The Tale of the Lone Tree in Hokkaido: A Story of Discovery and Loss

Hokkaido, Japan, in winter is a place like no other. Its rolling, snow-blanketed landscapes offer an unmatched sense of serenity, and there’s a quiet beauty in the way the land meets the sky. When I embarked on my journey there, I knew I was chasing more than just photographs—I was seeking stories written by the natural world. Among these stories, one stands out: a solitary tree on a gentle hillside, marked forever in my mind and now in my archive.

 I wouldn’t have found this tree if it weren’t for the local guide who graciously and expertly guided me around his beautiful town. While guides can be an investment, this one was worth every yen. His knowledge of the landscape turned what could have been a day of aimless wandering into a day of discovery. As we explored, he led me to a hill that, at first glance, seemed like any other. But there it stood—a lone tree, stark against the winter sky, with fox tracks weaving their way towards it through the fresh snow. Without his insight, that tree and countless other hidden treasures would have remained unseen by my eyes, tucked away in the vastness of Hokkaido’s winter silence.

 I recently learned, through Yuto, my guide, that this tree, now immortalized in my image, has been cut down. The news was bittersweet—knowing that what once stood so proudly is no longer there adds a poignant weight to the photograph. I don’t know why it was removed, and while it saddens me, I can only hope there was a good reason behind it. This reality has made the image even more meaningful to me, a reminder of the fleeting nature of the world around us.

 When I first approached the tree, the sun was high in the sky, casting harsh light across the snow. It wasn’t the soft, golden-hour light that most photographers dream of. But as I watched a few clouds drift into the background of the frame, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, even if the conditions were less than ideal. I worked with what I had, shaping the scene and framing the story the best way I could.

There’s a lesson here: always take the shot when you can. Nature is unpredictable, and sometimes what seems less than perfect becomes a cherished moment later on. In this case, it’s not just the photograph that matters; it’s the experience, the memory of the discovery, and the realization that this fleeting scene was captured just in time.

The image of this tree in Hokkaido is more than a photograph now—it’s a story, a moment, and a reminder that beauty can be fleeting. It’s a call to cherish what we find and to never hesitate to capture it, for we never know when it might be gone.

I hope you enjoy this image as much as I did creating it!

~Andrew