Hokkaido in Japan has so many beautiful lakes that offer breathtaking views.
One early morning in October, we woke up early, have our early breakfast, sneaked out of the hotel and wandered along the edge of the lake not far from our hotel.
It was early Autumn. The trees were covered in multi-coloured leaves. The early Autumn burst of color was glorious as the leaves change from green to vivid yellow, orange, purple, red, and russet.
The lake was like a mirror reflecting the sky and the coloured foliage. The water was lapping at the edge of the lake. The sound was very soothing that made me yearn for more.
Sitting by the edge of the lake I was staring out across the magical surface of the lake. The whole lake was calm and not even a breeze ruffled the grass.
The lake offered a serene and tranquil feeling that I have never felt before.
In the foreshore, the water had a deep blue hue which sent viewers into a reflective mood. The whole place was so peaceful and exhibited a certain sense of sadness if not for the vivid colors on the trees. The tonality and colors of the whole place just intoxicated me.
If not for the existence of a couple of lonely yachts, the place appeared too surreal.
The scene was timeless, not wanting to leave, we sat there for hours before we finally made our move to our next destination. . . . . . . . .
Thank you thank you for sharing the photos of my favoriate Hokkaido! Which lake is this?
The photos were taken some years ago. From memory, it is Lake Toya. Thanks for the “likes” on my posts! Michael
I see. Are you travelling the whole world? I am envious
I don’t think I will be able to cover the whole world. I have never been to South America and majority part of Africa, nor the Antartica etc. Thanks very much for perusing my blog and the kind comment! Michael
Just beautiful.
Thank you Rachel!
Such beautiful photos!
Thank you Kristin for the kind comment!
Beautiful! Thank You for share this amazing pictures. Is like see other world.
My pleasure to share the other world with you!
Your post always brings some thing new and interesting.Beautiful pictures.Thank you for keeping in touch.Jalal
Hi Jalal, it is my wishto share something new and interesting. Thank you for your continued support! Michael
lovely, lovely photos…. breathtaking… thanks for sharing Mr. Michael!
Hi leandra, you are welcome. Thank you! Michael
Ah I wish one of these days I were somewhere near those lakes, gazing the calm surface and enjoying the tranquility.
Hi Bama, hope your wish wil come true! Michael
Stunning photos that emanate peace and tranquillity. Thank you, Michael.
Hi lizziejoy10, thanks for the kind comment! Michael
Such beautiful reflections!
Thank you Madoqua!
what a visual delight indeed!
Thank you Raunak for your always kind comment! Michael
Beautiful!
Thank you a girl has got to eat!
Beautiful photos! Just stunning 🙂
Hi Ali, thanks for the kind comment! Michael
BEAUTIFUL! I love the reflections on the water.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Reflections on water are my favourite photography subject. Thanks for the encouragement / blessing! Michael
stunning, love the reflections – I always look for them in my photography too. I’ll be heading to japan in February so this blog has me excited for my upcoming trip! Beautiful shots.
Hope you will have a rewarding and refreshing/ relaxing trip to Japan. Safe travels! Michael
ah honeymoon there honeymoon there! that’s the magical spot! what romantic photos! 🙂
You are quite right. It could be a romantic place for honeymoon!
Outstanding. The colors so vibrant. Beautiful sceneries. Magical Autumn indeed.
Thank you Island Traveller!
Beautiful photos! Hokkaido is one of my favourite places to visit. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure to share the post / photos!
The water is very calm and beautiful.
It looks magical especially with the morning mist!
Your beauiful photo’s make me homesick today, homesick for where we used to live for over 25 years. You describe so perfectly the feeling of how sitting near the water can be so serene and bring peace. I always feel at home near the water, it’s been a big part of my life. Thanks for posting these Michael.
This is also the reason I have always lived somewhere near to the sea!
This is so beautiful! And the reflection just makes the photos even more magical…
Thanks for the comment evilnypmhstuff!
Wow, I can understand why you found it hard to leave. What a stunning location. Gorgeous photography as usual Michael.
Carol.
Thank you for your continued support and kind comment!
Hi Michael
Wonderful photographs of this beautiful lake. The colours and the reflections are lovely. I love water, there is something so magnetic about it isn’t there which seems to draw human beings to it. Gazing at water stills the spirit, rests the soul and I can tell that this was the effect that this place had on you.
Warm regards
Corinne
I always love places which are tranquil. I was really attracted by the reflections on the water and the pacifying effect it had on me!
Michael, thank you for liking my Lordsburg, Arizona pic. Lucky you for not only visiting Japan but being able to photograph such a stunning country.
Hi Yvette, I count myself fortunate to be in such a lovely place; I just can’t stop sharing this with others. Regards, Michael
Gorgeous…
Thank you The Hook!
breathtaking!
Thank you Leanova!
Hi Michael
How are you on this autumn morning? It is raining here in Wales, just for a change!! It seems to have been raining non-stop for weeks now. Never mind there is a break in the clouds and I have a game of golf later!
I am doing a piece on Meditation in the next soulsnet post and I would love to share the second photograph of this series, the one of the beautiful reflections in the lake, if that would be alright. You seem to love water as much as I do and these photographs conjure up such peace and tranquillity. Perfect for a meditator.
I hope that is ok with you. I will of course credit you and link back.
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi Corinne, we are now in mid-Autumn with lower humidity and temperatures back under 30 degrees so it is ideal for outings. Love Wales, have been there twice. Hope you will be able to play golf when the rain stops. It is perfectly alright to use the photo. Warm regards, Michael
Thanks Michael. Temperatures under 30 degrees, lucky you. We are definitely into the colder weather. Warm clothes but golf is on. Hooray!! Will be able to get some lovely pictures of the trees on the golf course too. They are beautiful at this time of year. So watch this space.
Warm regards
Corinne
Will wait to see your forthcoming post!
Autumn is my favorite season. I will be back to look at more of your photos. You have a keen eye. I like the mirror effect of the water.
Cheers.
I like Autumn too. Thanks again for the comment!
Autumn is my favourite season and I love water – lakes, sea, waterfalls etc. Thank you for the encouraging comment!
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Hi Corinne, thanks for referring me as “one of my favourite photographers”. I feel honoured, but in fact, I am re-learning photography in my retirement. Thanks also for refrring back! Mi9chael
Hi Michael
You really are one of my favourite photographers. You were one of the very first blogs that I discovered when I started blogging and I can still remember how gob-smacked ie amazed I was when I saw your wonderful rainbow of flowers post.
So you see it was you who got me interested in photography in the first place. And realising that I could share a really beautiful photograph at soulsnet as well as one of my own snaps has made blogging all the more interesting and fulfilling for me!
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi Corinne, I am glad to see that you have come up with an interesting blog which is of assistance to many readers. Regards, Michael
Thanks Michael. Have a lovely day.
Corinne
Reblogged this on retireediary and commented:
Have to reblog my own post to show how colorful and peaceful it was by the lake side in Hokkaido during Autumn.
So beautiful, reminds me a little of Minnesota. Like I said, hope to visit your beautiful country someday.
Hi, would like to visit Minnesota someday too 🙂
Beautiful view and beautiful photos. One day I have to visit Japan 🙂
Deserves a visit, especially in Autumn. Thank you 🙂
I will 🙂
🙂
That’s super amazing! I wish i was here:)
Perfect place to relaxing our soul.
Many thanks for your continued support and spprecaition 🙂
Wonderful photos. Your commentary makes them come alive …
as though I was there.
Many thanks for your encouraging comment; glad that you enjoyed the post. Regards, Michael
Spectacular color in all your photos. How do you do it?! This reminds me of a painting by Hiroshige or Hokusai.
Hi, I didn’t do much at all to the photos, maybe, just increase the saturation a little bit. The views were just fantastic! Thank you 🙂
These photos remind me of a lake South Island N.Z. I got up early it was still dark drove to the car park and had a long wait to sun rise but it was worth it. If your early it is tranquil, as I was heading out from my view point others were rushing in just a little late. I used a torch to follow the path in.
Those trips involving wakening up at very early hours and travelling when it was still dark remains forever in our minds. The trip I vividly remember is a trip up Bromo mountain in Indonesia, started travelling at 4:00pm, rode a horse across the lava plain when it was still dark and hike up to the crater before the sunrise and shivering when waiting for the sunrise. Unfortunately, I lost all images; they now exist only in my mind!
In the days of film the costoms exposed some film leaving me with memories but without those photos our memory fades. No worries if we realise all is passing.
Some years ago, I used to shot with a small Rollie classical film camera. I shot one whole film of the water canals in ZhouZhuang but couldn’t roll the film back. In a haste, I open up the camera and the whole film was gone! Again, the images only exist in my memory.