October visits to Saga 1

In the beginning of the month it still felt like summer. The trees were still green, there were insects and flowers and the temperatures were like a pleasant summer day in The Netherlands. The fields were yellow or bare, some rice had yet to be harvested, but most of it was gone. And there was no sign of koyo - autumn colors yet. Hachimandake looked quite different from a few weeks before.

We arrived early, the sun was rising and the morning mist hadn't burned off yet

Seven-spot Ladybird, ナナホシテントウ too wet with morning dew to fly

We dropped by a little village with an eerie kind of mysterious looking temple: Hanaminedera

We walked up a winding path covered in moss and lined with stone lanterns

That led to a clearing with the main temple

Later in the morning we did 'our round' of the fields, stopping for views, frogs, flowers and other little treasures.

Like this young Southern Green Stinkbug, ミナミアオカメムシ. Awful name for a pretty bug!

 Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル

Misosoba ミソソバ Persicaria Thunbergii (Water pepper)

Creating quite a bit of excitement: Yamakagashi, ヤマカガシ, poisonous but not aggressive

2 Times Patanga japonica, ツチイナゴ The green one a juvenile

One more Japanese Tree Frog, ニホンアマガエル

And the king of the local frogs, a Japanese Tree frog in grey.

He sat there quite content on his throne at an elevated location, looking at the world with a smile.

 Majestic