Red maples in Japan when. Momiji, or red maple season in Japan. Maple hunting in Japan
- admiring the crimson Momiji maples. Today, the first day of the last autumn month , I am pleased to publish the next article from the series “Japan through the eyes of Alina”, where she will tell us about the wonderful time of year in Japan - the season of admiring the red maple trees of Momiji, which is no less beautiful and interesting than hanami (the season of admiring sakura). Those who are already in Japan and those who are just planning to go there, take note of this useful information
about places where you can admire beautiful scenery and take memorable photographs.
While many Russians are celebrating the first snow and struggling with the weather, the Japanese are enjoying one of the most pleasant times of the year - the autumn momiji season or the red maple leaf season! At this time, autumn is characterized by warm, dry weather and calm after typhoons that occur on the islands in early September. This time was simply created for quiet and peaceful walks, as well as for admiring the colorful autumn foliage.
When I first found out that I would go to study in Japan in the autumn-winter period, at first I was a little upset, because in Russia autumn is not always characterized by pleasant weather and is most often full of rain and chilly winds, not to mention winter. But the more I read about Japan, the more I fell in love with the description of one of the most beautiful periods of the year. The momiji season, unlike the well-known cherry blossom season, begins in the north of Japan, gradually moving south, and lasts for several weeks. The peak appearance of purple leaves depends on weather conditions of the current year, but in Tokyo most often falls in late November. At first, the maple leaves turn red and, and when the air temperature drops below 5 degrees, the trees turn into a sea of raging colors. You can follow the movement of the “reddening” of the maple, as well as the blossoming of sakura, on specialized websites that provide a detailed report on the air temperature in cities and the degree of “reddening” of the leaves. Such information is very useful, especially when planning a trip around the Country. rising sun.
I would like to clarify that the Japanese do not actually track the momiji or cherry blossom seasons (according to at least, those with whom I was lucky enough to communicate). For them, this is a normal part of life, so you should not expect your friends to suggest that they visit some temple or park to admire the foliage or flowers. Realizing that my student friends were not particularly interested in enjoying the colors of autumn, I took matters into my own hands and, shortly before the start of the season, began talking about how interested I was and how great it would be to go for a walk together. My friends and I agreed that we would think about where we could enjoy Japanese landscapes together. I accidentally found one of the places I’ll tell you about today myself. But my friend showed me the second place.
Since at that time in Japan I did not yet know whether I would be able to visit the Kansai region, I was obsessed with the idea of traveling along the Kanto region and wanted to enjoy the variety of cities to the maximum. It is said that in the Kansai region, the main city, fraught with the spirit of tradition and history, is Kyoto. In the Kanto region, Kamakura became such a city for me. This is a stunning place that combines many of the qualities inherent in Kyoto, including an incredible spirit of mystery. Kamakura is located a large number of museums, temples and other attractions, but it was the Hokoku-ji Temple that caught my attention.
At that time (and even now) I was very interested in the Sagano bamboo grove (Arashiyama district in Kyoto) and I really wanted to see and touch the bamboo trees in person. This is probably due to the fairy tale about Princess Kaguya, which I heard from a Japanese man. This story is about a girl who was found inside a bamboo stalk and who later turned out to be the moon princess. So, Hokokuji Temple, also known as the “bamboo temple,” gives travelers who cannot visit distant Kyoto the opportunity to experience bamboo trees firsthand. It was through searching for bamboo groves in the Kanto region that I came across information about this magnificent temple in Kamakura.
Hokokuji Temple is a short walk from the Kamakura train station. Already on the way to the temple you can find beautiful views and landscapes. The road lies along a small river, which seems to be about to dry up. But upon reaching the bridge, a stunning view of a small lake opens up, over which huge decorated maple branches hang. It seems that no one has been living in the lake for a long time, but if you look closely, you can see colorful carp greedily gulping air above the surface of the water.
Entrance to the temple costs 200 yen, but it is worth adding that on the temple grounds there is a small tea house with a terrace where you can admire the scenery while enjoying green tea matcha and dry higashi sweets. Therefore, I advise you to purchase a ticket for 500 yen, the price of which includes a visit to the tea house. Despite the fact that the temple is not very large in size, the surrounding area is simply mesmerizing. Picturesque paths, colorful trees, falling leaves and the sound of flowing water create an indescribable feeling of calm and harmony. There weren’t very many visitors that day, so after taking a long walk along the paths among the bamboo, we sat down on a bench opposite the temple and spent a long time watching the colorful shapes of the bushes and the swaying of the leaves. The surrounding atmosphere itself sets the rhythm of “communication”, in which sometimes there is no place for words, however, both you and your interlocutor acquire the ability to silently understand each other.
However, admiring crimson maples in daylight eventually becomes too commonplace even for visitors, so my friend found something unusual for me and one fine day invited me to admire momiji at night. The Japanese are big fans of illumination, just give them a reason to illuminate something. It turned out that at that time a new trend for them was the creation of illumination in parks and gardens during the most beautiful periods of the year, namely during the cherry blossom period and the momiji season.
My friend invited me to a small traditional Japanese garden from the Edo period, located right in the center of the Tokyo metropolis. This garden is called Rikugien and is a green oasis with a small pond that can be reached on foot from Komagome Station or Sugamo Station. Entrance to the park costs 300 yen and gives you the opportunity to visit all the hidden corners of the garden, as well as flower exhibitions, if any are taking place at that moment. Also, during certain periods of the season there is the opportunity to visit a tea house or look into a souvenir shop, so it is worth carefully studying the advertisements next to the ticket office.
It is simply impossible to convey with a camera or even try to describe in words the beauty presented around. The play of light, reflecting all sorts of shades of leaves; tree branches illuminated with colorful lights; various forms trees and bushes create a feeling of magic and magic. It seems that life in the center of the huge city has come to a standstill, and now some miracle will happen and a fabulous adventure will begin, involving all visitors to the park! For some reason, it was at that moment that it seemed to me that all fairy tales and legends actually exist. The Rikugien Garden is dotted with narrow paths, but, unlike Russian parks, there are almost no benches, and, to be honest, the nature around is so mesmerizing that you don’t even want to sit down. I want to wander around and absorb the beauty and grandeur of nature!
By the way, the level of “redness” of maple leaves in a certain park or garden can also be tracked on the Internet, which will allow you to plan in detail your schedule for admiring maple leaves.
So, as I wrote above, in Japan there is great amount places where you can enjoy beautiful views and landscapes. But, my advice, after visiting the “obligatory” attractions, be sure to try to find something unusual and close in spirit to you. And then Japan will definitely open up to you and, at some point, will turn out to be so familiar and close to you.
I hope you liked Alina’s story about momiji admiring places. I would like to add that I was lucky enough to visit Rikugien Park (Garden) in Tokyo in June 2015. It's really very big and beautiful park in the heart of Tokyo. You can watch 2 video reviews about this park on my YouTube channel.
Performance by Japanese artists in Rikugien Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFRaQIgvsyc
Subscribe to my blog and Youtube channel Study in Japan Study in Japan Guide, many more interesting things await you :)
When the sky outside is gloomy, the cold wind and rain are knocking you down, and the smell of the first snow is already in the air, it’s time to go on a trip to immerse yourself in the contemplation of colorful and vibrant landscapes that only happen in autumn, to see momiji in Japan .
Seasonmomijiin Japan
"Momiji" with Japanese language translated as "red leaves". And the most bright colors Kaede maple leaves are added to the autumn palette of Japan.
Originating in the middle of the first autumn month on the northern island of Hokkaido, a wave of crimson leaves gradually reaches the south of the country. The transformation of greenery into a scarlet whirlwind of swirling leaves is truly magical.
When it gets cold, the crowns of maples gradually begin to turn yellow and red, and when the temperature drops to 5 degrees, the trees literally flash scarlet. And the sharper the temperature change, the brighter the leaves will burn.
How to find red maples
But the climate is changing in Japan too, and even the old-timers cannot predict where and when the red leaves will appear. Therefore, the Japanese have developed a website that allows them to track in which part of the country the maples are still green, in which yellow shades have begun to appear, and where the leaves have already turned crimson. And at metro stations they post maps that indicate the distribution of this phenomenon.
All this represents a real hunt - momiji-gari.
Let's take part in the hunt: find the most interesting places to observe this miracle of nature.
Momijiin temples and parks
Kyoto is one of the most famous cities due to the momiji phenomenon. In the Higashiyama area, for autumn inspiration you should go to Nanzenji, Kiyomizudera, Kodaiji temples, in the Arashiyama area - to Seiryoji, Tenryuji temples and Arashiyama Park. IN evening time the foliage is beautifully illuminated. Everything begins to breathe mystery and enigma.
Nikko is one of the religious centers in Japan north of Tokyo. Its famous landmark is Tosho-gu Shrine. The temple complex itself, as well as this entire area, is filled with places where you can observe the “blooming” of maples. The narrow mountain road is amazing.
Imagine that you find yourself in a winding tunnel of burgundy and yellow leaves. Having reached the lake, you freeze in amazement when you see the flaming mountains reflected in the transparent surface of the water.
Visit Hokokuji Temple (near Kamakaura Station). A narrow picturesque path winds along the shallow river. The best pictures open up when you reach the lake: the painted branches of maple trees are reflected in the water. Walk along the paths, listen to the rustle of the wind in the colorful branches, feel harmony with yourself and nature.
Don't want to leave Tokyo? Take a look at the Edo period garden in the heart of the city in the evening, when colored lights illuminate the leaves, turning the alleys and paths into Magic world. It seems like some miracle is about to happen. You will understand that real world does not exist, but there is only you, the wind and the clear air of autumn.
Momijiin the gorges
From mid-October, explore the Nishizawa Gorge Hiking Trail. This gorge was formed by a river that managed to carve its way through solid rock. You will be able to observe the purest waterfalls, colored in warm shades of fiery red, due to the maple leaves reflected in their waters.
Kikuchi Gorge (from mid-November). The water flowing through the river gorge is wrapped in fallen colorful leaves like a blanket. It seems that everything that happens is unreal, as if time has stopped. Rocks steep walls grow from crystal waters and are covered with flaming trees.
Koran Gorge. Here maples also “bloom” from mid-November. There are about 4,000 maples growing on the mountains. With the onset of momiji, they turn into a fire of flowers.
And all this is reflected in the river; it seems that it is not water, but the lava of an exploded volcano, running at your feet.
Momiji season in Japan is a time of dreams and light sadness. Find your place in this country, close in spirit only to you. And then Japan will open up from an unexpected side, and you will recognize it as a good friend.
The end of autumn in Japan is a unique time. During this period, tourists flock to the Land of the Rising Sun from all over the world, wanting to admire the unique natural phenomenon- the season of red maples, called Momiji. While travel agencies are selling tours with all their might, Life decided to find out which way to observe Japanese nature would be cheaper: on their own or with the help of tour operators.
Cult of scarlet maples
First, let's talk about the Momiji season in a little more detail, because, as is customary among the Japanese, all the details are important! Maples are considered the most beautiful in Japan beautiful trees, and the tradition of observing the change in maple leaves was called Momiji-gari, or Koyo. In terms of its significance, this period is equivalent to the well-known cherry blossom - another beautiful phenomenon of Japanese nature.
For more convenient monitoring of the changing seasons, the Japanese have developed a special website, which indicates in which area the leaves are still green, where they have slowly begun to turn yellow, and where they have already turned red with might and main. Moreover, for example, at the station in Kyoto, all tourists who get off the train are greeted by a local “messenger”: an information board informing about the degree of redness of foliage in local parks. In honor of the Momiji season, the Japanese organize numerous celebrations and festivals, the largest of which takes place just outside the city of Kyoto (in the Arashiyama region) and is called Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri.
If everything is decided for you...
For comparison, we chose a fairly standard weekly program. The tour begins in mid-November (dates coincide with the festival, which takes place on the second Sunday of November) and involves traveling across Japan from Tokyo to Osaka via Kyoto. Prices for such a week-long trip can reach 190 thousand rubles per person. There are countless options, and prices vary depending on the choice of hotel and the number of excursions.
We have chosen relatively a budget option. The tour for 138 thousand rubles (this is considered a budget option) includes payment for air tickets, accommodation in a 3* hotel, transfers between cities, a sightseeing tour of Tokyo, including the Shinjuku Imperial Garden, a tour of Kyoto and a trip to the Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri festival, as well as a visit historical castle in Osaka. The price is indicated for one person with four to six people participating in the tour.
Flight and accommodation
So, we are going to repeat the same program at our own expense. Let's analyze the flight in more detail. Let's start with air tickets. According to the Aviasales service, flying from Moscow to Tokyo on November 9 and departing from Osaka on November 16, our tourist will pay 39,005 rubles for air tickets.
The most budget option in Tokyo for the period from November 9 to November 12 will cost 15,034 rubles for three days (this takes into account the discount and the fact that the hotel is located in a “special” area of Tokyo - one of the city municipalities quite far from the geographical center of the Japanese capital) . Accommodation in a hotel of the same star rating, but directly in the very center of the city, will cost 18,256 rubles.
Kyoto. We arrive in Kyoto on November 12, have fun at the Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri festival on November 13, and leave the hotel on November 14. Note that, according to data at the beginning of October, there are very few available options in Kyoto. Among them is a room in a 3* hotel costing 5,430 rubles. The next option, suitable for the given parameters, already costs 10,449 rubles, then - 24,458 rubles.
And finally, the final destination of our stay is Osaka, where we plan to enter on November 14th to fly home on November 16th. A room in a three-star hotel in Osaka for two days will cost 6,214 rubles. In general, the price range here is quite insignificant, and any option that meets our request will cost six to eight thousand rubles.
So on this moment our conditional tourist must pay 39,005 rubles for air travel and 26,678 for accommodation.
From point T to point K and O
Let's talk about transport. Kyoto is located 513 km from Tokyo, and this distance is most easily covered by the local high-speed Shinkansen train. The travel time will be approximately two hours, and the ticket will cost approximately 7,200 rubles. Kyoto is located much closer to Osaka - the train covers the required distance in just 30-40 minutes, and the ticket costs about 350 rubles. As a result, the costs of traveling around the country are added to accommodation and air travel. Total: 34,228 rubles.
How much does it cost to look at a maple tree?
Now let's calculate how much the excursions will cost us. You can save money on a tour guide by purchasing a guidebook in advance (or at least downloading a guide app to your smartphone), so if you prepare at home, you will avoid additional expenses.
Entrance to the very Arashiyama Momiji Matsuri festival for which everything is started is free. Visitors can delight their eyes not only by contemplating the colorful foliage, but also by attending a folk dance and music concert.
You won't have to pay to enter most Japanese parks, including the most beautiful ones. In Tokyo, guides recommend taking a walk through the Hama Rikyu, Ueno, and Shinjuku gardens. In Kyoto, in addition to the meaningful festival, we visit Nijo Castle - the ancient residence of the shoguns of the Tokugawa clan. The castle is more than four hundred years old, and on its territory, in addition to buildings built in classical Japanese style, there is a pond and gardens with groves. The cost of a ticket to this castle is about 350 rubles.
In Osaka, it is also worth visiting the local castle; by the way, it is called “Osaka Castle”. The attraction is surrounded beautiful garden, so there will be plenty of opportunities to admire nature here too. A ticket costs about 350 rubles.
In total, you will have to spend 700 rubles to visit the must-see attractions.
The check, please!
About nutrition in Japan Life. The average cost of lunch and dinner (breakfast, as we remember, is provided by hotels) is approximately 300-400 rubles. However, the travel agency will transfer these expenses to you in any case, so they will not be counted. What is the result? To admire the scarlet maples of Japan with the condition that you organize your tour without the participation of tour operators will cost from 66,383 rubles - almost three times cheaper.
Autumn in Japan, namely the Momiji period, is something that cannot be missed. Literally the entire country is wrapped in a red blanket, and the air is literally saturated with an atmosphere of romance. From Hokkaido to Kanto, from Kansai and all the way to Kyushu, those planning to visit Japan in autumn season, won't want to miss the Japanese autumn colors.
Along with cherry blossoms, red maples are one of the natural wonders Japan. When autumn gives way to summer, green leaves in Tokyo, around Mount Fuji, Osaka, Kyoto and all the way to Kyushu give way to a beautiful natural shade of red.
Of course, such an autumn transformation attracts tourists from all over the world, but we must remember that not the entire territory of this island state is covered in red at the same time! In this case, it is logical to ask yourself the question “How do I know when red maples begin to bloom in Japan in 2017?” We bring to your attention a preliminary forecast of Momiji’s natural autumn celebration for 2017.
Depending on the region autumn leaves in Japan they change color between October and December. According to information provided by the Japan Meteorological Center, the forecast for Japanese red maples for 2017 is as follows: Hokkaido at the end of September, northeast region in early October, the Kanto region in late October, the Kansai region in late October, and finally the Kyushu region in mid-November.
Let's take a closer look at the forecast for 2017 and find out when it will be possible to admire red maples in Japanese cities that are popular and easily accessible to foreign tourists. Below are our recommendations on where to go if you come to Japan during the autumn color season.
Tokyo
end of November - beginning of December
The best thing, of course, is to combine admiring the autumn colors with exciting excursions! Although Tokyo is the most Big City Japan, but we recommend admiring the autumn colors not in the city itself, but in its suburbs, for example, small town Hachioji, where the interesting Mount Takao-san is located. We highly, highly recommend going on the excursion " ". At the same time you will find out who they are.
Kyoto
Castles, temples, gardens and parks of Kyoto are a must-see at any time of the year, but to see them in the fall against the backdrop of scarlet leaves is worth a lot... - it’s a rich experience interesting trip into the Japanese past. We also draw your attention to the special seasonal excursion "", where the program includes the top places of the beautiful city for admiring Japanese maples.
Nikko
early October - mid November
This is one of the best easily accessible places for tourists to experience the atmosphere of Japanese autumn. Feel unity with nature: mountains, forests, waterfalls... This is the place that you saw in the pictures and wanted to be there! In October, the higher part of the region is especially beautiful: lakes and waterfalls; in November we recommend focusing on the area near temple complex Toshogu.
Nara
early November - early December
Paved streets, temples and lakes, with small stone bridges between them, and all this is drowned in autumn magic, among which tame deer walk freely... Can you imagine? will bring this fairy tale to life.
Kamakura
mid November - early December
An ancient Japanese city steeped in centuries of history. We highly recommend visiting it. Well, if you are already here, we highly recommend a Russian-speaking guide who will tell you and, most importantly, show you why Kamakura is one of the top tourist cities in Japan.
Miyajima
beginning of November - end of November
Truly a meditative place. The sound of the sea, landscapes of incredible beauty, tame deer and clean air. This island will give you a feeling of harmony and peace. - This great way not only get aesthetic pleasure, but also learn a little about the history of this region! By the way, this is where one of the most famous parks in Japan with Japanese decorative momiji maples is located. This is where you can admire the scarlet lace of openwork foliage against the backdrop of the deep blue sky!
The most beautiful time of year in Japan is the period of admiring red maples. A wave of scarlet leaves sweeps across the country, from Hokkaido to the southern islands between mid-September and the end of November, leaving in its wake a delight and awe for those lucky enough to see the extraordinary colors of momiji in Japan.
In my humble opinion, the Momiji red maple season is much more beautiful: there is some kind of desperate and sad beauty in these scarlet leaves.
The Japanese, like no one else, capture subtle moods and know how to admire nature. And they have their own name for everything :)
Season of scarlet maples in Japan, 紅葉, literally “red foliage” read or as kouyou(here we are talking about changing the color of leaves in general), or how momiji(the same thing, but at some point in time it was the red Japanese maples that began to be called that). There are names for yellow foliage, and even brown.
In order to see the real 紅葉, we went to the town of Nagatoro, which is located in the north of Saitama Prefecture. The road from Nagatoro takes a couple of hours.
In Nagatoro you can spend a day, or even two, in an interesting and beneficial way for the health of your soul and body. You can walk along banks of the Arakawa River- this is where we will start. You can also see the whole momiji parkTsukinoishimomiji Park (yes!), climb upMount Hodosanand generally do all sorts of thingshiking. I highly recommend this place!
So, the first thing we will see on our walk through Nagatoro is the rocky bank of the Arakawa River. Not just a beautiful and picturesque place, but part national park Nagatoro Prefecture (長瀞玉淀自然公園).
The long line you see in the photo above goes to the pier. From here you can take a boat ride between the rocks along the river. So people line up to see the red maples on the rocks from the boat.
All because they want it like this:
Although we're nowhere near Momiji Park in Nagatoro, the cliffs are already covered in thickets of trees painted in all shades of red, yellow and orange. Golden leaves fall into the blue water of the Arakawa River and swirl in the streams. For some reason, ducks swim against the current, powerfully working their paws, about their duck business...
Beauty!
Wise Japanese never come to nature empty-handed. One of key points during a walk - a snack fresh air. Picnics are especially popular in the spring, during cherry blossoms, and in the fall, during the Momiji period in Japan. At the same time, everyone is always left with amazing cleanliness and no garbage. Bins are hard to find in Japan, so it's worth bringing a trash bag.
Before going to Nagatoro, we also took a couple of onigiri and coffee, and sat on the rocks above the river. Onigiri (pictured below) - these are triangular-shaped rice balls that can be bought at any convenience store.
Modest autumn still life from Nagatoro rocks:
The rocky bank of the river is called Iwadatami Rocks and is a shallow gorge in which a river roars, sometimes quite stormy. Rocky formations stretch for several kilometers along the river, almost from Nagatoro station to the maple park.
The name Iwadatami translates to "rocky tatami". This is a reference to the fact that the rock layers on the shore overlap each other, like a tatami mat woven from reeds.
There are quite a lot of tourists in Nagatoro, mostly Japanese, but there are also foreigners.
Here and there couples sit on the rocks, admiring nature.
Here's another date:
And this is someone's four-legged friend:
A few more photos from a walk along the river bank in Nagatoro:
In general, as you can see from the photographs, everyone is walking and enjoying the views and good weather :)
If you go south, to the red maple park, the rocks end and this wonderful view of the river opens up:
Cool place for photos!
So we came to Momiji Park in Nagatoro, or red maple park Tsukinoishimomiji Park. All the trees have signs, so if you are interested in the types of maples in Japan, you can walk around and learn a lot.
And there are just a huge number of maples here!
There are scarlet ones like fire:
And crimson:
And there are orange maples here too:
We were lucky and found ourselves in the Japanese maple park in Nagatoro in wonderful weather, with the sun's rays breaking through the fiery foliage.
This is what momiji season is like in Japan:
We spent more than an hour in Momiji Nagatoro Park, jumping from tree to tree in delight. 
Near the park there is a parking lot, the Saitama Museum of Natural History, and free toilets. From here to the center of Nagatoro, the return walk (if you follow the road and not along the rocks) will take about twenty minutes.
All the trees in Momiji Park are lit up after sunset and it must be quite a beautiful sight at night.
Momiji Park in Nagatoro is open at all times and there is no entrance fee.
By the way, the name of the park (月の石もみじ公園) is quite poetic and translates as “Momiji Moonstone Park” :)
We visited Nagatoro in the first half of November, and the red maples were already in full bloom. But this is because winter started a little earlier this year.
Since momiji, like sakura, is a popular phenomenon and very beloved by many, interest in it does not fade. Maps of cherry blossoms and momiji blossoms in Japan can be found online, with expected dates marked for each prefecture.
After a walk under the Japanese maples we return to Nagatoro. If you wish, you can take the cable car up Mount Hodosan, look into the Hodosan Jinja Shinto shrine, or have a snack on the street with cafes that leads to the temple.
A few photos from a walk around Nagatoro:
There is almost no mention of the town of Nagatoro on the Russian-language Internet. But this place is worth a visit. Moreover, the trip to Nagatoro turned out to be one of the most colorful and full of impressions days for us! Of course, largely thanks to maples and momiji 😉
It is during the period of admiring the maples in Japan, in November, that lively crowds of tourists flock to Nagatoro.
So if you want to experience real momiji in Japan and the fall colors without traveling too far from Japan, Nagatoro is one of the best options.
Autumn maple calendar, or momiji season in Japan for 2019:
