Embracing Nature's Kaleidoscope: Captivating Japan in Autumn

Red leaves cover the grounds of Japan's old temples and shrines every year from September through December.

Japan is undergoing an epic change after months of hot weather. The leaves on the trees change from green to crimson, orange, and yellow apparently overnight, transforming the environment into a painter's palette. The red leaves, whether you're in Tokyo or out in the countryside, seem to have had their saturation turned up.

The autumn season also sees the flowering of many flora. Perhaps the most well-known flower at this time of year is the chrysanthemum, which is also the symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family. In Japan, however, seven specific flowers—known as aki no nankusa—have long been associated with the season and have been depicted in works of art and literature throughout the country's history. Included in this group are the bush clover (hagi), dianthus (nadeshiko), kikyo (Chinese bellflower), valerian (ominaeshi), fujibakama (boneset), kudzu (kuzu), and pampas grass (susuki) of Japan.

Aki (autumn) is as ingrained in Japanese culture as the cherry blossom season. Even the act of looking for fall leaves has a name: momijigari. Japanese people have been making pilgrimages to rural areas to view the changing leaves and search for koyo (autumn leaves) for generations. Those who wish to take in Japan's stunning scenery often go on hikes or have picnics beneath the country's massive maple trees.

When should you visit Japan to get the most out of the fall foliage?

The months of September through November/December are considered to be autumn in Japan; nevertheless, the trees do not follow a set pattern. The timing of the leaves change of color is determined, like that of all natural occurrences, by environmental conditions such as temperature, latitude, and elevation. On the other hand, as a general rule of thumb, the more frigid the region, the more vibrantly colored the leaves. Because of this, the most northern island of Hokkaido will see change first, followed by the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

The Japan Meteorological Corporation publishes an annual map that provides a detailed forecast of the country's expected foliage across the whole country. The middle to late part of November in 2022 was when Tokyo was at its liveliest, while Kyoto was at its finest a few weeks later, around the beginning of December.

The cherry blossom bloom is short-lived in comparison to the autumn foliage's longevity. Therefore, even if you don't participate in momijigari activities within the best possible time window, you should still be able to enjoy a lot of beautiful landscapes.

Leaves on Trees and Other Autumnal Japanese Flora

The leaves of linden-leaved maples, ginkgo trees, Japanese elms, and poplars become golden and yellow, while the leaves of birches, chestnuts, oaks, and beeches fall off in a variety of browns.

The aki no nanakusa, or seven autumnal flowers and grasses, also signal the advent of the season in addition to these trees. The flowers are bush clover, Japanese pampas grass, arrowroot, dianthus, Patrinia scabiosaefolia, thoroughwort, and bellflower, and the verse is from the Manyoshu, the earliest surviving anthology of Japanese poetry.

These blossoms are frequently associated with longing and romance in Japanese writing. Like autumn and the passage of time, they are often mentioned in conjunction with certain individuals or situations (such as the end of a relationship) to conjure profound beauty tinged with grief.

In the waning hours of the day, pampas grass, also known as eulalia, susuki, or obana, may be the most striking of all the autumn blooms. Magnificent silvery clusters of them can be found blooming naturally along mountain trails, in fields glimpsed from a moving train, or on a rock overlooking the ocean.

In Hakone, the pampas grass of Sengokuhara Susuki Kusahara shimmers and waves in the sunshine in fall, creating a hypnotic scene that Sting would surely appreciate.

Get there: We now have several of our most popular Japan packages, from self-directed itineraries to small-group guided journeys, available for travel this fall. Take a look at the Japan trips we have available or give us a call if you're interested in visiting Japan in the fall.