Category Archives: Koyo

Koyo or Momiji is Japanese for fall foliage

Koyo

JP 2017 Koyo (Part 2)

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Before checking into the onsen hotel in Chuzenji-ko we dropped by the Kegon fall. Unfortunately, it was completely obscured in fog+mists+rain. Well, we had seen it four times before. That’s the consolation we told ourselves 🙁

Chuzenji-ko (中禪寺湖)

On the next morning after hotel checkout, the rain did not stop nor did the visibility improve – the entire Mt Nantai was obscured. Thus, we just dropped by an observatory point along the lake rim before returning to Takasaki along the same road.

 

 

Fukiware-no-taki (吹割の滝)

Before reaching Numata city we dropped by the funnel-shaped Fukiware falls. It was a short walk of about 30min and worth it.

 

We returned car in Takasaki and stayed in Tokyo for the weekend.  Due to rainy days, we did not go for any outdoor trip but dropped by Roppongi Hills where the Halloween decorations and goods were on the shelves.

Next we headed to Kamikochi while the super-typhoon Lan was approaching.

 

==> Part 3 ==>

 

Koyo

JP 2017 Koyo (Part 1)

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First koyo trip in 2017 which span for 2 weeks in late October – Okunikko, Kamikochi, spots in Nagano Prefecture, Myoko Kogen and Naruko.

We had originally planned to take a boat ride again in Mogamigawa in Yamagata Prefecture, but due to typhoon 22 which brought heavy rain and windy weather to Tohoku, we had to drop it.

We travelled by trains to the nearest stations and picked up cars to visit all those locations (except for Kamikochi). In between we returned to Tokyo for breaks during weekends to avoid crowds.

 

Okunikko (奥日光)

Our 5th visit but first time by car approaching from Takasaki in Gumma Prefecture.

After landing in Tokyo, we travelled to Takasaki by Shinkansen, picked up car and headed to Ikaho onsen overnight.

==> Ikaho onsen stay

 

It was raining when we checked out. We drove along the Romantic Road passing the Oze-kogen and headed towards Yunoko @1500m in Okunikko. Koyo was in peak though the lake was obscured in fog/mist.  Next we drove to Yudaki waterfall slightly downhill.

 

 

Senjougahara (戦場ヶ原) and Ryuzu falls (竜頭ノ滝)

Before reaching Chuzenji-ko @1200m, visited these spots along the way. Peak koyo in Ryuzu falls as well, as in the feature photo.

 

==> Part 2 ==>

 

Koyo

JP 2008 Oct Hokkaido (Part 4)

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Sapporo

Upon returning to Sapporo we visited the Hokkaido University campus where peak Koyo had arrived. Besides, we re-visited the Former Hokkaido Government Office again. The lily pond – featured in the cover photo looked fairly similar to Monet’s garden in Giverny, though on a smaller scale and offered a different ambience.

 

Koyo

JP 2008 Oct Hokkaido (Part 3)

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Hakodate

2nd visit since 2004. Dropped by Onuma National Park while en route. Koyo was about 10%. Took an easy walking path of 1 hour. Nice view of Mount Komagatake in the distance.

 

Yunokawa onsen and Trappist Convent

While we took a day time onsen in Yunokawa in 2004, we stayed in an onsen ryokan with seaview and rotenburo in-room. On the next morning, visited the Trappist Monastery before returning to Hakodate city.

 

 

Back in Hakodate city, we first visited Kosetsu-en,  a famous garden for Koyo. Though Koyo was about 10%, it was a nice walk. We then headed to the morning market for lunch and checked in to new onsen hotel with view of Mt Hakodate and bay.  Went up to Mt Hakodate for famous nightview.  The narrow road up to the peak was so congested that there were long lines of cars and buses on either way. On the next morning, we strolled around in the bay area before heading back to Sapporo.

 

==> Part 4 ==>

 

 

Koyo

JP 2008 Oct Hokkaido (Part 2)

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Cape Kamui and Shakotan Peninsula

at the north-western tip of Hokkaido. Took about 2 hours from Niseko to skirt around the coastline to get there.

Otaru Shukutsu

Took about 1 hour drive from Shakotan to Otaru. Stayed in a hotel overlooking the Shukutsu coastline in Otaru. as we have visited Otaru twice before, did not stop by the city centre this time.

 

Hoheikyo and Jozankei onsen

our first visit – Koyo was a bit late in both, which are in the outskirts of Sapporo.  Stayed overnight in an onsen ryokan in Jozankei.

 

==> Part 3 ==>

 

 

Koyo

JP 2008 Oct Hokkaido (Part 1)

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In this Koyo trip, we visited Hokkaido from mid to late Oct starting from Shikotsu-ko, Toya-ko, Niseko, Cape Kamui, Hoheikyo, Otaru, Sapporo and Hakodate.

Shikotsu-ko

First stay right after landing in nearby New Chitose airport, about 30min by car.  Deep-blue lake in peak Koyo.

 

Toya-ko

Koyo was a bit after peak. Nevertheless, it was a sunny day and it was my first shots on fireworks.

Niseko

visited Shinsen-numa for the 1st time. Koyo was clearly beyond peak in mid-Oct due to higher elevation. Refer to our trip in Oct 2013 when we visited 1 week earlier to catch peak Koyo.

 

 

Half-moon lake

At the foothill of Mt Yotei, about 15-20min walk from car park through a forest of White Birch (Shirakaba in Japanese).

==> Part 2 ==>

 

Koyo

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 4)

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Shosei-en (渉成園)

Shosei-en is a garden that is part of nearby  Higashi Hongan-ji.  The garden was nicely designed with spots and walking paths. According to its guide-book, the garden was named from an ancient Chinese essay (歸去來兮辭) circa 400AD. In one line 園日涉以成趣 it means “pleasure from daily stroll in garden”. Indeed it is. Besides, as the day was calm, the reflections in the pond were impressive. There were fewer visitors than in other popular koyo spots.

 

Higashi Hongan-ji (東本願寺)

From Shosei-en, we headed to Kyoto station and stopped by Higashi Hongan-ji. The Ginkgo trees have clearly passed its peak with many fallen leaves. There were many visitors on that morning, with loads of coaches parked outside. While we were leaving, I spotted a crane while I was reading the slogan on the outer wall.

Hiyoshi Taisha (日吉大社)

After lunch we took train to Biwako – the largest lake in Japan. Before checking in the onsen ryokan, we visited Hiyoshi Taisha at the foothill of Hieizan. It seems that macaque is worshiped there. Along the path, there was a long row of Chrysanthemums with awards. 

 

 

Kaiseki dinner in Roan Kikunoi (露庵菊乃井)

 

==> Ogoto onsen hotel ==>

 

Koyo

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 3)

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Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺)

Here Koyo has clearly passed peak as in Tenryu-ji. However, it was a calm day and thus the reflections of the golden pavilion was almost perfect.

 

Kitano Tenmangu (北野天滿宮)

visited in past Feb for Ume blossom and now returned for peak Koyo, which was so beautiful along the paths.

Daikaku-ji (大覺寺)

once a detached palace of the Saga Emperor, this temple has been growing Sagagiku (Saga Chrysanthemum) in specific colours, heights by season.

 

==> Kyoto (Part 4) ==>

 

 

Koyo

JP Koyo 2016 Kyoto (Part 2)

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Eikando (永觀堂)

One of the most spectacular Koyo sites in our visit this time.

 

1 day in Arashiyama

Though we had planned to visit Nara on 23rd Nov to avoid potential crowds on public holiday, we visited Arashiyama in order to catch up on our “backlogs” 🙂

Hozukyo (保津峽)

Despite my effort to reserve the Torroko train tickets about 1 month in advance, we were advised by hotel concierge that all train tickets in that week were snatched up pretty soon the booking window opened up.

Thus, we took a normal JR train to arrive at the gorge. Koyo was past peak and a boat happened to flow downstream.  We then took the next train back to Sagano.

Tenryu-ji (天龍寺)

Koyo around the pond clearly has passed peak. Colours were less vivid than in our first visit 12 years ago. However, there were some pockets of bright colours before the exit to the bamboo forest, in the Arashiyama Park and also along the passage to the main entrance.

 

Hogon-in (宝厳院)

Hogon-in is a “Tachiu” temple (塔頭寺院) of Tenryu-ji. It has a beautiful garden – “Lion-roar” (獅子吼の庭).  Koyo was at peak, unlike neighboring Tenryu-ji. Good that we did not miss it, though it was very crowded.

Official website of Hogon-in

==> Kyoto (Part 3) ==>