A hearty hello to all of our readers from around the globe!
In a "blink and you missed it" moment, Japan's forever summer is now made glorious autumn. And you know what that means: autumn foliage season is mere weeks away.
Around this time every year, we receive countless messages asking about when the best time to visit Kamikochi is. However, there is no simple answer to this question.
To begin with, there are two major categories of autumn foliage in Kamikochi. Somehwat confusingly, the word 紅葉 can be read two different ways: koyou means "autumn foliage" while momiji musually refers to "red maple leaves."
Visitors intent on seeing bright red maple leaves will want to plan their visit for sometime after October 20th, as this is when they are expected to start peaking.
But there's yet another word for autumn for autumn foliage, 黄葉 "ouyou." This term specifically rferes to yellow autumn leaves and in Kamikochi, that means karamatsu or "Japanese larch" trees.
In a recent post, Five Sense blogger, Yuushi, wrote at length on the topic of "ouyou" and offered three recommendations on easy-to-reach spots where vistors can enjoy it. PLease bear in mind that the larches peak about a week later than the maples, so if you miss the latter, you can still catch the former.
1. Around the Bus Terminal
Around the end of October, you will find a number of spots around the Kamikochi Bus Terminal with a high density of larch trees dispalying peak foliage. Technically, larches have needles rather than leaves, but at their most colorful they present a vivid tableau of late autumn majesty.
2. Between Kappa Bridge and Tashiro Bridge
After you've snapped your commemorative shot of Kappa Bridge, why not take a walk downriver toward Tashiro Bridge? Along the way, you'll be treated to a panoramic view of the larch trees along the Azusa River with a stunning mountain backdrop. The crook in the river shown in the above photo is called 大曲 ("Oomagari") in Japanese, which lietrally means "the big bend."
3. Konashidaira Camping Area:
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Located a brisk five minute walk from Kappa Bridge, the Konashidaira Camping Area also boasts an impressive array of golden larches. There are even strategically-place benches where you can sit down and admire the scenery to your heart's content.
With that, we conclude this week's autumn preview. Thanks to Yuushi at Five Sense for posting the wonderful images and indispensible info used in today's blog.
Have a great week, folks! We hope you're all getting the best out of autumn this year!
Source of Information:
Nature Guide Five Sense, Kamikochi blog: https://fivesense.guide/blog/autumnleaves/143510/
