Autumn at Midagahara Highlands

Autumn Colors on the Midagahara Plateau ― Viewing Mount Okudainichi

Mitagahara is a particularly expansive plateau within the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, blanketed in vibrant autumn foliage during the fall season. Visible in the center background of the photo is Oku-Dainichidake (2,611m). Located beyond Dainichidake, one of the Tateyama Three Peaks, this summit is renowned for its majestic presence within the Tateyama mountain range.

The nearby plateau features a mix of rowan, Japanese white birch, and Japanese oak trees, displaying a rich palette of reds, oranges, and yellows. Peak viewing occurs from early to mid-October, making it one of the most beautiful spots for autumn foliage along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. The contrast between the distant mountain ranges and the vibrant autumn leaves stands out in the crisp air, quietly conveying the deepening autumn in the Tateyama region.

The rowan berries blaze crimson

The mountain ash symbolizes autumn in Mitagahara. Its fiery red spreads across the landscape, creating a vivid contrast with the deep green of evergreen conifers. At your feet, bamboo grass spreads out, conveying the richness of autumn in Tateyama alongside the wetland’s unique vegetation. This moment, when the autumn colors reach their peak, is one of nature’s most splendid expressions.

Autumn Leaves in Harmony ― Rowan Trees Ablaze on Mitagahara Plateau

In this photograph, the crimson rowan and the golden-hued Japanese maple create a striking contrast, while a fallen tree stands as a symbol of nature’s workings and the passage of time. As the highland wind sweeps through, enveloped in the cold air of this season, the plants collectively display their colors at their most brilliant. This untouched, natural state simultaneously conveys the resilience and transience of life thriving on the Tateyama plateau.