The Sotodomari settlement in Ainan Town, Ehime Prefecture, is famed as the “Village of Stone Walls,” where meticulously stacked stone terraces create a striking vista.

The view at sunset is particularly unforgettable. On this evening, the sun blazed a fiery red as it sank towards distant islands and the shores of Kyushu.

The spectacle was nothing short of majestic – a ball of flame slowly descending, as if being swallowed by the silhouetted mountain ridges on the horizon.

Getting there: About 15 minutes by car from National Route 56 via Prefectural Road 34 to Sotobori Community Center. Parking available.
Photographed: Mid-June 2018, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Temperature: 22°C (72°F)

Text/Kenji Sakamoto
Photo/Kenji Sakamoto
Translation/Yumiko Sushitani