Autumn 2024 Events: October - December

[Andy OCJ]

紅葉 情報 2024

https://koyo.walkerplus.com/

https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/leaf/

https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/autumn/

https://tenki.jp/kouyou/

https://weathernews.jp/koyo/

https://koyo-jp.info/column/38/

As mentioned above, this year's intense heat is expected to continue into September, so the leaves are expected to start changing color later than usual across the country and change color more slowly.

If high temperatures continue into October, the leaves are expected to change color even later.

However, if temperatures drop suddenly after summer is over, the leaves may change color all at once.

Also, if clear skies in October the nights may be cool and lead to earlier colours. If rain and cloudy then delayed.

An updated summary of events planned last year but cancelled due to a family emergency. This is not a complete list! Looking forward to special events in Japan this year.
Depending on the weather there will be weekly events from October to December 2024. These will mostly be to the best places for the time of year around the Tokyo / Kanto area. Some places I went to many times over a 25 year period hiking out of Tokyo.
The main problem is usually typhoons until after the middle of October.

If I get there early around the first week of October and the weather is ok, then an Alps trip is possible. The Chuo Alps are an easy access option using train or highway bus and cable car to near the top. There is a free lodge on the alpine ridge with great views. Hike is intermediate level and a 3 day weekend best.


OCJ Social Night - Bar or rental room in Tokyo
If in a room we can do a navigation learning session to prepare for outdoor ones later. Discussion of proposed events.



Oct - middle or 3rd week

Okukinu Wild hot spring in the forest with peak autumn colours. Camp free by river and make our own hot spring bath. Great spot for star gazing as well.
Some pics:
http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/inde ... 0/start-60

Also a hike from Nikko to Okukinu over an old packhorse route. Will be good colours in the area. Can stay overnight at a free lodge but sleeping bag needed.



Friday Night - Riverside Navigation Training 1



Nikko, Ashio area or maybe around Tanigawadake

Hike and wild camp with autumn colours.

Pages either side of this one have some trips around the 20th to 25th:

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/inde ... 6/start-60

Tanigawadake valley - or other quite one - wild camp or day return.
Extra day Takaragawa onsen?



Ashio valley (not autumn though):
http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/5


Nakatsugawa to Enzan via Kobushigadake - long ridge

Camp and autumm colours Nishizawa Keikoku

Wild Kimpu san circuit.


Nov - 1st and 2nd week

Great government campsites in Okutama and Gumna with special red maple and tanuki. Okutama site has some rental tents etc but space fills up very early so reliable booking needed in October.
There will be more trips in Gunma and Okutama after that.

Photos:
http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/inde ... ategory/24



Mountain Navigation session outdoors near Tokyo.

Some more details:
viewtopic.php?t=3946


Maybe Izu island hot spring weekend before the camping season there ends at the end of November. 3 days best.


http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/44

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/9

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/48

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/45

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/54




Late November - December
Chiba natural river tunnels and special hiking. There is a good government campsite there with cheap lodges but 1 day is possible. Also the last autumn colours around here.


http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/inde ... ategory/14


http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/58

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/inde ... /start-240

Old hiking path in Chiba with temperate rain forest.



November - December
Shiriyake Hot River Onsen
We have a secret sleeping spot (sleeping bag for around 0C needed). You can swim in a hot section of river - almost emerald green in places - and free.

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/61

http://outdoorclubjapan.com/photos/index.php?/search/62


Some navigation sessions in Tokyo in a room, by a large open space near river, and finally in the mountains. Also be some sessions for emergency rope use and other mountain walking topics.

More details later. If interested please reply to this post.

[sfmorton]

Hello Andy

These events look really interesting. Hope you too you sometime from Autumn!

[Steven]

Hello Andy.

Do you know the dates for any of the events in October yet? The reason I am asking is because I am not free a lot of weekends and need to "book" a weekend off about a month in advance to do an event. Thanks

[Andy OCJ]

You tell me the exact dates of the autumn colours and tell me the exact weather forecast, and I can tell you the exact event.

All events are mainly for a special hike or wild bath with autumn colours. It is impossible to give certainty due to timing of leaves changing colour, typhoons and weather.
Some can be moved a week if they are a priority and would replace an event considered not as good.

Okukinu can have peak colours one weekend and gone the next. Many of the hot spring resorts in the main valley are fully booked 6 months in advance to stay there and see the colours but it is a lottery as it is a cold area and changes happen fast.

If heavy rain before, the wild hot spring is not possible and many would not even go anyway. Events may be changed to match the conditions and that means probably changing location and type of event. If a fixed schedule then often 50% get cancelled or people decide not to go. It may not be convenient but with so much planning and time used I cannot commit to an event that is probably 50/50 in autumn. Final decision will be made early in the week before an event.
If everyone wants to pay a cancellation fee in advance to pay for all the work that gets done for nothing then that is ok. As long as it is several thousand yen and enough people paid to cover costs and time. People do not want to do that. In the UK they lose everything if they back out days before on outdoor events and at least 50% a week before.

I am not going to commit all my holiday sat around Tokyo paying for rooms etc for that, then lose it all because conditions change. Planning double events in case changed is also very time consuming and often people do not go if their preferred event gets cancelled.
This is not commercial cost so I cannot waste all that time when people back out of events or they get cancelled.

I will be going to great places every weekend so it is pot luck I am afraid. Just take the weekends you can and enjoy what comes up.

Okukinu wild onsen is usually around the middle of October - say 2nd or 3rd weekend depending how the fall.
This year 12,13th might be early (if not very cold) so 19,20th more likely. If conditions change though it will be whenever it is peak, even if that is the 12,13th. If there is a typhoon or heavy rain it is cancelled. Could do an early winter one later maybe.
The colours there are some of the best in Japan, along with some mountain places in Fukushima I have seen. When I arrived in 1992 and visited for the first time, it was on TV that the area had the best autumn colours for 30 years. I was lucky to see it.

That is all I can say at the moment.

[Steven]

Hello Andy thank you. I understand the problem with trying to predict autumn colours and having to cancel things. Had that situation numerous times! Just curious because many of the previous events looked really good and wanted to joins some about a year or two ago but could not. For October, was thinking of the weekend of the 12-14 or if possible change to 19-20. For November, at the moment the weekend of the 2-3. I understand you might not be able to confirm until the last moment due to the reasons you explained.

Thanks

[Andy OCJ]

2nd,3rd Nov might be good in Okutama higher up and Gunma. Depends on the seasonal change so it could get pushed back a week. Gunma has a good cheap campsite for a possible BBQ camp and a wild spot near Myougi by a stream under red maple.
A week or so before that there is a very good rocky ridge in Nakatsugawa, Saitama but it is intermediate level
with long chains in places and a few steep spots with exposure.
Beautiful scenery though.

photos/picture.php?/332/category/1


There will be worthwhile events every weekend if weather permits.

[Steven]

Thank you.
Okutama,Gunma and Nakatsugawa all sound great.

[Andy OCJ]

The photo gallery contains less than 1% of event photos but could be a useful guide. All photos I uploaded start with a date then location in the name. Each year album you can browse October, November, December and see what some of the good events are.

photos/

Quick way is to click 'Last' in the page list at the bottom and navigate backwards = Previous. Greatest number of events and photos are probably from 2007 to 2012.

[Steven]

Hello Andy.

Thank you for the links. The photos look great!

[rie.k]

Waiting for news

[Andy OCJ]

Will decide and post around the 14th for the weekend Oct 19-20th

[Andy OCJ]

The first trip might be a a forest walk from Nantai San (free log house) to Okukinu valley on an old path once used to carry supplies by horse. Quiet route with good autumn colours.

Or an easy route to the wild onsen in forest in Okukinu.

Or a very old path from Nikko to the wild onsen - NEW ROUTE!