{"id":2704,"date":"2016-06-12T17:06:24","date_gmt":"2016-06-12T08:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-06-12\/2704"},"modified":"2016-06-12T17:06:24","modified_gmt":"2016-06-12T08:06:24","slug":"a-visit-to-kyotos-northern-mountains-this-time-by-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2016-06-12\/2704","title":{"rendered":"A Visit to Kyoto’s Northern Mountains, This Time By Car"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 70mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHonest Life's Work<\/span>\nfarmer deep in the mountains of northern Kyoto, Japan\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I went out on a leisurely photo-expedition drive the other day with Paul Barr and Anastasiya Bulkavets, whom Paul and I met<\/span> a\ncouple<\/span> of years ago in a story<\/span> I've been meaning to tell, during this outing<\/a>\nwhen she happen to recognize Damien and his red hat<\/a> from having seen them on\nmy blog. We all occasionally<\/span> get together since.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAnastasiya<\/span>\nout of focus, sorry, 'cause I was focusing on what was inside the rusty wheel\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nInside the Rusty Wheel<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nHungry Babies<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMommy Returns with a Tasty<\/span> Snack<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I've lived in this area for more than a decade<\/span> and have driven in the mountains many times over the years,\nbut until I started<\/span> cycling through them last year, I didn't<\/span> really have a sense<\/span> for locations and connecting roads...\nall the places in the mountains were just “<\/span>in the mountains”<\/span>, and I relied<\/span> on my having geoencoded photos to\nbe able to recall where something was or how to get there.<\/p>\n\n

But now that I cycle through these mountains all the time, I'm intimate<\/span> with the roads and what they connect, and the world is\na much<\/span> smaller place.<\/p>\n\n

It was interesting to see some of these roads from the car.<\/p>\n\n

To get to this first stop, we drove up through Ohara and onto the small mountain road that goes to Momoi Pass, a heinously-steep route that I first<\/span> cycled in July<\/a>. At least<\/span> it's steep for me...\ntoward the end of its 7km length it has a 1.2km section at an average of 12%.<\/p>\n\n

It was much easier in the car.<\/p>\n\n

We stopped at a small village with no services of any kind, except for one hidden drink vending machine,\nand a very<\/span> old phone booth:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 180 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n“<\/span>Phone · Telegraph”<\/span><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

There's also a nice field of irises that I hoped<\/span> would be in bloom, but they weren't. Rather,\nhere's a photo<\/span> from this trip to the same place nine years ago<\/a>...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f\/2.8 at an effective 25mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>180 sec, f<\/span>\/5.6, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nIrises In Bloom<\/span>\n9 years ago\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Not far away was a small shrine...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nShikobuchi Shrine<\/span>\n\u601d\u5b50\u6df5\u795e\u793e\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I go by all the time (this “<\/span>Entering a Small<\/span> Village”<\/span> picture<\/a>\nsnapped on the fly during one cycle trip was taken just as we passed the shrine) but I had<\/span> never stopped to check it out.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 58mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 2800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nDifficult to Read<\/span>\n“<\/span>\u601d\u5b50\u6df5\u795e\u793e<\/span>”<\/span><\/span>\neven if the paint were fresh, I couldn't<\/span> read that name\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nModern Construction<\/span>\nbeautiful light\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This kind of place can be a mixed bag... it is of relatively recent construction, so it lacks the old feeling that provides a\ncertain<\/span> appeal, yet because it's built simply to serve the local community, its has a level<\/span> of honesty and purity that the big\nostentatious temples and shrines have long abandoned.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nOld Tree In Front<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Across the way were active small-plot farms, which certainly have an appeal to me.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 48mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/3.2, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWorking the Fields<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We continued on up past Momoi Pass, then over Hanase Pass and down into the small village at its northern slope.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLittle Roadside Temple<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 110 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nPrivate Footbridge<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 140 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSome Building<\/span>\nthat I normally pass at a breakneck pace\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAnother Shrine Entrance<\/span>\nthis one I had seen before\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The shrine back in the mountains behind this gate made an appearance in “<\/span>Visiting the Back-Mountain Hiyoshi Shrine with Jon Van Dalen<\/a>”<\/span> six and a half<\/span> years ago.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>500 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSomeone's House<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I'm guessing that this is one homestead, with the original house in the center, the storage kura<\/i><\/a> at left, and a (relatively) modern\n2nd-generation house for the now-adult oldest son at right.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 35mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCowbell's New Sign<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The letters are made of Styrofoam, so it gets broken easily. Compare with the same sign a year<\/span> ago<\/a>. Sometimes I'll stop by Cowbell for coffee\nwhile cycling, such as on this trip<\/a> last year.\nYet, I'd never<\/span> noticed the cycle rack they have for road bikes:<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 32mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRoad-Bike Rack<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Road bikes don't have kickstands, so one parks using a rack<\/span> like this by hooking the seat over the pole, as seen here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

Then the drive brought us deeper into the mountains, where we stopped by a tunnel<\/span> that I cycle<\/span>\nthrough every so often...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/7.1, ISO 560 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWell, Now that You<\/span> Mention It<\/span>\nyes, this does look a bit familiar\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I was shocked recently when I realized that this bridge\/tunnel\/bridge combo, which I'd been cycling through\nwithout a second<\/span> thought, is the\n“<\/span>Kyoto\u2019s Road to Nowhere<\/a>”<\/span> that I posted<\/span>\nabout nine years ago (and then re-connected with four years ago<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f\/2.8 @ 17mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f\/4.5, ISO 320 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nNine Years Ago<\/span>\n9\u5e74\u524d<\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

During both of those visits, the location in my mind was merely “<\/span>in the mountains somewhere”<\/span>, so when I started<\/span> cycling\nthrough it on this ride<\/a> last May, I never<\/span> made the connection.<\/p>\n\n

The 600m (⅓ mile) bit of road that it bypasses is still as pleasant as it was the first time I took<\/span> it, so I still<\/span> have\nno idea why what must have been such a large<\/span> amount of money was spent.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAlways Lovely<\/span>\nentrance gate to the Joshokoji Temple (\u5e38\u7167\u7687\u5bfa)<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We then made our way over to the\nJoshokoji Temple (\u5e38\u7167\u7687\u5bfa),<\/span> which I first<\/span> visited four years ago<\/a>\nfor photography. I've stopped by a few<\/span> times while cycling, including during\nBridget and Sarah\u2019s Tour de Kyoto<\/i><\/a> last fall.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Voigtl\u00e4nder 125mm f\/2.5 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 3600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 2800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

After while we started back to home, stopping by a shrine<\/span> that has been on my blog\nmany times...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 450 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nUncharacteristically Green<\/span>\nIwato Ochiba Shrine (\u5ca9\u6238\u843d\u8449\u795e\u793e)\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The property is dominated with towering ginkgo trees, which are richly yellow in the fall.\nHere's a photo<\/span> from early during last fall's season, from “<\/span>Cycling to Kyoto\u2019s Ochiba Shrine Amid the Fall Colors<\/a>”<\/span>...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nPanasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nEarly Last Fall<\/span>\n\u53bb\u5e74\u306e\u79cb\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

My first visit to the shrine had been five years prior to that, with Paul, as chronicled in “<\/span>Carpet of Yellow at the Iwato Ochiba Shrine, Deep in the Mountains of North-West\nKyoto<\/a>”<\/span>. As with all<\/span> the photos on my blog, the “<\/span>nearby photos”<\/span> link under each pictures brings you to other visits to\nthe same place.<\/p>\n\n

Closer back to Kyoto, I showed Paul and Anastasiya a little<\/span> natural spring that cyclists often fill their water bottles at (as seen here<\/a>)...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 27mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When I cycle by, I'll often find folks filling up big jugs in the back of their car, to bring home. I guess<\/span> the water is\nsupposed to be very good, or blessed, or something. It is tasty<\/span>, I know.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f\/2.8 @ 52mm — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.8, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nTasty<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

This is near the Kyoto Mountain Restaurant \u201cYama no Ie Hasegawa\u201d<\/a> that has\nalso appeared many times on my blog. We would<\/span> have liked to have stopped in, but time had run short. (I made<\/span> up the visit by\nstopping in a couple<\/span> of days ago on the end of this 127km ride with Gorm and\nManseki<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n

All in all, a relaxing, enjoyable day.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I went out on a leisurely photo-expedition drive the other day with Paul Barr and Anastasiya Bulkavets, whom Paul and I met a couple of years ago in a story I've been meaning to tell, during this outing when she happen to recognize Damien and his red hat from having seen them on my blog. We all occasionally get together since.<\/p>

I've lived in this area for more than a decade and have driven in the mountains many times over the years, but until I started cycling through them last year, I didn't really have a sense for locations and [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2,10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2704"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2704"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2704\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2704"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2704"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2704"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}