November 1, 1999. From Fujimicho Plateau near Kobuchizawa, Nagano Prefecture. As Tokyo has been experiencing recently, Fujimi Plateau (around 1100m) at the southern foot of the Yatsugatake is also going through an unusual weather from last winter's snowfall to this year's unexpected warmness, which seem to affect plants and animals around. Last year's snow made even the ninety years old man of influence from the town to say that it is the heaviest of all time, as a tree by his house has been split into half by the weight of snow. There was not much to feed upon in the mountain that quite a few deers came down to the village. You can spot the marks of the deers coming down around the cottages this year, too.

	A cottage at around 1,100m above sea level. Koyo arrival is being delayed by the extraordinary weather.		You can find these plants from time to time in the southern foot of the Yatsugatake in Nagano. Neither humans nor animals can eat these. Do you know what they are?
	Yatsugatake. It is usually cloudy in the mornings, but clears up in the afternoons so that the mountain can be seen beautifully from the southern foot.		This place is where two castle gates are built for next year's NHK history drama...uh..'Tokugawa... Aoi Sandai', was it?? It was very quiet with not much people around. It is alright visiting the place once to see the stone wall made of plastic and the metal parts of plastic and rubber, but perhaps \300 entrance fee is too much.