Gosensui-Shizen'en
A butterfly with striking brown, white, and blue wings feeds on wildflowers at the Gosensui-Shizen'en Park in Nagano, Japan, highlighted by warm backlight against a dark forest backdrop.
Rare Shorthorns
A Japanese Shorthorn cow grazes on the grassy highland plateau extending from Mt. Tateshina, with the city of Saku visible about 20 km (12 mi) to the northeast beneath a summer haze.
Mt. Mitsumine
Panoramic view of lush green highlands in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with rolling hills and open grassland under a clear summer sky. A tranquil rural landscape highlighting the natural beauty of the Japanese countryside.
Kirigamine Highland
A panoramic view of a lush green highland moor in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with rolling hills, open grassland, and a moor with wildflowers under a clear summer sky. A tranquil rural landscape showcasing the natural beauty of the Japanese countryside.
Tateshina-Genseirin Forest
The Tateshina-Genseirin Primeval Forest, located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is home to ancient trees that have adapted to grow around large boulders left by volcanic activity. Twisted trunks and roots cling to the rugged stones, a testament to the forest's untouched nature and geological history.
Tateshina-Otaki Waterfall
Tateshina-Otaki Falls in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, cascade over large stones and cliffs, blanketed in lush moss nourished by the cool mist rising from the falls. The mist also feeds the emerald-hued pool below, adding to the tranquil, pristine atmosphere of the scene.
Tateshina-Otaki Falls
Tateshina-Otaki Falls in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, cascade over large stones and cliffs, blanketed in lush moss nourished by the cool mist rising from the falls. The mist also feeds the emerald-hued pool below, adding to the tranquil, pristine atmosphere of the scene.
Autumn’s Arrival
Along the trail to Tateshina-Otaki Falls in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, the lush moss of the Tateshina-Genserin Primeval Forest blanketed the ground, while a scattering of fallen leaves and clusters of mushrooms emerged here and there, subtly heralding the approach of autumn.
Red Patina and Chatsubomi Moss
Situated at an altitude of 1,510 meters, Oshidori-Kakushi Falls lies along the upper reaches of the Shibu River, winding through the scenic Yokoya Gorge in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The falls are famed for their enchanting landscape, where lush foliage and moss-covered boulders thrive in contrast with the surrounding earth, tinged red by the mineral-rich, acidic waters flowing from nearby hot springs.
Trusty Companion
My border collie rests peacefully on a moss-covered rock beside the gently cascading Oshidori-Kakushi Falls in Yokoya Gorge, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, captured during the tranquil blue hour of a summer morning.