I took this photo at Mizumoto Park in Tokyo, and for me, it captures much more than just the beauty of autumn. As I walked among the towering metasequoia trees, I was completely drawn to the way the warm sunlight was passing through the forest. The trees were glowing in deep shades of red, orange, and gold, while the morning sun created beautiful, elongated shadows across the ground. I remember feeling a sense of calm as I stood there, surrounded by such incredible colors and silence. But what really caught my attention was that quiet seat beneath the trees. It looked so peaceful, almost as if it was inviting me to stop for a while and forget everything else. I imagined sitting there, feeling the cool autumn breeze, watching the sunlight slowly move between the trees, and simply enjoying the moment. I wanted to capture that feeling—not just the scenery. Sometimes a scene makes you stop before you even think about composition. You just feel something. That is what happened here. I waited for the sunlight to fall perfectly between the trees, revealing the seat and illuminating the autumn leaves around it. When I finally pressed the shutter, I felt that I had captured a small piece of the peacefulness I was experiencing at that moment. Looking at this photo now, I can still remember the feeling of standing there—the warmth of the sunlight, the quietness of the forest, and the overwhelming beauty of autumn at Mizumoto Park. This photograph is not only a picture of a beautiful place; it is a memory of a beautiful moment I was lucky enough to experience.

There are moments when a photographer simply forgets to press the shutter because the view in front of them feels too beautiful to capture. That was exactly how I felt during my visit to Mizumoto Park in Tokyo in autumn. I arrived early in the morning, just as the first rays of sunlight were beginning to touch the horizon. The entire park seemed to be waking up slowly, wrapped in a peaceful silence. Standing in front of the magnificent metasequoia forest, I was completely mesmerized. The tall trees, dressed in their warm autumn colors, stretched endlessly into the distance. Soft golden sunlight filtered gently through the branches, creating delicate patterns of light and shadow along the path. The misty morning atmosphere added an almost dreamlike quality to the scene, making the forest feel less like a place in Tokyo and more like a magical landscape from another world. As a photographer, these are the moments I live for—the moments when nature, light, color, and silence come together perfectly. Every direction I looked felt like a photograph waiting to be captured. The golden leaves glowing under the morning sun, the towering metasequoias disappearing into the distance, and the soft, tranquil atmosphere created a truly mystical view. I stood there for a while, simply taking it all in. No rush, no noise—just me, my camera, and the breathtaking beauty of an autumn morning. My trip to Mizumoto Park became much more than just another visit to a beautiful place. It became a beautiful memory, captured not only through my camera lens but also in my heart.

Photographed on September 26, 2014. This is the flower water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on September 26, 2014. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on September 23, 2026. This is the fig Basque cheesecake and banana espresso latte from LEC COFFEE.

Taken on September 23, 2026. This is the fig Basque cheesecake from LEC COFFEE.

Photographed on September 23, 2014. This is the quiche plate from LEC COFFEE. It includes quiche with ratatouille and two types of sausage, salad, homemade bread, and butternut squash soup.

Photographed on September 23, 2026. This is the Aitai fortune slip from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Taken on September 23, 2026. This is the Aitai fortune slip from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed on September 23, 2026. This is the windmill at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine's Naorai Hall. I feel like this windmill will soon be a sight to behold for the last time.

Taken on September 22, 2026. This is lychee oolong tea from HK TEA and double chocolate EGG WAFFLE.

Taken on September 22, 2026. This is Lychee Oolong Tea from HK TEA in Hong Kong. Whole lychees are included.

📢Hokkaido Autumn Grand Harvest Festival Booth Announcement From October 2nd (Friday) to 3rd (Saturday), we will have a booth at the Hokkaido Autumn Grand Harvest Festival in Sapporo City! We will be selling Usapara-yaki at Akarenga Garden in Chūō Ward, Sapporo City. This grand harvest festival features 58 groups from various regions of Hokkaido! In addition to enjoying gourmet food, there will be a stamp rally, stage events, and experience zones planned. Let's eat, learn, and enjoy Hokkaido's food and agriculture! For more details about the event, please refer to the poster image. We look forward to seeing you all. 【Hokkaido Autumn Grand Harvest Festival】 Date and Time: October 2nd (Friday) from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, October 3rd (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, October 4th (Sunday) from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Kimobetsucho will have a booth on the 2nd and 3rd) Location: Front Garden of the Former Hokkaido Government Office Building Organizer: Hokkaido

Taken on September 22, 2026. This is the TATSUMI Special from Udon Tatsu-mi. It features twice the amount of chicken tempura and pork in the TATSUMI Special.

Taken on September 22, 2014. This is the annual safety fortune slip from Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. This year, I attracted human relationships that are not safe, so I prayed for good connections.

Taken on September 22, 2014. I visited Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. It was crowded due to the distribution time of the matchmaking talismans. The windmills were protected with nets to shield them from the typhoon the day before.

Taken on September 5th, 26. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine. Today is my birthday. I'm exploring Kawagoe.

Photographed on September 5, 2014. This is the flower water at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on September 7, 2014. This is the flower water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on September 19, 26. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Photographed on September 19, 2014. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on September 19, 26. This is the flower water at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

I'm taking a break.☕️ I love sitting where I can see the tourist information center. I'm having an oat milk latte and a chestnut pound cake.🌰

Taken on September 12, 2026. This is the flower water basin at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Taken on September 12, 2014. This is the flower water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Yabusame (traditional Japanese mounted archery) at Kippo Hachiman Shrine in Kamogawa City Date: Sunday, September 27th, 2023, around 3:30 PM Location: Nakano, Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture Parking is available at Nagasa Gakuen and Kokuhobyo Hospital. Expect congestion, so please arrive with plenty of time to spare. The "Yabusame of Kippo Hachiman" is held annually on the last Sunday of September as part of the festival of Hachiman Shrine in the Kippō district, conducted in a traditional manner as a sacred ritual. According to shrine tradition, it dates back to the mid-Kamakura period. Riders gallop along a 210-meter course and shoot arrows at three targets, repeating this three times. A notable feature is the distance to the targets. The primary purpose of the event is to pray for a bountiful harvest and to predict the success or failure of crops. It is believed that the omens from the heavens (divine messages) are conveyed not just by hitting the target but also by the outcome of the arrows, making misses significant as well. The archers (negi) are required to purify themselves through a week of ascetic practices.

Taken on September 12, 2026. This is the floral water offering at Kawagoe Hachimangu Shrine.

Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park in Hannou City, Saitama Prefecture A forest park cherished by Tove Jansson, the author of the Moomin series. The sight of people enjoying their time beneath the golden trees was a reflection of the vibrant season.

Photographed on September 14, 2026. This is the fig Basque cheesecake from LEC COFFEE. It had a wonderful aroma from the figs.☺️

Taken on September 14, 26. This is the banana espresso latte from LEC COFFEE. The hot version looks delicious too. 🍌