PHOTO of the DAY (JAPAN) Dial up warning

[AsahinaKimi]

Autumn has come to Hokkaido in splendid fashion, as seen in this photograph taken of the Daisetsuzan mountain range in the town of Kamikawa, central Hokkaido, from a Mainichi chartered plane on Sept. 29. The red and yellow leaves on top of the mountain are gradually beginning to cover the entire area, and the view is expected to last until mid-October. (Mainichi)

Bonus Photos

A Cosmo Power Co. employee crawls out from the spherical earthquake and tsunami shelter "Noah," which is made of fiber enforced plastic, at the company's factory in Hiratsuka, west of Tokyo, Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The Japanese generator maker has developed a modern version of Noah's Ark in case Japan is hit by another massive earthquake and tsunami. The company of just 10 employees completed the first Noah, that is 1.2 meters in diameter and can hold up to four adults inside, earlier this month and already has 500 orders. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)


Members of the "Hula Girls," a team of hula dancers, welcome guests at Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, on Oct. 1. The Hawaiian-style spa leisure complex reopened nearly seven months after it suspended its business in the wake of the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. (Mainichi)


Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, left, holds the winner’s plate during an award ceremony after beating Vera Zvonareva of Russia in their final match at the Japan Pan Pacific Open women’s tennis tournament in Tokyo Saturday.


Rice is harvested from a paddy in Sendai's Wakabayashi Ward on Sept. 29. Farmer Koichi Kimura, 53, had to desalinate the soil after the field was struck by the March 11 tsunami, and the rice plants were knocked over by heavy rain from Typhoon No. 15, but harvesting went ahead on Sept. 29. On the same day, the Miyagi Prefectural Government announced that rice in the prefecture was safe, based on tests for radiation in the wake of the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. (Mainichi)


Toy Robot prepaires for Ironman Triathlon. The hand-sized, green and white robot gets its stamina from three rechargeable batteries, which the robot bears on its back, and is fitted with three different bodies to accommodate the different physical challenges. These include: one mounted on a tiny bicycle, one in a round hoop with a supporting rear wheel and another mounted on a curved, fin-like blade.


A model stands beside the new Rolls Royce Ghost Extended Wheelbase during its launch in Tokyo on Friday. Rolls Royce Regional General Manager for Asia Pacific Paul Harris said Japan is the second biggest customer in Asia (after China) for the company. He said the new Ghost was a highly personalized, hand-built car that offers superior comfort and versatility. It is priced at 32 million yen.

Mainichi Ohatu ~ まいにちおはつ~ Something new every day!

[sakabatou]

1. As said on "Top Gear," people only get the Ghost when they can't afford the Phantom

[AsahinaKimi]

2. Have to admit it

looks like a nice ride.

[JNelson6563]

3. Great pics, as usual!

:toast:

[AsahinaKimi]

5. The fall photo looks

like a painting. I have seen photos taken like that in upstate NY in the fall, but haven't seen that kind of color in a long, long time. Hokkaido seems like a wondrous place.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. That's what I thought -- figured it was cgi or Photochopped.

Stuff actually looks like that naturally ? Cool !

[stevedeshazer]

4. Stunning

Especially the first one.

+1. Thanks.

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Fall has come to Hokkaido

It is especially gorgeous, ne?

[Arctic Dave]

7. The first photo is spectacular.

Never really thought about "Fall" in Japan.