Fall is here in Japan, without a doubt my favorite time of the year since the weather is mild and the country becomes more beautiful. Just as spring is marked by 花見 hanami or cherry blossom viewing, the Japanese enjoy taking in the vibrant colors of fall, especially もみじ momiji or Japanese maple trees, and there’s nothing like having a barbecue in the mountains of Gunma with family and friends with the leaves showing their colors all around. Autumn is the season for being assaulted by ads for “limited” products like Kirin’s Aki-Aji (“Taste of Autumn”) beer, as well as TV commercials inviting us to get on a train and go to Kyoto, which is breathtakingly beautiful as the leaves turn. It’s hard to resist jumping out of my chair and heading there right now.
Autumn is my favorite season in Japan.
