奈良県には、全国的に知られた吉野をはじめ桜の名所がたくさんあります。『又兵衛桜』もその内の一つで、桜マニアにはよく知られた桜ですが、人口に膾炙したような桜ではありません。しかし、樹齢300年は超えるといわれる枝垂桜は見事なもので、満開になればその圧倒的な立ち姿を見るために多くの人が押し寄せます。最近はどこで知ったのか外国人も多く目立ちます。名称は大坂夏の陣で活躍した戦国武将後藤基次(又兵衛)に因んで付けられました。豊臣家崩壊後、後藤基次は大宇陀（現 奈良県宇陀市）の地で暮らし、豊臣再興の時期を待ったと伝わりますが、桜はその時の後藤家屋敷跡に立っています。
奈良県宇陀市は、 奈良県の北東部に位置し、北は奈良市、山添村、西は、桜井市、 南は吉野町、東吉野村、東は曽爾(そに)村、三重県名張市に接しています。 総面積は 247.62 kmあり、県下では第6番目の広さです。 大和高原と呼ばれている高原地帯に位置するため、 山林が全土地面積の72%を占めています。2006年に市政が布かれた新しい市で、市街地は４％しかありません。
万葉の歌人・柿本人麻呂が現在の大宇陀の阿騎野で「東の野にかぎろひの立つ見えて返り見すれば月傾きぬ」という秀歌を詠んだことでも知られています。又兵衛桜も例年なら３月下旬ごろには満開を迎えますが、今年はやっと満開を迎えたところです。 🌸

Nara Prefecture boasts many famous cherry blossom spots, including the nationally renowned Yoshino. Among them is the “Matabei Cherry Blossom,” a weeping cherry tree well-known to sakura enthusiasts but not widely recognized by the general public. However, this tree, said to be over 300 years old, is magnificent. When it reaches full bloom, crowds flock to admire its overwhelming presence. Recently, many foreign visitors have also been noticeable, though it is unclear how they learned about this site. Its name comes from the samurai Goto Mototsugu (Matabei), who distinguished himself during the Osaka Summer Campaign. After the fall of the Toyotomi clan, Goto Mototsugu is said to have lived in Ouda (now Uda City, Nara Prefecture), awaiting the opportunity to restore the Toyotomi rule. The cherry tree stands at the site of the Goto family’s former residence during this time. 
Uda City, located in northeastern Nara Prefecture, borders Nara City and Yamazoe Village to the north; Sakurai City to the west; Yoshino Town and Higashi-Yoshino Village to the south; and Soni Village and Nabari City in Mie Prefecture to the east. Covering an area of 247.62 km², it is the sixth largest city in the prefecture. Situated in the plateau known as the Yamato Highlands, forests account for 72% of its total land area. It is a relatively new city, having been incorporated in 2006, with only 4% of its area designated as urban. 
Uda is also famous for the poem composed by the Manyo poet Kakinomoto no Hitomaro in Akino, present-day Ouda: “In the eastern field, a glow rises; turning back, the moon sets.” The Matabei cherry tree, which typically reaches full bloom in late March, has only recently reached full bloom this year. 🌸

高瀬川で思い出すのは『高瀬舟』。安楽死を取り上げた森鴎外の短編小説です。高瀬舟で罪人を護送する同心の羽田庄兵衛は「弟殺し」の罪で島流しに会うというのに晴れやかな表情の罪人に興味を持ち、仔細を聞きます。名を喜助と言い、弟と貧しい中でも力を合わせて細々と暮らしていました。ところが、弟が病に臥せってしまいます。
ある日、仕事から帰ると喉にカミソリが食い込んだ弟がいました。弟は懸命に働く兄を案じて自ら命を経とうとしたのですが死に切れていませんでした。すぐに医者を呼ぼうとする兄を静止して弟はこのまま死なせてくれるように懇願します。兄は弟の必死さを受け止めて、最後には喉からカミソリを引き抜いて弟にとどめを指しました。
兄の喜助からしてみれば、逃れられない死の運命の中苦しむ弟をひと思いに解放してやったという満足感が勝り、後悔などあろうはずがなく晴れやかな顔だったのです。一連の話を罪人から聞いた庄兵衛は悩みます。逃れることのできない死の運命の中苦しむ弟を介錯した兄。果たしてこの殺人は裁かれなければならない罪なのだろうかと疑問に思います。しかし、答えは出ることはなく高瀬舟はただ目的地に向かって高瀬川を下っていきます。

この冬の厳しい寒波のせいで開花も遅れ、いまやっと散り始めた桜が花筏になって、喜助を乗せた高瀬舟と同じように高瀬川を静かに下っていきます。

What comes to mind when thinking of the Takase River is ‘The Boat on the Takase River,’ a short story by Mori Ōgai that deals with euthanasia. Haneda Shōbei, a constable escorting a convict in the Takase boat, grows intrigued by the convict, who is exiled for the crime of ‘killing his younger brother’ but wears a serene expression. The convict’s name is Kisuke, and he once lived a modest life, striving together with his younger brother despite their poverty. However, his brother fell ill.
One day, upon returning home from work, Kisuke found his brother with a razor embedded in his throat. The younger brother, concerned for his hardworking elder brother, had attempted to take his own life but had not succeeded. As Kisuke rushed to summon a doctor, his brother pleaded desperately to be left to die as he was. Taking in his brother’s urgency, Kisuke finally pulled the razor from his throat, ending his life.
For Kisuke, freeing his brother from the inevitable suffering of his terminal fate brought him a sense of fulfillment, leaving no room for regret. This is why he bore a calm demeanor. Upon hearing Kisuke’s story, Shōbei was troubled. A brother who assisted in ending his sibling’s suffering under the shadow of unavoidable death—was this act of killing truly a crime that deserved judgment? However, an answer never emerged, and the Takase boat continued its journey down the Takase River toward its destination.

Due to the severe cold wave this winter, the cherry blossoms bloomed late and are only now beginning to scatter. Their petals, forming rafts of blossoms, drift gently along the Takase River, just like the Takase boat carrying Kisuke.

雛のつるし飾りの歴史は、伊豆稲取地区の独自の伝統として長く親しまれています。その起源は明確ではありませんが、明治生まれのおばあさんが子供の頃から存在していたと言われるため、江戸時代後期から続いていると考えられます。当時、雛人形を飾る文化は既にありましたが、とても高価なため一部の裕福な家庭でしか扱われていませんでした。
そのため、雛人形を飾ることのできない一般家庭では、お母さんやおばあちゃん、叔母さん、近所の人たちが集まり、お古の着物の端切れなどを持ち寄って、女の子の健康と幸せを祈りながら様々なモチーフの小さな人形を作り、紐でつなぐ「雛のつるし飾り」の伝統が始まりました。この風習は現在まで受け継がれています。
日本三大つるし飾りとして有名なのは、九州柳川地区の「さげもん」、山形酒田地区の「傘福」、そして伊豆稲取地区の「雛のつるし飾り」です。これらの三地区には、それぞれの歴史的背景や由来があり、文献なども残されています。各地で見られる「つるし飾り」は、それぞれの地域の風土や文化を反映しながら、独自の美しさを持っています。
このように、雛のつるし飾りは庶民の創意工夫と温かい心が込められた伝統工芸品であり、女の子たちの健やかな成長と幸せを願う気持ちが形となったものです。

The history of Hina Tsurushi Kazari (hanging hina decorations) has been cherished as a unique tradition in the Inatori district for a long time. Although its origins are not clear, it is believed to have continued since the late Edo period, as it is said that it existed from the time of a grandmother born in the Meiji era was a child. At that time, there was already a culture of displaying Hina dolls, but they were very expensive and only available to some wealthy families.
Therefore, in ordinary households that could not afford to display Hina dolls, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and neighbors gathered, bringing scraps of old kimonos, and while praying for the health and happiness of girls, they made small dolls with various motifs and connected them with strings. The tradition of “Hina Tsurushi Kazari” began. This custom has been passed down to the present day.
The three major hanging decorations in Japan are “Sagemon” in the Yanagawa district of Kyushu, “Kasafuku” in the Sakata district of Yamagata, and “Hina Tsurushi Kazari” in the Inatori district of Izu. These three districts have their own historical backgrounds and origins, and documents remain. The “Tsurushi Kazari” seen in each region reflects the local climate and culture, and has its own unique beauty.
In this way, Hina Tsurushi Kazari is a traditional craftwork filled with the ingenuity and warm hearts of the common people, and it is a form of the wish for the healthy growth and happiness of girls.

伊豆の友人から河津桜の便りがやっと届きました。例年より半月遅れの便りです。比較的温暖な南伊豆の河津町も、さすがに今年の寒波には勝てなかったのでしょう。
２月１日〜２月28日までの「河津桜まつり」も３月９日まで延長されるそうで、３月上旬が満開と予想しています。河津桜から半月遅れでソメイヨシノが咲き始めると、桜前線が南から北上を始め、日本中がサクラサクラで沸き立ちます。
ただでさえ訪日外国人が増える中、サクラ目当てのさらに多くの外国人が押し寄せ、日本中が大混乱になることも予想されます。

I finally received news about the Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms from my friend in Izu. This year, the update arrived about half a month later than usual. Even in the relatively warm town of Kawazu in southern Izu, it seems that this year’s cold wave was too much to overcome.
The “Kawazu-zakura Festival,” originally scheduled from February 1 to February 28, has been extended until March 9, and the blossoms are expected to be in full bloom in early March. About half a month after the Kawazu-zakura bloom, the Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms will begin to open, signaling the northward journey of the sakura front. As the cherry blossoms move from south to north, the entire country will be swept up in sakura fever.
With the number of foreign visitors to Japan already on the rise, an even greater influx of tourists coming specifically for the cherry blossoms is expected. This could lead to a nationwide frenzy, as Japan finds itself overwhelmed by sakura-seeking travelers.

今日1月24日から2月2日まで、第30回神戸ルミナリエが開催されます。
神戸ルミナリエは、1995年に発生した阪神・淡路大震災をきっかけに始まったイルミネーションイベントです。震災からの復興と追悼を目的に、その年の12月に初めて実施されました。以来、毎年開催されて、神戸市の冬の風物詩として定着しています。ただ、2020年から2022年まで新型コロナウイルス感染症（COVID-19）の影響で中止され、再開された2024年からは1月開催に変更されました。
ルミナリエはイタリア語で「光の祭典」を意味し、イタリアの照明作家によるデザインで構成されています。数百万個の電球が織りなす壮麗な光のアートは、多くの人々の心を温め、希望の象徴として親しまれています。
開催地は、東遊園地、旧外国人居留地、メリケンパークの三か所で、それぞれ異なるテーマやデザインのイルミネーションが飾られます。特に、メリケンパークでは有料の特別鑑賞エリアが設けられており、落ち着いて美しい光のアートを楽しむことができます。
神戸ルミナリエは、震災の記憶を後世に語り継ぎ、人々に寄り添いながら未来への希望を灯し続ける意義があります。季節の風物詩としてだけではなく、震災の教訓と復興の象徴として、多くの人々に支持されているイベントです。

Kobe Luminarie is an illumination event that began in response to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. It was first held in December of that year, serving the dual purpose of commemorating the disaster and fostering hope for reconstruction. Since then, it has been held annually, becoming a beloved winter tradition in Kobe City.
The word “Luminarie” means “festival of lights” in Italian, and the designs are created by Italian lighting artists. The magnificent light art formed by millions of bulbs warms the hearts of many and is cherished as a symbol of hope.
The event takes place in three locations: Higashi Yuenchi, the Former Foreign Settlement, and Meriken Park. Each site features different themes and designs of illumination. Notably, Meriken Park has a special paid viewing area where visitors can enjoy the beautiful light displays in a more relaxed setting.
Kobe Luminarie holds significant importance as it continues to pass down the memory of the earthquake to future generations, providing comfort and lighting the way for a hopeful future. It is not only a seasonal tradition but also an event supported by many people as a symbol of the lessons learned from the disaster and the spirit of reconstruction.

春の花が咲き誇る知らせが届くと、心に温かな陽光が差し込むようです。しかし、季節の移ろいを感じると、時の流れの速さに焦りを感じます。特に老いが進むと、これから迎える春の数が限られているのではないかと、不安が募ることがあります。
日々の忙しさの中で、ふと立ち止まり、自然の変化を感じる瞬間はとても大切です。花の便りは、そうした貴重な時間をもたらしてくれます。だからこそ、一瞬一瞬を大切に過ごしていきたいと思います。
老い先が短く感じられる今だからこそ、日々の中で小さな喜びや感動を見つけて、心豊かに過ごすことが大切です。春の訪れがもたらす希望と同じように、人生にも小さな希望を見つけながら、穏やかな時間を積み重ねていきたいものです。

When news of spring flowers blooming arrives, it feels like a warm ray of sunshine lights up my heart. However, feeling the changes of the seasons, I can’t help but feel the rush of time. Especially as one ages, there’s an increasing anxiety about how many more springs one will witness.
In the busyness of everyday life, those moments when we can stop and notice the changes in nature are truly precious. Flower news brings such valuable time. That’s why I want to cherish each moment as it comes.
Now, feeling that my remaining time is limited, it’s even more important to find small joys and inspirations in daily life and live with a rich heart. Just like the hope brought by the arrival of spring, I want to find small hopes in life and calmly build up serene moments.

十日えびすは、毎年1月10日に商売繁盛の神様であるえびす様を祀る祭りで、福を求めて多くの人が神社を訪れる賑やかな行事です。えびす様は、笑顔で釣り竿と鯛を持ち、福をもたらす神様として広く信仰されており、特に漁業や商売の守護神とされています。この祭りの起源は江戸時代に遡り、現代の形が整えられたとされています。関西地方を中心に盛んに行われ、大阪や兵庫の神社では大規模な祭りが催され、各神社で独自の風習や名物が見られます。
十日えびすで最も多く祈願されるのは商売繁盛です。商売人だけでなく、仕事運向上や事業成功を願う人々も多く訪れ、家内安全や健康、恋愛成就など、さまざまな願いが込められています。この時期には縁起物も多く販売され、代表的なものに福笹があります。福笹には鯛や小判、打ち出の小槌などの縁起物を飾り付け、商売繁盛の願いを込めます。また、熊手や破魔矢も人気があり、これらはお守りとして大切に扱われています。
近年では、伝統的な十日えびすの形式に加えて、現代風にアレンジされたイベントも増えています。福娘との記念撮影や福引大会、飲食ブースの出店など、多くの人が楽しめる工夫がなされています。これにより、従来の信仰の場としてだけでなく、地域の賑わいを創出する観光イベントとしても注目されています。このように、十日えびすは伝統と現代の融合により多くの人々に親しまれている行事です。

＊上記の文章は、下記を参考に指示して生成AIの『ChatGPT』が生成しました。

【記事のポイント】

• 十日えびすの日付、期間、由来を簡潔に説明
• 福笹や縁起物など、お祭りの特徴的なものを紹介
• 商売繁盛だけでなく、他の願いも叶うことをアピール
• 地域の人々との交流など、お祭りの雰囲気も伝える

【キーワード】

十日えびす、えびす様、商売繁盛、福笹、縁起物、福娘、新年、関西

Toka Ebisu is a lively festival held every year on January 10th, during which Ebisu, the deity of prosperity in business, is worshipped. Many people visit shrines to pray for good fortune. Ebisu is widely revered as a smiling deity holding a fishing rod and a sea bream, believed to bring good luck, especially as a guardian deity of fishermen and merchants. The origins of this festival date back to the Edo period, and its modern form has been refined over time. It is primarily celebrated in the Kansai region, with large-scale festivals held at shrines in Osaka and Hyogo, where unique customs and local specialties can be observed at each shrine.
The most common prayer at Toka Ebisu is for business prosperity. Not only merchants, but also many people seeking career advancement and business success visit the shrines. Prayers for family safety, health, and romantic fulfillment are also common. During this period, many lucky charms are sold, with the most representative being “Fukuzasa” (lucky bamboo branches). These branches are adorned with auspicious items like sea bream ornaments, gold coins, and the mallet of fortune, symbolizing wishes for prosperity in business. Additionally, kumade (rake-shaped charms) and hamaya (decorative arrows) are popular and cherished as protective talismans.
In recent years, besides the traditional Toka Ebisu format, modernized events have also become more common. These include photo sessions with “Fukumusume” (lucky maidens), raffle draws, and food booths, providing entertainment for many attendees. As a result, Toka Ebisu has gained attention not only as a place of traditional worship but also as a tourist event that revitalizes local communities. In this way, Toka Ebisu has become a beloved event for many people, blending tradition with modernity.

*The above text was generated by the AI ​​”ChatGPT” with the instructions below as a reference.

[Article highlights]

• A brief explanation of the date, period, and origin of Toka Ebisu

• Introducing the distinctive features of the festival, such as the lucky bamboo and lucky charms

• Emphasizing that other wishes will come true, in addition to business prosperity

• Communicating the atmosphere of the festival, such as interactions with local people

[Keywords]

Toka Ebisu, Ebisu-sama, business prosperity, lucky bamboo, lucky charms, lucky girl, New Year, Kansai

From Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto’s Sanjo area, trains head to “Yase-Hieizanguchi Station” and “Kurama Station.” The first line to open was the one to Yase-Hieizanguchi Station, known as the Eizan Main Line. Later, the Kurama Line was created by branching off from the Eizan Main Line at Takaragaike to reach Kurama Station. Together, these are called Eizan Electric Railway (commonly referred to as Eizan Railway). Spring offers cherry blossoms, summer showcases lush greenery, autumn boasts vibrant foliage, and winter reveals snowy landscapes—this is a place where Japan’s four seasons can be thoroughly enjoyed. Especially in this season, both the Eizan Main Line and the Kurama Line offer spectacular views of autumn leaves.
Today, I visited Rurikoin Temple, a hidden gem for autumn foliage enthusiasts. Situated at the foot of Mount Hiei and at the entrance of Yase, a valley along the Koya River with views of the Wakatan mountain range to the west, this temple belongs to the Jodo Shinshu sect. The name “Ruri” (lapis lazuli) refers to one of the seven treasures that adorn the Pure Land of Paradise and represents the sacred blue of the Pure Land. The main garden, covered in layers of moss and surrounded by dense maple trees with a pure spring bubbling up, radiates a brilliance resembling the hue of lapis lazuli, which is how the temple got its name, “Rurikoin.”
Rurikoin is a branch of Muryojuzan Komyoji Temple in Gifu Prefecture and was originally designed as a villa. It began as a retreat for Gentarou Tanaka, the founder of Kyoto Electric Light (the predecessor of Eizan Electric Railway), and was initially named “Kikakutei” by Sanjo Sanetomi. During the Taisho and Showa periods, the current buildings and gardens were developed on its 12,000-tsubo (approximately 40,000-square-meter) grounds. The shoin (study hall), built in the refined sukiya style, was designed by the renowned Kyoto sukiya architect Sotoji Nakamura.
One of the most popular spots within Rurikoin is the second floor of the shoin, where the Ruri Garden reflects on the desks and floors. The natural light gently filters into the room, and the sight of the autumn leaves mirrored on the lacquered desks—the so-called “upside-down maples”—creates a fantastical beauty, as if one is being drawn into a world inside a mirror.

京都三条の出町柳駅からは「八瀬比叡山口駅」行きと「鞍馬駅」行きが出ています。最初に開通したのが「八瀬比叡山口駅」行きで、この線を叡山本線と言います。後に叡山本線の「宝ヶ池」から分岐して「鞍馬駅」行きの鞍馬線ができます。併せて叡山電鉄（通称叡山電車）と呼びます。春は桜、夏は緑樹、秋は紅葉、冬は雪景色と、日本の四季をここだけで満喫できる風景が広がっています。中でも今の季節、叡山本線に乗っても鞍馬線に乗っても最高の紅葉が楽しめます。
今日訪ねた瑠璃光院は知る人ぞ知る紅葉の隠れ名所です。比叡山の麓に位置し、西に若丹山地を望む高野川沿いの渓谷に位置する八瀬の入り口にある浄土真宗の寺院です。瑠璃とは、極楽浄土を飾る七宝の一つである浄土の色。種々の楓が繁茂する深山の地に、幾重もの苔に覆われ清らかな泉が湧く、その主庭全体がまさに瑠璃色に輝かんとする様子から「瑠璃光院」という寺号がつけられました。
瑠璃光院は、岐阜県にある浄土真宗 無量寿山光明寺の支院で、もともとは別荘として設計されました。叡山電鉄の前身である「京都電燈」の創業者、田中源太郎の庵として始まり、三条実美によって当初「喜鶴亭」と名付けられました。1万2000坪の敷地に大正から昭和にかけて現在の建物と庭園が整備され、数寄屋造りの書院は京数寄屋造りの名人と称される中村外二によって造営されました。
瑠璃光院の中でも最も人気のスポットである書院2階からは、瑠璃の庭が書院の机や床にリフレクションする様子が一望できます。自然光が室内に柔らかく差し込み、秋の紅葉が漆塗りの机に映し出される逆さ紅葉は、まるで鏡の中に吸い込まれてしまうような幻想的な美しさです。

Rows of Kidachi Aloe blooming with red flowers are lined up. The chirping of birds, “chee-chee,” can be heard, and when I look closely, I see a Japanese white-eye (Mejiro). They’re commonly seen in spring when plum blossoms are blooming, but I never imagined they would be attracted to aloe. When I searched online, I found many similar stories shared, which surprised me. Japanese white-eyes are known to favor the nectar of plums, as well as peaches and camellias, so the nectar of aloe flowers must also be sweet.
It is said that there are over 300 species of aloe worldwide, but in Japan, Kidachi Aloe and Aloe Vera are the most popular, with a few other varieties known for ornamental purposes. Kidachi Aloe is believed to have been introduced to Japan around the Kamakura period, making it a plant with a long history.
Aloe has been used medicinally since ancient times, even before the Common Era. In Egypt, it was highly valued as the “plant of immortality,” which is likely how it made its way to Japan. Research on aloe continues today, and it has been discovered that the bitter compound known as aloin has benefits such as promoting digestive health and relieving constipation. Additionally, aloe is said to have moisturizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, making it useful as a topical treatment for wounds, burns, and insect bites. This is why it’s often called the “doctor in a pot.”
While aloe is widely used for medicinal purposes, it is also said that the famous Cleopatra used aloe as a facial toner to maintain her youthful beauty.
Aloe Vera is also familiar as an ingredient in yogurt or as a garnish for sashimi. Furthermore, due to its high moisturizing effects, it is often used as a cosmetic ingredient.

赤い花を咲かせたキダチアロエがずらりと並んでいます。チーチーと鳥の囀りが聞こえますのでよく見ると、メジロです。春、梅の咲くころにはよく見かけますが、アロエにメジロなんて考えてもいませんでした。ウェブサイトで調べてみたら、同じような体験談が結構載っているんですね。驚きました。メジロが好むのは梅のほかに、モモやヤブツバキといった甘い蜜が好きですから、アロエの花も密が甘いのでしょう。
アロエは世界には３００種類以上もあるそうですが、日本ではこのキダチアロエとアロエベラが最もポピュラーで、後は観賞用に数種類が知られています。キダチアロエは鎌倉時代頃に伝来したといいますから、ずいぶん歴史のある植物です。
アロエは遥か昔、紀元前の頃から薬用として用いられ、エジプトでは「不滅の植物」として重用されていたそうですから、それが日本伝来の由来でしょう。現在もアロエについての研究は続いており、苦味の元となるアイロンという成分には健胃作用や便秘解消などの働きがあることがわかっています。またアロエには保湿や抗菌、消炎効果があるとされており、傷や火傷、虫さされの外用薬としても用いられます。「医者いらず」と言われる所以です。
薬用として重用される一方、かの有名なクレオパトラは若さを美貌を保つためにアロエを化粧水として愛用していたといわれています。
アロエ・ベラは、ヨーグルトや刺身としても馴染みがあります。また、保湿効果が高いので化粧品の原料として使われることもあります。

In Eastern and Western Japan, where the peak season for autumn foliage is usually reached by early November, this year the season is about half a month later than usual, and it is currently at its peak. However, one characteristic of this year is that the leaves seem to wither all at once without leaving much time to enjoy their lingering beauty.
Even so, the autumn foliage in Japan is undeniably beautiful.
The vibrant autumn colors can only be seen in deciduous broad-leaved trees among the many types of trees. These deciduous broad-leaved trees are predominantly found in regions such as East Asia, including Japan, parts of Europe, and the eastern part of North America. In other words, the very existence of autumn foliage is a rare phenomenon.
Moreover, while the autumn colors in Europe and America are often monochromatic, in Japan, you can see a rich variety of colors—red, yellow, orange—mixed with the green of evergreen trees, creating a multicolored and beautiful tapestry. Even the fallen leaves are picturesque.
Additionally, one reason why Japan’s autumn foliage is so popular as a tourist attraction is that the stunning autumn leaves harmonize perfectly with traditional structures such as temples and shrines. Particularly for foreign visitors, the scenery of ancient Japan, including traditional Japanese houses, exudes a mystical atmosphere, leading to an overflow of foreign tourists at famous autumn foliage spots.

例年11月上旬までに見頃を迎える東日本や西日本の紅葉の名所では、今年は平年より半月ほど遅れて今が最盛期を迎えています。そして余韻を楽しむ暇もなく一気に枯れてしまうのも今年の特徴のようです。
それにしてもやはり日本の紅葉は美しい。
美しい紅葉が見られるのはたくさんある樹木の中でも落葉広葉樹だけです。その落葉広葉樹が多く存在しているのは日本を含む東アジアやヨーロッパの一部、北アメリカの東部に限られています。つまり、紅葉がみられること自体が貴重なんです。
しかも、欧米での紅葉と言えば、単色が多いようですが、それに比べ日本は、赤や黄色、オレンジ色があり、常緑樹などの緑色も混ざって多彩で美しい紅葉がみられるのです。落ち葉でさえ絵になります。
また、日本の紅葉が観光地として人気があるのは、お寺や神社など、日本の古くからの建物が美しい紅葉と見事にマッチするからということもあります。とりわけ外国人には、古来の日本の風景や日本家屋には神秘的な雰囲気が感じられ、紅葉の名所には今や外国人が溢れかえっています。