Early to mid-November is the peak of the autumn vacation
season, and many sightseers flock to areas famous for autumn
foliage, or "momiji." Some sites attract more than 100,000
visitors a day when the leaves are most brilliant, and the
roads leading to these vistas often become snarled with
traffic.
Getting Away--Together
The three-day weekend in early November this year witnessed
an exodus of urban dwellers to famed areas for momiji
viewing--especially places readily accessible by the family
car.
One of the most celebrated destinations for foliage
seekers is Nikko, located some 100 kilometers north of
Tokyo, which drew enormous crowds to its mountains covered
in gold, russet, and crimson. The Iroha-zaka, a twisting
road for motor vehicles offering a panoramic view of the
mountains, was backed up for nearly 10 kilometers during the
three-day weekend.
Autumn in Japan is marked by an invigorating crispness
that produces expansive, clear skies and rich harvests of
fruits, vegetables, and marine products. Many festivals are
held during this time of year to celebrate the abundant
harvests.
On weekends and holidays, people take to the outdoors
in droves to engage in sports, enjoy freshly harvested
delicacies, visit hot-spring resorts, and watch or
participate in festivals. The expressways linking Tokyo with
the outlying areas consequently become jammed with traffic;
in particular, the Kan'etsu, Tohoku, and Tomei Expressways
that run near many vacation resorts can be backed up for 30
kilometers or more.
Communion with Nature
Throughout Japan's history people have sought to attain
harmony with their natural surroundings, and numerous
customs and seasonal events have evolved as a means of
communing with nature.
The arrival of spring, for instance, is celebrated by
gathering under cherry trees during the few days when the
light pink blossoms are in full bloom and drinking the night
away--an event marked by an outpouring of energy after the
dormancy of winter.
Foliage viewing in the fall is a quieter, more
reflective affair, as people leave their urban communities
behind for a glimpse of the maples, beeches, and larches
that have turned red and gold.
The Japanese archipelago runs north-south, and thus
seasonal changes come to different regions at different
times. The "cherry-blossom front," for instance, starts in
March in the southern islands and works its way up north
through April and May. The coloring of autumn leaves,
meanwhile, starts in the north around September, and the
"momiji front" gradually travels to southern Japan through
November.
The passing of this autumnal front is a signal that
winter is near at hand.
(The above article, edited by Japan Echo Inc., is based on domestic Japanese news sources. It is offered for reference purposes and does not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.)