Falling for Autumn in Ibaraki

Thomas Deliens, former Coordinator for International Relations

from the 11/01 paper Ibaraki Report

Ah, in my final year as a JET I relish the chance to admire one of the most beautiful transformations of nature in Japan. I have had three years to enjoy the changing seasons. In many countries the Kōyō season (紅葉 or viewing of autumn leaves) exists but here, in Japan, it takes on a particular aspect. Just as viewing the Hanami (花見 or cherry blossom) is a rite that celebrates the coming year, the Kōyō season is an occasion for the Japanese to celebrate the second part of the year.

Moreover, if you have a quick look around you, especially in the supermarkets, you will notice that the autumn theme is everywhere: special beer for autumn has leaf designs, chestnuts and fall produce fill the shelves, and department stores display autumn clothing.

Before facing a harsh winter, Japanese usually take 2 or 3 days off from work with their family to admire the Kōyō and to spend time in a relatively quiet onsen. Relatively? One problem during Kōyō season is that most Japanese have the same idea at the same moment (with a population of 128 million people, do you see where this leads to?). To celebrate autumn, you may first need to endure traffic jams that can stretch for kilometers. Japanese have enough strength to endure that . . . I can't . . . I'm French.

So I wish to take you aside and whisper to you a few choice locations for viewing Kōyō splendor without the crowds. But it only lasts at latest until the middle of November, so make your plans!

If you've been to one of the following, don't forget to tell us how it was!

Hanazono Gorge in Kita-Ibaraki region (花園渓谷・北茨城地域)
Mount Yamizo in Daigo-Machi(八溝山・大子町)
Okita Gorge in Kita-Ibaraki-Shi (沖田渓谷・北茨城市)
Satomi Pasture in Hitachi-Ōta-Shi (里美牧場・常陸太田市)
Gozenyama (御前山)
Kitayama Park in Kasama-Shi (北山公園・笠間市)
Mount Tsukuba in Tsukuba-Shi (筑波山・つくば市)
Ryujin Gorge in Hitachi-Ōta-Shi (竜神渓谷・常陸太田市)
Hananuki Gorge in Takahagi-Shi (花貫渓谷・高萩市)
Mount Dantai in Daigo-Machi (男体山・大子町)
Fukuroda Falls in Daigo-Machi (袋田の滝・大子町)
Yuzawa Gorge in Daigo-Machi (湯沢渓谷・大子町)