Travel

Late autumn is the perfect time to visit Japan: the humid heat and typhoons of the late summer and early autumn are replaced by warm sun and bright blue skies. The light showcases the forests of larch and beech on the mountains in the national parks. And even if you don’t leave the cities, the beautiful formal gardens Japan is famous for are at their loveliest. It’s a great time of year for climbing and walking too, as the temperature is just right. And October is one of the main months for colourful festivals, such as the Jidai Matsuri (22 October) in Kyoto, a beautiful procession of Japanese period costumes and weaponry throughout the ages, from the Meiji era (1868-1912) back to the Heian (794–1185).