What to enjoy in autumn in Japan

Autumn is my favourite season in Japan -- it is the perfect temperature, and I am not allergic to any flowers or trees that bloom in autumn unlike in spring. Also, you get all the amazing Halloween foods and events. But there are a lot of other things you can enjoy in Japan during autumn. Here are some of my favourites.

Relaxing in an onsen

In autumn in Japan it can get cold enough at night that a relaxing bathe in an onsen is just perfect. My favourite areas to visit for onsen are Nasu Kogen in Tochigi Prefecture and Kusatsu in Gunma Prefecture. But you might not even have to go far to enjoy Japan's onsen -- if you do some research, you can probably find nice onsen close to where you live as well. If you don’t feel comfortable being naked in front of strangers, you should look for private onsen that you can rent as a family or couple to enjoy the comfort in private. These are usually more expensive, but I think it is worth the investment.

Enjoying and taking photos of the autumn leaves

In autumn you can enjoy all the leaves turning into orange and red. Last year I visited Shuzenji Niji no Sato in Shizuoka Prefecture during the autumn, and it was very nice for autumn leaf viewing. The place is also very welcoming for cosplayers if you are interested in doing photo shoots with autumn leaves.

Another famous place for autumn leaves is Nikko. When travelling to see autumn leaves however, the timing can be difficult because it can be hard to tell on which dates the autumn leaves will look their best, similarly with the cherry blossoms.

But again, you can probably find smaller parks close to where you live in Japan to enjoy the autumn leaves without having to travel far.

Japanese chestnut foods and sweets

Autumn is the season of the chestnut in Japan, and you can find really cool chestnut-based foods and sweets in a lot of places.

Recently I ate this parfait (below) in a cafe in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The parfait contained different types of chestnut ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate and more so that you would never get tired of the taste. I must admit though, it was a little much for one person! The cafe is called Del’immo and has several branches all over the country that you can visit if you like artistic sweets.

Another chestnut sweet I tried last year was this chestnut latte art parfait from Café Reissue in Harajuku. They have seasonal desserts that come with cute latte art that also can be personalized according to your preference. You just have to show them a photo on your cellphone.

If you have the chance, you should also definitely try kurigohan (rice with chestnuts), which I think tastes really nice and you can feel that autumn has arrived in the flavour. You should be able to find it in certain restaurants or even as onigiri in convenience stores in the season.

What are your favourite activities and foods in autumn? Do you like the seasons or do you prefer another one?