A hearty hello to all of our loyal readers from far and wide!
The last time we updated the blog, the signs of autumn foliage were still very tentative, with a few trees here and there showing color, but the vast majority still defiantly green.
But thanks in part to a sudden drop in temperature, there's been a spike in autumn color with the red and yellow maples now approaching peak vibrancy.
Sure enough, our friends at Five Sense have posted on this very topic and today's feature will draw from blogger Sakura's piece about the advent of maple foliage.
The photos above were taken in the Myojin Pond area, which is about an hour-long hike upriver from the Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Although the progress of the color change varies greatly between various locations in Kamikochi, tress located near the Azusa River tend to be further along in the process due to the cooler temperatures near running water.
As Sakura explains, there are also different kinds of maples in Kamikochi. Some shed their leaves as soon as they turn yellow, while other continue to change color until they turn orange and red. The yellow leaf shown above belongs to a variety of maple known as the acer pictum, or "painted maple."
If you're planning a visit to Kamikochi in the next few days, you're sure to see maple leaves of various hues. Please bear in mind that it can get quite chilly in the park these days with nighttime and morning temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Centigrade and below. And whether or not rain is forecast, you'll definitely want to have some rain resistant attire to keep you dry in case of a sudden downpour.
That's all for this installment of our blog. Till next time, we hope you're getting the most out of this autumn.
Sources of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/autumnleaves/143606/
