Autumn is the most colourful of Japan’s four distinct seasons. Over the centuries, the Japanese have deified, celebrated and appreciated their country’s autumn foliage, and today autumn leaf viewing remains a highly popular national pastime - as popular as cherry blossom viewing, in fact.

Starting from the northernmost island of Hokkaido, fiery crimson and golden yellow hues of maples and ginkgos, among others, gradually spread south through Japan from October to early December.

Below is a list of some popular autumn leaf viewing spots across Japan.

Northern Japan

♦ Lake Towada, Aomori Prefecture

• Best viewing: late October
• Foliage type: maple, Japanese beech, rowan
• Access: Three hours by bullet train from Tokyo then two hours 15 minutes by bus from JR Hachinohe Station.

Located on the border of Aomori and Akita Prefectures, Lake Towada is a caldera lake in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. It is registered as a natural monument due to its scenic beauty. Oirase Stream, the lake’s only outlet, is one of Japan’s most popular autumn leaf viewing spots. Admire the foliage from the shore, or cruise the lake on a sightseeing boat. An easy hiking trail runs to Oirase Stream.

Eastern Japan

♦ Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo

• Best viewing: late November – early December
• Foliage type: maple, ginkgo, cherry, tulip poplar, oriental sycamore
• Access: Five minute walk from Tokyo Metro’s Shinjuku Gyoen-mae Station.

Covering 58 hectares in central Tokyo, Shinjuku Gyoen served as a garden for the Imperial Family from 1906, before being designated as a national garden and opened to the public in 1949. The garden features three distinct landscaping styles: a formal French garden, an English landscape garden and a traditional Japanese garden with teahouses.

♦ Mt Takao, Hachioji City, Tokyo

• Best viewing: mid - late November
• Foliage type: Japanese maple
• Access: 50 minutes by train from Shinjuku (central Tokyo)
• Festival: Mt Takao Maple Festival is held annually November 1-30.

Mt Takao is one of Tokyo’s most popular autumn foliage viewing spots. It is considered a sacred mountain and has been a centre of mountain worship for more than 1200 years. The best views are from the cable car which runs to Takaosan Station, and from the summit which is a 40 minute hike from the station.

Western Japan

♦ Arashiyama, Kyoto

• Best viewing: mid - late November
• Foliage type: wild cherry, maple
• Access: Ten minute walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
• Festival: Arashiyama Maple Festival will be held on November 8.

In the 8th century Japan’s aristocrats often came to Arashiyama to admire the autumn foliage from the river which runs alongside the mountain. The romantic “Moon Crossing Bridge” (Togetsukyo) is today famous for its view of the leaves on the slopes of Mt Arashi. During the leaf viewing season, the garden at nearby Hogon Temple is illuminated at night.

♦ Momijidani Park, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture

• Best viewing: mid-November
• Foliage type: Japanese maple
• Access: Ten minute ferry ride from Miyajimaguchi Pier to Sanbashi Pier, then 20 minute walk to the park.
• Festival: Daisho Temple Maple Festival will be held November 21-29.

Said to be the best autumn leaf viewing spot on the island, Momijidani Park is located in primeval forest at the foot of Miyajima’s Mt. Mi, in the backyard of Itsukushima Shrine – one of Japan’s three most scenic spots. The park has 1000 maple trees of five different varieties and is home to wild deer.

-Ends-

Autumn foliage guide www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html