Autumn (September - November) is the season for leaves to change colour and fall across the Japanese countryside. And with three-quarters of the country's land surface consisting of wooded mountains, the colour changes are striking. Hills and valleys go from a summer green to autumn shades of red, yellow and orange, turning the landscape into a fantasy. The autumn change is called "kouyou" and this issue of jstyle features some of Japan's famous kouyou spots. Beginning with Hokkaido in late September and reaching Kyushu by late November, the autumn colours spread across the country from north to south.

Getting around
Quick guide to where, when and how long for domestic flights, train travel and Japan's many autumn destinations.

Riding the bullet
For an overseas tourist travelling to many different locations, train travel in Japan can be quite expensive, especially when using shinkansen (bullet trains). Japan Rail Pass is an affordable and convenient way for tourists to travel around Japan. For further details visit www.japanrailpass.net