Nagano: New Years in the Japanese Alps

Giphsub

Here are a few of the pics I took while up in Hakuba Village over New Years. Some of the pics have appeared in other threads.

Hakuba is a village that sits in the amazingly beautiful Japanese Alps.



The sunrises are just beautiful, and for a real morning sloth like me, well worth the effort to see the morning sun light up the mountains.





The back roads of the village are awesome to talk a wander around (and even more fun to spin around in the car! )


While up there, a mate and I went to see the snow monkeys kicking back in the onsens (hot springs).




Between onsens and snowboarding, we also took a wander to a nearby temple. I always enjoy checking out the local temples in Japan, and there is something magical about being there when everything is covered in snow.







This is an old fire pump which the temple must have had for a very long time!


While I was up in Hakuba I saw some Japanese pheasants only for the second time in 10 years of living here! Such beautiful birds, and it was amazing to see them in the snow!



I also saw a woodpecker one morning while outside photographing the mountains! Amazing birds. Not the best shot, but I have never seen one before, so I was pretty happy to get a shot of it.



I'll finish off with a shot of the mountains in mist.

morph

Those pheasants are gorgeous!

Cuong

Spectacular!

Cuong

swintonphoto

They are all great, but that last one is simply wonderful.

ian408

These are some wonderful places to visit!

BTW, there's an article in a UK photography magazine, Outdoor Photography,
that features the snow monkeys.

Giphsub

morph wrote:

Those pheasants are gorgeous!

Yep, they are beautiful birds indeed! Thanks for looking Morph.

Giphsub

yukio wrote:

Spectacular!

Cuong

Thankyou And thanks for taking the time to look.

Giphsub

swintonphoto wrote:

They are all great, but that last one is simply wonderful.

Yep, that is one of my favourites from the trip. Cheers.

Giphsub

ian408 wrote:

These are some wonderful places to visit!

BTW, there's an article in a UK photography magazine, Outdoor Photography,
that features the snow monkeys.

I haven't seen that particular one, but have seen others. Fortunately, living here, I have now had 2 opportunities to go and see them. It is a truly amazing experience. Thanks for looking.

pug8

The pheasant shot is great. I've seen one near where I live a couple of times, but I've never been able to get a good shot of it.

Giphsub

thanks pug8. Where in Japan are you?

pug8

Giphsub wrote:

thanks pug8. Where in Japan are you?

I'm in Utsunomiya. I can get to Nikko in about half an hour using the toll way from where I live.

aj986s

Stunning pictures!

Giphsub

pug8 wrote:

I'm in Utsunomiya. I can get to Nikko in about half an hour using the toll way from where I live.

Cool. I'm in Hiroshima.

Giphsub

aj986s wrote:

Stunning pictures!

Thanks Tony

creekboy

those pics are awesome mate. I love the sunrise peaks

Those birds were beautiful too - I just wish I was inside taking them so I actually got a shot of the buggers

Giphsub

Cheers CB The pheasants were pretty cool eh! Only the second time I've ever seen them here! You should post some of your pics mate.

Hary

great series !!!! simply fabulous but ... the snow monkeys seem to have a red cast

thanks !

Pilznr

Great Shots! I'm so jealous. I went to Japan a long time ago before I was a photographer, and now I can't wait to go back with my Camera.

The monkeys are the cutest thing. I don't see any red casts on the monkeys with my monitor (a brand new Dell 22" widescreen LCD). They look like snow monkeys.
Thanks.

Hary

Pilznr wrote:

Great Shots! I'm so jealous. I went to Japan a long time ago before I was a photographer, and now I can't wait to go back with my Camera.

The monkeys are the cutest thing. I don't see any red casts on the monkeys with my monitor (a brand new Dell 22" widescreen LCD). They look like snow monkeys.
Thanks.

i was joking

leaforte

Awesome shots. Especially the Pheasant.