In early October, autumn in greater Tokyo is just beginning to unfold. The trees haven’t yet donned their full autumn hues, but the season’s beauty is already showing in other ways.

In parks across Tokyo, such as Yoyogi Park and Shinjuku Gyoen, delicate cosmos flowers are swaying in soft pinks, whites, and purples, filling the gardens with their gentle charm. Meanwhile, vivid red spider lilies, or higanbana, make a bold statement along pathways and temple grounds, their striking red blossoms catching the eye amidst the lingering greenery.

Sporting beautiful views of Yokohama Bay, Yamashita Park is a popular place for people to gather on weekends. Along Yamashita Koen-dori Street are close to 200 ginkgo trees that typically turn brilliant gold from mid-November. During our visit, many of the leaves are gaining a lighter green hue, while some of the tops of trees are yellowing. Yamashita Park is also renowned for its rose gardens, while zinnias and other flowers are in beautiful bloom in beds around the park.

This compact, Japanese-style garden is a hidden gem between the Japanese Sword Museum and the National Sumo Arena in Ryogoku, eastern Tokyo. A variety of lush trees encircle the koi pond, including Japanese maple and gingko. While most of the gingko trees in the area have fruited, their leaves have yet to change into their famous brilliant golden colors. While the Japanese maples also remain in lovely greens, many autumn flowers are in bloom. Crape myrtles are now bursting in vibrant pink clusters, while the honeysuckle-like Abelia are in bloom with their light pink and white flowers.

Comment from editor Timothy: "Ryogoku is a lovely place to stroll around in early autumn. It's also a great side trip from Akihabara, since it's just two stations away on the JR Chuo-Sobu line, and acessible from the Ueno area via the Oedo Line too. Besides the sumo arena, this area is also home to the Sumida Hokusai Museum, the Great Kanto Earthquake Memorial Museum, and the Japanese Sword Museum, and many great restaurants."

"This weekend, I had the chance to visit Niigata City, and I took the opportunity to stop by Hakusan Park to see how the foliage colors were coming along. Walking past the Niigata City Performing Arts Center, I started to see hints of red and orange leading into the park. Though it was on a Saturday, the park wasn't crowded, making for a lovely stroll and some beautiful, vibrant pictures! Hakusan Park leads down to the Hakusan Shrine and then onwards down to Furumachi Street, where you can enjoy a local meal and do some fun retro shopping! While the rest of the city still seemed a week or so shy of the full-on foliage spectacle, Hakusan Park gave me the colorful welcome I was hoping for on my short trip!" - Johanna

Kiyosato is a scenic highland resort nestled in the southeastern foothills of Yatsugatake in Yamanashi Prefecture. One of its well-known attractions is the rural Camp Seisen Ryo, founded by American professor and missionary Paul Rusch.

LIVE JAPAN Member Kenji reports: "When I visited, the fall foliage had just begun to change, so the colors weren't quite at their peak, and the leaves weren’t especially impressive. However, Kiyosato Terrace, which I filmed, is a stunning viewpoint. You can take a lift to the mountaintop, where you'll be treated to beautiful views of Mt. Fuji. On the day I went, a sea of clouds formed, creating a rare and fortunate sight. The area is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Tokyo."

Have you heard of the coastal castle city of Wakayama? About 90 minutes south of Osaka, it's home to beautiful scenery - like Wakayama Castle, where around 450 cherry trees bloom each spring. Now, in early autumn, these leaves are slowly turning lighter greens before coming alive with vivid oranges and reds.

"Swaying gently in the warm autumn air, the trees created beautiful shadows along the rock castle walls. During my 30-minute stroll around the grounds, some of the Japanese maples were also in the very early stages of changing colors, around the Nishinomaru (Momijidani Teien) Garden and the Ohashi Corridor bridge on the castle's northwestern side." -Timothy

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