Mt. Fuji & Its Autumn Leaves

The Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival starts on November 1st and lasts until November 23rd, but this festival is only one of many vantage points from which to enjoy the brilliant reds, golds, and oranges that the fall brings to Mt. Fuji.

Many of the locations around Mt. Fuji are well-documented as being superb photo op locations, but having spent more than 20 years photographing and enjoying the natural wonder that is Fujisan with its resplendent autumn leaves garland surrounding it, there are a few settings that I naturally gravitate toward when visiting Mt. Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes.

There is one temple in particular that appeals to me more than any other, and it is off the beaten path in the Lake Kawaguchi area, and the magnificence of the Japanese Maples that skirt the temple and dot the grounds make it one of the most remarkable sights in the Lake Kawaguchiko area. The temple has a rich history, and you can enjoy the interplay of the historic temple and the lustrous maple leaves in their autumn colors.

In the sea of humanity milling about the shores of Kawaguchiko, many people simply look past some of the manmade structures that are built up around the waterways. The desire of the Japanese artisans to balance nature and architecture is something you can enjoy while photographing the autumn leaves. The perfectly struck balance makes fora even more impressive photos.

It’s difficult to judge one tree or area as better or more magnificent that others, but one particular tree in the Lake Kawaguchiko area speaks to me every time I see it. On the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi is a small grove of maple trees with one outlier distinguishing itself from the others. I’m always in search of the best locations where I can photograph Fujisan and Unoshima Island which is where the most singularly beautiful maple tree which is perfectly framed by its surroundings lives. I can’t wait to go back this autumn and see it!