insights from frontier Japan

Autumn foliage at ‘Shiretoko Goko’ (five lakes), a popular tourist spot in the Shiretoko World Natural Heritage site in the town of Shari in eastern Hokkaido, reached its peak on October 1. Leaves on the Manchurian ash and mizunara (Mongolian oak) trees in the vicinity of the lakes have turned various shades of red, yellow and orange. Many visitors could be seen taking photographs with Smartphones and cameras on an elevated boardwalk that commands panoramic views directly in front of the Shiretoko Mountain Range and one of the lakes. According to the Shiretoko Goko Field House, the colors of the leaves began to turn in late September, one week earlier than usual.

The autumn foliage has reached its peak around Taisetsu Kogen Onsen in Sounkyo in the town of Kamikawa in northern Hokkaido. The red rowan and yellow butterfly maple (acer tschonoskii) leaves created beautiful patterns amid the sunlight during the fine weather on September 25.

As autumn approaches, Japan's largest natural glasswort area in Ubaranai, Abashiri City is beginning to change colors. The annual September "Lake Notoro Coral Grass Festival" has been cancelled for the second year running in response to the State of Emergency Declaration for Hokkaido as a COVID-19 countermeasure, but tourists are still enjoying the colorful vermillion scenery with the lake as a backdrop.

Cinnamon fern from the royal fern family of plants have turned a golden color around the shores of Naganuma Marsh (Horonobe Town) in the Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park in northern Hokkaido.

At Obihiro Zoo in eastern Hokkaido's Obihiro City, Hokkaido raccoon dogs are drawing attention for their ways of looking for food in a pile of red and yellow autumn leaves and burrowing into the leaves to relax.

The "Hokuto Momiji Festival" took place for the first time in Hachironuma Park in southern Hokkaido's Hokuto City on October 23. The trees were also illuminated that evening, and the red and yellow lit trees reflected on the water surface, producing a magical fantasy ambiance.

Foliage in mountainous areas and around lakes in the Kushiro and Nemuro regions is turning red and yellow as October progresses in eastern Hokkaido. The autumn scenery is on full display as the colours of the trees contrast beautifully with the evergreens.