Automn 2024 Japan
7 Best Places to Visit in Tokyo in Autumn 2024
Especially as we bid farewell to the warm seasons, autumn in Tokyo is breathtaking- a grand cause for a Nature Twilight before December. From the end of September through the month of November, the weather section is colorful with varied hues of bright red, orange and yellow- as if worthy Ms. Nature herself has decided to give all Instagram filters a run for their money. For people visiting Tokyo in autumn there are certain views which are beauty incarnate and will make you feel ecstatic even as you watch the colorful leaves on the trees and yes, chasing after the color of the leaves in a rather extravagant manner while taking a sip of tea is quite reasonable.
To experience the picturesque autumn in Tokyo here are the top 7 places that should be explored, with fair humor as well to knock off some unwanted seriousness.
Shinjuku gyoen National Garden
Unlike how its name sounds to most people, think of Shinjuku Gyoen as perhaps Tokyo’s very classy every grand lady of the parks. It has the best of French, English and even Japanese traditional gardens in which case, it seems the park was not sure which one was better than the other so all three were incorporated. During the Autumn season, the crimson maple and golden ginkgo trees are pretty hard to miss as they bold out colors and yell, “See me! See me!” It is that kind of a place where one integrates with nature only to realize that you have also integrated with the very huge nature that is the park (do not worry there are many maps within).
2. Meiji Jingu Gaien (Icho Namiki Avenue)
If you have ever had your curiosity peaked regarding what it could feel walking in the midst of gold tiled corridors, Meiji Jingu Gaien should satisfy that thirst. Icho Namiki (Ginkgo Avenue) is popular for its perfect symmetry for ginkgo trees that are planted along the road during the autumn season. It is almost as if the city spread a blanket of gold to welcome you at its door just as the foliage begins to drift away. But its easy to overdo it looking at the leaves; do not forget that there are other people around, mainly some artists who are taking pictures for the same reason.
3. Mount Takao
Mount Takao is a place that most residents of Tokyo visit when they want to experience the wilderness without travelling far. It is indeed just one hour away from the centre, so no need to camp out. In the autumn months, the leaves and pine trees make the sierra even more charming as they glow in red and orange and the coolness in the air makes every hiker feel as if he is in an advertisement geared towards the hiking audience. For those who are less enamoured with the prospect of sweating their way to the top, there is the option of a share of the more pleasant means of transport, that is the cable car. When the peak is reached views of Mount Fuji may be seen … or perhaps just one’s own breath on exhaling into the cold air.
4. Rikugien Garden
As you enter Rikugien Garden, you feel as though you have been taken back up-to three hundred years. The 18th century in particular, complete with a perfect Japanese scenery as if set by an on-arrangement of a team of artistic parameters on a sculpture garden. The most dramatic change occurs in autumn when the maples set every square inch of the garden on fire in competing shades of red. The best and perhaps the most dramatic change occurs when the illuminations are switched on. Bring a camera along since no one would believe how gorgeous it is without photographic proof, for themselves or the others.
5. Koishikawa Korakuen
Koishikawa Korakuen, though one of the oldest gardens in Tokyo still is commanding and has such a sophistication befitting a beauty queen. In autumn, most of the recollections of this Edo-period garden include the pond partially since the surrounding maples are in full splendor. It is one of the gardens that you can close your eyes and picture how the poets of the ancient time sat and pondered over the complexities of life, and if there was no intensity, great captions for the Instagram posts would have been born. There is every likelihood of coming out inspired but surprisingly calm. This is not so easy in the midst of the clamor and noise typical of a major city location.
6. Showa Kinen Park
Showa Kinen Park is indeed about expansiveness. Expansiveness to the end that…Well, let’s just say that if you were to leave your phone on one end of the park and continue meandering around without it, you may find yourself contemplating if the walk back was worth it or not. But so much open space and fall beauty (160 hectares in total) will make sure that the number of steps is done to be more than acceptable. The yellow cosmos flowers of the park and the autumn leaves of the trees create a lovely contrast pinkish and whitish flowers of blooms and flames bursting with reds and yellows. Then you find yourself in a picture, going, “I wish I could come here often,” — only for you to turn and go, “Oh, wait! The park is gigantic!”
7. Yoyogi Park
Most of the time, when one thinks of Yoyogi Park, it is the cherry blossoms in bloom that come to mind. But autumn is stealthily every inch as impressive. The park is ideal for pointless walks, lunch, and do what most locals regard as a national sport – watching people. The ginkgo trees will shed their leaves, only to regale you with the sight of the tree in her golden gown; and now we are in the middle of a fashion show. Behind in the background, Meiji Shrine doesn’t distract the glare. It seems as if everyone is urging you to stop and just breathe for a minute. You walk out with not too many photos but the experience of how to enjoy doing almost nothing without getting bored.
Extra Tip: Relish Autumnal Offerings in Tokyo Guilt-Free
What is the best time of year to be in Tokyo? Surprisingly, every person will agree on the same answer – Autumn! Tokyo saws a whole new range of food which every reasonable person should try. From **kuri chestnut pastries to yakiimo roasted sweet potatoes, fall foodie is a lovely and warm pat on the face of your belly. And let's not even mention the seasonal lattes -here home roasted tea lattes beat every pumpkin spice latte one can ever think of. The cherry on top? Not all those additional calories have to be in vain you are “getting ready for the winter” which figure out offers more calorie intake purely like how squirrels prepare to hibernate.
In Tokyo, fall 2024 will be very apparent as the last celebrating nature before the start of winter. Featuring elegant Shinjuku Gyoen and nice pathways on the Mount Takao, these 7 sites will make you feel like a walking autumn montage. London is beautiful in every season and so is Tokyo in fall which makes it even more beautiful, all you need is yourSmartphone fully loaded with the latest pictwitter applications, a stylish scarf and maybe a pumpkin latte or TWO. Prepare to have a serious crush on Tokyo and Fall in love with the place both literally and figuratively.
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Image: Automn sunset in Ichigaya