Yamadera at the Top of Autumn in Japan
Yamadera at the Top of Autumn in Japan
Overview
In this short behind-the-scenes clip, John Daub takes viewers to the summit of Yamadera (Risshaku-ji Temple) in Yamagata Prefecture during peak autumn foliage season. Battling strong winds and cold temperatures without his jacket, John shares the stunning views from the top observation deck after climbing the temple's famous 1,015 stone steps. This video serves as a teaser for a larger episode, offering a raw, immediate look at the beauty of the location while John films the main content.
Despite the audio challenges caused by the wind, John emphasizes that the visual beauty of the autumn colors and the temple grounds outweighs technical imperfections. He mentions having climbed the steps multiple times during the day for filming, highlighting the physical effort required to reach the vantage points. The clip captures the essence of on-location filming in Japan—dealing with the elements while chasing the perfect shot.
This video is a quick visit rather than a full guide, intended to share the atmosphere of Yamadera in November. John encourages viewers to visit if they are in Japan during autumn, calling it a "must visit" location. The footage includes glimpses of the surrounding valley, the train passing below, and the vibrant red and orange leaves that define the season in northern Japan.
Highlights
- 00:00:11 John welcomes viewers from the top of Yamadera, noting the strong wind and cold.
- 00:00:44 He mentions this is not his first time bringing viewers here and heads toward an observation platform.
- 00:01:46 John reveals he has climbed the 1,015 steps three times today, totaling 6,000 steps.
- 00:02:37 He reaches the viewing deck and spots a train passing below in the valley.
- 00:04:11 John explains this is a live share before editing the main episode for release in November or December.
- 00:04:43 He shows the thumbnail view, exclaiming how beautiful the autumn colors are.
- 00:05:15 John notes he needs to return to the car to warm up as he forgot his jacket.
- 00:05:41 He signs off, asking viewers to comment despite the windy audio conditions.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00:00 Intro at the summit
- 00:00:44 Walking to the observation platform
- 00:01:46 Discussing the climb and step count
- 00:02:37 Reaching the deck and spotting the train
- 00:04:11 Explanation of the upcoming episode
- 00:04:43 Showing the thumbnail view
- 00:05:15 Heading back to the car
- 00:05:41 Outro and sign-off
Japan Travel Tips
- Dress Warmly: John forgot his jacket and found it too chilly at the summit, especially with wind. Layers are essential in late autumn.
- Step Count: Be prepared for 1,015 stone steps to reach the top. It takes about 12 minutes for a fit climber, but allow more time for photos.
- Best Season: Visit in November for peak autumn foliage (koyo).
- Audio/Video: Wind can be strong at the top; secure your gear if filming.
- Transport: A train (JR Senzan Line) passes below the temple; you can see it from the observation deck.
- Timing: John climbed multiple times in one day for filming, but once is enough for most visitors to enjoy the grounds.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Yamadera (山寺): Literally "mountain temple." The common name for Risshaku-ji Temple in Yamagata.
- Autumn Colors: Referred to implicitly as "autumn colors" or "fall foliage." In Japan, viewing these leaves is called koyo (紅葉).
- Temple Climbing: Many Japanese temples are built on mountainsides, requiring physical effort to reach the main halls or views, symbolizing pilgrimage and dedication.
People
- John Daub: Host and creator of Only in Japan Go. He is filming on location, dealing with cold weather and wind while sharing the view with viewers. He mentions having an appointment and climbing the steps multiple times for the main episode.
Key Takeaways
- Yamadera is visually stunning in autumn, worth the climb despite weather conditions.
- The summit offers a view of the valley and the JR Senzan Line train passing below.
- Filming on location often involves dealing with unexpected elements like wind and cold.
- The temple requires climbing 1,015 steps, which is manageable but physically demanding.
Notable Quotes
- 00:00:11 "Hello everybody, welcome to the top of Yamadera. You can feel the wind and hear it too."
- 00:01:46 "This is 1,015 steps up to the top here and it's just stunning up here."
- 00:02:37 "That's what I call the view. Oh, there's a train."
- 00:04:11 "For me, it's the people that really bring out the locations. Every place in Japan seems beautiful but this, ladies and gentlemen, is. This is beyond beautiful."
- 00:05:15 "This is like, it's a must visit if you're coming back to Japan."
Related Topics
- Autumn foliage viewing in Japan
- Temple hiking and pilgrimage
- Yamagata Prefecture travel
- Behind-the-scenes of travel filming
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #yamadera #yamagata #autumn #fall-foliage #temple #hiking #japan-travel #risshaku-ji #john-daub
Full Transcript
00:00:11 John Daub: Hello everybody, welcome to the top of Yamadera. You can feel the wind and hear it too. I've been here for several hours now filming a video for Only in Japan. Oh boy, it's getting chilly and I forgot my jacket in the car. The microphone also is in the car so this isn't the best audio. However, the beauty of this place is undeniable and a little bit of audio wind only enhances the positive.
00:00:44 John Daub: The beauty of this place and this is not the first time I brought you here. I wanted to bring you here before. There's an observation platform that we're going to go to and I think the wind is going to go down a little bit inside of there. So just bear with me a little bit. But this is 1,015 steps up to the top here and it's just stunning up here. You can see the light just hitting the side here. Windy all day. So I'm here to make an episode of Only in Japan.
00:01:46 John Daub: I'm going to show it about Yamadera but there's a twist to it. It's not just about Yamadera. There's something else about it. You can see, oh look at those autumn colors in the distance over there. Alright, let's get to the platform because I think the wind might go down a little bit. It takes me, so it took me in the morning. This is my third time climbing today. So it's going to be 6,000 steps total. It took me 12 minutes to climb the 1,000 steps the first time and that impressed some of the people who live here. They asked me, hey you went up and down pretty quick and I said, yep I did. I had an appointment and then, hold on a second. Here's the platform.
00:02:37 John Daub: I'm going up to this deck that's above us here. That's what I call the view. Oh, there's a train. Oh wow. The wind is a little bit more than I thought it would be.
00:04:11 John Daub: And I wanted to bring you up here live. This episode that I'm doing, I'm going to try to edit it and get it up in November or very early in December. It's a fall episode but it's got a real special twist to it and I know you're going to like it. For me, it's the people that really bring out the locations. Every place in Japan seems beautiful but this, ladies and gentlemen, is. This is beyond beautiful.
00:04:43 John Daub: This is the thumbnail. Holy macaroni. Like what? This is just too beautiful. Look at the person here. So even if it was just for a little bit of time, I wanted to bring you guys with me just a little bit to share this view.
00:05:15 John Daub: And now that we have, I can get to the car and warm up. It is actually getting kind of too chilly. I don't have a jacket so I really do need to get back. This is like, it's a must visit if you're coming back to Japan. Oh gosh, this is too beautiful.
00:05:41 John Daub: Alright everybody, this is a short one. I just wanted to bring you here for a little bit but I'm glad that we could share this experience a little bit. Leave me a comment below. What did you think of it? Don't complain about the audio. I apologize about that but yeah, we're still here. Alright, have a good day. See you. Wow, wind is...