Photography Diary, July–December 2026: Walking Through the Kanto Region in Search of the Seasons

Photo Diary: July 4, 2026 — The "Kanto Rain-Weary Guy" Escapes to Niigata in Search of Sunshine ~A "Niigata-Style" Weekend Photo Diary~

I'm writing this diary entry on July 7.
I'm planning to go to a sports-related trade show today. Since I have some personal business afterward, I need to be back by 5:30 p.m.

...And yet, my mind wasn't on planning my work, but rather,

"I wonder if we can stop somewhere along the way to take some pictures?"

It's full of [...].

Work, trade shows, personal matters, and travel time.
A typical adult would focus on managing their schedule at this point.

But I'm different.
In my mind, I'm already carrying a camera bag.
I guess my priorities as a working adult are a little off.

Wind Chimes at Shinobazu Pond in UenoStarting July 10.
Forest Wind Chime Path (Nihonbashi)）Starting July 17.

Hmm, it's still a little early.

While getting through a busy morning, I consider where to take photos.
While I’ve been running my online store since early this morning, my mind is already off on a trip to the weekend weather forecast.

Summer is finally here.

This year, I’m hoping to take on the challenge of photographing fireworks displays—a field that’s still uncharted territory for me.

But I really want a mentor.

Everyone’s taking such beautiful photos of the fireworks, aren’t they?
The streaks of light flowed beautifully, like flowers blooming in the night sky.

On the other hand, what would happen if I took the photo?

"Wait, are these fireworks? Or is this some kind of art festival featuring camera shake?"

I can see a glimpse of that future.

Just how well can the Canon EOS R hold its own with older EF lenses?
Even though I know it’s skill over equipment, the problem is that my skills aren’t even at the warm-up stage—I’m still just tying my shoelaces.

Well, I’m going to suddenly share something that’s been bothering me lately.

This is the desk calendar at my workplace.
It’s the kind of calendar where January and July, and February and August, are on opposite sides, but it seems I must have thrown that paper away as soon as January ended.

June has come to an end, and

"Ah, so half the year is already over..."

Just as I was getting a little sentimental, I realized July had flown by.

This is no time to get sentimental.
I was shaping my own future with my own hands.

That's just plain silly.
But I kind of like this side of myself.

I'm currently deciding whether to go without a July calendar or buy a new one.
As an adult, you should buy it.
As far as the topic goes, we should just let things be as they are.

But enough about that—back to my diary.

Saturday, July 4, 2026.
I went to Niigata that day.

The reason is simple.

It was because it was sunny only in Niigata.

"Huh, is that the reason?"

That's right. That's the reason.

June in the Kanto region was nothing but rain, rain, rain, clouds, clouds, rain, rain, rain.
As the head of the weekend photography team, it was quite a challenging situation for me.

For people who can only get out and about on the weekends, the weather on Saturday and Sunday is like a report card on their life.
If it's sunny, it's Yu.
It's okay if it's cloudy.
If it rains, there will be a makeup exam.

Amid all this, as I was poring over the weather forecast, it occurred to me.

"Niigata, Ijan"

Since it's on the Sea of Japan side, the weather is different from the Kanto region.
You're saying Niigata isn't part of the Kanto region?

Yes, I know.

I’m involved in various projects, mainly through a website called “Kanto Landscape Travelogue,” but I’m not a stuffy person.
I went to Shizuoka. I went to Yamanashi. I went to Nagano.
In that case, Niigata is also fine.

I'm the kind of guy who trusts the sunny weather icon more than the lines on a map.

My wife is coming along this weekend.
Taking my wife's opinion—she loves greenhouses—into account, here's what this lineup looks like.

Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine
Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden
Echigo Hills National Park
Hydrangea Park (Tokamachi City)

I woke up at 2:30 that day.
It's not early morning. It's already nighttime.

We're leaving at 3 o'clock.
The reason is that I'll be passing through the Niiza Toll Plaza on the Kan-Etsu Expressway just before 4:00.
I think the late-night discount should apply.

Yes, that should be right.
He's the kind of guy who gets strangely particular about the numbers only at times like this.

While I tend to just shrug and say, “Oh, well,” when it comes to everyday shopping, I suddenly become a certified public accountant when it comes to highway toll discounts.
People are truly mysterious.

From the Outer Ring Road to the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
Normally, I’d say, “It arrived in the blink of an eye,” but this time was different.

Nothing but a straight line.
A straight line all the way.

Junction and turns help take my mind off things, but driving straight ahead the whole time is surprisingly tough.
Maybe life, just like a highway, is less boring when there are a few turns along the way.

Amid all this, my wife predicts an ominous event that will occur later.

"Isn't this car noisy?"

Hmm.
My current car is a reliable companion for city driving and hauling cargo, but it does make quite a bit of noise on the highway.

I'd love to drive a Lexus or something like that.
However, for now, I’m just a Lexus fan at heart.
The contents of my wallet reflect reality accurately.

At the time, I just brushed it off, thinking, “Well, I guess that’s just how it is.”
This is later fully resolved.

The first place I visited was, in the early morning, to photograph lotus flowers, “Niigata’s Principal Shrine: Hakusan Shrine".
I was looking forward to the Wind Chime Festival, which is currently underway, and it was even better than I imagined.

First, the lotus pond.
They're in full bloom. They're beautiful. They're the best.

I really do want to photograph lotus flowers against the light.
I just can't get enough of the way the petals look translucent.
The lotus flowers bathed in the morning light are truly beautiful, aren't they?

And wind chimes.
Colorful wind chimes were hanging all over the shrine.

The sun is out for the first time in a while.
Lotus flowers, wind chimes, hydrangeas.

At this point, I'm already satisfied with how much footage I've shot today.
It's still morning, but I already feel like I'm in the end credits.

Thank you, Hakusan Shrine.

When I think of Hakusan Shrine, I’m reminded of the hydrangea festival at Hakusan Shrine in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, but the Hakusan Shrine in Niigata was truly wonderful as well.
I'm glad I came.

Next, we're heading to,Niigata Prefectural Botanical GardenThe following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.
However, since there was still some time before it opened, I decided to stop by Fukushima Lake.

Since we were there anyway, we decided to take the coastal route, and along the way, “Yorii BeachGo to.
Living in the Kanto region, when I think of the ocean, I tend to picture the Pacific Ocean, so seeing the Sea of Japan is definitely a new experience.

The water was crystal clear, and although I couldn't make it all the way to the sandy beach, I was able to fully enjoy the ocean air.

I stopped by there afterwardFukushima LakeIt is a natural spot that embodies the essence of Niigata, featuring waterways, wild birds, plants, and rural scenery.
We observed lotus flowers and water lilies.

There are a lot of people taking photos there, so I think it’s a place that’s loved by the locals.

At that moment, my wife said to the woman who was engrossed in taking photos,

"Going along to photo shoots is such a drag, isn't it?"

He was saying things like that.

The lady looked a little tense.
But it didn't seem like he was entirely opposed to the idea.

As wives of husbands who love photography, I suppose there’s something we understand about each other without even having to say a word.

I think there’s a “sense of solidarity among those who wait” there.
While I’m here taking pictures of lotus flowers, they’re over there cultivating patience.

After that, when you think of Niigata, you think of rice paddies.
The rural scenery in Niigata really is beautiful.

There are few obstructions, so you can see far into the distance.
A vast expanse where the rice fields seem to stretch all the way to the horizon.
Since I started taking photos, I’ve come to appreciate the beauty of scenes like this all over again.

Although I wasn't able to meet them this time due to time constraints, my sister and her husband live in Niigata.
It suddenly occurred to me that going there in the winter might be a good idea.

My car doesn't have studless tires, and I'm not used to driving on snowy roads.
But my sister and her husband have two cars. I'm sure they have studless tires.

So, does that mean you'll take me to see the snowy scenery?

Oh.
That's a brilliant idea.

I don't want to drive myself; I just want to take pictures of the snowy scenery.
It’s a pretty convenient way of thinking, but as a photographer, I want to be honest.

For lunch, I had rice balls at the "Agano" roadside station.
When you think of Niigata, you think of rice. It really is delicious.

The water is clean, and the food is delicious.
That's just cheating.

While eating a rice ball,

"Did rice always play such a central role?"

I thought to myself.

After that, I stopped by the roadside station “Tagami,” which my sister had told me about, and bought some vegetables and other items.
I actually quite enjoy buying local vegetables at roadside stations in the areas I visit.

When I buy vegetables at a roadside station while traveling, it makes me feel like someone who’s truly enjoying life.
Actually, I'm the kind of person who skips July on the calendar.

And finally,Niigata Prefectural Botanical GardenTo.

I hear this place has one of the largest greenhouses in the country, so it's my wife's destination.
It seems she wants to see the "Oogiba-shō."

To be honest, I wasn't that interested at first.
Even when I hear the term “Oogibashou,” my understanding of it is still limited to something like “something big.”

But if you see it from outside, it looks pretty cool against the sunset.
I hear that on southern islands, you can even watch it outdoors.

I want to go to a southern island.
I'd like to go under the pretext of taking photos.
If possible, I’d like to mentally classify my travel expenses as part of my photography equipment costs.

I didn't go inside the greenhouse; instead, I enjoyed taking pictures of the water lilies, hydrangeas, dragonflies, and other things in the outdoor garden.

We each do whatever we want and have fun.
This is how our family travels.

Even though we came together, we tend to go our separate ways once we're there.
It's not that we don't get along.
We're simply respecting each other's areas of expertise.
Probably.

The garden was also quite beautiful, with lots of water lilies in bloom.

Next, I headed to my destination, “Echigo Hills National Park".

As expected, the facilities at national parks are really well maintained.
There were lots of hydrangeas blooming on the spacious grounds, and it was really beautiful.

Especially the hydrangea staircase.
I really liked this.
It was a place that photography enthusiasts would absolutely love.

In the rose garden, the second flush of roses was also blooming beautifully.
It’s quite a treat to be able to enjoy both hydrangeas and roses.

By this point, my desire to take photos had been pretty much satisfied.
As far as my stomach is concerned, it’s like I’ve just finished a large set meal.
But when it comes to photos, that's a different story.

The last place I stopped by was,Hydrangea Park (Tokamachi City)The following is a list of the most common problems with the "C" in the "C" column.

It's located quite high up, and you have to walk up a narrow alley to get there.
It's the kind of thing that makes you wonder, "Is it really really ahead?"

At times like this, I always find myself thinking...

"Navi, are you sure this is the right way?"

But it’s often in places like this that you’ll find the best views waiting for you.

They were holding a festival here, and the atmosphere created by the lanterns and hydrangeas was absolutely beautiful.

And just like that, my trip to Niigata that day came to an end.

I thought I might be getting home late, but it only took a little over two hours to get home from Tokamachi City.
Niigata is a big place, but we might consider expanding our coverage to include areas as far as Nagaoka in the future.

Even though I call this a “Kanto Landscape Journey,” my scope is constantly expanding.
It might eventually turn into something like “A Journey Through the Landscapes of Eastern Japan.”

And the next day, Sunday.

We decided to go grocery shopping, and since my son was driving, I took the passenger seat.

Then, from the car—

"Woon"

That sound.

Is this it?
So this is what my wife was talking about.

I didn't really notice it from the driver's seat, but I could tell clearly from the passenger seat.
That's definitely strange.

I hurriedly called the dealer and had them inspect it that same day; they told me the hub bearing was faulty.

Well, with this many people on board, I guess it can't be helped.
But I'm really glad it didn't turn out to be anything serious.
It's scheduled to be repaired next week.

Come to think of it, my wife’s comment, “Isn’t this car noisy?” wasn’t just a casual observation.
That's a human sensor that can distinguish between different warning sounds.

I think that,

"It's a highway, so I guess that's to be expected."

...and played it.

And just like that, I dropped another spot in the rankings for my ability to detect crises at home.
I'm probably in last place.
Still, at least I got plenty of good photos.

And just like that, my Saturday-only trip to Niigata came to an end.

I drove all the way to Niigata in search of sunny weather, took photos of lotus flowers, wind chimes, hydrangeas, rice paddies, the Sea of Japan, water lilies, and even roses—and to top it all off, my car started making a strange noise.

It was quite an eventful weekend.

Even though I call this a “Kanto Landscape Journey,” my scope has expanded a bit once again.
But that's okay.

Niigata, Yijang.