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  〈2023〉Best 12 Places to See Autumn Leaves in Japan (Kyoto, Osaka and More)!

  Japan in autumn colors. Here are some of the best places in Kansai to see the autumn leaves, by area, from once-in-a-lifetime viewing spots to hidden gems. Please refer to the fall tourism in 2023.   -INDEX- 【KYOTO】 〇Higashiyama Area Famous place：Eikando Little known good spot：Anrakuji 〇Arashiyama Area Famous place：Jojakko-ji Little known good spot：Takenotera-Jizoin 〇Other Area Famous place：Rurikoin Little known good spot：Komyo-ji 【OSAKA】 Famous place：Minoh Waterfall Little known good spot：Katsuo-ji 【KOBE】 Famous place：Kobe Municipal Arboretum Little known good spot：Rokko-Arima Ropeway 【Other Area】 Himeji：KOKO-EN Nara：Hasedera temple Eikando is the best place in Higashiyama to view the autumn leaves. About 3,000 maple trees cover the entire precincts of the temple. The sight of the tallest pagoda, Dabotou, enveloped by the autumn leaves is a fantastic sight. Japanese maples are planted around the Housho Pond, and the reflection of the Japanese maples and the Gokuraku Bridge in the water is a must-see. Normally closed to the public, this special temple is open to the public only during the cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons. Within walking distance is the Philosopher’s Path, which is tinted in autumn, so a walk along this path is recommended. Highlights include the scattered autumn leaves that turn the stone steps of the temple gate bright red and the beautiful garden with Nyoigatake in the background. This temple is located on Mt. Ogura, known for the Ogura Hyakunin Isshitsu. In autumn, the approach from the entrance gate to the Niomon Gate is covered in autumn leaves, creating a tunnel of foliage. The autumn leaves surrounding the 12-meter tall Dabotou (pagoda), which is located at the top of the stone steps, is a must-see. The precincts of the temple and the area around the pagoda also offer a panoramic view of Kyoto City. It is a well-known autumn foliage viewing spot for those in the know. The trees change color later than other places in Kyoto, and the autumn leaves can be enjoyed until mid-December. Surrounded by lush bamboo groves, the contrast between the green of the bamboo and the changing colors of the autumn leaves is magnificent. The heart-shaped window, Inome-mado, in the Hojo is also open to the public. The autumn leaves cut by the window are breathtakingly beautiful. Ruriko-in Temple is a popular spot in Rakuhoku Yase, and the spectacular view of the autumn leaves reflecting on the lacquered desk on the second floor is a sight to behold. Anyone can take pictures of this spectacular view by holding up a camera at the desk. It is open to the public only twice a year, in spring and fall. Please enjoy the wide-open view of the autumn leaves as they spread across your field of vision. Sohonzan Komyoji Temple is located at the foot of Nishiyama in Nagaokakyo City. Visitors can see the rich expression of nature in each of the four seasons. Every year from mid-November to early December, a special entrance to the temple is held for the autumn foliage. The maple approach to the temple, with its impressive lineup of about 250 old maple trees, is a superb photo spot. Minoh Great Falls is one of the best places in Osaka to view the autumn leaves. The contrast between the waterfall and the autumn leaves in the vast Minoh Park is spectacular. You can enjoy the autumn leaves everywhere along the 2.6 km route from Hankyu Minoh Station to the falls. If you come to Minoh, you must try the famous “Momiji no Tempura” (maple leaf tempura). It is a slightly sweet and crunchy snack made by carefully frying real maple leaves one by one. You can buy it at a store on Takimichi. Known since ancient times as a temple of good fortune, the precincts of Minoh’s Katsuo-ji Temple are decorated with brilliant autumn leaves in November. The tunnel of autumn leaves covering the approach to the temple is especially spectacular. The contrast between the green mountains in the background and the autumn leaves is like a painting. Katsuo-ji Temple is also known as the temple of “Kachi-Dharma”. Small Dharma dolls are laid everywhere, including on the stairs and stone walls. Please enjoy the adorable Dharma and beautiful nature. The park is divided into different regions of the world, such as North America and Europe, and different types of trees, so that visitors can learn about the diverse beauty of autumn leaves. The area around Hase Pond is a particularly beautiful spot for viewing the autumn colors in a water mirror. Let’s take a stroll through the vast park and enjoy the world tour of autumn leaves! The Rokko Arima Ropeway connects the top of Mt. Rokko and Arima Onsen in about 12 minutes. Visitors can enjoy the changing autumn leaves depending on the elevation. The view of the autumn foliage from the gondola’s large foot-high windows is spectacular. There are nine gardens of different styles with Himeji Castle, which is registered as a World Heritage site, in the background. Because of the atmosphere of the Edo period, the gardens are often used for filming movies and TV dramas. In the fall, the Autumn Foliage Festival is held from mid-November to early December. (November 18 – December 4, 2022) The best time to visit is during the “Momiji-kai” (autumn foliage viewing), when the leaves are illuminated for a fantastic view. You can enjoy a fantastic view that is different from that of daytime. Hasedera Temple, located in Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, is known as the “Temple of Flowers”. The temple is open twice a year, in spring and fall, for a limited time for special visits. A must-see spot is the floor of the hall of worship. In autumn, visitors can enjoy the “Yuka-momiji” (floor maple leaves) that turn bright red. The view of the autumn leaves from the stage in front of the main hall is not to be missed. The five-story pagoda surrounded by autumn leaves is a magnificent sight. Be sure to visit Hasedera Temple, where the entire mountain is decorated with autumn leaves. Autumn in Japan is very vivid. There are so many places to see the autumn leaves that it is impossible to visit them all at once. Please find your favorite spot and enjoy the autumn foliage as you wish.

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  This is the place to go! An overwhelmingly beautiful architectural spot that harmonizes with the nature of Awaji Island!

  Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture is one of the best tourist spots in Kansai, surrounded by sea and greenery. The island is easily accessible from Osaka and Kobe, and visitors can enjoy a variety of nature, including the sea and mountains. Awaji Island is an attractive place where nature and tourist spots are blended together. In this issue, we will introduce some spots where you can enjoy architecture in harmony with nature.   -INDEX- １．Awaji Yumebutai・Awaji Greenhouse ２．Honpuku-ji Temple & Water Temple (Mizumido) ３．TOTO Seawind Awaji Awaji Yumebutai, a vast complex of resort facilities, was created on the slopes of the mountain with the idea of restoring greenery to the mountains where humans have chipped away at them. Architect Tadao Ando designed this large-scale facility based on the concept of “symbiosis between people and nature,” with the idea of “how much visitors can experience aspects of nature that are often overlooked in everyday life, such as water, wind, light, shade, sky, mountains, and the sea.” Hyakudanen, a garden with 100 flowerbeds arranged in a staircase pattern along the slope of the mountain. The four blocks are A (Africa, Central and South America, Oceania), B (Eurasia, North America), C (Asia, Japan), and D (Theme), each with seasonal flowers in full bloom in accordance with its concept. Looking out into the distance, visitors can enjoy the panoramic view of Osaka Bay! The vivid contrast between the sparkling blue sea and the colorful flowers and plants will surely enchant you. The “Round Forum” is located in the center of Awaji Yumebutai. It is a circular space with a diameter of approximately 32 meters and a height of approximately 11 meters, and is most impressive for its beautiful curves. Visitors can look up at the sky cut out in a circular shape, walk along the slope along the wall, or enjoy the view from the observation space at the top. The Elliptical Forum is a huge space, approximately 50 meters in diameter and 17 meters high. A unique sundial is installed on the concrete wall. The two long corridors flanking the Elliptical Forum are characterized by the opposing spatial beauty of light and shade. Located on the ocean side, “Sea Corridor” is an open space with a panoramic view of Osaka Bay. The “Mountain Corridor,” located on the mountain side, is a colonnade covered with frosted glass, while the “Sea Corridor” is a colonnade covered with glass. The “Soraniwa” (Sky Garden) stands out among the “Hyakudanen” and the “Mountain Corridor”. The staircase symmetrically intersecting the central pillar is overwhelming, and the shadows on the concrete wall and the sky seen through the walls and pillars are different from what we see in everyday life, giving it a somewhat mysterious beauty.   The “Open-air Theater,” with seating arranged in a mortar shape overlooking Osaka Bay, is reminiscent of an ancient Greek amphitheater. The power of nature is directly conveyed through the simplicity of the architecture. Enjoy a moment to feel nature, which is usually neglected, at the magnificent Awaji Yumebutai. The Awaji Greenhouse, located on the grounds of Awaji Yumebutai, is one of the largest greenhouse botanical gardens in Japan, with an innovative appearance that resembles two crossed rectangles. The 20-meter-high, all-glass building is flooded with natural light, creating a sense of openness and spaciousness. There are approximately 3,000 rare and colorful plants from around the world that can be seen in the museum. The museum is composed of five main exhibition halls, each with a different presentation that can be enjoyed in a circular fashion. “Midori no Choukoku (Green Sculpture)” grows and exhibits cacti and succulents that grow in arid regions. “Garden of Four Seasons” exhibits colorful plants that grow in the tropics and subtropics. “Kurashi no Midori (Greenery in Daily Life)” exhibits familiar plants that can be seen in daily life. “Shinka no Niwa (Garden of Evolution)” is based on the theme of the time when there were dinosaurs. Visitors can also see the Jurassic Tree, which was discovered approximately 200 million years ago and is considered a “living fossil”. “Nigiwai no Niwa (Lively Garden),” a garden of flowers and greenery that can be enjoyed by parents and children, is staged to bring plants closer to visitors. The “Garden Castle,” which grows to a height of approximately 8 meters, is the symbol of the facility. In the central garden, there is a kid’s space for children to play. After browsing the plant exhibits on the first floor, go to the terrace on the second floor. Okinawan plants and tropical fruit trees are on display, as well as picture books, illustrated books, and gardening books about plants. There are tables where you can sit and relax, admiring the greenery or reading a book. Please enjoy the extraordinary experience of being healed by a wide variety of greenery in a varied space. Honpuku-ji Temple is an old temple said to have been founded in the Heian period (794-1185), and its main hall, called “Mizumido,” was newly built in 1991, designed by Tadao Ando. A modern concrete wall stands at the far end of the temple grounds. Passing through the gate and proceeding along the curving concrete wall, a huge oval pond appears. In early summer, lotus flowers bloom, creating a fantastic view. A lotus pond with greenery in the distance. In the center of the lotus pond, there is a stairway leading to the Mizumido, which cuts through the surface of the lake. The name “Mizumido” comes from the fact that the lotus pond serves as the roof.   As you descend the stairs, stop and look back to see the sky cut out of the concrete wall. The shades of light, which change depending on the weather, create a unique atmosphere. Descending to the basement, you will find a world painted in vermilion. Light softly shines through the latticework, creating a somewhat dreamlike space. After proceeding through a narrow corridor, the vermilion-lacquered main hall appears. The main image seated in the center is a statue of Yakushi Nyorai, an important cultural property designated by Awaji City.   In the evening, the sun shines in the west and a red light floods from behind the main image, like a halo. This chic presentation, which is based on the image of the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, was inspired by the national treasure “Jodo-do Hall of Jodoji Temple” in Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture.   Honpuku-ji Temple is different from ordinary temples. You will be captivated by the seemingly contradictory combination of “ancient temple and modern” at first glance. TOTO Seawind Awaji, a resort hotel designed by architect Tadao Ando, stands on a mountain slope in the eastern part of Awaji Island. The hotel was built with an awareness of the harmony between people and nature, and visitors can enjoy the sea, greenery, and architectural beauty to their heart’s content. Entering through the main entrance, visitors are greeted by unique artwork by a sculptor from Awaji Island. The lobby is located at the end of the grand staircase, and the beautiful Osaka Bay cut out by the huge windows is a sight to behold. The walls are lined with bookshelves full of architecture-related books, so it is wonderful to sit on the sofa and enjoy reading time while looking out at the ocean. Looking at the front of the building from the outside, it looks like a work of art. The crossing corridor leading to the elevator building for the exclusive use of guest rooms is also a spectacular point from which you can view the panorama of the sea and the sky! Why don’t you stop once and let the beautiful horizon burn into your eyes? There are three types of rooms: Western-style rooms, Japanese-style rooms, and maisonettes. All rooms have large-opening windows, so they receive excellent sunlight. You can spend a pleasant time while being healed by the greenery seen from the windows. The restaurant, based on the color blue, has an ocean view! The restaurant’s terrace seats offer the luxury of taking a relaxing break while feeling the refreshing ocean breeze….   The summer-only pool is a popular spot at the facility. Please take a photogenic picture with the blue sea in the background. The verdant sea and lush greenery. The harmony of Awaji Island’s magnificent nature and architecture is a kind of art. Enjoy a different kind of hotel stay. Awaji Island has many architectural structures that show the harmony between people and nature, which will make your sightseeing more enjoyable. When you visit the Kansai region, be sure to make a trip to Awaji Island!

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  9 Best Kakigori in Kansai! The Best Summer Sweets in Japan!

  In the hot summer, what we miss is cold food, shaved ice. Japan has been experiencing a shaved ice boom for the past several years. In proportion to this boom, more and more stores are offering unique shaved ice, not only the simple ones with syrup, but also those with fruit on top, or flavors of ice itself. In this issue, we will introduce you to some of the best places to enjoy delicious shaved ice in the Kansai region. Try to find your favorite!   -INDEX- １．Specializing in sweet potatoes Ranran, specializing in ice and sweet potatoes, Ibaraki (Osaka) ２．Shaved ice themed on famous paintings unimocc, Tanimachi (Osaka) ３．The birthplace of mixed juice SENNARIYA COFFEE, Shinsekai (Osaka) ４．Enjoy shaved ice in an old house TOTARO, Karasuma (Kyoto) ５．Shaved ice to go with donuts koe donus, Kawaramachi (Kyoto) ６．Individualistic shaved ice Un berger manquant, Takarazuka (Hyogo) ７．Retro Cafe in Kobe Settlement New Roughrare, Sannomiya (Kobe) ８．Adult Summer Sweets Caffarel, Sannomiya (Kobe) ９．Long-established brand hospitality Salon Naramachi Store (Nara) A popular store in Ibaraki, Osaka is “Ice and Sweet Potato Specialty Shop Ranran”. In a space renovated from a 50-year-old old house, customers can enjoy fluffy shaved ice and sweet potato sweets made from special sweet potatoes. Originally an ice wholesaler, the shaved ice made by ice professionals is highly reputed. Our recommendation is the “Imozukushi,” which is a perfect combination of sweet potato and ice. The fluffy ice is filled with sticky sweet potato paste. It is served with sweet potato skin caramel sauce and salt for a change of flavor. Enjoy the rich shaved ice until the very end. The cafe “unimocc” in Tanimachi, Osaka, offers drinks and sweets inspired by famous paintings, and from July 1, a summer-only menu featuring Van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Moonlit Night” will be available. It is a drinkable shaved ice with a delightful crunchy texture, containing granita, an Italian shaved ice made by freezing syrup. The “Campus Cake” is also popular at this store, where you can experience making your own artwork by serving it yourself. Using real painting tools, you can make a pure white cake look like a canvas and serve it with colorful flavored creams to create your own unique work of art. “Sennariya Coffee” was established in 1948 as the birthplace of mixed juice, and in May 2022, the grand opening of Senjya Coffee Umeda took place. In the old-fashioned atmosphere of a junsha-style cafe, you can fully enjoy the retro Showa-era, photo-worthy menu. The very popular “Mixed Juice Frappe,” which is shaved ice with Sennariya Coffee’s signature mixed juice, is a milky, fruity concoction of homemade mixed juice sauce and milk ice. New this year is the “Kuromitsu Kinako no Mitarashi Frappe” topped with a homemade sauce that combines kuromitsu and kinako and topped with loose whipped cream and Mitarashi dumplings. Many other retro shaved ice menu items are also available. TOTARO in Karasuma Gojo, Kyoto, offers cool Japanese Sanbon shaved ice for the summer season only. Two types of shaved ice are available: “Kakigori Mizore,” ice with milk ice cream and passion fruit, topped with special Mizore, and “Kakigori Matcha,” matcha and wasanbon mixed with rich milk and topped with special matcha sauce. Please enjoy the ever-changing flavors as you continue to eat. TOTARO opened in March 2023 in a renovated vacant building. The earthen walls and floor plan of the 100-year-old house have been kept and renovated, and the restaurant offers a standing menu of healthful sweets and drinks that are made with a focus on sugar. Located in Kawaramachi, Kyoto, koe donuts offers doughnuts made with the keywords “organic,” “natural origin,” and “local production for local consumption” in terms of ingredients and production. Every summer, they offer “Kyoto shaved ice” to go with their donuts. This year’s theme is tea. The “Kyo-bancha and coffee bean paste” is a perfect match of the savory flavor of tea and the bitterness of coffee bean paste, making it a light and refreshing treat. The “Biwa and Jasmine Tea with Tofu Cream” is topped with the gentle flavor of tofu and a thick, juicy loquat compote, giving it an oriental flair. The store was designed by Kengo Kuma, a world-renowned Japanese architect, and features 572 traditional six-piece woven baskets made of bamboo from Arashiyama, Kyoto. Please enjoy the atmosphere of the store as well as the shaved ice and donuts. “Un berger manquant” is located in a building just a short walk from Hankyu Sakasegawa Station. This adult café serves baked goods and sherry, but it is also attracting attention from shaved ice lovers all over Japan as a place where shaved ice can be enjoyed all year round. The shaved ice menu changes every three weeks, which is surprising. There are always 3-5 varieties offered. The menu at this restaurant is full of strange combinations of ingredients. Pictured is the “Salted Caramel Rare Cheese Shaved Ice”. In the past, the shaved ice menu has included tomato cream with basil sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, garnished with lemon jus and fresh small tomatoes! Check out our Instagram for details on menu offerings! New Roughrare, a café in Kobe’s Kyoryuchi district, now offers a fruit-filled frappe. It is filled with fruit, homemade thick fruit sauce, fluffy shaved ice, and milk pudding hidden under the fluffy ice. It is not only cute but also delicious. Smoothies that can be easily taken out are also popular. Be sure to stop by for a stroll around the Kobe Settlement! New Roughrare is a café in a retro building located in the Old Settlement area, where you can feel the history of Kobe. You can enjoy a variety of food from sweets to meals. Caffarel, a long-established Italian chocolate brand, has launched its first shaved ice, “Gianduja Tiramisu Shaved Ice”! This beautiful and premium summer sweet for adults can be enjoyed exclusively at the Farrell Kobe Kitano main store. The Tiramisu can be enjoyed as cold shaved ice as it is, with caramelized hazelnuts and mango orange sauce around it, making it a premium shaved ice for adults. Caffarel is a long-established chocolate brand from Torino, Italy, founded in 1826. The company invented “gianduja chocolate,” which is a combination of roasted hazelnut paste and cacao, and spread it throughout the world. Since then, it has been loved all over the world. The “Salon” is the tea ceremony brand of Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten, a long-established brand in Nara that has been in business for over 300 years. We offer original products for enjoying tea at home, as well as delicious seasonal sweets and selected teas. Centered around Himuro Shrine, which enshrines a guardian deity of ice, Nara is home to a variety of shaved ice every year. For a limited time only, “Salon Naramachi” will offer “White Shaved Ice with Dark Green Tea Topping,” a shaved ice that can be changed to your own taste by pouring thick green tea on it. Enjoy the contrast between the pure white snow and the dark green of the shaved ice. How was it? All of the stores offer a variety of ice and syrups that make the most of the season. Let’s get through the summer with some cool and delicious shaved ice!

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  Let’s go to shrines and temples in Kansai for New Year’s “Hatsumode”!

  The first visit to a shrine or temple in the year is called “Hatsumode(New Year’s visit)”. Avoid crowds by taking into consideration the period and time of your visit. Shrines and temples each have their own “benefits”. This article will introduce you to Hatsumode spots in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara, according to their benefits. Dharma is popular as a good luck charm because it gets up after falling. Famous as a temple of luck, Katsuoji Temple has Dharma statues placed all over the temple grounds. Use the Dharma fortune to tell your fortune in various areas such as entrance exams, love, and sports. The shrine has been in existence since before 794, and is known as “Gion-san”. The headquarters of Yasaka Shrine and other shrines dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto throughout Japan. In addition to the main shrine, which is designated as a national treasure, there are many other deities enshrined within the precincts, including the Pestilence Shrine, which is dedicated to dispelling plague and evil. Shimogamo Shrine is known as a power spot for love knot. Here, you can draw a kimono-shaped fortune, called “Enmimusubi-mikuji. You will receive instructions on how to fall in love based on a waka poem from the Tale of Genji. The “Himemamori,” with its gorgeous chirimen fabric, is also gorgeous. If you want to be beautiful, go to Kawai Shrine! This is a small shrine inside Shimogamo Shrine, where the god who protects women is enshrined. Kawai Shrine offers a special ema (votive picture tablet) to pray for beauty. Use the cosmetics you normally use to apply beautiful makeup to your ema and make a wish. You will definitely become more beautiful, not only on the outside but also on the inside. Ikuta Shrine is located in the middle of the city of Kobe. The red and divine main shrine is fantastic, and the solemn atmosphere will cleanse your body and soul. Behind the main shrine is the Ikuta Forest, where you can do “water divination for marriage”. Also, the ema (votive tablet) at Ikuta Shrine is in the shape of a very cute heart. Say a prayer for a good match! Nishinomiya Shrine is the headquarters of all the Ebisu Shrines in Japan, which worship the god of good fortune, Ebisu-sama, and is known locally as “Ebessan of Nishinomiya. It is famous as the god of prosperity in business. The “Tai-mikuji”, which is given only during the New Year period, is very popular. In a long life, there are milestones at key points, and breaks due to various physical and social changes. In order to prepare for this milestone, the old people came up with the tradition of “bad luck years”. Yakujin Myoo is said to ward off all kinds of evil. Mondo Yakujin Tokoji Temple is one of the three Yakujin Myoo in Japan. Let’s pray for good luck to ward off bad luck so that we can have a peaceful new year. Nakayamadera Temple, the first Kannon sacred site in Japan, was founded by Prince Shotoku. Many pregnant women from all over Japan visit this temple, which is known as the “Temple of Safe Childbirth”. Nakayama Temple has an escalator so that pregnant women do not have to climb up the stone steps. This is a kind gesture that only a temple dedicated to praying for safe childbirth can make. Don’t miss the five-story pagoda, which was rebuilt in 2017 for the first time in about 400 years. The deep blue color is very impressive. Yakushiji Temple, a World Heritage Site, was built in 680 by Emperor Tenmu to pray for the healing of his empress’ illness. The main deity of the temple, Yakushiji Nyorai, is the Buddha of medicine. He removes people’s illnesses and misfortunes and gives them health and happiness. It is said to have the blessing of removing not only physical illnesses but also people’s grumbling hearts. Let’s visit a temple in ancient Nara and get power from it. I hope that the new year will be a good one for you.

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  6 Best Fall Flower Spots in Japan｜Dalia, Cosmos And Kochia

  From the end of the hot summer to the beginning of the fall foliage, pretty flowers bloom beautifully under the fresh blue sky. There are many colorful and beautiful sights unique to this season. In addition to introducing typical autumn flowers and plants, we will also introduce autumn flower spots in the Kansai region. The best time to see the flowers is only a guide, so please check the web before you go. 【Dahlia】 Best time to visit: early October to early November （HYOGO・TAKARAZUKA）Takarazuka Dahlia Garden （HYOGO・KAWANISHI）Kurokawa Dariya Garden 【Cosmos】 Best time to visit: early October to early November （NARA）HANNYAJI （HYOGO・AMAGASAKI）Mukogawa Hige no watashi cosmos garden 【Kochia】 Best time to visit: Early October to late October （OSAKA）Expo ’70 Commemorative Park （SHIGA）Biwako Hakodateyama Dahlias have great presence and power! Their large, bright flowers make their surroundings pop with color. They are popular not only for bouquets and arrangements, but also for gardening. The flowers come in a great variety of blooming styles, colors, and shapes. At Takarazuka Dahlia Garden, about 20,000 dahlias of 50 varieties are grown, and visitors can appreciate the colorful red, yellow, pink, and other flowers. The northern part of Takarazuka City is one of the largest dahlia bulb-producing areas in Japan, and the dahlia has been recognized as Takarazuka’s city flower. Dahlias bloom twice a year, in summer and fall. Takarazuka Dahlia Garden will be open for a limited time from mid-July to early August in summer and from early October to early November in fall. (Scheduled for October 1 – November 3, 2022. No closed days during the period) You can also enjoy picking dahlia flowers so you can take home gorgeous dahlias. (Paid). Kurokawa, Kawanishi City is located in the northernmost part of Kawanishi City and has been selected as one of the “100 best Nihon-no-sato” areas. The Kurokawa Dariya Garden is located at the foot of a nature-rich satoyama. It is operated by a local farmer. The Dariya Garden is adjacent to the Chimei Lake Campground. Approximately 1,000 dahlias of about 300 varieties are planted near the campground. The cool morning and evening temperatures make the flowers even more beautiful. Why don’t you come and see the gorgeous flowers blooming in the peaceful satoyama? The cosmos is a typical Japanese autumnal flower. Blooming in the autumn sky, swaying gently in the wind, cosmos make a magnificent sight when planted in clusters. They come in a variety of colors, including pink, red, white, and yellow. Hannya-ji Temple is known as a temple where flowers bloom from season to season. It is especially famous for its cosmos in autumn and is nicknamed “Cosmos Temple”. About 150,000 cosmos trees of 30 different varieties are planted, and when they are in full bloom, the cosmos flowers look as if they are enveloping the old hall and stone Buddha, creating a charming atmosphere. Glittering glass cubes of cosmos are placed here and there in the precincts of the temple. These glass squares are decorated with cosmos flowers floating in water, looking like jewels. The Mukogawa Hige no watashi cosmos garden was established in 2003. The riverbed, which was once in disrepair, has been transformed into a magnificent cosmos garden through the efforts of local residents. It has now become a well-known cosmos garden, attracting many visitors every year. From mid-October to mid-November, when the cosmos are in full bloom, a carpet of approximately 5.5 million brightly colored cosmos will spread over the riverbed. The park is scheduled to open on October 15, 2022. Kochia is a unique and lovely plant with a fluffy appearance that multiplies very well. At first it is green, but in autumn its leaves turn red, a very vivid and beautiful red. The kochia at the National Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture is a popular sightseeing spot in autumn. The kochia trees growing in clusters over a large area are a spectacular sight. Since 2022, about 4,000 kochia plants have been planted in Osaka’s Expo ’70 Commemorative Park on the hill of flowers, and as of the end of September, they are gradually changing color. This fall, the “Cosmos Kochia Festa” will be held from October 1 to October 30, where visitors can enjoy autumn flowers. We are looking forward to seeing the kochia that have grown so well over the summer turn bright red when autumn arrives. There are three cute little brothers and sisters hiding among the kochia in Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. The largest kochia field in the Kansai region is sure to become a new landmark! Biwako Hakodateyama in Shiga can be enjoyed as a ski resort in winter. In summer and fall, numerous seasonal flowers delight visitors. Hakodateyama Kochia Park has 6,000 kochia trees planted along its slopes. Not only kochia but also colorful flowers are in full bloom and the park is filled with flowers. Hakodateyama is reached by gondola with a view of Lake Biwa. From the terrace with chairs on the observation deck, where a large panorama spreads out, you can see Lake Biwa and the flower garden below. How was it? Autumn in Japan is the season of colored leaves, but there are many other places where you can enjoy autumn flowers and plants. Autumn is the perfect season to go out. Enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery that can only be seen at this time of year!