Tokyo: Peak Colors

Temperatures around Tokyo have been below average in recent weeks, encouraging the city's trees to reach the height of their autumnal beauty over the last few days - a timing that aligns quite closely with the typical year.

I expect the peak of the season in Tokyo to continue into the first week of December, while a few of the later-coloring spots may hold on to some foliage beyond that.

The Ginkgo Avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien has been spectacular for several days already and still looked impressive today, although a few of the trees in the center of the street have started to lose a considerable number of their leaves. Evening illuminations will continue until 19:30 through the end of November, and the season will likely be in its decline by around then.

Shinjuku Gyoen offered a mix of stages today. Many cherry trees - early contributors of color - have already lost a lot of their leaves, while at the other spectrum the maples were only now approaching their peak. Unfortunately, quite a few of them do not look at their best this year. It seems that many maple leaves have dried up before turning colorful. But enough remain to make for a beautiful scenery. I expect the peak of the season at Shinjuku Gyoen to continue into early December, while some pockets of colors may survive into mid December.