One of the best parts of autumn is watching the leaves turn red and yellow. My favorites are maple, Chinese tallow, and the flowering dogwood shown in these pictures.
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| 2024/10/21 |
Ginkgo (Ginkgo Biloba) イチョウ（銀杏）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is native to China, but can now be found across Japan. As a gymnosperm plant, the species has separate male and female trees. The male trees produce catkin-like structures from April to May, while the female trees bear seeds from September to November.
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| 2024/11/30 |
Chinese Tallow (Triadica Sebifera) 南京櫨（ナンキンハゼ）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The Chinese tallow tree is one of my favorite plants for its beauty throughout the year: spike-like green flowers and beautiful three-lobed green fruits from spring to summer, gorgeous gradients of red, orange, and yellow leaves in autumn, and chubby white seeds covered in capsules that start green and turn black in winter. The tree is native to China but can be found across Japan. Its leaves offer great habitats to insects, like nettle caterpillars (scroll down to see them) and yellow spotted stink bugs.
The Chinese tallow tree is one of my favorite plants for its beauty throughout the year: spike-like green flowers and beautiful three-lobed green fruits from spring to summer, gorgeous gradients of red, orange, and yellow leaves in autumn, and chubby white seeds covered in capsules that start green and turn black in winter. The tree is native to China but can be found across Japan. Its leaves offer great habitats to insects, like nettle caterpillars (scroll down to see them) and yellow spotted stink bugs.
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| 2021/12/2 |
Sacred Bamboo (Nandina Domestica) ナンテン（南天）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) is native to China, was brought to Japan for ornamental and medical purposes before the 16th century, and can now be found across the country. It is called nanten in Japanese—derived from the Chinese nantianzhú (meaning 'southern heavenly bamboo')—because people once believed it came from South Asia. The name nanten can also be written with the kanji 難転, which shares a sound with words meaning 'turning away misfortune.' Because of this wordplay, the plant is traditionally used in Japanese New Year decorations.
The sacred bamboo is known for its beautiful red berries, though its leaves also turn a gorgeous red from late autumn to winter (see the last three photos).
The sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica) is native to China, was brought to Japan for ornamental and medical purposes before the 16th century, and can now be found across the country. It is called nanten in Japanese—derived from the Chinese nantianzhú (meaning 'southern heavenly bamboo')—because people once believed it came from South Asia. The name nanten can also be written with the kanji 難転, which shares a sound with words meaning 'turning away misfortune.' Because of this wordplay, the plant is traditionally used in Japanese New Year decorations.
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| 11/10/2026 |
Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia Glyptostroboides) メタセコイア
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Some plants are aesthetically pleasing throughout the year and dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are one of them. In autumn, their leaves create a gorgeous view (scroll down) while from spring to summer, the leaves create a magnificent, fresh green view and the small deep green cones make me chuckle with their matcha chocolate like appearance.
Some plants are aesthetically pleasing throughout the year and dawn redwood trees (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) are one of them. In autumn, their leaves create a gorgeous view (scroll down) while from spring to summer, the leaves create a magnificent, fresh green view and the small deep green cones make me chuckle with their matcha chocolate like appearance.
The dawn redwood is a living fossil species. They're tall and their leaves look like fern leaves, which explains to me why I feel like I were in the dinosaur era under the trees. If you're interested in their annual life cycle, scroll down!
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| 2026/4/15 |
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| 2026/5/24 |
Burning Bush (Euonymus Alatus) ニシキギ（錦木）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is native to China, Korea, and Japan and can be found across Japan. The burning bush autumn leaves are very beautiful but because the bush grows to only 1 to 1.5 meter high, the beauty is often disregarded among maple and other taller trees. But the beauty of the burning bush is not just it. If you are closer to it, you can find small red arils with one to four vivid orange seeds inside.
The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is native to China, Korea, and Japan and can be found across Japan. The burning bush autumn leaves are very beautiful but because the bush grows to only 1 to 1.5 meter high, the beauty is often disregarded among maple and other taller trees. But the beauty of the burning bush is not just it. If you are closer to it, you can find small red arils with one to four vivid orange seeds inside.
As the plant's name suggests, its leaves look "burning." The burning bush is named "nishiki gi" in Japanese, which translates into "brocade tree," after such a beautiful red color of the leaves like brocade.
In May and June, you can also enjoy its tiny but beautiful yellowish green flowers (scroll down).
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| 2024/11/22 |
White Enkianthus (Enkianthus Perulatus) ドウダンツツジ（満天星躑躅）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
White enkianthus (Enkianthus perulatus) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces tiny white flowers from April to May but not just that. White enkianthus produces two other beautiful things.
White enkianthus (Enkianthus perulatus) is native to Japan and can be found across the country. The plant produces tiny white flowers from April to May but not just that. White enkianthus produces two other beautiful things.
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| 2026/4/11 |
Autumn Leaves 紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The best season for autumn leaves in Tokyo is from late November to early December. Red and yellow leaves are beautiful but the mixture of green, yellow, orange, and red leaves against the blue sky creates stunning views, doesn't it? Many go to famous (and sometimes distant and busy) places to see fall leaves but you can enjoy autumn foliage here and there in Central Tokyo without being disturbed by crowds.
The best season for autumn leaves in Tokyo is from late November to early December. Red and yellow leaves are beautiful but the mixture of green, yellow, orange, and red leaves against the blue sky creates stunning views, doesn't it? Many go to famous (and sometimes distant and busy) places to see fall leaves but you can enjoy autumn foliage here and there in Central Tokyo without being disturbed by crowds.
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| 2025/11/24 |
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| 2025/12/5 |
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| 2025/11/24 |
Oshima Cherry Blossoms (Prunus Speciosa) 大島桜（オオシマザクラ）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Unlike Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms, which are pinkish white, Oshima cherry blossoms start out whitish pink and then turn baby pink. Another difference is that Oshima cherry trees produce blossoms and leaves at the same time, whereas Somei Yoshino trees bloom first and put out leaves only after the blossoms fall.
There are various types of cherry blossoms, and while the Somei Yoshino is considered the king, Oshima cherry blossoms (Prunus speciosa) are just as beautiful—if not even more gorgeous.
If you're interested in learning about other types of cherry blossoms, check out my other post, 'List of Cherry Blossoms'!
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| 2025/3/27 |
Colorful Winter Leaves ポップな葉っぱ
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Ninety nine percent of people wouldn't notice them but their color gradients from green to orange, red and purple caught my eye. I believe they're chrysanthemum leaves but don't know for sure. The natural color gradients created by plants always fascinates me.
Liquidambar Styraciflua (American Sweetgum) 紅葉葉楓（モミジバフウ）
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is the fruit of an American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). It’s a dull brown, but its unique shape caught my eye. In contrast, the autumn leaves are incredibly colorful (see the second photo onwards)! The star-shaped leaves turn beautiful shades of green, yellow, orange, red, and deep purple.
The leaf shape of sweetgum resembles that of maple, but the sweetgum isn't in the Acer (i.e., maple) genus but in the Liquidambar genus.
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| 2025/1/24 |
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| 2021/11/5 |
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| 2021/11/11 |
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| 2021/11/5 |
Maple Leaves in Autumn もみじの紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Some leaves are still green but that makes the perfect color gradients from green to yellow, orange and red. Autumn leaves are beautiful but more beautiful against the blue sky.
Some leaves are still green but that makes the perfect color gradients from green to yellow, orange and red. Autumn leaves are beautiful but more beautiful against the blue sky.
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| 2024/12/14 |
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| 2024/12/27 |
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| 2024/12/27 |
Autumn Leaves - Their Way of Turning Red 紅葉してますけどそれが何か？
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I was doing jump rope and squats in a small park nearby this morning as usual, turned around, saw this, and murmured, "What the hell?," and then burst out laughing! Autumn leaves usually make me say "Wow" with their magnificent color gradients, but this vine of leaves caught my eye with not the bright red color but their way of being! Every leaf has their own way of turning red.
I was doing jump rope and squats in a small park nearby this morning as usual, turned around, saw this, and murmured, "What the hell?," and then burst out laughing! Autumn leaves usually make me say "Wow" with their magnificent color gradients, but this vine of leaves caught my eye with not the bright red color but their way of being! Every leaf has their own way of turning red.
Heart-Shaped Yellow Leaves ハート形の黄葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
One or two may not have caught my eye but that many hearts did and made me smile.
One or two may not have caught my eye but that many hearts did and made me smile.
Fall Foliage 紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Yesterday, I enjoyed magnificent gradations from green to red and today gradations from green to yellow. Interestingly, in Japan, the change in the color of leaves in autumn is called "koyo," which literally means "red leaves" whether they turn red or yellow. So, these yellow leaves are in Japanese "koyo," i.e., red leaves😆.
Yesterday, I enjoyed magnificent gradations from green to red and today gradations from green to yellow. Interestingly, in Japan, the change in the color of leaves in autumn is called "koyo," which literally means "red leaves" whether they turn red or yellow. So, these yellow leaves are in Japanese "koyo," i.e., red leaves😆.
Autumn Leaves in Japan 紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
The fall foliage season is getting later and later in Japan and many trees in my neighborhood still have green leaves, but this tree has got a head start over its peers. Red leaves are beautiful but leaves just before turning completely red create magnificent gradations from green to red.
Maple Leaves in Autumn 紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Going to a famous tourist spot to see beautiful autumn leaves is one thing and going for a walk in your neighborhood to look for the small beauty around you another. Autumn leaves in my neighborhood have started changing color from green to yellow and orange, and then to red. My favorite way of enjoying autumn leaves is to see from below against the blue sky, which makes the leaves strikingly beautiful.
Going to a famous tourist spot to see beautiful autumn leaves is one thing and going for a walk in your neighborhood to look for the small beauty around you another. Autumn leaves in my neighborhood have started changing color from green to yellow and orange, and then to red. My favorite way of enjoying autumn leaves is to see from below against the blue sky, which makes the leaves strikingly beautiful.
Autumn Leaves and Blue Sky 紅葉と青空
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I went somewhere and found them. It was a very sunny day. These autumn leaves were so red against the background of the blue sky.
Autumn Leaves - Hibiscus Hamabo (Hardy Yellow Hibiscus) 浜朴（ハマボウ）の紅葉
英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Hardy yellow hibiscus are such a bright lemon yellow in July, and their leaves turn so orange and red in December! Bad things can happen to anyone, but beautiful colors in nature—like the leaves in this photo—always give me strength. I'm an atheist, yet moments like this make me want to believe in God.
Hardy yellow hibiscus are such a bright lemon yellow in July, and their leaves turn so orange and red in December! Bad things can happen to anyone, but beautiful colors in nature—like the leaves in this photo—always give me strength. I'm an atheist, yet moments like this make me want to believe in God.
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| 12/3/2023 |
Fall Foliage with Still Green Leaves 緑と赤の秋
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a Japanese maple tree at Hibiya Park, Tokyo. Tree leaves have turned red and yellow everywhere but the combination of red and still green leaves is unusual. The temperature has dropped across Japan, however. The Japanese autumn leaves season will soon be over.
This is a Japanese maple tree at Hibiya Park, Tokyo. Tree leaves have turned red and yellow everywhere but the combination of red and still green leaves is unusual. The temperature has dropped across Japan, however. The Japanese autumn leaves season will soon be over.
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| A Japanese maple tree 紅葉 |
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