JCC E-Magazine October 2023

Autumn has arrived in Japan, and it is certainly a popular season for Singaporeans to visit. During this time, many people aim to catch a glimpse of the gorgeous autumn foliage. There is even a chance to taste it, in the form of maple leaves fried in tempura batter. Japan is home to many deciduous plant species whose leaves turn colour in fall, and thus people can look forward to a tapestry of green, red, and yellow colours. Some examples of these plant species include Japanese maple, ivy, mountain ash and gingko.

During this season, the Japanese embark on momiji-gari, or autumn foliage viewing, whereby they admire fall’s beauty and the changing of seasons. While there are several theories, it is believed that this custom spread during the Heian period among the aristocrats. While they could enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms in their private gardens during spring, there were no tree to enjoy in autumn. Thus, they travelled to the mountain area to admire the autumn leaves, and composed music and poetry at the same time. Momiji-gari is mentioned in the Kokin Wakashu poetry collection, as well as ‘The Tale of Genji’. This custom eventually spread and became more popular by the mid-18th century.

Generally, the colours start to change when the temperature starts dropping to as low as 10 degrees Celsius. Thus, autumn foliage would first appear in Hokkaido, before gradually making its way down, to finally appear in Kyushu. During this period, two waves usually occur. The first is the transformation of yellow gingko leaves, and the second is naturally the red maple leaves. The usual months to enjoy the stunning autumn foliage is October and November. However, it can differ from year to year depending on the weather. In fact, the 2023 forecast sees the peak period pushed back later due to higher temperatures this year. Fortunately, the window of time to appreciate the fall scenery is longer compared to the one week of cherry blossoms. It can typically be enjoyed over a few weeks.

According to studies, autumn colours are more breath-taking when the trees are growing in the mountains, as opposed to growing on flat land. This is because the air is crisp and dry, and the trees would receive a lot more sunshine. Nonetheless, there are various spots all over Japan where you can enjoy the beautiful colours, besides the mountains. Some of the famous spots include Daisetsuzan National Park and Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, Oirase Gorge in Aomori, Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Koshikawa Korakuen in Tokyo, Arashimaya in Kyoto, and Momijidani Park on Miyajima, Hiroshima. Since autumn leaves are a sight you can enjoy across Japan, you can also avoid the crowd and visit lesser-known spots. For example, Meigetsuin Temple in Kamakura, Saito Village in Niigata, and Kirishima Shrine in Kagoshima.

If you are planning to visit Japan this autumn, be sure to take note of the autumn foliage forecast so as to enjoy the best of fall colours.

Resources

“Autumn Foliage”. 2023. Kids Web Japan. Accessed 13 September. https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/october/foliage.html.

“Autumn in Japan 2023: Fall Foliage Forecast & Where to Enjoy the Colorful Leaves”. 2023. LIVE JAPAN. https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002628/.

“Best Autumn Color Spots”. 2023. japan-guide.com. Accessed 13 September. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014_where.html.

“Japan Fall Foliage Forecast 2023: 25 Destinations and Tips”. 2023. MATCHA. https://matcha-jp.com/en/2720.

“Koyo History”. 2023. Japan National Tourism Organization. Accessed 13 September. https://www.japan.travel/en/au/experience/autumn-leaves/history-culture-koyo/.

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