Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture
A Drive to Takataniyama Observatory Waiting for Miyoshi’s Sea of Fog on an Autumn Morning
Takataniyama is a place to look out over Miyoshi’s sea of fog. Official information says fog is most likely in the early morning from September to March, especially from late September through November.
An autumn trip in November, timed for sunrise and the sea of fog. Spend the dawn at the observatory and watch the view change.
AutumnNovember, around sunrise
I Want to Watch the Morning Unfold Before Taking a Photo
My friend and I set out for Takataniyama before sunrise. We were still sleepy in the car, so we talked less than usual. When we reached the observatory and stepped out by the wooden fence, a wide sea of fog lay below us where the town should have been.
I pulled my navy coat closed and held my hands together. Above the fog, only the ridgelines of distant mountains remained. I knew this was the Miyoshi Basin, but I couldn’t find a single rooftop in front of me. It was such a strange view that I stood there for a while, taking it in.
As the sun began to rise, light reached the surface of the fog. My friend was taking photos beside me while I warmed my hands and looked up at the sky. I’d been sleepy just moments ago, but watching the view change woke me right up.
I took one photo, lowered my phone, and looked again with my own eyes. I’d captured the scene in my photo, but still felt I hadn’t taken it all in with my own eyes. I let my gaze move slowly from the trees in the foreground to the distant ridgelines, then took in the morning all over again.
By the time we got back to the car, I wasn’t sleepy anymore, and my friend and I had a lot more to say than on the way up. We started talking about what to eat in town, and the conversation turned to Miyoshi’s wani dishes. Here, wani means shark. After seeing the sea of fog, I wanted to try one of Miyoshi’s traditional local dishes, too.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Photos of this place1 images
-
Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture · Autumn Sunrise and a Sea of Fog
Local specialty
Miyoshi’s Wani (Shark) Dishes
In Miyoshi, wani means shark. After coming back down from the mountain, I’d like to try one of the local shark dishes, such as sashimi.
Highlights
A Sea of Fog Blanketing the Town
Look out over the fog settling into the Miyoshi Basin. It’s the kind of place I’d choose for an early autumn morning drive.
The Rising Sun and a Changing View
I’d like to watch the light reach the fog and sky from the observatory. The sunrise woke me right up; even after taking a photo, I lowered my phone and looked again. I still hadn’t taken it all in, and I wanted a little longer to look.
Head Down to Town for Miyoshi’s Local Flavors
Keep your trip going in Miyoshi after your time at the observatory. You could also try wani, the local name for shark, in town.
Getting There and Mountain Facts
From Central Miyoshi to Takataniyama
- Drive from Miyoshi IC
- About 20 minutes
- Takataniyama Elevation
- 490m
Leave the city behind and head into the mountains. Once you step out of the car, take in the basin from the observatory in the early morning.
The drive from Miyoshi IC takes about 20 minutes, and Takataniyama is 490 m high. These figures are based on information from the Miyoshi Tourism Promotion Organization.
More Spot Guides
If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.
