Autumn magic from Nara Park, 2025

Nara Park's autumn magic comes from its diverse trees which create vibrant tapestries of red, orange, 

and yellow leaves and freely roaming deer in the backdrop of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

(Photos were taken between the 14th and the 28th of November.)

南京櫨 Nankinhaze, Chinese Tallow Tree

Chinese Tallow leaves are eye-catching along the banks of Araike Reservoir.

The slopes of Mount Wakakusa look reddish because of young Chinese Tallow trees.

椛 Momiji, or Japanese Maples

Mizuyachaya, a small, charming teahouse, is at the back entrance of Kasugataisha Shrine.

Momiji, or Japanese Maples, are rapidly turning to the shades of red.

Kasugayama Mountain Trail runs through Mt. Kasuga Primeval Forest, which is behind Kasugataisha Shrine.

The forest has remained virtually untouched because of prohibited hunting and logging since 841. 

I gave up walking it through because of the news that a bear was spotted near the trail recently.

Leaf-framed Shibi of Todaiji Main Hall

The stunning fiery reds of Japanese Maples and the reflected vibrant colors in the glass of a window

in the garden of Iraka.

The painterly reflection of Japanese Maples on the pond surface distorted by ripples

Bathed in the late afternoon sun, Japanese Maples get ablaze.

銀杏 Icho, Ginkgo Tree

A deer and brilliant yellow fan-shaped Ginkgo leaves.

桜 Sakura, Cherry Tree

Autumn leaves of Sakura trees has a specila name "Sakura Momiji".

Momiji has two meanings; one is Japanese Maples and the other is colored leaves and grasses.

At Chayam-enchi, which do you like better, pink Sakura or reddish brown or orange Sakura Momiji?

A nature's wooden sculpture that looks like a resting animal and real deer.

It will be fine tomorrow.

BTW, my son completed Kobe Full Marathon again this year

with much better record than the last year's.

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Saturday's Critters

Autumn magic, 2023

On bright days during the past two weeks, I walked through shining autumn colors

 in the crisp air.

One day, the moon looked peeping through the Crape myrtle leaves.

There were magical scenes unfolding under the clear, blue skies.

Nov. 21st

- Kyoto Botanical Garden -

Formosa Sweetgum start changing colors to orange earlier in the season 

in the woods of Kyoto Botanical Garden.

Nov. 15th

Floating leaves and shimmering reflections on the water of the one of four ponds

 surrounding the woods of Nakaragi.

So relaxing to see male and female Mallard ducks swimming together.

- Nara Park -

Chinese Tallow look the most bewitching in the late November at Ukigumo-enchi.

Many of them were cut down and it's one of the few still standing.

Nov. 21st

Ginkgos at Daibutsu-ike Pond

Nov. 23rd

Kagami-ike Pond 

 

When winter is in the air, Japanese Maples, Acer palmatum, get accelerated to change to fiery red.

Sunset colors of yellow, rose, orange, red and gold, and even green 

can be present on the same leaf.

Grand finale of autumn; the curtain will come down soon.

Japanese Maple leaves are the last to fall to the ground.

Nov. 26th

Do you remember their spring colors of lush, bright leaves?

After bursting with its last beauty, nature gets muted in colors gradually 

into the real winter.

Yellow, red, and green reminded me of Marc Chagall, a magician of colors.

This copy of Chagall's work was painted by my grandson Y on a canvas board.

Y has joined art class once a two months to improve his painting skills

as well as to express himself.

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Mosaic Monday

Ao-momiji and other greenery at the Eikan-do Temple

Ao-momiji is young leaves of Japanese Maples which shines in the light of May

while Momiji is fiery red Maples in autumn.

Along the path leading to the temple gate

永観堂 EikandoTemple is one of the most breathtaking Momiji spots in Kyoto.

I took a stroll through ao-momiji and other greenery last year, which was fortunate.

What with drastic increase of inbound and with Golden Week holidays, April 29th to May 7th,

Kyoto's overtourism is returned to pre-Covid level this spring.

Overcrowded places and congested transportaion is really inconvenient for travelers

 and locals alike.

The sign reads "Eikando Temple noted for もみじ Momiji, Entrance to the halls"

Eikando's main halls are built alongside the base of the hillside and are connected 

by long wooden corridors and stairs.

A small garden surrounded by buildings in front of you on entering.

Exploring the halls starts by crossing this corridor.

All the long corridors and halls are one with nature.

This curving staircase, which leads to the smallest 開山堂 Kaizan-do Hall on the highest place,

is called 臥龍廊 Garyu-ro meaning "lying dragon corridor".

It made me feel like that I was purified climbing up and down through the Dragon.

 There is an outside stairway leading to the Kaizan-do Hall, too. 

Another outside steps.

At one corner in the temple's precinct, little green stars of Japanese Maples 

are shining through along this winding path.

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