Famous Japanese mountain road comes alive with fall colors in Nikko

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 4, 2021

An aerial view shows autumnal leaves at their peak around the Irohazaka, a pair of winding roads in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, on Thursday. The steep switchbacks ascend about 440 meters from the city center to Lake Chuzenji in the city’s more mountainous area Oku-Nikko area. Along the way, travelers are treated to colorful leaves of maples, azaleas and rowan trees. According to the Nikko Natural Science Museum, the colors of the autumn leaves are especially vivid this year because it suddenly became very cold in mid-October.