24mm, f/5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO-500)

This view looks quite Japanese with the pond, some carps (Koi fish) and autumn colors. But sadly, time is over. I needed to leave Kamakura for the next appointment in Tokyo. But it was a good timing for me because the rain was getting harder and making it more difficult to take photos safely.