Flying around Mt Daisen
Flying around Mt Daisen
Overview
In this early episode of Only in Japan Go, John Daub takes viewers to the majestic Mt Daisen in Tottori Prefecture. While on location filming an episode for NHK's Journeys in Japan, John takes advantage of a break to test out his new DJI Mavic Pro drone. The video serves as both a tech test and a travel showcase, offering stunning aerial views of the region known as the "Mount Fuji of the West."
John provides commentary on the natural beauty of the area, highlighting the lush greenery and the absence of urban development on the mountain slopes. He points out his hotel, the local ski slopes (bare of snow in late May), and discusses the region's fame for cattle and high-quality beef. Despite some signal issues and approaching thunder, John manages to capture peaceful bird's-eye views before wrapping up the live stream test.
This video is a concise look at the capabilities of drone photography in rural Japan and offers a glimpse into the production process of John's television work. It emphasizes the tranquility and scale of Mt Daisen, inviting viewers to explore this less-visited prefecture.
Highlights
- 00:10 John introduces the location as Mt Daisen in Tottori Prefecture.
- 01:02 Drone signal test begins with views of the hotel and ski slope.
- 02:01 Stunning aerial view of the green landscape with no buildings in sight.
- 03:07 John hears thunder and begins bringing the drone down for safety.
- 03:56 Explanation of Daisen as the "Mount Fuji of the West."
- 04:46 Mention of the area's famous cattle and beef production.
- 05:28 Technical note: Streaming via DJI app on iPhone 7.
- 06:23 Final ascent to 100 meters for a peaceful view of the surroundings.
- 07:34 John signs off, promising more live streams from the region.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00 — Introduction at Mt Daisen, Tottori Prefecture.
- 01:00 — Drone signal check and initial lift-off.
- 02:00 — Aerial tour of the natural landscape and hotel location.
- 03:00 — Weather check (thunder) and drone descent.
- 03:50 — Context on Mt Daisen and upcoming climb.
- 04:40 — Discussion of local cattle and beef industry.
- 05:20 — Technical setup explanation (DJI app/iPhone).
- 06:20 — Final 100-meter ascent for panoramic views.
- 07:30 — Conclusion and sign-off.
Japan Travel Tips
- Drone Usage: John notes he can use the drone freely in this area, but always check local regulations regarding no-fly zones near airports or crowded areas.
- Best Time to Visit: Late spring (May/June) offers lush greenery, though snow remains on the peak earlier in the season. John mentions tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, ideal for filming.
- Getting There: Mt Daisen is about 40 kilometers from Yonago City in Tottori Prefecture. Access usually requires a car or bus from Yonago Station.
- What to See: The ski slopes transform into green pastures in summer. The area is great for hiking and nature photography.
- Local Specialties: The region is famous for dairy and high-quality beef (Tottori Wagyu). Look for local beef dishes when visiting.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Daisen (大山): Often referred to as Daisen-san. It is the highest mountain in the Chūgoku region.
- Mount Fuji of the West: John mentions this moniker (Nishi no Fuji). Due to its symmetrical volcanic shape, it is culturally compared to Japan's most famous mountain.
- NHK Journeys in Japan: John is in town filming for Journeys in Japan (known as Journeys in Japan or similar NHK travel documentaries). This highlights the professional context of his visit.
- Weather Awareness: John notes hearing thunder and immediately brings the drone down. Carbon fiber drones conduct electricity, making flying in stormy weather dangerous.
Food & Drink Guide
- Tottori Beef (Tottori Wagyu): 04:46 John mentions the area is famous for milking cows and cattle, producing really good beef. While not eaten on camera in this clip, it is a key regional specialty to seek out when visiting Daisen.
People
- John Daub: Host and creator of Only in Japan Go. He is filming an NHK episode and testing drone equipment. He provides all narration and commentary.
Key Takeaways
- Mt Daisen offers stunning natural scenery with minimal urban development visible from the slopes.
- The region is a significant producer of dairy and high-quality beef.
- Drone flying requires constant weather monitoring; thunder necessitates immediate landing.
- The area serves as a summer ski resort destination (green season) and a winter snow destination.
Notable Quotes
- 00:10 "Right now I'm right here at Daisen, Mount Daisen, which is in Tottori Prefecture near Yonago City."
- 02:01 "This part of Japan is really, really natural, isn't it? Lots of green. Not a building in sight up there."
- 03:56 "Daisen is... They call it the Mount Fuji of the West."
- 04:46 "Because this area is also very famous for milking cows and also for cattle. Because they have really good beef."
- 06:23 "It's so peaceful up there, isn't it? ... Really, there's not much but nature up here."
Related Topics
- Hiking Mt Daisen
- Tottori Prefecture Travel
- Drone Photography in Japan
- NHK Journeys in Japan
- Japanese Beef Regions
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tottori #mt-daisen #drone #mavic-pro #nature #hiking #nhk #yonago #travel-vlog #japan-travel #west-japan #chugoku-region
Full Transcript
00:10 John Daub: Alright, hello everybody. I don't know if I'm streaming live or not, but I thought I would take a chance to just test out the Mavic Pro and the Only in Japan Go channel. Right now I'm right here at Daisen, Mount Daisen, which is in Tottori Prefecture near Yonago City, about 40 kilometers away from Yonago. I'm staying at this hotel behind me. Right now I'm here because I'm filming an NHK Journeys in Japan episode and this is our first day here. So while I have some time in a place where I can use the drone freely, I thought I would definitely go out here and live stream some stuff from the sky and see how it goes.
01:02 John Daub: We don't have very good signal up here, but maybe with a little bit of patience you'll get a nice view of the area. And if not, we tried. There's a lot of people out here. There's the hotel down there. And this is actually a ski slope.
01:33 John Daub: Let's move the drone around and look up towards the top of Mount Daisen up there. So I think the signal might be coming in a little bit better. So let's go for a ride. Let's see if this streams.
02:01 John Daub: Alright. Oh, that's really nice up there. This part of Japan is really, really natural, isn't it? Lots of green. Not a building in sight up there. And I'm looking back at the city. I'm about 250 meters away. Wow. That is beautiful. There's my hotel. Oh, the hotel's right there. It's now coming into the center of the screen. Right there. The kind of orange looking building is the hotel that I'm staying at. And you can see me just sort of at the beginning of the trail. It's kind of the top of Daisen, the village.
03:07 John Daub: And I'm going to move up a little bit higher and then start making my way back. So I just wanted to test out to see if this live stream works out well. Oh, I hear some lightning, some thunder. All right. Let's bring it back in. At 100 meters up, coming down.
03:56 John Daub: Daisen is... They call it the Mount Fuji of the West, meaning Mount Fuji is to the east of here. And I'll be climbing it. And in a couple of days, it'll be my second time climbing Daisen. Again, this is a ski slope. And you can see me. I'm right over there. Where am I? Come back. Oh, there I am on the other side. Okay, I'll come back over towards me. Now you can see me down here. I hear some thunder in the background. And that's not so good for the drone.
04:46 John Daub: And so far, I've gotten some pretty good footage of this area. And tomorrow, it's supposed to be sunny. So you can see me. I'm over here. Yeah. So tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. And I want to try to get the drone going through the green pastures over cows. Because this area is also very famous for milking cows and also for cattle. Because they have really good beef. And again, if you look up towards the top of the hill. Oh, not that way. Up there. Right. That's the ski slope up on the top. And it is a nice ski slope. But it's June. So there's no snow.
05:28 John Daub: It's interesting how... Just to see how a live stream goes from the DJI app. This is streaming from the DJI app through my iPhone 7. So I thought I'd give you a little taste of what this area looks like. And before I let you go, just a short live stream. I'm going to take you up one more time to 100 meters into the sky. Enjoy the ride.
06:23 John Daub: It's so peaceful up there, isn't it? We're at 90 meters. So we'll go another 10 meters or so. 100 meters up now. Let's just have a look around. Wow, it's stunning. Really, there's not much but nature up here. Really quiet. Now the drone is way up above the sky. You can hear the birds chirping again. And then you can see the slope where the ski slope is once again. Everything looks a lot better from 100 meters up, doesn't it? All right. And back down. Here we come.
07:34 John Daub: So thanks for tuning in for this really short bird's eye view of Daisen. And I'll bring you some more live streams as I find some interesting stuff here on the other side of Japan. There I am. So I hope you enjoyed the show. See you on the road.