2012/11/21 - Tokyo Report
by schauwecker
Ginkgo Avenue
Eight days after our first autumn color report from Tokyo, I revisited some of the city's best fall foliage spots. Overall, the season was still at an early stage, and I do not expect the colors to peak until late November to early December.
I started the day at Shinjuku Gyoen. Various trees, including cherry and ginkgo trees, have started to contribute attractively to the autumnal atmosphere, but the most spectacular koyo providers, the maple trees, were still at an early stage.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Fallen leaves
The garden's Momijiyama (Maple Mountain) is still green
Green maple leaves
Fallen cherry leaves
The Japanese garden is starting to turn colorful
Photographer plays with ginkgo tree
A maple variety with very thin, long leaves
After years of reconstruction, Shinjuku Gyoen's greenhouse was reopened yesterday. The building is exceptionally beautifully designed for a greenhouse, but English information is limited to instructions on what is not permitted inside.
The new greenhouse
Inside the new greenhouse
The trees along the Ginkgo Avenue (Icho Namiki) in the Meiji Jingu Gaien Park near Aoyama-Icchome Station have further improved their colors since last week, but were not at the peak of their autumnal beauty yet.
Ginkgo Avenue
Many people enjoyed a walk under the trees
Looking up into the trees
The situation was similar in Koishikawa Korakuen, one of Tokyo's best Edo Period landscape gardens. Many maple trees have started to color, but I estimate that most need at least another week to attain their most brilliant colors.
Koishikawa Korakuen
My favorite view at Koishikawa Korakuen
Enjoying autumn
A few representative branches
Rikugien, too, was still at an early stage of the season. In particular the maple tree forest in the canal area behind the pond has barely started to change colors and will not peak before early December. The visit was worthwhile, nevertheless, not at last thanks to the wonderful weather. Illuminations in the evenings (until 21:00) start from tomorrow and are held until December 9.
Rikugien
View onto the garden from the man made hill
Some first colors along the canal in the back of the pond
A hazenoki tree is providing some brilliant colors
| 
