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Breathing with the Forest: Bearded Lichen in Nagano’s Highlands
御泉水自然園に見つけた「清浄な森」の指標・ナガサルオガセ
This photo was taken along the edge of a small marsh in Gosensui Nature Garden (御泉水自然園), located on the slopes of Mt. Tateshina in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
The lichen seen here is Usnea longissima (ナガサルオガセ), also known as bearded lichen, Methuselah’s beard, or old man’s beard. This pendant lichen hangs in soft, trailing strands from tree branches, giving the forest a mysterious, almost otherworldly appearance.
What first caught my eye was the way the sunlight illuminated the wisps of yellow-green lichen as they swayed gently in the breeze, standing out in contrast against the dark conifers in the background.
In researching more about this species, I learned that bearded lichen is considered a natural barometer of air quality as it thrives only in forests with clean, unpolluted air. Toxic chemicals quickly overwhelm its delicate metabolic functions, making it a sensitive indicator species for clean forest environments.
At first, I assumed the lichen was harmful to the trees, much like parasitic vines that can choke off sunlight and weaken their hosts. In reality, the opposite is true. Bearded lichen does not damage the trees it grows on. Instead, its presence is often linked to older or weakened trees, where gaps in the canopy allow more sunlight to reach the branches. This extra light creates the right conditions for the lichen to grow.
I also learned that bearded lichen reproduces by fragmentation: small pieces break off, carried by the wind, and establish new colonies when they land on a suitable host.
I don’t often come across bearded lichen during my alpine adventures. In fact, the last time I saw it in the wild was in September 2021, on the slopes of Mt. Nyukasa, which is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Gosensui Nature Garden.
Next time I encounter this graceful lichen, I’ll pause to appreciate its beauty and take a few extra deep breaths of the fresh, clean alpine air.
- Location: Gosensui-Shizen'en, Nagano, Japan
- Timestamp: 2025-07-30・12:59
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 58 mm ISO 100 for 1/250 sec. at ƒ/4.5
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Exploring the Mossy Wetlands of Gosensui Nature Garden
御泉水自然園の苔むす湿原と夏の涼しさを求めて
Reaching Gosensui Nature Garden from Yokohama took just three hours by car via the Chuo Expressway, made possible with an early pre-dawn start.
Established by Nagano Prefecture in 1973, the garden was designed to give visitors easy access to a serene forest environment. Raised boardwalks wind through the area, making it accessible for families with strollers, elderly visitors, and those using wheelchairs.
One section of the garden features wetlands fed by a natural spring, where the forest floor is carpeted with wildflowers, moss-covered stones, boulders, and fallen logs. The cool, damp air and vibrant greenery create a refreshing atmosphere, even in the peak of summer heat.
Photographing the moss at ground level can be a bit challenging from the elevated boardwalk. Luckily, on this weekday afternoon, my border collie and I had the garden entirely to ourselves, giving me the freedom to take up space and carefully compose my shots.
The second image of the large moss-covered boulder, which was illuminated by shafts of sunlight, was easier to frame, though balancing the extreme contrasts between bright highlights and deep shadows required patience and careful exposure for smoother post-processing.
- Location: Gosensui-Shizen'en, Nagano, Japan
- Timestamp: 2025-07-30・13:10 & 13:22
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- ① 63 mm ISO 200 for 1/125 sec. at ƒ/10
- ② 80 mm ISO 400 for 1/160 sec. at ƒ/5.6
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Patterns in Light: Butterfly in the Highlands of Japan
日本の高原に咲く花と彩り豊かな蝶
Gosensui Nature Garden, located on the slopes of Mt. Tateshina at an elevation of 1,830 meters (6,004 feet) in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, offers a serene escape into Nagano Prefecture’s highlands.
Upon entering the garden and paying the modest entrance fee, I was immediately welcomed by the fragrance of blooming wildflowers. Dozens of Ceylon Blue Glassy Tiger butterflies, with their striking brown, white, and blue patterned wings, fluttered gracefully from blossom to blossom, feeding in the summer light.
- Location: Gosensui-Shizen'en, Nagano, Japan
- Timestamp: 2025-07-30・12:59
- Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP
- 105 mm ISO 200 for 1/400 sec. at ƒ/5.6
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