News from Muffin Mountain Cottage in Misorano, Hakuba

A Morning Gift After the Rain: A Beautiful Rainbow over Hakuba

“A Morning Gift After the Rain”

An early-summer morning in Hakuba, Nagano.

The rain that had fallen through the night finally began to ease at dawn.

Outside the window, thick clouds still covered the mountains, but morning light was beginning to break through.

Stepping into the cool air after the rain, I saw the freshly washed trees and flowers shining in the morning sunlight.

Hakuba’s rich natural surroundings looked as though they had been polished overnight.

Then, as I stood admiring the view, something happened.

Looking up, I saw a large rainbow slowly appear beyond the mountains.

Its arch stretched high across the sky as if embracing Hakuba, its vivid colors glowing in the clear air after the rain.

Dark rain clouds still lingered, making the rainbow stand out all the more.

This moment, captured in a photograph, was a gift from nature that lasted only a few minutes.

It was still early, with few people around and a peaceful atmosphere.

Even in a popular destination like Hakuba, a rainbow viewed in the quiet of early morning feels especially memorable.

When traveling, we tend to hope for sunny skies.

Yet some scenery can only be experienced because it has rained.

Listen to the rain at night, then look up at a rainbow the next morning.

Experiencing these changes in nature is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Hakuba.

Do not be discouraged by a rainy forecast. The next morning may bring a rainbow, a dreamlike sea of clouds, or clear mountain views—scenery just as moving as anything on a sunny day.