Koyo: Nikko Autumn 2007

Yay! So this past weekend was my first trip to Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. Tochigi is neighbor to Gunma, so Susie had been "osusume-ing" Nikko since before I had even moved to Japan. The autumn leaves are just starting to change again, and I discovered that this is by far my favorite time of year. Koyo, or viewing of the changing foliage in autumn is very popular in Japan, and Nikko is ranked second as the best place to see the different colors (first place being Kyoto). We put together a big group of us again, and we were off!

*Just as a warning get ready to see trees, trees, and more trees!


knocked out on the 3 hour journey to nikko

nikko station

outside nikko station

central nikko town, kawaii deshoo?

nikko is famous for "yuba", or tofu skin...I LOVE IT!!


trees outside the station while waiting for the others to come in

we stayed at Nikko Park Lodge....it was so cute and cozy!



that night we took a journey to Yashio-no-yu, one of the bigger and more popular onsens in central nikko. the outdoor bath was heavenly especially in the chilly weather, and there were trees with red leaves around us...so NIPPON!


mmmm...indian food post-onsen

nikko mountains, six in the morning

chuzenji



woooowwww...they're soooo pretttyyyy....

i dream of leaves...

kegon-no-taki (the tallest waterfall in Japan)




it's like a painting...

can you see the rainbow?



carrying a torii...hahaha

lake chuzenji






nikko wild monkeys

on our way to toshogu shrine



hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil


toshogu, here lies the tomb of tokugawa ieyasu


nemuri neko-famous sleeping cat


this is Jenn, she's from Toronto but is now living in Yono which is 5 minutes from where Michelle used to live...

chris and lana

i love trees



bye bye nikko...i heart thee

train signs

make-up, image-down!

i really really really LOVED Nikko, and I want to go back already!! We didn't get to make it to Tobu square this time, so hopefully next time. I want to go back already!! I also wanted to get closer to the monkeys, we heard you can bathe with them, but some of the others I was with didn't seem too enthused to do that. Sorry there aren't many pictures of people, mostly nature...but I seriously have this newfound love for foliage after this weekend! Tottemo tanoshikatta! Next stop: Kyushu desu!! Mata ne!