Random picture thread for Friday

For this Friday, here are my added photos from last month's travel to Japan highlighting late November's fall foliage.

As the Japanese say, "Ko-yo- ga kirei" loosely translated as [ Japan's] autumn colors are beautiful. The Japanese take equal pride in the country's spectacular fall colors as they do in the spring's sakura (cherry blossoms.)

First pictured are the illuminated fall trees in Tokyo's Rikugien Gardens Park. For a week each fall the trees adorned in their fall colors are illuminated in the early evening hours. Visitors are limited to 1,500 each evening and the a bar code "ticket" must be obtained online prior with the price of admission at 1,000 yen (approximately $7.00). We were fortunate to be able to qualify for "tickets" by making our request just as soon as the park's website allowed.

The most coveted view is of the illuminated trees as they are reflected off of the largest body of water in the gardens.

And here are some added views of the fall foliage in Japan taken during daylight including some road views traveling from Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchi as well as at the Herb Garden near Kawaguchi:

And here above Lake Kawaguchi is the scenic spot known as "The Maple Corridor." Travelers from all over Japan come to this tunnel of bright red leaved trees each fall. Unexpectedly we chanced upon the below pictured World War II Zero parked at the head of the "Maple Corridor." Also included are views looking toward Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji taken from the "Maple Corridor."

These final views are from the Arima Onsen (Hot Springs) Village above Kobe:

And as a prequel:

After a four hour Shinkansen (bullet train) ride from Tokyo to Kobe, we eventually arrived at our onsen ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) in Arima Onsen when it was dark. The next morning when we slid open the shoji sliding panels we were stunned to see this view from the window in our room: