Autumn Color Report: Nikko
by Joe, staff writer of japan-guide.com
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2014/10/07 - Autumn Color Report: Nikko
On our last report from Nikko about a week and a half ago, the fall colors in the highest mountainous areas of Okunikko were just reaching their peak. Today, I headed back to Nikko to see how much further the autumn leaves had changed. Because of the huge range in elevations in Nikko, the fall colors around the national park can be enjoyed for almost two months.
I first retraced my steps from two weeks ago by going through the Konsei Pass in one of the highest areas in Okunikko. The bright yellows and reds I found here last week were noticeably darker today (possibly accentuated by the partly cloudy weather), and some trees were already losing leaves. The same went for the trees around Lake Yunoko in the Yumoto Onsen area, but look as though they'll still have a bit of color perhaps into next week.
Slightly further down from Yumoto Onsen, the tall grasses on the Senjogahara marshland were still a brilliant yellow, though some of the surrounding trees seemed to be passing their peak color today. At nearby Ryuzu Waterfall, too, while some trees had started browning or losing leaves since last week, the colors were nonetheless still impressive here.
The Lake Chuzenji area, on the other hand, is definitely hitting its sweet spot this week. The yellows on the mountains around the lake were impressive, and may be even better this coming weekend.
To get a better view of the lake and the ever-present Mount Nantai, I drove up to the sometimes-overlooked Mount Hangetsuyama near the lake. At the end of a road that leads up the mountain, there is a great lookout spot with wonderful views of the Nikko mountains. For the more adventurous, there is also a trailhead for a 20-30 minute hike at the lookout point which leads to a higher lookout deck with incredible views of Nantai and Lake Chuzenji.
The views today were even more dramatic with passing clouds. While the trees on the Okunikko side of Hangetsuyama which I could see from here were in full color, the trees around Chuzenji and on the stunning Hachodejima Peninsula seemed to be just about to peak.
I also made a quick stop at Kegon Falls and along the Irohazaka Road. The colors in both spots also seemed just pre-peak.
Finally, I made my way down from the highlands of Okunikko via the Irohazaka road to the lower elevations where the main town and tourist areas of Nikko are. My goal here was to check on Rinnoji Temple's beautiful Shoyoen Garden. The quintessential temple garden features a healthy number of Japanese maple (momiji) and other trees that turn brilliant colors in the fall. Today, the momiji were just beginning to change color. In the coming weeks the rest of the garden and the other lower parts of Nikko will be exciting to see.
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