2011/12/13 - Autumn Color Report: Tokyo
Three months after this year's first autumn color report from Hokkaido, I concluded the seasonal reporting with a grand tour to seven of Tokyo's best koyo spots. The capital's colors usually peak around late November and early December, but they were delayed by over a week this year. Nevertheless, with half of December almost passed, the season is now approaching its end.
I started the day at the Icho Namiki or "Ginkgo Avenue" in Aoyama. The trees were pruned recently and have lost a lot of their volume, which has given them a somewhat meager appearance this year compared to earlier years. Their colors, however, were still at a good state and provided a nice sight in the morning sun with commuters walking and cycling beneath them.
Icho Namiki
Icho Namiki in the morning sun
Icho Namiki in the morning sun
A ten minute walk from Shinjuku Station, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's most pleasant city parks, consisting of a variety of different garden styles. I found the best colors around the Momijiyama ("maple mountain"), where some trees were still improving, and in the Japanese garden where several trees were at their peak, although many others seemed to have suffered from the long and hot summer and carried lots of prematurely dried up leaves.
Shinjuku Gyoen
Colors on Shinjuku Gyoen's Momijiyama ("maple mountain")
Brilliant colors in Shinjuku Gyoen's Japanese garden
More brilliant colors in the Japanese garden
The Institute for Nature Study near Meguro Station is one of Tokyo's best kept secrets. This large park is covered by a dense forest and a marshland that allow for hour long walks in an idyllic natural environment. Only a small minority of trees in the park - mainly maple trees - turn into attractive colors, but these nice pockets of color were at their peak today.
Institute for Nature Study
Institute for Nature Study
The best autumn colors in the Imperial East Gardens are usually found around the Ninomaru Garden, a Japanese style pond garden that was built inside of what used to be the second circle of defense (ninomaru) of the former Edo Castle. However, unfortunately the garden was closed off to visitors today and will remain so until March. Other colorful trees around the gardens made the visit worthwhile, nevertheless.
Ginkgo trees and former castle fortifications at the Imperial East Gardens
Former castle fortifications
Colors at the Imperial East Gardens
Bad timing - maintenance works started at Ninomaru Garden
Koishikawa Korakuen is one of Tokyo's best historic strolling gardens. The season here was approaching its end today, as many maple trees have started to drop their leaves or have dried up prematurely. However, there were still a lot of vivid colors around the garden, enhanced by today's great weather.
Koishikawa Korakuen with the roof of Tokyo Dome in the background
Brilliant colors around Koishikawa Korakuen's pond
Brilliant colors around Koishikawa Korakuen's pond
Two subway stations away in the same Koishikawa district lies the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, a large park that not only offers a break from the city but also serves as research grounds of the University of Tokyo. Colors were not abundant, except along an over 100 meter long tunnel formed by dozens of maple trees that made for a spectacular sight. There were also some colors around the park's Japanese garden, including a few azalea bushes and several huge ginkgo trees.
A tunnel of maple trees at Koishikawa Botanical Garden
A bench along the maple tree tunnel
The Japanese garden of Koishikawa Botanical Garden
I concluded the year's reporting at Rikugien, a traditional strolling garden that competes with Koishikawa Korakuen as Tokyo's best garden. It is also one of the city's best koyo spots. Many trees around the garden were still at their peak today, and I expect them to justify a koyo visit for several more days to come. The best colors were found in the forested canal area behind the pond, an area that is typically changing colors a little bit later than the rest of the garden.
Rikugien
Brilliant colors along the forested canal at Rikugien
Brilliant colors along the forested canal at Rikugien
Elegant bridge at Rikugien
In just over three months we will return to Japan's parks and gardens to provide up-to-date information on the state of the cherry blossoms.
Thank you for having followed our 2011 autumn color reports!
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