Early summer mountain climbing is decided here! Mie's proud unexplored region, Osugidani "Shishibuchi"

◆Article creation: Koshi Iguchi　#Mie Travel Camera Club

A landscape photographer living in Mie Prefecture. In addition to working as an office worker, I also use my holidays to take landscape photos, and as part of Mie Tourism's ``Mie Travel Camera Club,'' I introduce the recommended scenic views that Mie Prefecture is proud of, and also share how to photograph them. .

・What is Osugidani?

Hello, this is Koshi Iguchi.
This time, I would like to introduce Shishibuchi in Osugidani, a secret area that Mie Prefecture is proud of.

Osugidani is located in OdaiTown Taki District, Mie Prefecture, and is a valley climbing course with seven waterfalls.
Among them, we will introduce Shishibuchi, which is especially popular, and show you how to take the coolest photos of Shishibuchi.

Click here for the Osugidani Climbing Center homepage↓
Osugidani Climbing Center

※Note
Osugidani is a mountain climbing course and is an area where there is a risk of slip-and-fall accidents. If you don't have the equipment or experience, please refrain from doing so or ask someone with experience to accompany you.
Even if you are an experienced climber, there is no way to contact you if you fall, so it is best to go in a party of two or more people.
Osugidani is an out-of-service area where there is no internet signal. Please be sure to download the mountain climbing map, check the route, and plan in advance.

・Location, access

If you are coming from Yokkaichi or Ise, you can get to the trailhead parking lot in about an hour from Omiya Odai IC.
You can park for free at each trailhead parking lot, and the parking lot closest to the trailhead can accommodate about 30 cars.
Once this area is full, it will be quite a distance to the trailhead, so we recommend arriving early.
*Please refrain from parking on the street. The road is narrow, so it becomes a hindrance to traffic.

Click here for details on parking locations

・Preparation
The nearest convenience store from here is Family Mart Odai Misetani store, which is right next to Omiya Odai IC. Don't forget to buy food and water!

Also, the last chance to refuel with gasoline is near Omiya Odai IC.
Make sure you have enough supplies before heading out in case you run into any sudden problems!

are you ready?
The trailhead is about a 10 minute walk from here. Be sure to prepare well so you don't forget anything.

Now, let's start exploring the unexplored area!

There are seven large waterfalls in Osugidani, but the one we are aiming for this time is Shishibuchi.

It takes about 3 to 4 hours from the mountain trail.

I arrived at the parking lot in the middle of the night, took a quick nap, and started hiking at 6 a.m., arriving at Shishibuchi around 10 a.m. It took me about 4 hours because I was taking photos slowly, but I think if you walk briskly you can get there in about 3 hours.

If you have experience in the Northern Alps, I don't think the time required will be too difficult, but if you usually hike the Suzuka Seven Mountains, it may be a hard hike. Prepare carefully!

Click here for an article introducing Suzuka Seven Mountains in detail↓
Suzuka Seven Mountains is a mountain activity that can be enjoyed by everyone from beginners to veterans.

The road to Shishibuchi has many ups and downs, and the mountain trail is not in perfect condition.
It was a tough road, but the spectacular view that awaits you at the end of the road is exceptional. This is also the real thrill of mountain climbing!

For example, a place like this...

A place like this...

A steep mountain climbing course awaits.
Of course, we don't always walk on cliffs like this.

But this thrill is irresistible!
This is the perfect place to explore unexplored areas!

The spectacular view that awaits you at the end of this mountain climbing course is the main “Shishi-buchi”!

Now, let's introduce how to take pictures!

・Photography period

Although there is no exact timing for shooting, we recommend shooting around May for Shishibuchi.

There are three reasons why May is recommended.

1. The light coming in is beautiful

2. relatively little rain

3. Fresh green season

The first point is the most important point when taking photos.
The sun, which rises directly overhead around noon, does a good job. More details later.

The second one is also important. To begin with, the Odai area is one of the rainiest areas in Japan.
It's hard to hike in the rain, and it's hard to take pictures...

The third factor is also an important element when photographing landscapes.
During the summer, the trees turn green, but the same green color varies slightly between May and August.

May is a bright yellow-green color due to fresh greenery, but in August it becomes a deep green color, giving a slightly dark image.

Therefore, I think the greenery looks more beautiful in May, when the leaves are fresh.

・Target weather and time

Next to the timing of the photo shoot, the most important things are the weather and time.

Naturally, the weather we're aiming for is "sunny." It brings out the beautiful fresh greenery to the fullest.

And the time to aim for is 12:00 to 13:00.

If you have read my previous article carefully, you may have noticed that some of you may be wondering, `` Isn't morning or evening light good for photography?''​
thank you. Nice to hear from you (lol).

Shishibuchi is surrounded by mountains, so there is no sunlight in the morning or evening. So the correct answer here is noon.

The reason why 12:00 to 13:00 during the day is ideal is because the light shines in from directly above the waterfall, illuminating the water surface in front of you.
The water flowing through Osugidani is very transparent and shines blue when the light hits it. There's no reason not to take advantage of this!

・Points for shooting

After location, time, and time, the next question is, "How can I take beautiful photos?"

This time, let's take a picture in the familiar "A mode (aperture priority mode)", which is popular for easy shooting.

The shooting settings for thumbnail photos are
Focal length:24mm(35mm equivalent)　Fvalue:8　ISO:250　SS:1/25seconds
(Sorry, the settings are different from the photo directly above.)

After adjusting the aperture properly, let the camera do the rest!
This shooting setting is set using a tripod, so if you are hand-held, I think it would be safe to set the F value to 5.6 to 6.3 and increase the ISO to about 400.

Last time I told you to use a tripod, but this time it's daytime so a tripod isn't essential.
However, it is true that there are times when it is more convenient to have one, such as when composing a picture or focusing.
However, considering the approximately 4-hour climb, those who want to reduce their luggage may be able to leave it behind.

The key point to keep in mind is to aim for the timing when the light falls from directly above Shishifuchi.
Before 11 a.m. or after 1 p.m., the light coming in will be at an angle, creating shadows where you want the most light.
Therefore, be careful about the position of the sun when taking photos.

If the time is too early, the light will come diagonally from the left like this, so there will be a large difference in brightness between the left and right sides of the photo, resulting in an unbalanced photo. ↑

Please wait for the best time and try taking pictures!

You may think, "It's a long time to arrive at Shishi-buchi around 10 o'clock and wait until 12 o'clock!", but there is a small waterfall on the right side of Shishi-buchi, and you can enjoy lunch while watching the changing light of Shishi-buchi. Don't worry, time passes quickly when you're having fun.

The taste of eating food in nature after a long walk is exceptional!

So please be careful on your way home!

This concludes the introduction of Osugidani (Shishibuchi) and explanation of photography.
After climbing, you will be tired and drenched in sweat!

Perfect for you!
Lastly, I would like to introduce a hot spring where you can stop by on your way back from Osugidani!

Located approximately 50 minutes by car from the Osugidani parking lot towards Omiya Odai IC.
"Okuise Forest Pier Okuise Miyagawa Onsen".

It is a facility where you can camp or stay overnight in a cottage, and of course you can also use the hot springs on a day trip, so why not come here to wash off your sweat on your way back from Osugidani?

Day-trip bathing is reasonably priced at 700 yen for adults (junior high school students and up), and you can also enjoy a herb bath, a hot spring that uses local medicinal herbs and has great healing effects.

*Please check the official website for price details.

Soothe your tired body in a hot spring, and drink a coke while looking out at nature after the bath!
(Actually, I want to drink beer)

·summary

Thank you for reading until the end.

How was it? I would be happy if some people read this article and want to go to Shishibuchi or Osugidani, or even start mountain climbing.

Although it is a dangerous place, it is an unexplored region that is well worth the trip.

There may be some of you who were planning to go to the Northern Alps during Golden Week, but those plans have been canceled due to the influence of the coronavirus.
Why not take this opportunity to explore unexplored areas within the prefecture?

See you again in the next article.

Click here for Koshi Iguchi's previous article↓
Photo guide for “Mitaki no Sakura”, one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Mie Prefecture!

Check out Koshi Iguchi's Instagram too!
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