Aki

Japan's short autumn, ablaze in colour, is coming to an end. Luckily I was able to capture a few shades of its magnificent pallette before the leaves were swept away by the cool Hokkaido winds. Sopo sensei was right. As nice as Finnish autumn is, it cannot compete with its Japanese counterpart. The only downside to the autumn here is that it is relatively short, as the leaves drop rather soon after having changed colour. But if you're lucky enough to be in Japan (or some other country with a stunning, supercolourful and fresh autumn), you're bound to be impressed.
Hokkaido's autumn attracts tourists from all over Japan, coming to see the Botanical Garden, the Hokudai campus, Odori Park, as well as the surrounding mountains and towns. The university campus is famous for its various attractions, such as the Gingko Avenue, the Poplar Avenue and the Central Lawn. Nearby mountains, such as Moiwa and Maruyama are also on the must-see-and-do list of almost everyone, locals included. On the winding paths of the mountains, one can witness a cross section of the Japanese people, an indication of the popularity and the obvious value of the locations. One trip also worth making is to Otaru, a small port town near Sapporo, which is easily accessible by bus or train. Otaru is well-known for it's glass products, as well as old warehouses which now serve as facilities for restaurants and shoppes. Arguably the most beautiful attraction, however, is Ungadori, a small, stone paved river, serving as a backdrop for various activities and festivals.
Having indeed witnessed and experienced all the abovementioned locales and sights, I can without hesitation recommend a trip to Hokkaido, Japan, for anyone interested in experiencing Mother Nature in one of her most beautiful forms. With this, I rest my case and say peace.