It's Autumn in Kyoto, Which Means It's Time for ‘Leaf-Peeping’ Season
Nighttime lanterns at Arashiyama, Kyoto (日本京都-嵐山夜燈) by Flickr user Keiko Shih.
Every fall, every hillside in Japan comes alive with koyo (紅葉), or autumn foliage. Fall “leaf-peeping” is a longstanding tradition in Japan — so much so that the Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) publishes a “national guide to autumn leaves,” explaining where and exactly what time to see the best foliage in every corner of Japan.
I had fun today. #arashiyama #Tenryuji #kimono
As a tourist destination, Kyoto typically tops the list of leaf-peeping destinations in Japan. The city, formerly the capital of Japan, is surrounded by hills and forests, and there is quite a lot to see in just about every direction. As a result, every fall there is a torrent of fall-foliage posts on Twitter and Instagram.
Arashiyama, on the western outskirts of Kyoto, is considered one of Japan's must-see places for fall foliage. Many people from outside of Kyoto and from outside of Japan will immediately recognize the bamboo forest of Sagano, in Arashiyama.
The bridge over the Ōi River in Arashiyama is another iconic tourist spot. Every fall, the Togetsukyō bridge becomes crammed with visitors hoping for the perfect snapshot.
The hills above Arashiyama provide both a spectacular view of the fall foliage as well as Kyoto to the east. Here is a view from Okochi Mountain Villa (大河内山荘 Ōkōchi Sansō).
Tenryū Temple (天龍寺, Tenryū-ji) is also a popular sightseeing stop in Arashiyama. This 14th Century Zen temple is noted for its gardens and its fall foliage:
Fall foliage in mid-November at Tenryū Temple in Arashiyama.
Fall foliage in mid-November at Tenryū Temple in Arashiyama.
Fall foliage in mid-November at Tenryū Temple in Arashiyama.
Grilled dango rice dumplings are favorite fall treat Arashiyama.
It's the best walking around Arashiyama while eating mitarashi dango (rice dumplings in sweetened soy sauce) on a stick.
At the close of one day spent in Arashiyama, one Twitter user has captured the quintessential autumn flower of Japan, the Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus), the “cherry blossom of autumn” (アキザクラ, aki no sakura).
— ranzan1959 (@rannzann1959) October 30, 2016
“Mackerel sky” in autumn.