Throughout his career, Kikuchi Tetsuo, one of Japan’s leading mountain photographers, captured the natural beauty of Hakuba’s majestic Mt. Shirouma throughout a period of more than 30 years. Admire around 40 of his best works, selected by Kikuchi himself, at this two-story gallery. These large-scale photographs show the mountain during all four seasons—capturing the mountain’s peak surrounded by an ocean of mystical-looking wintery clouds, scenery embraced by pink cherry blossoms during spring, and the autumn foliage reflecting in the mountain’s large Happo Pond.
Kikuchi taught himself the art of photography at the young age of fourteen and devoted his talent to alpine photography six years later. He can look back at an incredible career that encompasses a host of solo exhibitions, as well as two teaching positions at the Nikon College and the Yamakei Culture Club. In 2007, the Tetsuo Kikuchi Alpine Photograph Gallery opened its doors in Hakuba Happo-one’s Wadano no Mori area, in the premises of the Wadano no Mori Church. Before heading over to the gallery, a beautiful brick building with a red roof, purchase your ticket at the little hut located at the entrance to the premises, where you can also grab a coffee or tea.