

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Oppressive Crowds of Times Square
Gokayama Village, Toyama Prefecture, Japan
So, it's been a week since “Introduction to a Snowy Gokayama Village”, and though I intended to pick up where I left off right away, I got sidetracked with related posts “Rosy Cheeks”, “Japan's Deep-Rooted Ethos of Fire Prevention”, “Snowy Mountains”, and “Shutter Speed's Effect on Falling Snow”. So, picking up where I left off in the Introduction post, more on our stroll through this picturesque frozen countryside...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 66 mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ice Buds are Blooming

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26 mm — 1/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fumie Photographing a Pretty Scene
out of frame to the right

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26 mm — 1/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
My Attempt at the Same
I'm really disappointed with this last shot... the scene offered so much potential, but my composition here is just pathetic. Would like to return in time to that spot to try the shot again. I haven't seen Fumie's phone-camera shot yet... it probably better.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 36 mm — 1/160 sec, f/5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
More Construction Detail

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 32 mm — 1/160 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
House of Some Sort
The house above looks to be someone's private residence, as most of the houses in the village are, but I seem to remember that this one might have been turned into a museum of some sort, and if so, it seems to be both closed for business today, and lacking in the signage department.... both of which the photographer in me appreciates!

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Practice Makes Perfect
red car tries a second time to get up the hill
We saw only one car in the village the whole time we were there, and we saw it twice, as it had issues getting up the hill seen between the two houses in the shot above. He got up halfway the first time, got stuck, reversed all the way back down, then got a running start and the second time he seems to have made it.
It's about this time that Anthony climbed up onto a snowy rise and I got the Rosy Cheeks shot, and most of the shots in the Shutter Speed's Effect post.
Up the hill (that the car had troubles with) to the left is a private residence that now has a cafe in part of it...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 60 mm — 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
About To Head Up Hill
to a warm, dry cafe
The railing seen at right is around what looks like a small swimming pool... a reservoir of water for fire-fighting purposes, as described in the Deep-Rooted Ethos post.
Looks like a fun winter adventure. The house reminds me of some of the thatch roofed one we saw in the mountains north of Kyoto. The red car’s antics are a bit scary but probably fun for the driver.
Very beautiful winter photos. The scenes of the snow are magnificent.