KYOTO — Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, is well known for its seasonal beauty, with the peak of autumn foliage being just as popular with tourists as the spring blossoming period. This year, however, the prime kouyou (autumn leaves) viewing time is being delayed due to climate change.
Peak viewing usually comes at the end of November. But this year the leaves in Kyoto only began to change around mid-November, roughly two weeks later than usual, as a result of prolonged summer heat. Now, the peak is not expected until mid-December.
While tours to Kyoto in autumn are usually full of tourists, cancellations are up this year because travel agencies have been unable to attract enough customers. One 60-year-old woman visiting Kyoto with her family from Hokkaido on Nov. 18 went to Arashiyama — an area to the west of the city known for its aesthetic landscape — and said: “We should have come here one or two weeks later. The trees are not yet as beautiful as we expected.”
Similarly, a local gondola oarsman, 32, said, “There are leaves that have already withered and died, or are showing poor shades of color because of summer heat.”
Arashiyama’s peak kouyou forecast is now expected around Nov. 29, said the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), a delay of roughly one to two weeks from the usual period. The agency forecast that the best time to view the autumn coloration of momiji (maple) leaves in central Kyoto this year will be Dec. 16, compared to Dec. 5 in a normal year.
The delayed changing of leaves is attributable to unusually high temperatures well into October in recent years, the JMA said, citing this year’s excessively hot summer and prolonged late-summer heat.
Last year, peak viewing came on Dec. 13, eight days later than usual, which suggests delays in the autumn foliage season are gradually progressing with climate change.
The tourism industry is among those bearing the economic brunt of these changes. A major travel agency which arranges tours from the Tokyo metropolitan area decided to cancel some planned tours to Kyoto in mid-November for failure to attract enough tourists. Popular tours for viewing autumn leaves typically open reservations in July and August, and this year the agency says it did not receive as many bookings as planned.
Industry officials said people are avoiding signing up for tours, anticipating a delay in the autumn coloring of leaves. Another travel agency official in charge of tours to the Kansai region, which includes Kyoto, said, “While tours in November are popular in a normal year, those in December are attracting more tourists this year.”
Based on past travel trends, agencies have been setting lower tour prices in December when the kouyou viewing crowds traditionally tended to decline. Agencies who have kept up this practice in recent years have taken a hit to revenue as customers avoid purchases in the higher-priced November period.
Keihan Bus, this year, has offered its usual 10 courses of its Okoshi Bus sightseeing tour, which departs from Kyoto Station and visits popular spots for autumn foliage, including Tenryu-ji Temple and Shimogamo Shrine, before returning to the station. “Late November used to be the closing phase of the peak season, but it has been our busiest in recent years,” said Kaori Uegaki, a Keihan Bus staff member in charge of tours.
Eizan Electric Railway and Sagano Scenic Railway, known for their Sagano Romantic Train (or Sagano Torokko) that runs along the Hozugawa River, launched a joint campaign for the first time on Oct. 19 to promote the autumn foliage season, with their trains featuring colorful “Momiji Train” signs. Scheduled to last until Dec. 29, the campaign also includes events such as a stamp rally and a photo contest in a bid to keep attracting tourists later into the season.
In addition to the delayed start of the kouyou season, traditional year-end chores at home and in the office may dampen demand for December tourism itself. Although Kyoto in autumn remains attractive, the tourism industry may need to review its conventional business practices and arrange tours that take climate change into account.
AloJapan.com