Last weekend I went in search of the red leaves and autumn foliage that Japan is famous for. I went to Yahiko a few weeks ago hoping to get a glimpse of the beautiful colours but it was too early in the season and only a few trees had started to change on the mountain. I always want to take advantage of my weekends to explore new places so I didn`t want to go back to Yahiko quite so soon. My friend Yoshi suggested a place called Nakanotei which is near Niitsu and only a 45 minute drive away from Niigata. It is the residence of the Nakano family who were avid collectors of art and ancient cultural artifacts. Their home has been converted into a Museum of Art Foundation and is a repository of national treasures and artifacts mostly from the Meiji Era. You can take a tour of the museum and the surrounding gardens. The garden is more like a huge park with amazing walking paths that take you around the grounds and through dense forests. Although I enjoy looking at artifacts and learning more about history, I was more interested in seeing the red leaves (koyo).
When we first arrived it was busy but when started to rain quite heavily the garden suddenly became empty and quiet. We walked through the silent forest and were alone among the ancient trees. The rain let up enough for us to take pictures, it left a dark gleam on the rocks and pathways that highlighted the vibrant leaves that had fallen. The landscape was incredibly breathtaking. Every turn held more color and as we got higher the leaves became more red. At the top gates of the garden we were surrounded by every color of the season, the scene was serene and made complete by the calm pitter-patter of lazy raindrops. I now understand Japan`s fascination and appreciation for the changing seasons, I have never been so captivated by nature. The leaves that had fallen seemed almost more vibrant than the ones still hanging on the branch. It is as if they burst with the most luscious colors just as they are dying and falling to the ground. They gorgeously stuck to the wet blackened rocks and were fleeting works of art for pedestrians to admire. I took more pictures of the ground than the actual trees because the fallen leaves were still so perfect and embodied the transition between autumn and winter. Autumn is my favourite season in Canada but on the west coast we don`t see very many red leaves so it was an amazing experience to see the fiery red koyo in Japan. I don`t think there is a season more beautiful than autumn, but I heard that the cherry blossoms in spring give it a run for its money. I can`t wait! I am a bit scared for winter because the heating in Japan is less than satisfactory but I will try to find the beauty in the season and look forward to the spring.
When we first arrived it was busy but when started to rain quite heavily the garden suddenly became empty and quiet. We walked through the silent forest and were alone among the ancient trees. The rain let up enough for us to take pictures, it left a dark gleam on the rocks and pathways that highlighted the vibrant leaves that had fallen. The landscape was incredibly breathtaking. Every turn held more color and as we got higher the leaves became more red. At the top gates of the garden we were surrounded by every color of the season, the scene was serene and made complete by the calm pitter-patter of lazy raindrops. I now understand Japan`s fascination and appreciation for the changing seasons, I have never been so captivated by nature. The leaves that had fallen seemed almost more vibrant than the ones still hanging on the branch. It is as if they burst with the most luscious colors just as they are dying and falling to the ground. They gorgeously stuck to the wet blackened rocks and were fleeting works of art for pedestrians to admire. I took more pictures of the ground than the actual trees because the fallen leaves were still so perfect and embodied the transition between autumn and winter. Autumn is my favourite season in Canada but on the west coast we don`t see very many red leaves so it was an amazing experience to see the fiery red koyo in Japan. I don`t think there is a season more beautiful than autumn, but I heard that the cherry blossoms in spring give it a run for its money. I can`t wait! I am a bit scared for winter because the heating in Japan is less than satisfactory but I will try to find the beauty in the season and look forward to the spring.
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