The best time to take photos of the autumn leaves at Tsutanuma is about 30 minutes after sunrise.

Tsutanuma in Aomori Prefecture is famous for the sight of the mountains colored red by the morning sun, beautifully reflected on the lake surface. To see this spectacular view, all the following conditions must be met: beautiful autumn leaves, a clear, cloudless day, and no wind or choppy water. Advance reservations are required for the early morning viewing of the leaves at their peak, but they fill up quickly every year. I had almost given up, as I could only make a reservation on the last day, but luckily I was able to see this wonderful sight. [Photo 2] I wasn't sure what time the beauty would be at its peak, so I went to the observation deck at 5:30, 30 minutes before sunrise. The path from the parking lot was so dark that it was impossible to walk without a flashlight, but there were already more than 10 people on the deck. I could vaguely see that the autumn leaves were beautifully colored in the moonlight. [Photo 3] 5:39. As sunrise approached, the overall brightness gradually increased. It was so cold that if I stood there for a long time, my feet would get cold, so a hand warmer was a necessity. [Photo 4] 6:12. A few minutes after sunrise, the tops of the trees started to turn a fiery red! The red color was probably at its most vibrant at this time. The observation deck was almost full by this time! [Photos 5 and 6] 6:33. The shadow areas had thinned considerably, and the lake and trees were illuminated by the sunlight at their most beautiful time! Considering the balance between the vividness of the red color and the size of the shadow areas, I felt that this was the most beautiful time of day. [Photos 7 and 8] 6:53. The shadows had completely disappeared, but the vividness of the red color had faded a little compared to the peak time. Other people seemed to feel the same way, as there were far fewer people on the observation deck by this time. #tripDomesticTravel