If in spring the scenery is predominantly pink and white, with the arrival of autumn (Aki), everything changes again. The temperature begins to drop gradually from month to month and the landscape is transformed by presenting the unmistakable leaves with beautiful red, orange and yellow tones. The most common leaves at this time are Momiji and ginkgo. Autumn in Japan is the great time to go out on the street, admire the scenery, enjoy the events and festivals and enjoy the typical seasonal cuisine. All over Japan, you can see the beautiful coloring of the season, but some cities stand out in the country.
Tokyo
Despite being a metropolitan city and less popular in autumn, Tokyo has many spots for you to enjoy the scenery of the season. Be sure to visit Shinjuku Gyoen Park, Showa Kinen Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien Park, Rikugien Garden, and Koishikawa Korakuen. The best time to see the coloring of the leaves is late October to late November.
Kyoto
Former capital of Japan, Kyoto is worth a visit regardless of the season, but in autumn, the city gets a special touch with the red foliage in its temples and gardens. Some interesting places in the city for you to contemplate the Momiji are Kiyomizudera Temple, Tofukuji Temple, Kodaiji Temple, Daigo-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple, Jōjakkō-ji Temple, Eikando and Arashiyama. At the end of October, it is already possible to have a preview of the reddish leaves and in November, they intensify until mid-December.
Hokkaido
It is located in the north of Japan, which is why it is a colder region and where autumn leaves begin to appear first. Some points worth visiting are Daisetsuzan National Park, Onuma Quasi National Park, Jozankei and the 5 lakes of Shiretoko Goko. The best time to go is mid-September to mid-October.
Nagano
Although Nagano is a region most famous in the winter season, autumn also has its beauty. It is a region surrounded by mountains and with a cold climate, great for enjoying the landscape with the red leaves. Some tips for places to enjoy the beautiful landscapes are Zenkoji Temple, Momiji Lake, Chofuku-ji Temple, Lake Tatsugasawa, Mounts Hotaka and Karasawa, Kamikochi, Taisho Lagoon and Takase Valley.
Yamanashi
Yamanashi prefecture is located on Japan’s main island, Honshu, and is not far from Tokyo. A great spot in Yamanashi to see red leaves is in the Five Lakes of Fuji region, which is the lowest region of Mount Fuji. The highlight of the region is Lake Kawaguchi, where the Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival takes place in the first two weeks of November.
In the end
As it all depends on nature, there is no exact date for the change in the color of the leaves, so it is important to know the date of your trip so that you can choose the best region to see the Momiji in that period. The season also marks the harvest season, which is long awaited by rural producers and makes for many fresh and tasty seasonal products. Fruits, rice, mushrooms, fish and vegetables are the most harvested products of the season. For a different experience during autumn, some Japanese farms allow visitors to pick the fruit from the tree itself.