Japan Photo Gallery: Kiyosato Kogen Highlands

The Kiyosato Kogen Highlands rise to the southern foot of the Yatsugatake volcanic mountains in Yamanashi prefecture, near the border with Nagano. Yamanashi is most famous, of course, as home to Mount Fuji, and on a clear day you can see Fujisan rising solitary behind a screen of mountains from the Southern Alps and Chichibu ranges.

Koyo Autumn Leaves: Yamanashi

Tokyo may still be green, but in the Yamanashi highlands autumn’s koyo fall colours are on full display. 

As I mentioned in my last post, we’ve had a record hot and long summer here in Tokyo and region. Until a couple of weeks ago, I still sported quick-dry, ultra-light t-shirts during the day. After one last, record-breaking gasp of summer, however, on Saturday, October 12th, when the day’s high hit 31, we’ve settled into seasonal averages and the promise of autumn’s cooler temps – great for spending time out of doors! – and a gentle (?) decline into winter…