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Kyoto’s Autumn Leaves Hit Peak

KYOTO - From high above Kyoto, the city’s autumn colors can be seen spreading vividly across the landscape, with trees throughout the area turning a deep, striking red that stands out even from the air.

Moving across the sky toward Arashiyama, one of Kyoto’s most popular sightseeing destinations, the view opens onto the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge. Looking beyond the bridge, the slopes behind it are covered in a sweeping gradient of red and gold. From the river to the mountains, the autumn foliage is clearly visible and beautifully layered.

Although the sun is currently shining from the opposite direction, a closer look reveals leaves sharply defined in bright shades of red. Many visitors have come to witness the scenery, and the streets below are filled with people capturing the moment on their cameras.

The colors in Kyoto appear deeper and more vivid by the day, enhancing the area’s traditional atmosphere. Even though it is a weekday, large crowds were seen around Togetsukyo Bridge earlier, and the surrounding area—known as a popular spot for strolling and sampling street foods—is bustling with tourists.

The late-afternoon sun is now beginning to cast long beams across the district, but visitors continue to gather in large numbers. I personally visited Arashiyama two weeks ago on my own, and even then the crowds were significant, with long waits to enter shops and restaurants.

The foliage has since grown even richer and more vibrant, suggesting that this coming weekend is likely to attract even more visitors eager to experience Kyoto at the height of its autumn beauty.

Source: YOMIURI

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Japan’s weather agency carried out field inspections in Yamanashi Prefecture on June 28 after a powerful earthquake struck the Fuji Five Lakes area late on June 26, registering a lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Fujikawaguchiko and injuring six people.

According to updates on June 28, the double-typhoon system that brought record rain, flooding, landslides and fallen trees to parts of Japan has moved away, but Kanto remains under cloudy rainy-season skies, with intermittent rain still possible and saturated ground keeping the risk of landslides high in areas hit by heavy rain.

The Kanto region is experiencing an unusual June, with three typhoons approaching the area during the month and rainfall totals already reaching record levels in some locations.

Damage was reported across the Kansai region after a stationary seasonal rain front and an approaching typhoon brought torrential rain on June 26, triggering landslides in Seika, Kyoto Prefecture, flooding homes in Nara, and disrupting roads and railway services in Osaka and surrounding areas.

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

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