Mount Daisen – Top of the World: A Watercolour Journey to Japan’s Great Mountain
Introduction: The World from Above
There’s something almost otherworldly about standing on the top of a mountain. The air is thinner, the silence sharper, and the horizon stretches further than you ever imagined possible. For a brief moment, you feel suspended between earth and sky — as though you really are on top of the world.
That feeling is what inspired my original watercolour painting, Mount Daisen – Top of the World. Based on a stunning photograph by Osaka-based nature and travel photographer Kanenori, this artwork doesn’t depict Mount Daisen itself, but rather the breathtaking view from its summit. Looking out across endless valleys, jagged ridges, and the warm glow of a Japanese sunset, I wanted to capture the sense of awe that comes only from reaching such heights.
This painting is available both as the original signed artwork (26cm x 36cm, unmounted and unframed) and as full-size prints for collectors and lovers of mountain landscapes.
My Journey with Mountain Paintings
Mountains have always held a magnetic pull for me. My very first watercolour painting — years ago, long before I considered myself an artist — was of a mountain. I called it Reaching the Peak. It was purely from imagination, yet something inside me clicked in that moment. At the age of forty, I discovered my hidden talent for painting, and from then on, I fell in love with the art of mountainscapes.
Mountains embody drama, power, and mystery. Their sheer cliffs, rolling ridges, and sharp drops remind us how small we are in comparison to the natural world. For me, they are a pure force of nature — timeless and immovable, yet ever-changing in the play of light and weather.
So when I came across Kanenori’s photograph of the view from Mount Daisen’s peak, I felt an instant connection. The glowing sunset, the depth of perspective, the suggestion of distant horizons — I knew straight away I needed to translate it into watercolour.
Inspiration: From Kanenori’s Lens to My Brush
Kanenori is a Japanese photographer from Osaka whose work focuses on landscapes, travel, and nature. His photograph of Mount Daisen captured more than just scenery; it conveyed the feeling of standing at the summit and gazing out across the vastness of western Japan.
Summit View from Mt Daisen
The stunning original photo taken by photographer Kanenori.
What struck me most was the depth of the view. The layers of mountains receded into the distance, fading into a haze of atmosphere and light. The sky glowed with the colours of evening — soft, radiant, and fleeting. I wanted to recreate not only the look of the scene but the experience of it: that quiet exhilaration of being surrounded by nothing but land, sky, and possibility.
About Mount Daisen: Japan’s Great Mountain with Endless Views
Mount Daisen, whose name means “Great Mountain,” is the highest peak in Japan’s Chūgoku region at 1,729 metres. A dormant stratovolcano, it dominates the landscape of Tottori Prefecture and has been revered for centuries as a sacred place.
Spiritual importance: Daisen-ji Temple, founded in the 8th century, and Ōgamiyama Shrine stand as reminders of the mountain’s long history as a centre of worship. For centuries, Buddhist monks and Shugendō ascetics came here to train, seeking enlightenment among the rugged slopes.
Natural beauty: Mount Daisen is cloaked in dense beech forests, alpine plants, and vibrant seasonal colours. In spring, the slopes burst into green; in autumn, they blaze with reds, golds, and oranges, earning the nickname “Seven Colours of Daisen.”
Panoramic views: From its summit, you can look out across endless ridgelines, the Sea of Japan shimmering in the distance, and the patchwork of rural Tottori below. It’s these sweeping vistas that inspired my painting — a reminder of the vastness and beauty of the world.
Painting Process: Capturing a Summit View in Watercolour
Creating Top of the World took about 10 hours from initial sketch to completion, though as with all watercolours, much of that time was in waiting for layers to dry naturally. I never use a heat gun — I prefer to let each layer breathe and settle on its own.
My process for landscapes always begins with the sky. From there, I work gradually from the furthest visible point forward: distant ridges first, then middle ground, and finally the rocks and textures of the foreground. For this painting, I used:
Gradient washes and plain glazes to build the soft transitions of sky and distant land.
Multiple layers to create depth and atmospheric perspective.
Dry brush techniques to bring rocky textures and sharper detail into the foreground.
With each layer, I aimed to capture that feeling of looking down into infinity — where mountains seem to fade forever into the haze.
The Finished Artwork: A View from the Top
When I stepped back from the finished painting, I felt it had captured what I loved most about Kanenori’s photograph: the freedom, the vastness, the peace. It’s not simply a landscape — it’s a reminder of that rare, humbling feeling of standing on a mountaintop, gazing across the world below.
Mount Daisen - Top of the World by LeeBB Art
This is the photograph I took when I had finished the painting, a proud moment.
The original is signed, sized at 26cm x 36cm, and available unmounted and unframed. For those who would like to own the view without purchasing the original, I’ve made full-size prints available through my website.
Explore Mount Daisen – Top of the World on LeeBB Art
Why It Resonates: For Collectors, Travellers & Dreamers
Whether you are an art collector, a lover of Japan, or someone who simply dreams of adventure, Top of the World offers a window into another place.
For collectors, it is a unique, original watercolour inspired by one of Japan’s most sacred and scenic mountains.
For travellers, it’s a chance to bring home the experience of a summit view, even if you haven’t stood on Mount Daisen yourself.
For dreamers, it’s a daily reminder of perspective — that there is always a bigger world out there, waiting to be explored.
Looking Ahead: A Series of Art Stories
Mount Daisen – Top of the World is the first of what I hope will be many in-depth looks into my artwork. I want to share not only the finished pieces but also the stories, techniques, and inspirations behind them.
If you’ve enjoyed this journey, I invite you to follow along on my blog, explore my full gallery, and sign up for updates on LeeBB Art.
Artist’s Note: About LeeBB Art
I’m Lee Bagley-Bramwell, the artist behind LeeBB Art. My work focuses on landscapes, wildlife, and nature, painted primarily in watercolour and oils. I discovered my passion for painting later in life, but it has quickly become the way I explore and share the natural world. You can learn more about my journey on the My Story page.
