In Japan, autumn is a special season in many ways. There is a Japanese saying that “Autumn is the time to enjoy sports, art, reading and food.” As this saying shows, autumn is a time when Japanese people relax and recuperate from the long and sweltering summer, before being plunged into the equally long and bitterly cold winter.
What to do during Kouyou
食欲の秋 (Autumn Appetite)
読書の秋 (Autumn Reading)
運動の秋 (Autumn Exercise)
Etc…
These are some of the many sayings that the Japanese associate with autumn and the changing of the weather. But perhaps more than anything, autumn in Japan is a time for 紅葉(こうよう) or “Fall Foliage.”
In autumn, Japanese people often go to the mountains or the countryside to see Kouyou. Because of the long summer and winter, and the briefness of the autumn leaves, they are thought to possess a very special and fleeting beauty – a beauty that the Japanese often admire in nature.
Late October to early November is one of the best (although most crowded) times to see Kouyou in Japan. However, it is quite crowded due to many tourists (both Japanese and from abroad) who travel far and wide to experience Kouyou. Similar to sakura-viewing in the spring, during Kouyou people pay close attention to the weather to determine when is the best time to see Kouyou, and even the weather reports announce the dates for Kouyou all over Japan. Although the roads are often crowded, most Japanese still think that Koyou is a worthwhile experience, especially before the cold of winter sets in.
The Beauty of Trees
The list of trees that change color in the Japanese autumn is a long one, but some of the more beautiful ones are lacquer trees (ウルシ), hornbeams (シデ), beech trees (ブナ), etc.
However, perhaps the most famous and beautiful is the maple tree(モミジ), whose name can also be written as 紅葉 – the same kanji used for Kouyou! Perhaps this sharing of kanji, more than anything, shows one of the reasons why the maple tree is considered the symbol of Japan’s Kouyou season.
Where to go & Sites of Interest
No matter where you are in Japan, there’s somewhere nearby where you can experience the wonder and beauty of Kouyou. I personally enjoy Kyoto, with the beautiful night light-ups at the temples (especially 清水寺(きよみずでら)). However, most people feel similarly about Kouyou in Kyoto, and to say that it can get crowded would be putting it lightly. Last time I went to 清水寺 for the Kouyou light-up, I waited over 3 hours in the cold. The light-up is definitely worth the wait, but only if you have the time.
Look it up on the net
WeatherNews has a very nice map & guide to Kouyou throughout Japan. It’s updated daily, so you can see where the trees are still changing, and where they’ve already finished their preparation for winter. (At the time of writing, Kouyou is just moving into the Tokyo & Kansai areas, so if you’re in those areas, you’d better hurry!)
http://weathernews.jp/koyo/
Yahoo.co.jp also has a map of the Kouyou in Japan, and if you click on any of the prefecture names, you’ll get a good listing of the best sites to visit, as well as user comments and blog feeds relating to the Kouyou in that area.
Looking at my area (Gifu) I see that Yoro Park is just starting to turn, so I should head out there this weekend!
http://kouyou.yahoo.co.jp/
Hope you all enjoy the Kouyou season, wherever you may be! (Except for the southern hemisphere. You guys are looking forward to a warm summer, lucky punks)
If you have any ideas or tips for the Kouyou season, be sure to put them in the comments! I’m always looking for new places to visit!
Gallery
*Photos taken by Yumiko Perhac – Tanigumi Yokokuradera Kouyou
Flashcard Packs
Trees of Fall -- 34 Cards
Complementing our article on Kouyou -- Japan's Fall Foliage -- this pack contains 34 trees and plants that change their hues during the Autumn months in Japan. Each card's comments also include a link to information about the plant, as well as pictures.
