Koyou: Japanese Colorful Autumn

Here are the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring

Literally translated ‘red leaves’ kouyou (紅葉) are the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. Both natural events bring the Japanese out en masse to celebrate the changing seasons and today draws large numbers of travelers to famous kouyou spots both in the mountains and in the cities.

Because of Japan's great north-south extension, Kouyou can be viewed somewhere in the country for nearly three months. The season starts around mid September, the "kouyou front" slowly moves southwards from the highest elevations of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan towards the end of November. In some locations around Tokyo and Kyoto remain colorful into early December.

The timing of the autumn leaf season can vary by a few days to one or two weeks from year to year, Depending on temperatures. Unlike cherry blossoms, which usually last for only one week, autumn colors can usually be enjoyed over a couple of weeks or so and are therefore a little bit easier to catch than the blossoms.

 

The maple tree is the king of autumn colors. As a matter of fact, the word "autumn colors" (pronounced: kouyou) is written with the same kanji characters as the word "maple tree" (pronounced: momiji). Maple trees are native to Japan and can be seen in their wild form in forests.

 

The second most popular tree for autumn colors is the ginkgo (Japanese: icho). The leaves of the ginkgo trees turn into one of the most brilliant yellow colors that nature has to offer. Ginkgo trees are more easily found in urban parks, shrines, temples and along city streets than in nature. The Metropolis of Tokyo has chosen the ginkgo as its symbol tree.

 

Another beautiful tree is the Japanese larch (karamatsu), the only conifer to change colors in autumn. The larch tree rivals the ginkgo tree with its brilliant yellow colors.

 

Among the many other trees and shrubs found in Japan, some produce nice autumn colors, while the others go directly from green into an unremarkable brown. Among them are the the beech (buna), the Japanese lacquer tree (urushi), various vines, Japanese zelkova (keyaki), the birch (shirakaba), the Japanese horse chestnut (tochinoki) and rhododendron (tsutsuji). The leaves of cherry trees (sakura) also changes into a reddish orange, but not a particularly brilliant one.

 

A final contributor to autumn colors are kusamomiji (grass autumn colors). some types of grasses in marshlands and on mountainous plains and slopes can provide attractive yellow colors that sometimes fade into a fascinating red. The marshland of Oze National Park is one of the nicest places to enjoy autumnal grass.