Get away from the heat to Iga this summer! Mie's hidden famous waterfall "Shirafuji-no-takiFalls"

[What is Shirafuji-no-takiFalls]

Hello, this is Koshi Iguchi.
This time we will introduce Shirafuji-no-takiFalls a hidden waterfall in Mie Prefecture.

Shirafuji-no-takiFalls is a gigantic waterfall with a height of 15 meters, located quietly in the mountains of IgaCity.
When most people think of waterfalls in Mie Prefecture, many people think of the `` TheAkame48Falls'', and although it is not a famous waterfall, I personally think that it has more charm than any of TheAkame48Falls Falls.

This time, I would like to introduce Shirafuji-no-takiFalls and write about how to take beautiful photos of Shirafuji-no-takiFalls!

We will also introduce some delicious soba restaurants at the end of the article, so please read until the end.

[Location/Access]

Approximately 15 to 20 minutes by car after getting off at Iga IC on the Meihan National Highway.
It takes about an hour by car from Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station and about 45 minutes by car from Tsu Station.
Please check Google Maps etc. for detailed location.

Click here for location information of Shirafuji-no-takiFalls

Regarding the parking lot, there is a parking space secured near the entrance of Shirafuji-no-takiFalls. There is a limited number of parking spaces available, so please be considerate of others when parking.

Also, if the space near the entrance is full, there is space a little further back, so please use that space.
*Please refrain from parking in a manner that obstructs traffic.

It takes about 3 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the waterfall, but there are many steps and it can get slippery after rain, so it's a good idea to wear comfortable shoes.

During the photoshoot, there will be moss growing on the rocks and mud, so it's safer to wear shoes that are comfortable for walking.

There is also a toilet at the entrance, so don't worry if you need to go to the toilet.

[Photography period]

My recommendation is during the "fresh green" season.

The combination of beautiful greenery and waterfalls is truly the best.
I feel like I can feel the negative ions even more!

Also, during the day around the summer solstice, the sun is at a high altitude, and light shines in from above the waterfall, making the greenery even more appealing!

It seems that the autumn leaves season is also a good time, so if you are interested, please go there.
I haven't been there yet during the autumn foliage season, but I plan to go this fall.

However, around November, the altitude of the sun will drop, making it difficult for light to enter the waterfall.

[Target weather and time]

Once you decide on the time, the next thing to consider is the weather and time.


【weather】
The weather we are aiming for is sunny. I'd like to say that, but if it's too clear, the difference in brightness will become too strong, causing highlights to be blown out and shadows to be crushed, so a slightly cloudy day might be best.

I also think that you can use a slow shutter to express the flow of water near the water.
In such cases, it is easier to increase the shutter speed when it is cloudy than when it is sunny, so that is also a good thing.
Later on, I will introduce an excellent item that allows you to increase your shutter speed even on sunny days!

【time】
Next, regarding the time, the light comes in from the top of the waterfall during the fresh green season from around 9:00 to 12:00, so I think it would be best to take photos in the morning!
The thumbnail photo for this article was taken around 11:00!

[Preparation for shooting]

·lens
Get your wide-angle lens ready! Ideally, a lens wider than 24mm (full frame equivalent) is recommended!
Shirafuji-no-takiFalls is not only a waterfall, but also has beautiful trees and beautiful moss, which is a big attraction!
Let's take a wide-angle view to take advantage of them!

·tripod
This is a familiar tripod in every article I write about. This is essential when using a long shutter speed to express the flow of water.
It will make composition much easier, so if you don't have it yet, be sure to get it!

·filter
It is very convenient to have a filter to express the flow of water when shooting during the day!
There are various types of filters, but this time we will introduce two that are perfect for photographing waterfalls!

○ND filter
ND filters have a light-reducing effect and are great for allowing you to use longer shutter speeds even in bright areas.
If you use a slow shutter speed to capture the flow of water on a clear day, the image will be blown out. However, if you use an ND filter, you can suppress overexposure!

○CPL filter
By using a CPL filter, you can control the strong light hitting leaves and stones and reduce overexposure! It also has other effects that are perfect for photographing waterfalls, such as enhancing the greenery of trees, so please try using it!

[Points for shooting]

The thumbnail photo
Focal length: 19mm SS: 1/2 second F value: 22 ISO: 100

There is no problem even if you shoot in the easy A mode (aperture priority mode) this time,
If you try manual shooting this time, you might be able to take some cool photos!

【shutter speed】
First, let's talk about shutter speed.
By setting the shutter speed a little longer, you can make the flow of water look like silk thread.

However, there is a caveat here.
“Simply increasing the shutter speed is not enough.”

If the shutter speed is too long, the water surface will look flat and the surrounding trees will be blurry. Therefore, I think "about 1/10 second to 1 second" is good.

[F value]
Next is the F value. I always introduce this, but for landscapes that clearly express the whole scene, it's best to focus on f/8 to f/22.

[ISO sensitivity]
Finally, there is the ISO sensitivity. Since this time I was shooting during the day, I set it to the lowest setting of 100. Depending on the camera, it can be lowered to 64, so be sure to lower it to reduce noise.

Then, based on these settings, you can adjust the brightness according to the brightness of the day, and you are sure to be able to take great photos!

Lastly, I would like to introduce some common mistakes that are often made.
I have written about this before, but these are ``white fly'' and ``tree blur''!

[Whiteout]
``Overexposure'' can easily occur if you let your guard down a bit when shooting on a sunny day. Also, overexposure is extremely difficult to correct after shooting.

[Trees blur]
``The blurring of the trees'' is a mistake that can easily occur if you are too focused on expressing the flow of water. If you were too focused on the flow of water or the composition, and when you got back and looked at the data, you'd find that the trees were blurred by the wind.

To avoid this, be sure to check the preview screen frequently.

I'm sure you'll be hungry by the time you finish filming.
We will introduce you to the special soba restaurant for you!

[Garyuan Kakakabi]

​Garyuan Kakakabi is about a 10-minute drive from Shirafuji-no-takiFalls, where you can enjoy exquisite handmade soba noodles.

This soba restaurant is located in a private house surrounded by nature, and has a relaxing atmosphere in a traditional Japanese house.
It's run by a husband and wife team, and the soba noodles are limited, so if you don't go early, some of the soba noodles will run out!
You can also make reservations by phone, so it's best to make a reservation at least one day in advance.

Business hours: 11:00-14:30
Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the last Sunday

What I received was an assortment of three types of soba noodles.
Each of the three types of soba (28, 100 percent, and ginjo soba) is brought to you like a course meal, so you can fully enjoy each one.

Of these three types, the one that stands out to me is the ``Ginjo soba.'' The cherry blossom-flavored ginjo soba was very refreshing, and the moment I ate it, the cherry blossom flavor that overcame the taste of the soup filled my mouth, making it very delicious.

I was very lucky because the three types of platter was out of stock two customers after I ordered it!
I want to try the soup soba next time, so I'm sure I'll be back!

There is only one point to note.
The road to the store's parking lot is narrow, so it may be a little difficult to get there if you have a large vehicle. Please be careful.

Finally, thank you for agreeing to publish this page.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again.

【summary】

Thank you for reading until the end.
I would be happy if there are people who read this article and want to go to Shirafuji-no-takiFalls and Garyuan or Kakakabi.

It's going to get even hotter from now on, but why not get through this summer by bathing in negative ions at a cool waterfall deep in the mountains and eating cold soba noodles?

See you in the next article.

Click here for Koshi Iguchi's previous article↓
One of the best planetariums in the Tokai region! "Photographing the Milky Way at Odaigahara"

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