#kinomatariver

Cooling Off with My Border Collie in the Kinomata River・愛犬と一緒に、木の俣川の清流でクールダウン

The Kinomata River (木の俣川; Kinomata-gawa), its waters icy cold even in midsummer, flows south from the steep southern slope of Mt. Megadake (女鹿岳; Mega-dake) in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. For Dale-chan, it was a fun escape from the summer heat of our urban home in Yokohama, offering the perfect combination of cold mountain water and wide-open forest scenery.

This stretch of the river includes walking trails on both sides of the shoreline and is a popular destination for locals, especially young families and groups of students enjoying their summer break. On weekends, the riverbank fills with the sounds of children splashing, couples picnicking beneath the trees, and hikers making their way down from the surrounding foothills.

Near the Kyogan Suspension Pedestrian Bridge, which is located about 520 meters (1,700 feet) downstream from the Kinomata-Enchi Kyogan-Tsuribashi Parking Lot, the flow of the river slows noticeably. Here, a series of natural swimming holes have formed: calm, shoulder-deep pools for adults and broad shallows where parents play with toddlers in gentle, ankle-high currents. The water is clear enough to see every stone on the riverbed, softened by the shade of dense summer greenery.

Although the first step into the water was enough to make me gasp, the chill quickly becomes refreshing. I stood midstream with my camera, letting the cold run around my calves while I worked on a few landscape and pet portraits. Dale-chan waited patiently beside me with her ears perked, dripping wet, and periodically seemed to beg me to splash her with more water.

Moments like these are what make photographing Japan’s mountain rivers so rewarding: a blend of natural beauty, quiet forest air, and the simple joy of sharing the scene with my loyal companion.

Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan

Timestamp: 2025/09/02・13:56

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

105 mm ISO 1600 for 1/200 sec. at ƒ/5.6

After the Storm, Kinomata River Falls Silent・嵐の前、静けさに包まれる木の俣川

A storm was rolling into the Kinomata Valley as distant thunder echoed through the forest. One by one, visitors hurried back to their cars, leaving the clear, gently flowing Kinomata River entirely to me and my border collie.

Fed by cold mountain water from the slopes of Mt. Megadake, the river revealed every stone beneath its surface. After weeks of enduring summer heat while commuting between Tokyo and Yokohama, this quiet stretch of water in the Nasu Highlands felt like a small piece of paradise; cool, calm, and far from the crowds!

Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Timestamp: 2025/09/02・14:27

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

28 mm ISO 800 for 1/160sec. at ƒ/4

For more information, including Google Maps links, links to sources, and more photos, check out the full write-up (just a 1-minute read):

Standing in the Kinomata River, Finding a Different Perspective・川に立ち、いつもと違う視点で見る木の俣川

Crouching low in the middle of the Kinomata River (木の俣川; Kinomata-gawa), I set out to capture a perspective different from my usual eye-level shots (see second photo). Although the water was frigid, the river was shallow and slow-moving, making it possible to place my tripod securely in the stream without worrying about it being swept away.

Visiting on a weekday gave me the freedom to move at an unhurried pace, wandering along the riverbank in search of the right composition. With no crowds around, I didn’t have to worry about getting in anyone’s way; a contrast to the busier weekends, when local students on summer break and families often come here to escape the heat.

For more information, including Google Maps links, links to sources, and more photos, check out the full write-up (just a 1-minute read):

https://www.pix4japan.com/blog/20250902-kinomata

Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan

Timestamp: 2025/09/02・14:21

Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP

Finding Stillness in the Waters of the Kinomata River・木の俣川の流れの中で感じたひとときの静寂

A quiet section of the Kinomata River in Tochigi, Japan, where clear freshwater flows gently through lush mountain forest. I photographed this scene while standing in the cool river on a summer weekday, surrounded by deep green foliage and the soft sounds of moving water and rustling leaves. The calm atmosphere and shifting turquoise tones of the river offered a brief but welcome escape from the heat and noise of daily life.

Location: Nasushiobara, Tochigi Pref., Japan Timestamp: 2025/09/02・14:14 Pentax K-1 II + DFA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 + CP 53 mm ISO 100 for 0.4 sec. at ƒ/9

Kinomata River Adventure with a Border Collie 🐾 | Tochigi, Japan (Part 2)・ボーダーコリーと行く木の俣川の冒険｜栃木県・パート②

Escaping the Yokohama heat, Dale-chan and I spent a summer day at the icy-cold Kinomata River in Tochigi. This quiet stretch near the Kyogan Suspension Bridge has clear mountain water, shady forest trails, and natural pools where families come to cool off.

I waded midstream with my camera while Dale-chan stood patiently beside me, enjoying the cold current and waiting for me to splash more water on her. Moments like this are why we keep coming back to Japan’s mountain rivers.

For more information, including Google Maps links, background information, and high-resolution photos, check out the full write-up (just a 1-minute read):

Kinomata River Adventure with a Border Collie 🐾 | Tochigi, Japan (Part 1)・ボーダーコリーと行く木の俣川の冒険｜栃木県・パート①

Escaping the Yokohama heat, Dale-chan and I spent a summer day at the icy-cold Kinomata River in Tochigi. This quiet stretch near the Kyogan Suspension Bridge has clear mountain water, shady forest trails, and natural pools where families come to cool off.

I waded midstream with my camera while Dale-chan stood patiently beside me, enjoying the cold current and waiting for me to splash more water on her. Moments like this are why we keep coming back to Japan’s mountain rivers.

For more information, including Google Maps links, background information, and high-resolution photos, check out the full write-up (just a 1-minute read):