Autumn leaves in Tokyo generally peaks the first week of December. This year's autumn colors were just on time; I visited several of my favorite spots for viewing autumn leaves in Tokyo and the neighboring prefecture Kanagawa. Meiji Jingu Gaien was spectacular with beautiful ginkgo trees lining both sides of the 300 meter (980ft) road running between Aoyama-dori and Jingu Gaien. Meiji Jinu Gaien is one of the most famous spots to see autumn leaves in Tokyo. It’s truly breathtakingly beautiful to walk along in a tunnel of Ginkgo trees 300 meters long; locally it’s also known as Tokyo Ginkgo Avenue. 

Sagamihara Asamizo Park in Kanagawa also has beautiful ginkgo trees but most spectacular at this park is the brilliant tunnel of Cypress trees. The cypresses were in peak autumn viewing condition when we visited; they were so beautiful they were glowing in bright orange, the trees autumn signature color.

Mount Takao in Tokyo offers some of the most spectacular colors of autumn leaves viewing. The Japanese maple trees of Mt. Takao will dazzle you, as they show off in orange yellow and red. You will find every species of the Japanese maple in the mt takao region such as the ‘osakazuki’ which is possibly the most colorfully powerful strong red maple tree of autumn. Then we have the ‘higasayama’ with its multi-colored leaves in red and a golden yellow. Kihachijo turns a beautiful orangish yellow similar to the color of the sunset. Then we have my favorite the ‘orido nishiki' with its thick foliage that makes for a beautiful autumn display in green, orange, yellow and a purplish pink tone.

Now that autumn peak has passed I turn my attention to birding photography.  My signature lens for birding is a heavy and long 800mm 5.6 telephoto lens. I love to photograph all wildlife; I especially am looking forward to my annual Hokkaido photo tour this coming February.  our photo tour Hokkaido Japan is best known for photographing the Red-crowned crane, Steller’s sea eagle on pack ice in their natural feeding habitat, also the largest herd of sika deer on our Planet!

 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!