In northern regions and higher elevations, trees are turning beautiful Fall colors, and the sites are majestic. Colorful leaves, koyo, are to the Japanese Autumn what cherry blossoms are to Spring. The viewing of Autumn leaves has been a popular activity among the Japanese for centuries and today still draws large numbers of viewers to famous spots.
Each year, starting in late September, the koyo front is slowly moving to the south from the northern island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan.
Temples are the places of worship in Japanese Buddhism. Virtually every Japanese municipality has at least one temple, while large cultural centers like Kyoto have several thousand of them. Temples store and display sacred Buddhist objects, and some of them used to, or still, function as monasteries.
The infamous Mount Koya Koyasan is the center of Shingon Buddhism. Over 100 temples stand in the small town on top of the wooded mountain. Koyasan is one of the best places to experience a night at a temple. About 50 temples in the area function as shukubo, where tourists are welcome to overnight, try shojin ryori, the vegetarian cuisine of monks, and participate in the morning prayers.
The typical Japanese meal consists of a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup, pickled vegetables and fish or meat. As an island nation, the Japanese take great pride in their seafood. A wide variety of fish, squid, octopus, eel, and shellfish appear in all kinds of dishes from sushi to tempura.
From mount Fiji, the beautiful Koya Front, to the famous temples, Japan is beautiful in October. Book your favorite destination today, and take that “Golden Getaway.”
