Text by Alex
As autumn deepens, it's the season for red leaves. Located in the northwest of Nagano Prefecture at the foot of Japan’s Northern Alps, Hakuba Village offers an incredible chance to see the scenery of summer, autumn, and winter all at once.
What happens when the seasons in Hakuba Village truly blend? (Tap to see) pic.twitter.com/HPfRwe78TC
— Inagaki Yastu (@inagakiyasuto) October 27, 2020
▲"In Hakuba Village, when you mix the seasons together, it looks like this."
This is what Hakuba Village looks like in autumn. pic.twitter.com/UfdgW9rQt8
— Inagaki Yastu (@inagakiyasuto) November 1, 2020
▲"This is what Hakuba Village looks like in autumn."
Photographer @inagakiyasuto, currently residing in Toyama Prefecture, shared photos taken recently near Hakuba Village in Nagano Prefecture. At the turn from autumn to winter, the mid-mountain slopes are dyed deep red, interspersed with some orange and yellow. The lower mountain areas, where temperatures are relatively higher, still retain some lush green trees. Most remarkably, the snow-capped mountain peaks contrast sharply with the autumn foliage. The Japanese call this rare combination of snow-covered peaks, red leaves, and green trees "sandan momiji" or "three-tiered autumn leaves."
▲The Japanese call this rare combination of snow-covered peaks, red leaves, and green trees "sandan momiji" ("three-tiered autumn leaves"). (Photo by inagakiyasuto @IG)
▲In the late autumn, Hakuba Village resembles a paradise on earth. The distant snowy mountains are Mount Goryu (also known as Mount Gogaku). (Photo by inagakiyasuto @IG)
@inagakiyasuto revealed that one of the photo locations was the observation deck at Hakuba Mountain Harbor atop Mt. Yari. Starting from the foothill station of the Hakuba Yari Cable Car Noah, it takes about 8 minutes to reach the 1,289-meter-high mountaintop observation platform. From here, visitors can enjoy the magnificent view of the Hakuba Three Mountains (from left to right): Mt. Warusawa (2,903m), Mt. Sharidake (2,812m), and Mt. Hakuba (2,932m). Due to the nearly 2,000-meter elevation difference between this spot and the summits of the Hakuba Three Mountains, this is one of the few places where you can witness the “sandan momiji” spectacle.
The autumn leaves at Hakuba Mountain Harbor are at their peak. pic.twitter.com/H3R8OCShcz
— Inagaki Yastu (@inagakiyasuto) October 29, 2020
▲Hakuba Mountain Harbor is a great spot to see the "three-tiered autumn leaves."
Netizens left comments praising the "sandan momiji" scenery as incredibly beautiful: "The combination of red leaves and snowy mountains is amazing," "It’s like different seasons are mixed together," "A world where the footsteps of winter and the afterglow of autumn coexist—it’s like a reward from the gods."
▲Hakuba Mountain Harbor is an ideal place to view autumn leaves. (Photo by inagakiyasuto @Twitter; mountain names added by editor)
▲Hakuba Mountain Harbor is located atop Mt. Yari at an altitude of 1,289 meters. (Photo by inagakiyasuto @Twitter)
▲Hakuba Mountain Harbor has a café that serves drinks and light meals. (Photo by inagakiyasuto @Twitter)
▲Even along the way to Hakuba Mountain Harbor, the autumn leaf views are stunning. (Photo by inagakiyasuto @Twitter)
Source: J-town