Fifth Post - Momiji/紅葉/Fall leaves

In Japan, there are two "seasons" that are taken very seriously here. In the spring, the entire country follows the cherry blossoms as they bloom, and there are parties galore under the cherry trees in parks everywhere (it's called (o)hanami/お花見). The other is in the fall when all of the leaves start to turn.

At Osaka castle park in early November.

So it's actually quite the industry, catering to tourists during "momiji/紅葉" in the fall months in Kyoto. Someone told me that fall is actually the busiest time for tourists in Kyoto, even busier than the spring. And I can believe that; there were so many people in the city and on the buses going to the various temples near my university, it was insane.

I'm not a very good tourist because I didn't really do much in the way of momiji hunting. But I do want to share the places I did go. It's really quite beautiful here in the fall, so I can totally understand why so many people come :)

At Toufukuji/東福寺, apparently a nationally famous shrine for momiji.

At Fushimi Inari Taisha/伏見稲荷大社

At Kitano Tenmangu/北野天満宮, the same shrine as the first picture above.