Autumn in my Heart: Falling in Love with my First Fall Experience
Today is the first day of Fall. According to NASA, on September 22, Earth will experience its second and final equinox of 2020. It means everyone on Earth is seemingly on equal footing, in terms of the distribution of light (day) and dark (night). On the northern side of the equator, this moment is known as the autumnal equinox, and is widely associated with the beginning of Fall season and colder temperature.
Well, countries right along the equator (just like the Philippines) have roughly 12-hour days and 12-hour nights all year long, so we won’t really notice any difference. Autumnal Equinox only happens twice a year, but this outlandish celestial phenomenon signals beauty throughout the globe. And for countries located in the Northern Hemisphere, it means leaves are turning red, orange or yellow and creating a mosaic of autumnal hues.
Autumn, My Favorite Season
Truth be told, Autumn is my favorite season among the four astronomical seasons of the year. Living in the Philippines where there are only two seasons, to experience something new like seeing leaves changing colors with the crisp autumn breeze is probably one of the most coveted activities by travelers. Well, after so many years of preparation, I finally ticked “experience Autumn season” off my bucket list last year, in my favorite place on Earth ~ Japan. I must say Autumn in Japan is one of the best times to visit the country, most especially with your significant other. <3
Since our scheduled Autumn trip this year is cancelled due to the on-going pandemic, let this article virtually show you how Autumn in Japan captivated our hearts (and probably yours too). Instead of attaching single picture as I would normally do, I decided to use snippets of my Japan photobook project for some inspiring visuals.
CHIBA. Started our Japan trip by visiting a temple in the Northeast just in time to celebrate the “Colored Leaves Festival”. There are various autumn festivals celebrated all over Japan that would last a day, week or even months that tourists and locals alike are looking forward to be part of. Joining at least one autumn celebration is really a fun experience when in Japan.
TOKYO. Japan goes through remarkable changes throughout the year, and fall brings beautiful foliage throughout the country, including Tokyo. The best time to see autumn leaves in Japan’s capital is from November to early December, when the cities and parks are painted in crimson and gold. Go visit Shinjuku for a quick photo ops at Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue.
YAMANASHI. Mt. Fuji is one of the best destinations to visit during autumn season. The itinerary for Mt. Fuji Classic Tour from October to December includes jam-pack activities and insta-worthy destinations such as Lake Kawaguchiko and Maple Corridor, among others. Check out more activities included in the Mt. Fuji Classic Tour.
Particularly breathtaking during the autumn colors around the first half of November, the best views of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from Lake Kawaguchi. Lake Kawaguchi-ko is a hot spring resort town with various tourist attractions and views of the great Fujisan that is scattered around the lake’s eastern point. Right across Lake Kawaguchi is where the Maple Corridor located. Also called “Momiji Tunnel”, such beautiful spot is a maple tree covered road section along the lake’s northern shore that tourists would enjoy taking photos of the autumn colors.
OSAKA. Staying away from the golden route of Japan, our wayfaring feet lead us to a beautiful spot (close to the busy metropolitan) oozing with autumn colors ~ Minoo Park. Located at the outskirts of Osaka’s forested valley, it offers the best view of autumn foliage in a natural setting. Momiji Tempura (dried maple leaves) is also a must try in the area, while falling in love with Minoo Falls in fall.
KYOTO. It was a bit overwhelming to see a lot of crowd in Kyoto because aside from the fact that it’s a weekend, it’s also the peak of Autumn season wherein fall foliage is perfect to view. Head to Arashiyama for some countryside vibe. Colorful autumn leaves, known as koyo in Japanese, draw just as many visitors in autumn so expect a huge crowd anywhere you go, especially in golden routes like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
FUKUOKA. Ending our 7-day Autumn trip in Japan with another beautiful prefecture down Southwest. Say “Konnichiwa” to Fukuoka! One of the top attractions in Fukuoka is Nanzoin Temple, where the world’s biggest bronze statue of a reclining buddha can be found. Nanzoin Temple is a large complex with many chapels and shrines scattered over the hillside.
There is a cave full of letters encarved in a wood, natural waterfalls, and a lot of ginkgo trees and autumnal hues in the surroundings. It houses an impressively large Fudo Myo-o statue as well as 500 statues of the Buddha’s disciples (arhat), also an Inari Shrine that is also dedicated to the Shichifukujin, the seven lucky gods of Japan. I bet you would really love Fukuoka, most especially in autumn.
For some tips when to experience Autumn in Japan, what to wear during Fall season, what to eat, where to stay and other must-try activities in Japan, check out the budget travel guide version of this Autumn Trip here:
Japan Travel Guide: 1 Week Autumn Trip in 10 Prefectures for P10,000 Pocket Money
Realization and Conclusion
With the many challenges the world is currently facing, it has dawned on me that life often goes by so fast during the pandemic that we forget where we are headed, at least as of these dire times. Autumn, a time when everything moves slowly and nature gradually transforms, is the perfect season to set goals for new beginnings, before stepping into the new normal of our everyday lives.
With the changing of the seasons in various parts of the world, I realized that change can also be beautiful, full of hope and infused with the magic of a fresh start. So long Summer, Autumn season is now here and I’m positive that better days are coming.
Sayōnara!
