Summer Cypress and More in Oishi Park, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi

Now is a good time to see the autumn colors of summer cypress (Bassia scoparia or Kochia scoparia) plants in Oishi Park in the town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Summer cypress, Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassia_scoparia; https://www.fujioishihanaterasu.com/en/

Cosmos flowers, Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(plant)

Woolly lavender (Lavandula lanata), Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavandula_lanata

Black bent (Agrostis gigantea), Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrostis_gigantea

Invasive alien plant species, Tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima), Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_altissima; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidago_canadensis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species

Also, please refer to the article on August 19, 2025: Notorious Invasive Alien Plant Species in Yamanashi: https://yamanashietsuo.net/notorious-plant-invasive-alien-species-in-yamanashi/

Roadside and Riverbank Wildflowers in Kofu

Red spider lily (Lycoris radiata), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata

Red morning glory (Ipomoea coccinea), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_coccinea

Littlebell (Ipomoea triloba), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_triloba

Cobbler’s pegs (Bidens pilosa var. pilosa), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/80460e.html; https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/cobblers-pegs

Common evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erigeron_strigosus

Yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setaria_pumila

Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_grass

Japanese hop (Humulus japonicus), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humulus_japonicus

Kudzu vine (Pueraria montana var. lobata), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueraria_montana_var._lobata

Japanese jacinth (Barnardia japonica), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnardia_japonica

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_nil

Common eveningprimrose (Oenothera biennis), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

One Day in the Port of Shimizu

The port of Shimizu is located in Shimizu-ward in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The port has several wharves and it is a busy and important one in Japan. It is known for its international trade, commercial fishing, and recent surge in luxury cruise ship arrivals.

https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/025/index.html; https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6354.html; https://www.portofshimizu-intl.com/

A scene in Shimizu Port, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/06/2025

A research ship and a cruise ship, Shimizu Port, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/06/2025

One Day in the Aokigahara Forest

The Aokigahara Forest is located alongside the western side of Lake Sai, one of the Fuji five lakes in the town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.  It is situated at the northwestern base of Mount Fuji and is known for its dense trees and unique landscape formed over volcanic lava rock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aokigahara; https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1335/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Five_Lakes

Joro-spider (Trichonephila clavata), Aokigahara Forest, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/04/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichonephila_clavata

Trees and plants growing on the thatched roof of an old house, Aokigahara Forest, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/04/2025

One Day in the Miho Peninsula

The Miho Peninsula is a small peninsula that faces Suruga Bay located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The location is well-known for its scenic Miho no Matsubara pine grove.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_no_Matsubara; https://miho-no-matsubara.jp/lang/en/about/

Suruga Bay, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

Glory bush (Pleroma urvilleanum), Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleroma_urvilleanum

Sulfur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus), Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_sulphureus

Bark of a Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) tree, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_thunbergii

Grapes in Misaka Farm Grape House

You can pick and taste grapes (Vitis vinifera) here in Misaka Farm Grape House. There are several more farms like this in the Misaka area in the city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Why don’t you enjoy the taste of autumn with grapes and have fun?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitis_vinifera; https://misakanoen.co.jp/?srsltid=AfmBOoqK0m-A5u4bpDtMHIp_93ZdnQ3EWZ4WsScHYULF53n7XjtVDr4k#

Grapes in Misaka Farm Grape House, Misaka, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 9/28/2025

FYI

https://nihonmono.jp/en/article/30716/; https://nihonmono.jp/en/article/31402/; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsbbs/66/1/66_34/_html/-char/ja; https://www.fao.org/4/x6897e/x6897e07.htm; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shine_Muscat; (In Japanese) https://dr-tomio.com/

Saku Cosmos Road

Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly called the garden cosmos, is native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_bipinnatus; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(plant)

The section of National Route 254 in the Uchiyama area in the city of Saku, Nagano Prefecture is known as “Cosmos Road.” Approximately 40,000 cosmos flowers are planted along the roadside that bloom from early September each year. These cosmos flowers create a beautiful flower belt with pink, deep pink, and white varieties along the road, especially in mid-September when they are in full bloom. The flower belt stretches for approximately 9 km and creates a vibrant display that attracts visitors. The flowers were first planted by the members of Uchiyama senior citizens’ club in 1972; today, the scenic road is maintained by local residents.  https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/spot/02301-14421713/; (In Japanese) https://www.sakukankou.jp/sightseeing/kosumosu-kaidou/#

Cosmos flowers, Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

Palm ruffle lichen (Parmotrema tinctorum), Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmotrema_tinctorum; (Lichins in Chiba Prefecture) https://www.chiba-muse.or.jp/NATURAL/special/chii_boso/genus/parmotrema.html

Hiking to Mount Yogai and Fukakusa Kannon

Mount Yogai or Yogaiyama is located in the Sekisuiji district in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is a low mountain with the elevation of 770 meters (2,530 ft). The Takeda clan built a fortress in the mountain to barricade themselves in an emergency.

https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/89?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dgaiyama_Castle; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/440; (In Japanese) https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kanto/yamanasi/invitation/pdf/map.pdf

Looking the Kofu Basin and the trail to Mount Yogai, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

Mount Yogai and trail signs, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

Sacred rock and statues of Takeda Fudoson (Achala Vidyaraja) and Kannon (Avalokiteśvara) and a shrine, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

White Tip Spikemoss (Selaginella tamariscina), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_tamariscina

Marasmius maximus Hongo, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

(In Japanese) https://mikawanoyasou.org/kinoko/oohouraitake.htm; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%9B%E3%82%A6%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1

Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomitopsis_betulina; https://ncslg.cals.ncsu.edu/piptoporous-betulinus-bull-fr-karst/; https://www.jataff.or.jp/kinoko/0306/19.htm

Stinking dapperling (Lepiota cristata), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepiota_cristata; https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58694-Lepiota-cristata