The other day, I visited Hattasan in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture for the first time.

Hattasan is famous for its “Yakuyoke Dango” (charm dumplings).

Although I had received these dumplings as gifts occasionally, I had never visited the place myself. So, I decided to go and pay my respects, taking the opportunity to take some photos while I was there.

By the way, I recently purchased the Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN lens for the X mount.

I recently snapped some photos of Hattasan using the inaugural Fujifilm “T Series” model, the X-T1.

For this shoot, I opted for shooting entirely in JPEG format without any brightness adjustments.

I used the “Provia” film simulation with the highlight set to -1.

As it’s a medium telephoto lens, it may not capture the entirety of Hatayama’s distinct appearance due to its limited range.

Please take a look at Hattasan as captured through my lens.

The scenery of Hattasan

Colorful teru teru bozu (traditional Japanese rain dolls).

The lingering summer heat is intense, but thanks to the abundance of greenery, I feel a slight relief from the heat.

With many large trees around, I wonder how long they have been watching over this place, standing tall through the ages.

The red torii gate peeking out from the greenery.

I’ve always been fond of the combination of green and red, it just seems to work so well together!

At the end of the long approach, there was a staircase leading to the main hall.

After walking in this heat, I must admit, I found it a bit exhausting!

Just one more push to the main hall.

Speaking of long staircases, there’s one at a temple called Kuon-ji in Yamanashi Prefecture that’s quite challenging, but compared to that, this one was a breeze.

I couldn’t capture the full view of the temple’s main hall with my medium telephoto lens. Sonei-ji is indeed an impressive temple.

Now that my prayers are complete, it’s time to leave the temple.

Following the teru teru bozu I mentioned earlier, parasols were also hanging down, seemingly ready for their Instagram moment.

While they are undeniably beautiful, I must admit that lately, it feels like every temple across the country is conscious of creating an “Instagrammable” atmosphere with items like umbrellas and wind chimes. It’s a bit of a letdown, to be honest.

Uniformity isn’t interesting, and I think it would be more intriguing if temples sought out “content unique to their temple” that sets them apart.

At the beginning of the approach, there’s a traditional Japanese-style photo spot.

The colors are beautiful.

It’s a majestic temple surrounded by lush greenery.

Hatayama in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It boasts a lush green approach, a solemn temple, and its famous charm dumplings.

While it may not be flashy, you can experience the unique atmosphere of Japan here. In the summer, they also sell shaved ice with charm dumplings, perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

If you’re interested in experiencing the tranquility of Japan, why not pay a visit?

If you pick up a taxi from JR Aino Station and say, “To Hattasan, please,” you’ll arrive in about 10 minutes.