2009 紅葉特集
I missed hanami (花見) where everyone goes to watch the beautiful sakura blossoms, but momijigari (紅葉狩) is just starting!
Momijigari is like hanami, everywhere there are advertisements for viewing trips, and they even forecast the best time to go see leaves change during the weather report. There are many places online that monitor each of the most popular parks for momijigari in Japan, like the Yahoo! kouyou site and this rurubu site. They have maps of Japan with little yellow , red, and green leaves to show you were the leaves have started turning. North Japan is full of red leaves, but Tokyo’s momijigari season hasn’t started yet.
There are a few places that have already started to show beautiful leaves, though.
明治神宮外苑 (Meiji Shrine Outer Gardens)
Right now the leaves are just beginning to turn, and the leaves will continue to change until the end of December. This is a beautiful shrine even when the leaves are all green, so it will be amazing to see the towering trees all in yellow.
国営昭和記念公園 (Showa Kinen Park)
This park was created to commemorate the reign of Emperor Showa (often called Hirohito) and it seems like a beautiful area in Tachikawa. It was built on land that used to be an air-force base, and the land has been steadily converted to park land since 1983. It is going to have a complete grand opening on October 26,2009. Perfect timing for the most beautiful leaf viewing! The leaf view should last until the end of the month.
日光山輪王寺の紅葉 (Nikko Zanrin Temple)
This is how beautiful Nikko Zanrin Temple looks right now!
This isn’t in Tokyo, but it is in Kanto and only a few hours away. Nikko is a world heritage site and it displays some of Japan’s oldest cultural artifacts. There are beautiful waterfalls, temple after temple, and you can even see the first image of the see-no-evil monkeys carved into wood there.
Judging from the pictures, you have to hurry if you want to make it, but it will be worth it.
I hope I get to go to at least one of these parks before the leaf viewing season is over!
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