It was on my third autumn as a Tokyo resident that I finally made this resolve to do koyo or momijigari – the popular Japanese pastime of viewing the colorful autumn leaves. As the weather cools, autumn is the time when the leaves of maples, ginkgoes, and other Japanese deciduous trees turn ablaze with shades of yellow, orange, and red.
For someone like me who’d rather spend weekends holed up in bed than get out of the city, there are places in Tokyo that are as stunning as Kyoto and Nikko. The most popular place is at Jingu Gaien Icho Namiki, or ginkgo tree-lined avenue, the 300 meter stretch of road leading towards the Meiji Jingu Park and Memorial.
During the peak season from mid-November to early December, the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival or “Icho Matsuri” is held. There are food vendors lined up on both sides of the street selling delicious food, drinks, and products from different regions of Japan.
It can be easily accessed from either Gaienmae Station Exit 4a or from Aoyama Ichome Station Exit 1 . You have to be there very early if you want to avoid the crowd and be able to take good pictures. There are often film crews and wedding shoots going on here and it’s one of the most popular streets in Japan in autumn.
If you happen to be in Japan this time of the year, you’re in luck because the festival opens from November 16 to December 2, 2018.
Itchy Feet 
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