Autumn : 2014

A tragedy yes .....
The tragedy of leaves ....

Do you know the leaves change their colour because of the lack of sunlight
And one can see yellow corpses of fruits and pumpkins and leaves everywhere  - they too die!
The summer insects are all dead
and the ones which are underground will also die in autumn!

and the missing concatenation  here is
"Nature has saved all the prettiness and beauty for the grand finale and here comes Autumn"










The reality! Thats Autumn in Plain English!

In the extreme edge of Tokyo is Okutama - a mountainous region.
One can reach Okutama by Rapid Chou express from Shinjuku .
You have to change train at Ome .

I left Tokyo at 6.10 am before the sun rise


Reached Okutama Nishitama by 9.10 am and the weather was perfect for Koyo!


Outside the Okutama  station - they issue maps in English and japanese !
Lets begin the Autumn Hike!
Okutama is a mountainous region and full of colours in Autumn .


Question to me by a Japanese Group
Japanese Group : Hitori ?
Me : Yes Hitori
Japanese Group : HYyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Sugoiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii  and then they said Ishyoni -" lets go together"


In Japan although i have claimed that i have been travelling alone , the Japanese crowd never let me travel alone , they treat me like a kid explaining the history of that Area in Broken English and me talking to them in Broken Japanese!


The walking trail from okutama station to Okutama Lake is called as "Mukashi-michi"
Its a forest and 
there are bears hence wear a bell to ward off bears....


One needs 4 hours to reach the lake from okutama station and if you prefer to take a bus then then you can reach the lake in 15 min.- if you take a bus you would be missing all the beautiful things .

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow.
The only way that we can grow is if we change.
The only way that we can change is if we learn.
The only way we can learn is if we are exposed.
And the only way that we can become exposed is
if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it.
Throw yourself.”
- C. JoyBell C.

Half way i saw a tori gate and i decided that i will  visit this shrine and to pay respect to this shrine!


A little champ!
Whever i go i find a little champ !and this champ was all along the trial explaining me all signs and providing me information about all the ancient japanese things that we found on our way!
Of course he came with a group over 20 of his age but was attending to me all the while!




I would suggest to walk in the morning when you are fully excited about Koyo and then take a Bus while return!








A 9-10 km hike 


Valley and mountains





Lake :

Cafe at Lake!


Okutama Lake!

Can you believe that this lake - lake Okutama is an artificial lake built besides Tama River via Ogouchi Dam
I come from the city of Lakes- Bangalore is not only called as the Silicon Valley of Asia its the lake city of India but have never
seen an artificial lake which looks so thrilling !

Isn't beautiful!

No its not !
I did not like it !
Like any typical taurean "the bull:- i dont like anything artificial!Lol...

The construction of the lake began in 1938 , it was left incomplete in 1943 due to world war and finished construction in 1957.
A Village was destroyed and 6000 people who lived in the valley were moved and 87 workers died during the construction!
Further after March 11 earthquake the okutama area and lake was contaminated due to the fall out of Fukushima No.1 Power plant
But dont worry radiation is good for your teeth and smile for this small radiation which is not harmful anyways!

Today its a favourite spot for many lazy day trippers !


But do you know that the water we drink here in Tokyo is from this lake!
Yuhhhhhh Lake Okutama supplies water to 13 million residents in Tokyo metropolitan area!



During the Hike you see many bridges which are very very old and was used by the villagers long ago
Today these bridges are tourists spots and not used for any transportation!



Bridge cannot carry more than 3 people!
Rules are meant to break! Lol..



Lake Surrounding! Enjoying the Autumn! and i made sure that the colour of my outfit matches Koyo!



Living in Japan is like living in a animated world..
Its been 2 years 8 months now and i feel like iam still living in an animated world and everything changes suddenly!

A few days later  these tree will become nakid with snow covered all over them lol..
Pic Taken Last year!
I have seen this transformation for 2.8  years living here!



Well Tokyo will need a month to change its colour from green to red /yellow but for those of you who cannot wait to see the red/yellow - a day trip to Okutama is worthwhile and total cost less than 3500 yen ..CHEAPER..
Only thing thats cheaper in Japan is the trains lol....







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