I came to Ura-Bandai for a summer retreat, and although it has been two years since my last visit, I enjoyed a brief stay at a familiar inn where I could relax and enjoy the highland atmosphere.
This is also a routine activity when I stay in here, but I wanted to enjoy the cool morning air, so I took a walk in the early morning to take some photos.
I wander aimlessly through the morning mist to our usual spot on the shores of Lake Sohara. The temperature is probably around 20 degrees Celsius, and it’s a bit chilly in a T-shirt.
A campsite by the lake. The view is quite nice, as the haze is still on the surface of the lake.
One of the regular compositions I take every time I walk here.
When I look at the finished photo, I see the same one I’ve seen every time, but I’m surprised that I don’t feel stuck in a rut while I’m taking it.
It seems that the morning mist time is about to end. There are signs that people are gradually starting to move in the surrounding campgrounds and pensions.
The sun is gradually rising. I turned my heel from the lakeside and took in the view of Mount Bandai from near the site station. The morning sun shining on the rugged mountains of Ura-Bandai makes for a beautiful and divine sight.
It’s not every day that you get a clear, cloudless sky, so I guess I was lucky.
This is a photo of an odd composition, just because I was able to capture a beautiful backlit glow in the forest where the morning mist was still lingering.
The sunlight shining on the well-maintained wooden path was impressive.
It is a great pleasure to walk through the forests here, which are dotted with lakes and marshes, but black bears have been frequently spotted this summer, and it is dangerous to venture into the area unintentionally. The photos were taken in very shallow areas, not “venture into” the forest from the main street. Let’s be safe.
This one-hour walk was most of the best part of my summer vacation.
It would have been enough to spend the rest of the day lazing around the lodge, enjoying the daytime heat and looking forward to mountain food for dinner, but how should I spend my time?
