Visitor Center Report

The recent cold temperatures appear to have accelerated the coloring of the Arctous alpinus var.
japonicus. At the community of Arctous alpinus var. japonicus near the Itagaki junction, which each year colors with a festoon-like appearance, about 50% to 60% of the leaves have turned. Its best viewing season is not far off.
Photo: Near Itagaki junction Aug. 26

With the cold of the past few days, it seems as if someone has flipped the “fall foliage” switch to “on” for the slope extending from below Mt. Midori’s peak down to Daiichi Hanabatake at its midway point. Although in the distance in the photographs and therefore hard to see, leaves of the Sorbus matsumurana communities in the upper Daiichi Hanabatake and upper Minamisawa (popularly known as “Tasuki no Koyo”) have become red in some areas. The coloring is still limited and not widespread; however, it is plain to see that the leaves are turning.
According to the one-month forecast, the weather will be marked by high temperatures and large amounts of rainfall. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether the coloring will continue at this pace.
However, at the present time, it seems like the leaves are turning about one week earlier than last year.
Photos: Mt. Midori’s Daiichi Hanabatake (left) and Minamisawa looking toward “Tasuki no Koyo”
(right) Aug. 26

Continuing from yesterday, it has become quite cold in the hot spring village and in the mountains.
The low temperature outside the center early this morning was 6°C. At Ishimuro on Mt. Kurodake it was 2°C; the area also had its first frost of the season.
The weather report predicts cold temperatures again tomorrow but warming later.
Climbers planning to go into the mountains in the next few days will need protection against the cold.
I would recommend gloves and a hat, and a fleece garment to wear during rests.
Photo: A view of Ohachidaira from Pon Kurodake. The green coloring appears to be fading throughout the area. Aug. 25

The fall foliage season has arrived. But that doesn’t mean you have to rush out to see it.
Generally speaking, most of the leaves are still green. However, the Arctous alpinus var.
japonicus are approaching their best season in some areas, although their leaves remain green in others.
Last year, I declared the start of the season in this blog on August 22nd.
Judged on a day-by-day basis only, it appears that this year the season has started at roughly the same time as last year. However, when I looked at the Arctous alpinus var. japonicus, I found that their leaves had already turned red due to the wide temperature differences we had in early August.
This is very early, so I kept an eye on the situation.
My next report was on August 19th of this month. In it, I said that the coloring Arctous alpinus var. japonicus leaves had spread even further, and that their color had deepened. I continued to watch the situation.
And now it’s already the 25th. The coloring leaves have spread even further since my last report.
Moreover, in some places, the Sorbus matsumurana, Sieversia pentapetala, and other grasses have begun to turn. Given this, I decided to declare the start of the season today.
The coloring is progressing about 10 days earlier than last year (at least as of today), and about one week earlier than in average years.
Whether it continues at this pace or temporarily stops will largely depend on the weather, which makes predictions difficult. (This has been particularly true over the past few years, as the weather has been very unstable.)
I should mention that last year the temperature fell rapidly into the first half of September, and that the best viewing season began on September 7th (Mt. Kurodake).
So, how will this year’s fall foliage season play out?
Depending on the place, it appears that the season is developing in a slightly different manner this year.
I plan to go up to Mt. Midori and Mt. Aka in the days ahead, so look for my reports on those areas, too.
For mountain information, see: http://sounkyovc.net/trails/kuro/140825kuro.pdf
*The Akaishi River is slightly high but crossable. Additionally, the snowy gorge below the Mt.Hokuchindake junction has melted.
Photos: The Sorbus matsumurana are turning slightly near the 9th Station (left). A look into the stream from near the 9th Station revealed that there is some slight coloring there (center). The slopes along the Akaishi River have started to turn (right). Aug. 25

The photos here show Arctous alpinus var. japonicus near the Mt. Kurodake peak. They are already approaching their best viewing season in some areas.
The second photo shows the view from Pon Kurodake. Some of the Arctous alpinus var.
japonicus here are also reaching their most beautiful stage.
And the third photo was taken near Ishimuro. Some of the Sorbus matsumurana have reddened, and the foot of Mt. Ryoundake is just starting to take on new colors.
Photos: Views around the Mt. Kurodake peak Aug. 25