I am a Tsunagu Japan Ambassador. All opinions are my own.
Ever since I was a teenager, I have always been engrossed by Japan. Since I've never actually left the US in my entire life, I've only had the opportunity to see it through movies, books and pictures but what I've been able to see always blew my mind. From the culture to the food, everything about Japan always amazes me.
Usually when I think of Japan, I always think of that movie Memoirs of a Geisha since that was one of my favorite movies as a teenager. I can see the rich culture and heritage of Japan in my mind but one thing I could never really see was the season of autumn. When I think of autumn, I think of my home in New York with the Adirondack mountains changing colors. But recently I was shown some amazing sites and pictures of Japan in the fall that puts New York to shame! I thought the states were gorgeous in fall until I saw some of these pictures and wondered how such beautiful places were even possible!
If you're ever going to Japan, I suggest seeing these places if you're going to go during the fall.
Usually when I think of Japan, I always think of that movie Memoirs of a Geisha since that was one of my favorite movies as a teenager. I can see the rich culture and heritage of Japan in my mind but one thing I could never really see was the season of autumn. When I think of autumn, I think of my home in New York with the Adirondack mountains changing colors. But recently I was shown some amazing sites and pictures of Japan in the fall that puts New York to shame! I thought the states were gorgeous in fall until I saw some of these pictures and wondered how such beautiful places were even possible!
If you're ever going to Japan, I suggest seeing these places if you're going to go during the fall.
The first place is called Chion-in (Kyoto). It is recommended to go in November from 5:30 to 9:30PM for the best viewing. This is supposed to be a lovely and quiet place to stroll through and take in the fall colors.
The second place is wonderful if you love the color gold! It's called Kourankei (Toyota, Aichi) and it's suggested to go in November from sunset to 9PM. What's special about this spot is you can view from the top of the bridge so you can have a closer look. This really is a great place to take in some beautiful gold colors of autumn.
The third place is called Iwayado Park (Seto, Aichi) and it's suggested to go in November. In this park the foliage is actually all lit up so the colors pop even more! I bet this place is like going back in time.
The fourth place is called Nanzenji (Kyoto) and it's suggested to go in November. This beautiful place has a bit of a mysterious feel to it since it's darker and has lots of shades of red. This park would probably be best to see at night when the lights are coming on.
The fifth place is called Enrian (Kyoto) and I think it's my favorite so far. It's open until December 7 so I would hurry if I was going to see this park this year. The key part about this place is that you will see red, everywhere. Red leaves are all over the ground and through the trees, but not any type of red. These are the brightest red leaves I have ever seen. We have red leaves in our trees where I live but nothing this vibrant. I would love to see this place one day.
The last spot I wanted to showcase is called Daigoji (Kyoto) and it's open until mid-December. I really think this place is unique because you can see some of the gorgeous architecture that Japan is so famous for. Plus it looks like a wonderful place to take some pretty pictures too.
If you want to see the rest of the recommended places to take in autumn foliage in Japan, then check out the full list on Tsunagu Japan.
Other than beautiful spots to see fall foliage in Japan, there are also lots of other fun things to do during autumn as well. Here are some of the reasons to visit Japan in the fall.
The seasonal harvest in Japan is something you should see if you're visiting Japan. Mostly it's made up of mushrooms, fish and nuts that are great in a variety of recipes. Every country has a different harvest so Japan's is one to definitely see.
One amazing event that everyone should see is Meguro’s mackerel pike festival. Since mackerel is a big part of Japan's autumn harvest, at this festival it is distributed for free. Personally I would love to see this wonderful festival one day!
And one more fun event to see in the fall is the Tokyo Designers Week. During this fun week, you can see fashion, design, art and music all in the same place! This is yet another event that shouldn't be missed.
If you want to see the rest of the places to see in Japan in the fall, make sure to check out the entire list on Tsunagu Japan.
Have you ever been to Japan? What is most intriguing about going in the fall to you?
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