“Fall leaves in Japan are beautiful. I think it’s very nice to see beautiful foliage in areas with abundant nature and in urban parks, such as in Tokyo. Trees along the roads also turn color, and it’s delightful to walk outside and feel like you’re in a painting.” (Italian woman)

“I was surprised that the fall colors really were so beautiful. I stayed at a hotel where I could gaze out at the foliage while soaking in a hot spring, and the scenery was exceptional.” (Australian man)

Enjoying Japan’s fall colors is probably the most popular tradition in the fall. I think that many people have paused while strolling to soak up the beauty around them. Japan also has a culture of hunting out the best fall leaf viewing areas around the country, with many shutterbugs flocking to some of the better-known spots as soon as the foliage forecast is updated.

Kyoto is an exceptionally famous spot for fall leaves, with Kodaiji Temple, Manshu-in Monzeki Temple, and Nison-in Temple being particularly popular destinations during the Japanese maple viewing season.

The Italian woman and Australian man interviewed for this article both said that they were surprised at the beauty of the fall leaves in Japan.

Of course, fall foliage isn’t unique to Japan, with leaf viewing rather popular in many countries from Europe to Asia, such as Canada, Germany, Australia, South Korea, and China. Nevertheless, many foreign guests have mentioned that they regard Japan’s leaves as among the most beautiful for some reason.

It is said that one of the reasons why is that Japan has a distinctive atmosphere. Ancient temples and shrines are often the focal points for Japan’s fall foliage, and this creates a very unique and “only in Japan” kind of gorgeous scenery.

“I have the image of Japan having many typhoons from the end of summer to fall. Due to these typhoons, trains will often stop or be delayed. This may be unavoidable, but all the station announcements were in Japanese. I was pretty surprised that I couldn’t quite follow what was going on and get the information I wanted easily because things weren’t bilingual.” (Italian woman)

“Fall is hot like summer in the daytime, and there were days when I didn’t want to go out. But it was cool in the morning and evening. Every morning, it can be rather unclear if I’ll need short or long sleeves, so it can be a bit troublesome to know what to wear for the weather.” (British man)

In Japan, typhoons are likely to form from late summer to fall when the high-pressure systems around the country weaken. When the transportation networks are disturbed due to typhoons, important announcements will be made.

Still, as the Italian woman in this interview mentioned, many of the important announcements are indeed in Japanese. Many tourists have had a hard time getting the necessary information to understand when the best time to visit Japan is and how weather can impact travel plans.

Currently, most transportation companies are endeavoring to improve multilingual services in emergencies for travelers to resolve this anxiety in the future.

I often hear that “Japan has four distinct seasons, and it is troublesome because you have to change what you wear for each season.”

This might be normal for Japanese people, but indeed, some countries do not have distinct seasons, and some visitors might assume that Japan has a climate similar to many other Asian countries.

For some visitors, it may be the first time for them to experience a muggy summer or the chill of winter, and I’m sure there are many questions about what to wear.

“Japan has specific fruits for every season, but those in fall are especially delicious. I love pears and persimmons because of their unique taste in Japan. The peaches are also delicious. Overseas, sweet and juicy peaches aren’t the same.” (British man)

“I was surprised when I first saw that sales truck with an oven in the back that sells roasted sweet potatoes. I was a little scared because it was moving while the fire was going, but when I tried one of these ‘yaki-imo’ snacks for the first time, I felt it was sweet, soft, and super tasty.” (Australian man)

“Japanese people like matsutake mushrooms, and I was really surprised by the prices they go for in the fall. I don’t know why they are so expensive – I personally can’t stand the smell of them.” (Australian man)

There is a Japanese phrase, “Shokuyoku-no-Aki,” which means “Fall appetite.” During this season, foods representing the fall flavor appear on menus at restaurants everywhere: fruits such as pears and persimmons, seafood such as saury and oysters, and vegetables such as matsutake and bamboo shoots, among others.

From fall to winter, you can see roasted sweet potatoes (called “yaki-imo”) in cities. Just as our Australian friend mentions, these are often roasted fresh in the back of a sales truck with a characteristic melody. When you hear it, be sure to give it a try! Recently, it has been sold at supermarkets all year round, and roasted sweet potatoes can be eaten regardless of the season – but trying the original tradition is definitely recommended.

Also, matsutake mushrooms are familiar as high-class foods in Japan. Their unique scent, which tends to be woody and musky, has long been loved by many Japanese as a fall tradition. However, their smell may be quite unfamiliar for some visitors and be something of an acquired taste.

Certainly, as our Australian interviewee mentioned, it might be tough for tourists to connect something so odoriferous with the price tag: in season, depending on the origin, size, and other features, matsutake mushrooms can run anywhere from a paltry $20-$100 per mushroom to $1,000 or more for a boxed set.

“I was amazed by Halloween in Japan. I have the image of typical Japanese people being rather quiet people, so I was stunned to see a lot of cosplaying adults gathering at Shibuya Crossing and parading around the city. I want to join, too! There are huge crowds though - it may be too exciting and dangerous, so I don’t have the courage.” (British man)

Halloween has become one of Japan’s fall traditions. In Japan, Halloween has been a hot topic for several years. Adults who don costumes gather in various places such as Shibuya and Roppongi.

Since Halloween is expressed in Japan might be a bit different from how it is done in the US, it became a hot news topic in Japan and overseas.

Japanese Halloween cosplay costumes tend to be rather well made and have been well received by tourists. However, recently, Halloween has attracted something of a low image due to the poor manners and annoying actions of a few in the city.

Also, under the influence of Covid-19, some online events will be held, which is likely to affect how Halloween is enjoyed.

As a standard fall event in Japan, I hope that many people will continue to join in the fun with peace of mind and enjoyment.

Fall leaves, climate, seasonal cuisine, and more in Japan! There are so many ways that fall is different from other seasons, and visitors to Japan would certainly encounter something new and unfamiliar. We hope that you enjoy fall with an open mind, and have fun!

* The information in this article is current as of October 2020.