At the tailend of my three week trip in Japan, I did get to see the start of the color change in the fall leaves in Ena, Hakone, Kyoto, and Tokyo. When the sun set, the light reflection gave the tops of the trees an iridescent red glow giving me a preview of what’s to come if I had stuck around for another week or so. My Instagram feed was filled with teasers of lush red, yellow, and orange leaves against a Mt. Fuji backdrop. But the fall color chart indicated that mid – Nov. through Dec. would produce the full glory of falls colors in Japan. This implanted a seed that it would require a future trip to see the fall colors at its height.
When I came home to Portland, the very next day I noticed the red, orange, and yellow at its peak at home. Fall had fully arrived back home. This was a reminder to be present, to be in the moment instead of chasing what’s to come otherwise you miss out.
The decay of fall is beautiful as it’s a signal for change, transformation, and to look inward. Decay is part of the natural cycle. You have to have decay in order to welcome renewal, rebirth, and to appreciate what’s alive and around you.
Travelogue 