I was on my way to do something when a pair of maple trees in full autumn color commanded my attention. There was a dark red torii gate between them and a stairway leading up the small hill the trees stood on. I couldn’t resist a look, and then I couldn’t believe what I’d stumbled upon. The name upon the gate’s plaque read, “Horide Shrine,” with the kanji for to dig and come or go out. Appropriate as this area used to be an oil field with quite a few wells. Walking up the stairs and into the shelter of some still green trees trees provided me some relief from the bucketing November rain. More color awaited me in the main grounds. Trees with leaves of lava provided a great backdrop to the shrine’s many statues, stone lanterns and tablets. But a burst of color in a stand of pine trees off to right yielded one of the sparkliest diamonds I’ve yet discovered in Niigata, a small and shallow pond ringed with maple trees, every single one burning red or yellow. It was exactly what was advertised in travel brochures in America.
- 2 min read
Horide Shrine
An autumn foliage gem stone

By Bryan Baier
Community writer

This scene was straight out of a postcard

The main gate


Leafy stairs


The second gate

Approaching the main building

The guard deities

The main building

What's that patch of color?

It's easy to become obsessed with the beauty of this pond

On a subsequent visit the pond looked like this

Only these leaves were left, but the bare branches provided this different look

The wall of color around the pond

Fiery Lion

Autumn fire and a stone plaque and lantern

Yellow ceiling

Autumn's fire up close

The most awesome tree I've yet found

Lava leaves
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Kim Bergström
6 years ago
I'm always on the hunt for good koyo spots nearby and this looks incredible! Those colors are so vibrant.
Glad you enjoyed it, Ben. There's snow on the ground here now so I'll have to go and see it again. I feel another photo story coming
Ben Humphreys
12 years ago
Wonderful set Bryan. Both sakura and koyo seasons, my favourite times to be in Japan!
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