July 2026

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Lotus Flowers Blooming Under the Blue Sky

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, using a composition that looks up at a beautifully shaped lotus flower from below, with a large portion of the blue sky included in the frame.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrineblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotus

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Beautiful Lotus Flowers Enveloped in Lotus Leaves

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata Prefecture. It was composed to look up at a beautifully shaped lotus flower from below, with plenty of the lower leaves included in the frame.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrineblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotus

Yorii Beach (Niigata) | The Crystal-Clear Shores of the Sea of Japan

This photo was taken at Yorii Beach (Niigata) and captures the crystal-clear coastal scenery of the Sea of Japan.

2026July 2026JulyYorii Beach (Niigata)Niigata PrefectureseaVarious Scenery

Niigata Prefecture | A landscape of rice paddies stretching into the distance

This photo was taken in Niigata Prefecture and shows a rice paddy with a view stretching far into the distance.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureWithin Niigata Prefecturepaddy fieldVarious Scenery

Niigata Prefecture | Green Rice Fields and Distant Mountains

This photo was taken in Niigata Prefecture and shows a vast expanse of green rice paddies with a range of mountains stretching into the distance.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureWithin Niigata Prefecturepaddy fieldVarious Scenery

Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden | Looking Up at a Ginkgo Tree

This photo was taken at the Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden, with a composition that looks up at a ginkgo tree from below.

2026July 2026JulyJapanese Black PineNiigata PrefectureNiigata Prefectural Botanical Gardenblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden | Hydrangeas and the Greenhouse Dome

This photo was taken at the Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden and shows both the hydrangeas and the greenhouse dome.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata Prefectural Botanical Gardenhydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Echigo Hills State Park | Hydrangea Stairs and Paths

This photo was taken at the Echigo Hills State Park, focusing on the hydrangeas in the foreground while capturing the hydrangea-lined stairs and paths.

2026July 2026JulyEchigo Hills National ParkNiigata Prefecturehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Echigo Hills National Park | Pink Hydrangeas and the Mountain Range

This photo was taken at the Echigo Hills State Park, showing pink hydrangeas and the distant mountains as seen from the top of a hill.

2026July 2026JulyEchigo Hills National ParkNiigata Prefecturehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Echigo Hills National Park | Hydrangeas and Mountains Seen Through a Wide-Angle Lens

This photo was taken at the Echigo Hills National Park using wide-angle mode to capture a sweeping view of the pink hydrangeas and the surrounding mountains from the top of a hill.

2026July 2026JulyEchigo Hills National ParkNiigata Prefecturehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | The Blue Sign for the Summer Pilgrimage and the Shrine Gate

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, and shows the shrine’s gate, which looks beautiful with its blue “Summer Pilgrimage” sign.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan ShrineShrines, Temples, Castles

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | The Bridge Over the Pond and Hydrangeas

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, and shows the bridge spanning the shrine’s pond and some hydrangeas.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | A Cool Scene of Wind Chimes and Hydrangeas

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the guardian shrine of Niigata, and captures both wind chimes and hydrangeas at the same time.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)Various Sceneryblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)wind chime

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Blue Hydrangeas Bathed in Light and Shadow

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, and captures the interplay of light and shadow on the pale blue hydrangeas.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Light Shining on a Single Hydrangea

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, and captures the interplay of light and shadow on a single hydrangea flower.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Wind Chimes Through Blue Hydrangeas

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the guardian shrine of Niigata, and shows a wind chime set against a backdrop of many blue hydrangeas.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)Various Sceneryblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)wind chime

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Lotus Flowers Silhouetted Against the Backlight

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the guardian shrine of Niigata, where I captured the beautiful lotus flowers in the lotus pond with the light shining through them against the backdrop of the sun.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrineblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotus

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Hydrangeas and Wind Chimes in a Play of Light and Shadow

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, where I captured a wind chime while paying close attention to the interplay of light and shadow on the blue hydrangeas.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrinehydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)Various Sceneryblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)wind chime

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Lotus Flowers and Spreading Leaves

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, from a slightly wider angle, capturing the beauty of the lotus flowers and leaves.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrineblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotus

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine | Flowers Blooming Among the Lotus Leaves

This photo was taken at Hakusan Shrine, the principal shrine of Niigata, and shows a lotus flower peeking out slightly between the leaves.

2026July 2026JulyNiigata PrefectureNiigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrineblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotus