News On Japan

In Search of Hokkaido’s Hidden Scenic Wonders 2025

HOKKAIDO, May 26 (News On Japan) - While working as a civil servant in Sapporo, Mitsuhiko Kamata spent decades capturing the natural beauty of Hokkaido through his lens. Now, having taken early retirement after 35 years, he has dedicated himself full time to pursuing the fleeting, miraculous moments found in nature—moments he believes must rise to the level of art to truly move the viewer.

Kamata has gained attention for his stunning images that resemble scenes from a painting—misty soba fields in Horokanai, stormy dusk skies in Wakkanai, and rare light phenomena on snow-covered plains. These are not chance discoveries. He returns to the same locations time and again, often enduring freezing temperatures and long hikes, waiting for the perfect confluence of light, weather, and composition.

His first major outing of 2025 took place in March in Rikubetsu, known as Japan’s coldest town. “If the temperature drops below minus 15°C and the sun comes out, there’s a good chance we’ll see it,” he said, targeting a rare winter phenomenon called diamond dust. That morning, with conditions aligning at minus 18°C, Kamata captured a spectacular sun pillar—sunlight refracting off suspended ice crystals to form a glowing vertical beam—titling the photo "Sun Pillar Pouring onto Frost-Covered Trees".

Later, a second trip in May took him to Muroran. There, at a secluded coastal spot called Houraimon—reachable only at low tide and after descending a rope-lined mountain path—he photographed jagged volcanic rock shaped by waves into a natural arch. As the sun set, the scene transformed, and Kamata noted how the landscape's moods shift each time he visits.

On the drive back toward Sapporo, Kamata stopped at a stream near Chitose known to anglers but rarely photographed. As sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, illuminating the Mamachi River, he captured what he described as “a moment that glowed while I was driving past”.

In early summer, Kamata visited Shūjitsu Hill near Asahikawa, a sweeping vista backdropped by the Tokachi mountain range. There he met up with Fumiaki Nishikawa, a younger photographer who once shadowed Kamata and now calls him his mentor. Together, they photographed expansive hills at dawn and dusk—golden fields dotted with running herds of Ezo deer.

One of Kamata’s final shots of the day came unexpectedly: a tractor churning soil, smoke drifting across a dusky farm field. "That haze from tilling—there’s something painterly about it," he remarked. In his hands, even an ordinary rural scene became a piece of visual poetry.

Though Kamata used to spend about 70 days a year on photography while working, he estimates only three or four shots annually reached the level he strives for. Now, with more time and fewer constraints, he hopes to increase that number and devote every free moment to the craft. “As long as I’m healthy, I want to keep chasing those rare, breathtaking moments,” he said.

Kamata’s pursuit of the extraordinary continues to transform the everyday into something timeless—fragments of nature captured with the eye of an artist and the patience of a seasoned hunter of light.

Source: 北海道ニュースUHB

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Bear attacks are reaching unprecedented levels across Japan, with a record 12 fatalities so far this year as sightings continue daily from mountain towns to city centers, disrupting schools and local institutions.

Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward has installed barricades around the Hachiko statue in front of Shibuya Station as part of safety measures ahead of Halloween on October 31st.

The Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai, and Komeito have reached an agreement on the framework for Japan’s new free high school tuition program, which will begin in fiscal 2026. Under the plan, tuition support for private full-time high schools will be capped at 457,000 yen, while correspondence courses will have an upper limit of 337,000 yen.

Bear sightings have surged across Japan, and in Gifu Prefecture’s Shirakawa Village—home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go—local authorities held a nighttime drill on October 28th to prepare for possible emergencies.

The Japan Mobility Show opened on October 29th, marking the start of Japan’s premier automotive exhibition, where foreign manufacturers are stepping up their entry into the country’s growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Hokkaido is now in the peak of autumn foliage season, with its vast landscape dotted by countless scenic spots displaying vibrant colors unique to each location. From golden ginkgo-lined avenues stretching nearly 380 meters to crimson leaves reflecting off blue lakes, visitors can experience the full spectrum of autumn hues.

Bear sightings have surged across Japan, and in Gifu Prefecture’s Shirakawa Village—home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go—local authorities held a nighttime drill on October 28th to prepare for possible emergencies.

Temperatures in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, fell to minus 1.1 degrees Celsius on the morning of October 29th, marking the lowest of the season and accelerating the autumn foliage at Kumoba Pond, which had been about two weeks behind schedule.

Kyoto, long celebrated as Japan’s iconic autumn destination, is now facing a striking shift in its tourism landscape. In the city’s most famous spots, foreign tourists far outnumber Japanese visitors, raising questions about over-tourism and the city’s future balance between hospitality and livability.

The King and Queen portraying Ryukyu royalty promoted highlights of the upcoming Shuri Castle Restoration Festival, which will begin on November 1. The annual festival celebrates the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom and aims to build momentum for the ongoing restoration of Shuri Castle, which was destroyed by fire in 2019.

A factory tour offering a close look at Shinkansen maintenance facilities began on October 25th at JR Central’s Hamamatsu Works in Hamamatsu City, drawing large crowds of railway enthusiasts and families. The event, titled “Go to JR Central Hamamatsu Factory,” has been held annually since 2022 to help visitors experience the Shinkansen up close.

Around 500 blazing torches lit up the night sky on October 22nd as Kyoto’s famed Kurama Fire Festival, one of the city’s three most extraordinary festivals, took place around Yuki Shrine in Sakyo Ward.

After having travelled to Japan's most famous tropical locations (Okinawa, Amami, Miyakojima etc), I wasn't expected Niijima to hold a candle to them, but I was wrong! I can't believe that the best beaches in the country are in Tokyo... (Currently Hannah)