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Sep 22, 2021

5 things I love about autumn in Japan

If I had to choose my favorite season in Japan, I think autumn would win hands down. Refreshing temperatures after a hot and sweaty summer, limited-time eats and drinks, and plenty of seasonal color to enjoy makes this time of year a delight.


It's hard to narrow down a handful of things I love most about autumn, but here are the first 5 that came to mind for me.


Flowers


Autumn is renowned for colorful changing leaves, but there is plenty of floral beauty to enjoy, too! One of the highlights of the season are cosmos, which can be found in numerous different places across the country. For Tokyoites, Showa Kinen Park is one great destination where you can appreciate them, but here in Niigata I personally like the Iwappara Cosmos Park. The views out over the surrounding mountains paired with the flowers are stunning, and you almost always have the place to yourself. I really like spider lilies for their vibrant red color, too, but they're a little harder to find out this way!


5 things I love about autumn in Japan photo

One of my favorite early autumn destinations is the Iwappara Cosmos Park. The views and the flowers are stunning, and crowds are non-existent.


Illuminations


As the weather cools down, many illumination events begin to pop up on the calendar! One of my personal favorites is the Jewellumination event at Yomiuriland, which is home to millions of sparkling LED lights. This year’s event starts on October 21st and runs right through until early April, giving visitors plenty of time to check it out even if they can't visit in autumn.


Food and drink


Some of my favorite food and drink in Japan pops up around the autumn timeframe! Crispy apples and nashi, perfectly cooked roasted sweet potatoes, and chestnut-flavored sweets and drinks are things I always look forward to at this time of year. One thing I was also excited about was Starbucks releasing an actual pumpkin spice latte this year, and not opting for a sad, flavorless kabocha offering. Yes, call me basic, but I love the flavors of nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger that go into a pumpkin spice latte!


Halloween


Halloween has become more and more of a thing in Japan each year that I’ve lived here, and there are numerous ways to celebrate if that’s your thing - from decorating your home with 100 yen store goodies right through to events at theme parks! I personally like indulging in the fun Halloween sweets that typically pop up, including the ever-reliable, ever-tasty Mister Donut themed goodies. Yum!


Leaves


It wouldn't be a post about what I love about autumn without mentioning the changing leaves. I think they're such a great metaphor for enjoying things while they last. The rich reds of Japanese maples, the vibrant yellows of gingko trees, and all the oranges in between still manage to capture my attention after all these years. 


5 things I love about autumn in Japan photo

Lake Daigenta in the Yuzawa area is one of our favorite spots for autumn color. The reflections of the trees on the water really adds to the beauty!


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