Succulent Rosettes
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Red-Tipped Houseleeks at Moegi Village of Kiyosato Highlands
「萌木の村」に咲く赤い縁取りの「クモの巣万年草」
Moegi Village (萌木の村・Moegi-no-Mura) is a charming tourist destination in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture. Nestled on the Kiyosato Highlands at an altitude of about 1,200 meters (3,937 ft), the area enjoys a refreshing alpine climate on the southeastern slopes of the Yatsugatake Mountains.
Located roughly three hours west of Tokyo by car or train, the village features a delightful mix of restaurants, cafes, a hotel, a brewery, and even a merry-go-round beside a music box museum. What’s more, scattered among blossoming flower gardens are gift shops, garden supply stores, and an art and craft studio for a total of 26 shops adding to the quaint, leisurely atmosphere.
After lunch, my border collie and I took a slow, relaxed walk through the village. Along the way, I came across a cluster of succulents (Sempervivum pittonii), also known as houseleeks (according to The Royal Horticultural Society). They were growing atop a stone wall separating the village grounds from a nearby cemetery. The overcast sky provided gentle, diffused light, which is ideal for photography where you normally want to avoid harsh highlights and deep shadows.
Seeing these plants stirred an old memory. I vaguely recall my mother growing similar ones in our backyard when I was just a wee lad. Although I cannot remember if we called them houseleeks, too.
In this shot, I was drawn to the red-tipped green rosettes of the flowers, which inspired me to use Fujifilm’s Velvia film simulation. This particular film was known for its vivid saturation and rich tones, especially in reds and greens. Velvia perfectly captured the vibrancy that first caught my eye.
As I recently started editing the photo, I couldn’t help but smile when realizing how a small mountain village and a humble cluster of houseleeks could so effortlessly bridge my past and present through a single frame.
Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi Pref., Japan
Timestamp: 2025/08/27・14:47
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
23 mm ISO 160 for 1/950 sec. at ƒ/2
Velvia/Vivid film simulation
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