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Wednesday, 21st October 2015
In Japan Travel News,
The best autumn leaf viewing spots in Japan revealed
Japan may be famous as a destination for viewing cherry blossom, but its autumn leaves also provide a spectacle at this time of year.
For anyone travelling to the country with this aim in mind, it's important to include the best locations for seeing the stunning seasonal colours in their itinerary.
With this in mind, Japan Today has put together a list of some fantastic spots to make the most of koyo, which is the Japanese term for this time of year.
So where are the best places to view the reds, oranges and yellows of autumn in Japan?
Daisetsuzan – Hokkaido (from mid-September until mid-October)
Despite being remote, the Daisetsuzan National Park is a festival of colours at this time of year, rewarding those who make the effort to visit its sprawling forests. Complimented by pure rivers and lofty plateaus, the biggest national park in Japan certainly won't disappoint.
Rikugien Garden – Tokyo (late November to mid-December)
Viewing the stunning autumn colours inside Tokyo itself is possible thanks to the Rikugien Garden, which has been landscaped according to the traditions of the Edo Period. Centred around a large pond and home to wooded areas, trails and a tearoom, it is a pretty place to spend an afternoon.
Chuo Alps – Nagano (from late September to late October)
The small Japanese mountain range known as the Chuo Alps is the perfect location for taking in the red and gold leaves that appear to be flowing down the hillsides. It only takes eight minutes on the Komagatake Ropeway - the local cable car - to ascend Mount Komagatake from Lake Ashi for spectacular views.
Arashiyama – Kyoto (from mid-to-late November)
Nothing quite compares to the sight of the Togetsu-kyo Bridge on the western edge of Kyoto framed perfectly by autumn foliage. The Arashiyama district is wonderful to explore, with ancient shrines, bamboo groves and various temples dotted around the landscape. Viewing the leaves from the river can be achieved by hiring a rowing boat and gently floating along.
Miyajima – Hiroshima (from early November until early December)
Headline-stealing Miyajima Island is one of the most scenic places in the whole of Japan, meaning queues for the ropeway to travel up Mount Misen can be long in the autumn months. Avoid these by arriving early or late in the day and enjoy the vast expanse of colour opening up beneath throughout the journey.
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