(Translated from the original post on November 28, 2023)

It's been a while. This is Emi.

The aftermath of summer lasted so long this year that we may have forgotten how the seasons change... but finally in Tokyo, the trees on the streets are changing colors and we are enjoying the shorter fall season.

In this issue, I would like to introduce Shima Onsen in Gunma Prefecture, which I visited at the end of October.

Shima Onsen is a cozy hot spring resort located between Ikaho Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen. It is famous for Okushima Lake with its crystal clear "Shima Blue" water, and the shops and inns that line the clear Shima River create a retro atmosphere.

Take a break at a riverside cafe renovated from an early Showa period building. The large windows facing the river and the tranquil view made me feel as if I had stepped back in time.

I liked the shape and pattern of the lampshade, like jellyfish.

I stayed overnight, and the next day I canoed around Okushima Lake in the morning. I took my GR into the canoe and photographed on the lake. I used the finger strap and was very careful not to drop the camera.

A fallen leaf floating. Can you see the clarity of the water?

Lake Okushima is a dammed lake, and you can see the weir in the background.

On a sunny day, you might think that the high contrast on the lake would make it difficult to take pictures, but the beauty of the GR is that you only need to adjust the exposure slightly to get a great image. The GR is also very useful for outdoor scenes like this.

Shima blue and autumn leaves. The slightly colored mountains were also beautiful. However, I have heard that the blue color is most beautiful in spring.

There are many more places to photograph in the Shima Onsen area. I would like to visit again in another season.

In the Kanto area, the autumn leaves are at their peak. Enjoy capturing the beautiful scenery.

(Emi)