Exploring the Watarase Valley Railway in early autumn
November 8, 2023
Photographer / Yasufumi Sukekawa
Thinking about faraway places to take great railway photos is one of the joys of railway photography.
However, it is also important to pay attention to nearby railway lines and visit them frequently. As a resident of Saitama Prefecture, I have several favorite railway lines in the Kanto region, but this time I headed to the Watarase Valley Railway in Gunma Prefecture, which can be reached in just over two hours by car on public roads from my house.
As its name suggests, the Watarase Valley Railway runs along the Watarase River, which originates from Mount Sukai on the border between Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture and Numata City in Gunma Prefecture.
However, it is also important to pay attention to nearby railway lines and visit them frequently. As a resident of Saitama Prefecture, I have several favorite railway lines in the Kanto region, but this time I headed to the Watarase Valley Railway in Gunma Prefecture, which can be reached in just over two hours by car on public roads from my house.
As its name suggests, the Watarase Valley Railway runs along the Watarase River, which originates from Mount Sukai on the border between Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture and Numata City in Gunma Prefecture.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S / F2.8 1/30s ISO3200 / PC：Neutral
I photographed a train before sunrise. The white granite of the Watarase River and the train's headlights stood out against a blue world.
Many tourists visit the Watarase Valley in all seasons in search of the beautiful view of the Watarase River valley from the train window. The most popular seasons are spring, when plum, cherry and peach blossoms adorn the railway line, and autumn, when the mountains as far as the eye can see are decorated with gorgeous autumn leaves.
And so I came to the Watarase Valley Railway in search of the colors and scents of autumn.
However, when I arrived at the site, unfortunately, the leaves were just about ready to fall. However, on closer inspection, many of the trees had already lost their leaves and turned brown, making for a rather disappointing autumn look.
And so I came to the Watarase Valley Railway in search of the colors and scents of autumn.
However, when I arrived at the site, unfortunately, the leaves were just about ready to fall. However, on closer inspection, many of the trees had already lost their leaves and turned brown, making for a rather disappointing autumn look.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S / F7.1 1/1000s ISO400 / PC：Neutral
The sunlight is finally reaching the Watarase River, which is surrounded by mountains. The train moves along, carrying the languid morning air with it.
"It's because of the intense heat of summer and the fact that the temperature hasn't dropped much even in autumn..." a local person told me, and I realized that global warming is having a major impact on railway photography.
But that being said, taking photographs of railways is still fun. I went around the Watarase Keikoku Railway in search of a combination of railway and scenery that would give me at least a little taste of autumn.
But that being said, taking photographs of railways is still fun. I went around the Watarase Keikoku Railway in search of a combination of railway and scenery that would give me at least a little taste of autumn.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S / F7.1 1/1000s ISO800 / PC：Neutral
I discovered a place where I could feel the colors and brilliance of autumn. If I look closely, I can see the driver and passengers. It's an ordinary scene in an ordinary place.
Photographing the Watarase Valley Railway involves repeated movement and camera setup. Sometimes, the train arrives just a few minutes after arriving at the location.
A tripod is a must-have item for railway landscape photography, which requires precise angles, but speed is also required for setup. Markins Q20i-BK Knob Shoe Large Format Ball Head delivers high performance in such situations.
Not only does it hold the camera perfectly still, but the quick-turn knob shoe allows you to attach and detach the camera in about one turn, making it possible to set it up quickly.
A tripod is a must-have item for railway landscape photography, which requires precise angles, but speed is also required for setup. Markins Q20i-BK Knob Shoe Large Format Ball Head delivers high performance in such situations.
Not only does it hold the camera perfectly still, but the quick-turn knob shoe allows you to attach and detach the camera in about one turn, making it possible to set it up quickly.
One of the reasons people avoid tripods is that they are slow to set up, but if you feel the same way, we recommend Markins ball heads such as the Q20i-BK Knob Shoe for Large Format.
You can be sure that you will be able to compose your shots quickly and reliably. The uncompromising angles will increase your pride as a photographer and the enjoyment of your photography.
You can be sure that you will be able to compose your shots quickly and reliably. The uncompromising angles will increase your pride as a photographer and the enjoyment of your photography.
My favorite Markins Q20i-BK Knob Shoe Large Format Ball Head is my partner, who has traveled with me from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south, experiencing the changing of the seasons five times.
As a result, the body is covered in scratches. But its performance and reliability are exactly the same as when I first met it. That's why I can face the beautiful scenery of the trains and the changing seasons without any worries.
As a result, the body is covered in scratches. But its performance and reliability are exactly the same as when I first met it. That's why I can face the beautiful scenery of the trains and the changing seasons without any worries.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S / F8 1/1000s ISO400 / PC：Neutral
As you can see, even near Sawaniri Station at Lake Kusagi, which is at a relatively high altitude, the trees are changing color. The faded green looks like new green leaves, giving the illusion of a spring landscape.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S / F9 1/640s ISO400 / PC：Neutral
I photographed the Watarase Valley Torokko train at a famous photography spot between Konaka Station and Kobe Station. I expressed an autumn scene with a composition centered on the Japanese pampas grass on the riverbank. The Japanese pampas grass looks a little lonely, but since this is a railway landscape photo, I was careful to compose the image so that the focus was not on the train.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S / F3.5 1/640s ISO1600 / PC：Neutral *Half ND filter used
Photographed in the evening along the valley between Sawaniri Station and Haramukae Station. Because this place is at a high altitude, the leaves were turning red. The sun was hidden by the mountain ridge, but the flat light was also good for photographing the leaves.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S / F2.8 1/320s ISO3200 / PC：Neutral
I went down to the riverbank after sunset. The world gradually turned blue, obscuring the colors of the autumn leaves, but I managed to capture an impressive shot of the train crossing the Watarase River.
Nikon Z9 / NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S / F5.6 1/3s ISO3200 / PC：Neutral
Night has fallen around Kamikamibai Station. The old station building, the lights spilling out from the platform, and the taillights of the passing trains create a sense of travel.
* If it does not play
Yasufumi Sukegawa
Born in 1975. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Akita University of Economics and Law. After graduating from the Department of Photography at Tokyo Visual Arts, studied under railway photographer Mitsuhide Mashima. Currently works at Masima Railway Pictures, Ltd. The motto is to convey not only the charm of trains but also the beauty of the culture surrounding the railways and the people who live there. Currently busy with a camera, walking along the tracks all over Japan. Has written for railway hobby and travel magazines such as Railway Diagram Information (Kotsu Shimbunsha) and Railway Journal (Kotsu Journalsha), and taken cover photos for JTB Timetables (JTB Publishing) and JR Timetables (Kotsu Shimbunsha). Actively photographing posters for railway companies such as JR East.
Director of the Japan Railway Photographers Association (JRPS)
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