Tokyo Report

Autumn Color Blog 2008
by japan-guide.com

This is the official japan-guide.com autumn color blog for 2008 about our reporting trips to various autumn leaf spots across Japan. Check our page on Autumn Leaves for general information.

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2008/11/26 - Tokyo Report

The autumn colors have reached Tokyo. Today, we checked the trees in several gardens and parks of Tokyo, including Rikugien, Koishikawa Botanical Garden, Koishikawa Korakuen, Shinjuku Gyoen and Yoyogi Koen.

Rikugien Garden
by nicola

Today's inspection of Tokyo's autumn leaf colours leads me to believe that the maple trees have not quite peaked in the city. Rikugien Garden (located at Komagome Station on the Yamanote line) probably had the best colours that I saw today.

In Rikugien, several maple trees were in full bloom. Crowds of visitors celebrated by setting up their tripods to capture the colours. Rikugien, one of the better known Tokyo gardens, was certainly worth visiting.

Koishikawa Botanical Garden
by nicola

Late fall scenery in one of Koishikawa Botanical Garden's tree groves

Koishikawa Botanical Gardens are managed and maintained by the University of Tokyo. The gardens hold a vast array of plant life and include greenhouses, western style gardens, tree groves and a Japanese style garden.

The Japanese style area of Koishikawa Botantical Gardens

The colours here were not as impressive as Rikugien, but many of the maples in the Japanese garden area were still very green. It is likely that over the coming week, this garden will really become colourful.

A brightly coloured tree in the western garden area

The nicest part of Koishikawa Botanical Gardens was just how spacious and quiet it seemed after the bustle of Rikugien. I was able to enjoy a peaceful lunch under a grove of yellowing cherry trees while watching nearby sketchers at work.

Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
by nicola

Maple leaves in Koishikawa Korakuen just beginning to colour

Visiting Koishikawa Korakuen took me back into the crowds. This popular garden, located right next to Tokyo Dome, was very colourful in terms of autumn leaves.

A nice spot for painting in Koishikawa Korakuen

A few maple trees were already in full bloom. However, the majority were still greenish, suggesting that the coming week should bring out even better colours.

Shinjuku Gyoen
by francois

Today I visited a couple of parks in western Tokyo in the pursuit of autumn colours. The first park was Shinjuku Gyoen, located about a kilometer east of Shinjuku Station. In terms of fall colours, the garden was not exceptional. However, there were a few trees that served as highlights and around which many amateur photographers gathered.

People try to get a photo of both fall colours and the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Tower

Some colour in the French garden area of Shinjuku Gyoen

Yoyogi Koen
by francois

The second park I visited was Yoyogi Park. There were a few trees that had turned red, but many of their leaves have fallen. More impressive were the ginkgo trees, which turn a golden yellow. It seemed that they have not reached their peak yet, and that their colour should become still more robust.