Momiji-gari 紅葉狩り (Falling-Autumn-Viewing)
Momiji-gari is the autumn leaves which you can see in from mid-September to early December.(It depends on the place)
DESCRIPTION
In japan, each of the four seasons is distinct, and in autumn, autumn leaves is the representative event.
We called that event “momiji-gari”, it means maple hunting.
There are large numbers of broadleaved trees in the forest and the maple leaves turn red and ginkgoes turn yellow.Also evergreen trees are existing.
So, these creates the beautiful multi-colored autumn scenery.
Since ancient time around 11th century, the leaf peeping have been a major event in autumn.
It’s not only the colored leaves on the trees that the Japanese enjoy, but also enjoy the beauty in the leaves fluttering down to the ground.
There is the famous poem in japan.
It says, “Both the front and back of a maple leaves become visible as it flutters down.”
It means, when people die, everything is then revealed. Now the time has come for me to die. I have nothing to hide.
Seeing the fallen leaves, many Japanese are reminded of the transience of life and feel a sense of wistfulness.