Autumn is here in Japan and the leaves are slowly starting to change. It’s very beautiful everywhere, expecially in places where there are Japanese Maples, which is everywhere as everyone loves this tree. Autumn is one of the two favorite seasons in Japan (the other being Spring) and as such tourism about the country spikes up about now. Travel agencies everywhere are packed as people try to make plans to go see the leaves. The Japanese love travel agencies. This goes to an attitude of always hiring a professional to do anything, even home repairs as simple as changing a light bulb (ok, not that bad, but close). So even for a simple trip by rail, or even highway, the Japanese are likely to have a travel agent work out the details of their trip for them. A little strange, but I guess when you work 80 hours a week the extra stress of planning a trip is too much.

One of the most interesting attitudes I find is that many Japanese people – even the ones who have traveled abroad – think only Japan has an autumn season. I have amazed and bewildered many people by making the bizarre claim that we also experience autumn and the leaf changes in much of the US. Some people don’t believe me! At the school I have overheard as students go to the manager and ask in Japanese “Is that true??”.

A shrine: