The Kita-Guchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-Jinja Shrine, originally built in the 17th century, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2013.
Back in the day, this shrine was where worshippers of Mt. Fuji would first visit to purify themselves before making their ascent to the peak of Mt. Fuji, which was viewed as a God.
The original trail head is located behind this shrine and is still used today by some climbers.
However, in the modern era, Mt. Fuji has been promoted more as a tourist attraction. Nowadays, climbers can drive or take a bus part way up the mountain to one of several different stations, and start their climb from there.
I chose this site for this week’s photo shoot because of the grand trees and stone lanterns that line the path to the shrine.
I left home shortly after midnight and arrived about an hour after sunrise, which unfortunately, made it a bit difficult to shoot due to the sharp contrast of shadows and bright backgrounds.
I should have left home earlier so that I could arrive and shoot during the blue hour, or tried to time my visit during a rain storm or at least under cloudier conditions where there would be more diffused light and maybe even some fog.
With that said, I tried to take a few shots in spite of the harsh light.
For this first composition, I set the camera on a tripod across the street from the first torii gate. Once there was a break in car traffic, I took several shots.
Long Path to Shrine
View of the the 275-meter path (903 feet) that is lined with very old cedar trees and stone lanterns leading to the main entrance of the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine's main dark vermillion torii gate, which sits at the base of Mt. Fuji.Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
48 mm ISO 100 for 1.6 sec. at ƒ/20
#trees #cedar #cedartree #stonelantern #shrine #Shintoshrine #UNESCO #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#杉の木 #神社への参道 #石灯篭 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産
Aside from the stone lanterns and the tall old cedar trees, I like how the light breaks through the trees creating thin layers of light and shadow across the gravel path leading up to the main torii gate of the shrine.
In this composition, the path to the shrine approaches the main torii gate at an angle. From a technical standpoint, the lanterns on the right create a leading line up the vermillion torii gate. But at the same time, the photo is unbalanced with nothing on the left side to help anchor the whole scene. Regardless, I like the light playing on the moss of the stone lanterns and how it contrasts with the vermillion gate in the background.
Approaching Fujisan Otorii Gate
Standing at 18 m high (59 ft), the torii gate is one of the largest in Japan. The gate is where you enter the realms of the Gods. This shrine (originally built in 1615) houses three deities of which one is the goddess of Mt. Fuji. She is also a god for the safe delivery of newborn babies.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
115 mm ISO 100 for 1.3 sec. at ƒ/20
#trees #cedar #cedartree #stonelantern #shrine #Shintoshrine #UNESCO #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan #torii #Otorii
#杉の木 #神社への参道 #石灯篭 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #富士山大鳥居 #山梨県
For the 3rd composition, I spent a lot of time trying to compose this beautiful old maple tree. I knew I wanted to include the moss in the bottom of the frame, the most on the tree, and try to capture how the limbs branch out in creating weblike structure. The background was busy, with harsh highlights, so I cropped this shot to minimize reduce the number of distractions and try to even out the light and amount of exposure.
Web of Branches & Limbs
Wide shot of an old Japanese maple tree supported with crutches to prevent damage from the heavy snowfalls occurring around the base of Mt. Fuji.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
21 mm ISO 100 for 1/8 sec. at ƒ/5.0
#KitaGuchiHonguFujiSengenJinja #moss #tree #mapletree #Japanesemaple #oldtree #shrinegrounds #ancienttree #treecrutches #Japanesegarden #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#七色大カエデ #苔 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #富士山大鳥居 #山梨県
Here are some other shots taken during this photo shoot:
Stone Lantern Corridor
Originally built to guide visitors along the path to the shrine, electric lights tucked back among the trees have replaced the use of live flames.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
40 mm ISO 100 for 1.3 sec. at ƒ/20
#trees #cedar #cedartree #stonelantern #shrine #Shintoshrine #UNESCO #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#杉の木 #神社への参道 #石灯篭 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #山梨県
Seven-Colored Maple
The foliage of this Nanairo-Okaede (七色大カエデ / seven-color large maple) is said to change seven colors from spring to autumn. This particular tree standing next to the Kita-Guchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-Jinja Shrine is very old and needs crutches to prevent its branches from breaking during the heave snow falls that occur near the base of Mt. Fuji.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
28 mm ISO 100 for 0.8 sec. at ƒ/28
#moss #tree #mapletree #Japanesemaple #oldtree #shrinegrounds #ancienttree #treecrutches #Japanesegarden #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#七色大カエデ #苔 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #富士山大鳥居 #山梨県
Moss-Covered Tree
Early morning light reflecting off of a trunk and limbs revealing tones ranging from faint yellows to hard blackish greens.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
100 mm ISO 100 for 1/8 sec. at ƒ/5.6
#KitaGuchiHonguFujiSengenJinja #moss #tree #mapletree #Japanesemaple #oldtree #shrinegrounds #ancienttree #Japanesegarden #WorldCulturalHeritageSite #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#七色大カエデ #苔 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #富士山大鳥居 #山梨県
Border Collie at Shrine
Border collie at the main torii gate of the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine's located at the base of Mt. Fuji.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135 mm F3.5-5.6
88 mm ISO 200 for 1/25 sec. at ƒ/5.6
#dog #BorderCollie #pet #KitaGuchiHonguFujiSengenJinja #YamanashiPrefecture #Japan
#七色大カエデ #苔 #神社 #北口本宮冨士淺間神社 #ユネスコ世界遺産 #富士山大鳥居 #山梨県
Access Details:
Kita-Guchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-Jinja (北口本宮冨士淺間神社):
If you avoid tolls, it is a 3- to 4-hour drive from Tokyo. If you take toll roads, it is only a 90-minute to 2-hour drive via the Chuo Expressway.
Fortunately, the shrine is easily accessible by train and bus. Depending on which line you take, it is about a 3-hour train ride to Fujisan Station on the Fujikyu Line.
Access by Train & Bus + Detail Info about Shrine:
Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine (Informal Name of Shrine)
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine
History:
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen-jinja Shrine
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Jinja (Official Site):
World Heritage List:
Gear used for this Photo Shoot
Camera Gear:
Pentax KP
Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR
Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
Video Gear:
Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
Filters & Filter Systems:
PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
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Music Tracks Licensed for this video through Epidemic Sound. Visit this link to subscribe:
"Remove The Complexities" composed by Peter Sandberg and performed by Epidemic Sound.
“Summer Memories” composed and performed by Gavin Luke.
“Breath Of Life” composed and performed by Gavin Luke.
“Threads” composed by Anders Schill Paulsen and performed by Ebb & Flod.
“Bermuda” composed by Henrik Olsson and performed by Ooyy.
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