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