Robert Louis Stevenson penned a musing about the changing of the seasons, and in that poem, the line ‘fires in the fall’ shares an image of a raging autumn fire as farmers and families living in the country incinerate the leaves, collecting them after they fall from the trees.

The entire poem reads:

In the other gardens

   And all up in the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
   See the smoke trail!

Pleasant summer over, 
   And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
   The grey smoke towers.

Sing a song of seasons!
   Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
   Fires in the fall! 

I and my colleagues think that the fire described in the poem carries an entirely different interpretation.  Having taken thousands of photos of the autumn colors here in Japan, it’s clear to me that the ‘red fire blazes’ could also describe the brilliance of the Japanese Maples and other trees with colored leaves presenting themselves to you as photographic subjects on the autumn leaves photo tours.

In Japan, the fall’s radiance spans the entire country, from Tokyo, Osaka, Niigata, and even to the north island of Hokkaido.  Specifically around Nikko, the Kegon Waterfalls are surrounding by autumn leaves improving an already amazing view.  This is only one of the many fall sights to enjoy.  You can always book for, 2020 or 2021 if this year’s or next years schedule is simply too tight.