Yatsugatake Kogen Bridge Stop for autumn views over the gorge—and soft serve

Once I got out of the car near the bridge, I saw the trees stretching down into the gorge below. While driving across, I’d been watching the road ahead; now I could take in the yellow bridge from the side. It only sank in a little later that I’d crossed so high above the gorge.

I held the soft-serve cone in both hands and paused to admire it before the first bite. The neat little swirl at the top was almost too pretty to break. But I wanted to take in the view, and I couldn’t wait to taste that first cold bite. There’s a lot to decide at one little stop.

I pushed up the sleeves of my pale purple sweater a little and took my first bite. In the autumn air, the sweetness seems to linger. It’s different from rushing through a cone on a hot day; after each bite, I have time to look at the bridge.

From the side, I can see how the slender supports fit together beneath the yellow bridge. That’s part of the fun: getting to see details like these, not just the bridge’s colour. Then I look over at the trees in the gorge and start noticing the layers of leaves.

I shifted the angle a little to get both my soft serve and the bridge in the same photo. When I fit the whole bridge into the shot, the treat looks tiny. Both are part of today’s detour, so I want to keep them together in one frame.

Once I’ve finished my soft serve, I’ll take one more look at the gorge before heading back to the car. Each time I get back on the road around Kiyosato, I find another reason to stop. Next time, maybe I’ll plan my route starting with the highland food stops.