Tokyo: Starting to Change

This is a first, early report from Tokyo, where the autumn colors usually peak in late November and early December. Temperatures have been above-average this autumn so far, but are forecast to dip into single digits during the nights of the upcoming week, which will accelerate the progress of the season.

Today I visited two popular autumn color spots in the city center and Showa Memorial Park in the suburbs, where the season is typically a few days ahead of the city center. Indeed, the colors were still only just starting to change in central Tokyo, while they were already approaching their peak at the park.

In central Tokyo I expect the peak of the season to start in the final days of November and last at least into the first week of December.

The ginkgo is the official symbol tree of Tokyo and found lining many of the capital's avenues. Probably the most famous of them is the Ginkgo Avenue in Meiji Jingu Gaien Park, a few steps from Aoyama-Icchome Station. The ginkgo is responsible for one of the most intensive yellows in nature, but today the avenue was still on the green side. I expect it to reach its peak in the final week of November. Nightly illuminations are scheduled to be held from November 23 to December 1 between 16:30 and 19:30

Only a 5-10 minute walk from the world's busiest railway station, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo's largest and most peaceful parks, featuring an abundance of coloring trees. Today, however, the season was still at an early state. I expect the park to become a nice autumn color destination from late November into mid December.

In the suburban city of Tachikawa, a 20 minute train ride west of Shinjuku by the JR Chuo Line, lies the huge Showa Memorial Park. In spring the park is known to see the cherry blossoms a few days later than in the city center, and in fall it is usually a few days ahead with regards to the autumn colors.

This was indeed the case today, as some of the park's famous spots were already near their peak, especially the Japanese style garden and the rows of ginkgo trees at the Tachikawa Entrance. A special illumination event is held here until December 1 between 16:30 and 20:30.