For this week's photo shoot of landscape photography in Japan, we visit Lake Okutama, or Okutamako (奥多摩湖) in Japanese, which is located about 76 km (or about 48 miles) due west of Central Tokyo.
I parked at the Tozura Parking Lot (free!), which is located at the western end of the lake where the Taba River feeds into the lake. Dale-chan (my border collie) and I headed across the lake via the Tozura Pontoon Bridge and from there took the trail to both Miyama Bridge and Mito Bridge.
We hiked back to the parking lot and then drove to the eastern end of the lake near the dam and hiked up some trails on this hillside where several varieties of cherry trees and other blooming trees have been planted for visitors to the lake.
- Tamagawa Suigen-Rin Observatory Point (follow the zigzag trail up the side of the mountain from here.)
The trail is an easy climb as it zigzags up the hillside and offers many opportunities for a variety of compositions where you can shoot white and pink blossoms with the turquoise waters of the lake as your backdrop.
The mountain slopes near the dam offer several other easy hiking trails with outlooks where you can take a rest or take out your tripod for some amazing shots of the lake and surrounding mountains.
The lake is accessible by train and bus, but if you drive to the lake, you won’t have to worry about any parking fees. There are several large parking lots, and since parking is free, you can take your time and spend the whole day wandering on the trails along the shoreline of the lake without worrying about huge parking fees.
- Okutamako Bus Stop near the dam's visitors center is a 15-minute bus ride from Oku-Tama Station on the Ome Line.
Primary Parking Lots:
- Okutamako Dam Site Parking: Closest to the dam and more popular hiking trails.
- Ōmugishiro Parking Area: Accessible 24/7. Paved sidewalk from this lot takes you to the dam.
Recommended Websites:
- Okutama – A Complete Travel Guide
- Sightseeing in Okutama
- Outdoor activities--Okutama
- Lake Okutama--Hiking Course
Camera Gear:
Pentax KP
https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ
Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR
https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ
Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j
Video Gear:
Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1
Filters & Filter Systems:
PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
Pack:
F-stop Tilopa 50L Adventure and Travel Camera Backpack (Essentials Bundle: backpack, rain cover, internal camera unit)
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission, which has no effect on your purchase price whatsoever.
Pontoon Bridge
The Tozura pontoon bridge allows hikers to cross over Lake Okutama and continue along the hiking trail that hugs the coastline of this manmade lake that provides Tokyo with about 20% of its drinking water.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
18 mm ISO 100 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/6.3
#lake #freshwater #mountain #forest #Japan #OkutamaLake #pontoonbridge #reservoir #Tokyo #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#湖 #貯水池 #小河内ダム #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #留浦浮橋 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Freshwater Lake
View of Okutama Lake in Tokyo Prefecture from the trailhead on the western shoreline of the lake during early spring.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
28 mm ISO 100 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/6.3
#lake #freshwater #mountain #forest #Japan #OkutamaLake #reservoir #Tokyo #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#湖 #貯水池 #小河内ダム #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Waiting to go Hiking
Dale-chan waiting for me to catch up with her as we climb up a trail leading to a grove of cherry blossoms.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
40 mm ISO 100 for 1/50 sec. at ƒ/6.3
#dog #pet #BorderCollie #mountain #trail #LakeOkutama #forest #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#犬 #愛犬 #ボーダーコリー #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Barren Woodland
The native species of trees in the woodlands surrounding the Lake Okutama have yet to awaken from winter, thus exposing a huge vine growing up and around the trunk of another tree.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
31 mm ISO 100 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/6.3
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #vine #tree #woodland #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #森の写真 #木 #森 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Tied-Arch Bridge
The Mito Bridge is a tied-arch bridge that crosses over Kosuge River, which feeds water into the Okutama Lake reservoir. I like the contrast of this steel structure against the backdrop of a woodland.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
18 mm ISO 100 for 1/20 sec. at ƒ/13
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #bridge #archbridge #tiedarchbridge #steelstructure #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#結合アーチ橋 #三頭橋 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Solid-Ribbed Arched Bridge
A 30-second long exposure of Miyama Bridge--a solid rib arched bridge that was built in 1957—connects the northern shoreline of Lake Okutama with the southern shoreline. The color of paint used on this bridge closely matched with the color of the water on this particular day.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
18 mm ISO 100 for 30 sec. at ƒ/16
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #bridge #archedbridge #solidribbedarachedbridge #steelstructure #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #鋼アーチ橋 #深山橋 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Lone Cherry Blossom
The northern shoreline of Lake Okutama has an easily accessible foot trail that zigzags its way up the side of a mountain covered with several varieties of cherry trees. Using the lake waters as a backdrop, you can enjoy wonderful views of bright pink and white cherry blossoms with blue-green waters in the background.
https://pix4japan.myportfolio.com
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
260 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/5.6
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #桜まつり #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Pale Pink Cherry Blossoms
Among the varieties of cherry blossom trees found at Lake Okutama, the Somei Yoshino variety is probably the most common variety cultivated throughout Japan.
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
135 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/4.5
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Colorful Hillside
Happoiwa Observatory on the hillside overlooking the northwestern shore of Lake Okutama features many types of cherry trees blossoming at different times from early to late spring.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
31 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/4.5
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #HappoiwaObservatory #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #八方岩展望台 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Japanese Mitsuba Tsutsuji
In addition to several varieties cherry trees, the hillside with hiking trails and cultivated trees overlooking Lake Okutama has several mitsuba tsutsuji shrubs (Rhododendron dilatatum), which look a lot like azaleas (maybe the same?).
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
300 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/8.0
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #azaleas #stamen #petals #HappoiwaObservatory #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#ミツバツツジ #三葉躑躅 #八方岩展望台 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #風景写真 #ペンタックス
Blossoms and Buoy Rope
Although not obvious, this shot was taken with a rope buoy barrier floating near the dam that created Lake Okutama.
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
210 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/11
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Branch and Bokeh
The branches with large clusters of cherry blossoms make for a great bokeh effect.
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
300 mm ISO 100 for 1/320 sec. at ƒ/11
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Pink and Aqua Blue
The light, turquoise blue of the lake near the eastern shoreline compliments well the delicate pinks and yellows of the cherry tree blossoms.
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
150 mm ISO 100 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/5.6
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Three Tones
The goal of this shot was to capture the three tones of colors: the green bush in the foreground, the pink blossoms in the mid-ground, and the aqua-blue water in the background.
Pentax KP + HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
70 mm ISO 100 for 1/1000 sec. at ƒ/5.0
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
Early Spring
Once the cherry blossom tree loses its flowers, the rest of the foliage on the surrounding mountainsides will start to come alive in vibrant hues of green and blue.
Pentax KP + smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC WR
18 mm ISO 100 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/4.0
#LandscapePhotography #WoodlandPhotography #cherryblossom #sakura #hanami #blossom #LakeOkutama #Japan #Pentax #Pix4Japan
#風景写真 #ソメイヨシノ #桜 #花見 #東京都 #西多摩郡 #奥多摩湖 #山の風景 #ペンタックス
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