Mount Shirane
Mount Shirane

Mount Shirane

After visiting the wonderful Yumi-ike Pond, it’s time to go to the Mount Shirane.

After visiting the wonderful Yumi-ike Pond, it’s time to go to the Mount Shirane. As you may see, we are definitely not alone on the climb.

Queue on the Mount Shirane

After a very short hiking track, we reach the Lake Yugama (湯釜湖). What an amazing view! The lake of the crater, with its emerald color, is surrounded with an arid landscape and just above it: the clear blue sky; the presence of the thin cloudy layer in the background reminds us that we’re not on another planet, but on planet Earth indeed.

Yugama Crater Lake

For safety reasons we can’t really come closer: actually the water is extremely acid with a pH of 1.2, which is even worse than the Chatsubomigoke Pond’s pH. These ponds are like gastric juice… but 27 meter deep!

Shirane Yugama Crater Lake

Yugama means Boiling Water in a Pot but the truth is really far from the name : the water temperature is only 2 or 3 degrees over the air temperature. Even Bambi could have a bath if he didn’t care too much his nice coat.

Emerald Color of Yugama Lake

Even if the volcano erupted a few times during the last years, it didn’t make a slaughter (3 people died in 1973). However 120 km away from here, there is a far more dangerous one: Mount Asama. In 2009 the ashes of its eruptions reached Tokyo! I have a few pictures of Mount Asama on my article about Asama Volcano Museum on Haikyo. Go and see it if you miss ruins!

We come back down to take the cable car in the opposite direction. The day is almost over, and during the descent I noticed some ponds and lakes surrounded by colorful trees. Let’s go and see!

Shiga-Kusatsu Rock

The sun is going down quicker than I expected; you have to know that in Japan, the sun rises early so it also sets early. In France we are used to have dinner outside in summer, to enjoy the sunset but here you just can’t. And of course in Autumn it’s even worst!

Another Shirane Ropeway

For you information, here is the approximate sun timetable in Japan, and the duration of the days :

MARCH : 5.50am – 5.50pm – 12 hours of sunshine
JUNE : 4.20am – 7.00pm – 15 hours of sunshine
SEPTEMBER : 5.20am – 5.50pm – 12 hours of sunshine
DECEMBER : 6.40am – 4.30 pm – 10 hours of sunshine

Waking up early is then more profitable, and now I’m sure my friends can fully understand why I’m waking up at 3am or earlier every week-end! Anyway, all this was just to say that the sun is already gone so we have to hurry up! But an unexpected surprise happened on our way: the light seems perfect to enjoy the view of Yokote Mountain.

Yokote Mountain

We finally reach Maruike Pond a bit late but we still have 5 minutes to take some pictures before everything disappears into darkness.

Maruike Pond

The light fades away…

Biwaike Pond

And now we are almost in the obscurity…

Maruike Pond Sunset

Now that the night is dark, we reach the closest manga-kissaten. But I was anxious to feel frozen one last time on the top of the mountain, just to shoot some long exposure photos…

Clouds Over Shirane Mountain

Only 5 minutes were enough to fully handicap me, but the sight was worth it, wasn’t it?

Ghibli Version of Shirane

The Autumn is far from over, so see you very soon! A huge thank you to all of you for reading Totoro Times 🙂

Translated from French by Clément Gdy.

And for more awesome content about Japan, follow Jordy Meow on Instagram ! 🎵

Who Am I

Jordy Meow
This is me!

I am Jordy Meow, a French photographer based in Tokyo. I explore offbeat places in Japan.

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Rolling misty dreams, Blue and green whispers converge, Mountains touch the sky. ---転がる霧、 青と緑が囁く、 山は空に触れる。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #mistymountains #dreamyscapes #naturewhispers #japaneselands #hakone #nikko
Orange drum resounds, Shadows dance on glass and wood, Old meets new at dusk.  オレンジの太鼓、 ガラスと木に影が踊る、 夕暮れに古と新が出会う。  #KanazawaStation #TsuzumiMon #urbanjapan #architecturelovers #offbeatjapan #japan #modernmeetstraditional
Blue haze softly glows, Stone paths bind past with future— Time whispers in night.青い霞が優しく輝く、 石畳が過去と未来を結ぶ— 時間は夜に囁く。#roji #nocturnalscene #japanlovers #urbanharmony #serenemoments #offbeatjapan #japan
Moss-clad gate whispers, Where sunlit streams softly dance, Nature’s shrine unfolds.苔むす門、 木漏れ日の小川、 自然の社。#sacredjapan #mossymagic #toriiwanderings #serenityinthetrees #hiddenretreat #spiritualjourney #offbeatjapan #japan
Modern white and blue, Reflects on ancient timber, Past meets the future.モダンな白と青が、 古い木材に映り込む、 過去が未来に出会う。#architecturalcontrast #traditionmeetstechnology #modernjapan #culturalblend #reflectivebeauty #offbeatjapan #japan
Golden walls whisper, Among emerald whispers; Where sky meets old dreams. ---黄金の壁、 エメラルドの囁き; 空が古き夢に触れる。 ---#offbeatjapan #japan #mysticalplaces #hiddenjapan #serenesetting #mountainscape #villagelife
Gray sky, rain-kissed tiles, Orange roofs glow through the mist— Green life clings to rail. ---灰色の空 雨が降る屋根の上 オレンジの輝き 緑の生命が手すりを掴む---#offbeatjapan #japan #coastalvibes #tropicalrain #stormyskies #hiddenjapan #urbanexploration
White snow whispers past, Gray corridors hold secrets, Number three stands still. ---白雪がささやく、 灰色の回廊は秘密を抱く、 数字の三が静かに佇む。 ---#HokkaidoMystery #SnowboundSecrets #WinterDecay #HiddenHokkaido #OffbeatJapan #Japan #AbandonedBeauty