danwiz.com
This is Page 1 of 3 - the best of July 2014!
posted: July 31st, 2014
Go To Page:

This page begins and ends with July 12th and a trip to Oze National Park. We camped the night in the park and continued from the campground on July 13th. This page does not even include all of the photos from July 12th due to the beautiful weather great scenery and whatever. Between the 2 of us we KEPT 374 photos! Don't worry though, we'll show you only a small fraction of those 374 which we kept.   Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin July 12th
  On the morning of July 12 Kazuya and I got up at 3:15 AM, got ready and left for our local train station at about 4:00 AM via bicycle. We bought breakfast and lunch stuff and then took a local train at 4:37 AM to Tokyo Station. From there we rode a Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Takasaki, from where we took local trains to Numata. Then we rode 2 different buses and arrived at the trailhead at Hatomachi Pass at about 10:00 AM. Then we started hiking! The first shot in this row shows the starting point for the hike - Hatomachi Pass (see map, link below) - in Oze National Park. We have visited Oze National Park several times in the past, most recently in August 2012. We also visited there in May 2012, July 2011, July 2010 and in June 2010. If you want to see some of those photos please go to the "All Photos List" (via link at bottom of this page) and click on those months. The second photo in this row shows Mt. Shibutsu from the trail as we hiked to the very first hut. We have climbed Mt. Shibutsu two times, and in fact it is the subject of our Climbing a Few of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains - Volume 7: Mt. Shibutsu book. The third photo shows Mt. Shibutsu and Kazuya (near center of photo) as we hiked around the loop trail at Yama-No-Hana (see map just below).
       Here is a large version of an Oze National Park Area Map, which will open in a new window or tab. You can refer to it when you see place names while reading through the row text. CLICK FOR MAP (new window or tab). Our route is shown on it with red arrows and the arrowheads indicate our direction of travel. On July 12th we hiked from Hatomachi Pass to Ozegahara. On July 13th we hiked from Ozegahara to O-Shi-mizu.
July12th_Ozegahara001RC
July12th_
Ozegahara001RC
July12_03_OzeNP_MtShibutsuRC
July12_03_Oze
NP_MtShibutsuRC
July12_11_OzeNP_Loop_Kazuya_MtShibutsuRC
July12_11_OzeNP_Loop
_Kazuya_MtShibutsuRC

  The first photo in this row is a nice scenery shot as we hiked around the loop trail at Yama-No-Hana (see map). The 2nd shot shows Eriophorum vaginatum (Cottongrass) and other flowers. The third shot is Eleorchis japonica - an orchid - with Mt. Shibutsu in background.
July12_12_OzeNP_LoopTrail_SceneryRC
July12_12_OzeNP_Loop
Trail_SceneryRC
July12th_Ozegahara007_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12th_Ozegahara007
_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12_16_OzeNP_Pogonia_japonicaRC
July12_16_OzeNP
_Eleorchis_japonicaRC

  The first shot in this row shows Andromeda polifolia. The second shot is an example of Geum pentapetalum and the third shot shows Mt. Hiuchigatake between those 2 big trees. Mt. Hiuchigatake is at the opposite end of Oze National Park (see map, link above). At 2,356 meters (7,730 ft) it is the highest mountain in the Tohoku Region of Japan and also one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. We have not yet climbed it, although one time we had a plan to do so - but the weather turned bad on that particular trip and we scratched that part of the plan.
July12th_Ozegahara014_AndromedaPolifoliaRC
July12th_Ozegahara014
_AndromedaPolifoliaRC
July12th_Ozegahara015_GeumPentapetalumRC
July12th_Ozegahara015
_GeumPentapetalumRC
July12_21_OzeNP_LoopTrail_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_21_OzeNP_Loop
Trail_MtHiuchigatakeRC

  In first position in this row is a nice scenery shot. In 2nd position is another shot of Mt. Hiuchigatake - with me standing on the boardwalk. In 3rd position is a zoomed in shot of Mt. Hiuchigatake. We're going to hike all the way down to that end of the National Park, so please be prepared to see an abundance of shots of Mt. Hiuchigatake.
July12th_Ozegahara029RC
July12th_
Ozegahara029RC
July12th_Ozegahara045_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12th_Ozegahara045
_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12_22_OzeNP_LoopTrail_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_22_OzeNP_Loop
Trail_MtHiuchigatakeRC

  In this row is an abundance of Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) and also a lone Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta Lily. In the center shot, that's Kazuya, with Mt. Shibutsu behind him.
July12_24_OzeNP_LookTrail_CottongrassRC
July12_24_OzeNP_Loop
Trail_CottongrassRC
July12_25_OzeNP_LookTrail_Cottongrass_KazuyaRC
July12_25_OzeNP_Loop
Trail_Cottongrass_KazuyaRC
July12th_Ozegahara052_HemerocallisDumortieriVarEsculentaRC
July12th_Ozegahara052_Hemerocallis
DumortieriVarEsculentaRC

  Now we have finished up looking around and shooting photos on the Loop Trail and we are headed out into the main marsh. In this row is even more Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum). In the second and third shots you can also see a great number of Irises (Iris laevigata).
July12th_Ozegahara063_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12th_Ozegahara063
_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12_33_OzeNP_TheMarsh_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_33_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_35_OzeNP_TheMarsh_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_35_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_Cottongrass_IrisRC

  The first shot in this row is zoomed into that Iris (Iris laevigata) patch. The 2nd and 3rd shots show the marsh with Mt. Shibutsu back there too.
July12_39_OzeNP_TheMarsh_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_39_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_41_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtShibutsuRC
July12_41_OzeNP_The
Marsh_MtShibutsuRC
July12th_Ozegahara073_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12th_Ozegahara073
_EriophorumVaginatumRC

  The first shot in this row shows the marsh and a great deal of Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum). The second shot ---- HUH? Does he know that those words mean? The 3rd shot is another shot of Mt. Hiuchigatake.
July12th_Ozegahara077_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12th_Ozegahara077
_EriophorumVaginatumRC
July12_46_OzeNP_TheMarsh_RC
July12_46_OzeNP_
TheMarsh_RC
July12_49_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_49_OzeNP_The
Marsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC

  Here are 3 photos of Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) and Irises (Iris laevigata).
July12_51_OzeNP_TheMarsh_CottongrassRC
July12_51_OzeNP_The
Marsh_CottongrassRC
July12_55_OzeNP_TheMarsh_IrisRC
July12_55_OzeNP_The
Marsh_IrisRC
July12th_Ozegahara084_IrisLaevigataRC
July12th_Ozegahara084
_IrisLaevigataRC

  The first shot here is a nice one of scenery. The 2nd shot shows Kazuya taking a photo of Mt. Hiuchigatake and the 3rd shot is one of the photos he took from this spot. The clouds are becoming very attractive. What a terrible crowd of people here today!
July12_60_OzeNP_TheMarsh_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_60_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_Cottongrass_IrisRC
July12_62_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtHiuchigatake_KazuyaRC
July12_62_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_MtHiuchigatake_KazuyaRC
July12th_Ozegahara093RC
July12th_
Ozegahara093RC

  Need we tell you that is Mt. Hiuchigatake? The 2nd shot is a nice white Water Lily. The 3rd shot gives you an idea of how abundant the Pogonia japonica orchids were in some places. Every one of those flowers is a Pogonia japonica!
July12_65_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_65_OzeNP_The
Marsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_67_OzeNP_TheMarsh_WaterLilyRC
July12_67_OzeNP_The
Marsh_WaterLilyRC
July12th_Ozegahara099_PogoniaJaponicaRC
July12th_Ozegahara099
_PogoniaJaponicaRC

  Well, obviously the first 2 shots in this row were taken specifically for the reflections in the water. The center image was Tone-Mapped from 3 exposure-bracketed photos, using the Details Enhancer option of Photomatix Pro. The third shot is a red dragonfly (Nannophya pygmaea); we'll show you one additional shot of this insect on page 2 in Row 7.
July12_69_OzeNP_TheMarsh_ReflectionInPondRC
July12_69_OzeNP_The
Marsh_ReflectionInPondRC
July12_77_78_79_OzeNP_TheMarsh_ReflectionInPond_TMDERC
July12_77_78_79_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_ReflectionInPond_TMDERC
July12_81_OzeNP_TheMarsh_RedDragonflyRC
July12_81_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_RedDragonflyRC

  The first shot here shows the marsh, the boardwalk, the crowd of people and Mt. Shibutsu. The 2nd shot shows a Pogonia japonica orchid and the 3rd shot is looking the other direction and shows Mt. Hiuchigatake along with some guy who is, apparently dancing his way down the boardwalk.
July12_82_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtShibutsuRC
July12_82_OzeNP_The
Marsh_MtShibutsuRC
July12_90_OzeNP_TheMarsh_Eleorchia_japonicaRC
July12_90_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_Pogonia_japonicaRC
July12th_Ozegahara116_IrisLaevigataRC
July12th_Ozegahara116
_IrisLaevigataRC

  Here is a nice low level shot which shows Mt. Hiuchigatake, some nice ferns and some beautiful clouds. The center shot is of Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta, a lily, growing between the 2 lanes of the boardwalk. The 3rd shot again shows Mt. Hiuchigatake, ferns and beautiful clouds.
July12_93_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_93_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12th_Ozegahara123_HemerocallisDumortieriVarEsculentaRC
July12th_Ozegahara123_
HemerocallisDumortieriVarEsculentaRC
July12_99_OzeNP_TheMarsh_MtHiuchigatakeRC
July12_99_OzeNP_TheMarsh
_MtHiuchigatakeRC

  Here are 2 collages which show the astounding beauty of the Eleorchis japonica orchid. We built these 2 collages back in 2010 and have shown them to you a few times previously. The second one is also featured in our Climbing a Few of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains - Volume 7: Mt. Shibutsu book on page 58.
EleorchisJaponicaRC
EleorchisJaponicaRC
EleorchisJaponica1RC
EleorchisJaponica1RC

  And here are 2 collages which show the amazing beauty of the Pogonia japonica orchid. We built these 2 collages back in 2010 and have shown them to you a few times previously. A portion of the first one is also featured in our Climbing a Few of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains - Volume 7: Mt. Shibutsu book on page 57.
PogoniaJaponica1RC
PogoniaJaponica1RC
PogoniaJaponicaRC
PogoniaJaponicaRC

  Here is a smaller version of the map to which we linked to in the Row Text way up in Row 1. If you have not yet looked at the map, then you have no idea where anything is in relation to the other stuff, sorry.
Oze Map
Oze National Park Map
End Page 1, but July 12th Continues on Page 2 (at 1:18 PM)
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of this Oze National Park adventure. Go To Page:


(will open in new window)

Purchase Photos Complete List Of All Photos E-mail us Go to the Special Items Page
Top Of Page Lightbox Instructions Comprehensive Site Map Return to our home page



Link to Amazon.com (new window).
We get 2% of whatever you spend if you go to Amazon from this link!! Please shop on Amazon from here.
If you would like to donate to our hiking & traveling fund or show your appreciation for our efforts you can donate through PayPal. A single donation will entitle you to request a single full-sized photo IN THE DONATION MONTH - which you may then use as a desktop wallpaper or whatever. The copyright will be retained by us and the photo will be inconspicuously marked with the copyright symbol (©), year and photographer's name. (Donation probably not tax deductible.)