Pix4Japan: Kirigamine Fujimidai

2025-07-30

Kirigamine Fujimidai

If this scene speaks to you, prints and downloads are available:

・Order prints, digital downloads, or commercial licenses

Panoramic Views from Kirigamine Fujimidai Observatory Point
霧ヶ峰富士見台展望台から望む大パノラマ

Located at an elevation of 1,717 meters (5,633 ft), the Kirigamine Fujimidai roadside observatory offers sweeping views of the Kirigamine Plateau to the southwest. Just behind me stood the peak of Kirigamine itself, rising modestly to 1,924 meters (6,312 ft).

Although not a particularly tall mountain, the name of Kirigamine literally translates to “fog” (霧) “peak/ridge” (峰), which is likely due to the frequent fog that blankets the plateau. When the fog lifts, however, the scenery transforms into something almost dreamlike, with rolling grasslands, dwarf bamboo, and in mid-summer, vast fields of blooming day lilies. The area is also celebrated as the birthplace of hang gliding in Japan, adding to its growing attraction among youthful visitors.

This plateau is regarded as one of the most beautiful vantage points along the scenic Venus Line, a winding mountain road that links together a series of highland landscapes (see my previous posts).

When I visited in late July, I had just missed the peak season of the day lilies, which normally cover the grasslands in a carpet of vivid yellow. I’ll have to plan more carefully next time, as the timing of blossoms, rainy seasons, and even the length of summer itself has shifted dramatically compared to my earlier visits in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s.

Location: Kirigamine Fujimidai Tenbō-Dai, Nagano, Japan

Timestamp: 2025-07-30・10:33

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

58 mm ISO 100 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/11