May 29th. 2025 Mishaka-ike　　御射鹿池  Michi no eki Tateshina gave us a peaceful night and an overcast morning. Not unusually, we are the last to leave as we set off for Mishakaike. This is an artificial reservoir constructed for agricultural irrigation. The high acidity of the water discourages aquatic life but adds vivid colour to the surrounding vegetation. As a consequence, it has proved popular with Japanese artists and attracts a constant stream of photographers. It is the subject of a famous painting Green Echoes by Nihonga artist Higashiyama Kaii. It really is worth seeing, the lake I mean. On this our second visit, it is still hard to stop taking […]