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.
Kirigamine Fujimidai
Beautiful summer landscape in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, with panoramic views of lush green highlands, rolling hills, and open grasslands. A peaceful rural scene capturing the natural beauty of Japan’s countryside.
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.
Weeping Sakura
In the stillness of a rural temple cemetery, a grand old weeping cherry tree blooms with branches heavy with soft pink and white blossoms, its roots resting beneath generations. Petals drift in the breeze, like quiet echoes of lives once lived, reminding us that life, in some form, always continues.
Ryufuku-ji Temple
The dragon water spout at Ryufuku-ji Temple’s purification fountain shimmers in green and azure hues, touched by years of oxidization and the afternoon sun.
Hotaru Waterway Park
Colorful koinobori (carp streamers) flutter in the spring breeze beneath snowy mountains and cherry blossoms in Japan, symbolizing strength, courage, and hope for children’s growth and success during the Boy’s Day celebration.
Suwa Hachiman Shrine
Traditional Shinto shrine with red roof surrounded by cedar and pine trees under a bright blue sky in rural Japan. A peaceful, picturesque spring morning scene capturing cultural heritage, wooden architecture, and the tranquil beauty of the Japanese countryside.
Historic Schools
Panoramic view of two historic Japanese school buildings in Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture: the Taisho Era School (1924, left) and the Old Tsugane School (1875). Both structures showcase a unique blend of traditional Japanese wooden architecture and Western-style design, reflecting Japan’s transformation during the Meiji and Taisho periods.