VOL.197 OCTOBER 2024
JAPAN’S HEALING FORESTS (PART 2)
Autumn Forests with Colorful Leaves
Majestic Autumn Landscape and Colorful Leaves of the Mount Fugendake Area
The Fugendake Autumn Leaves Forest, designated as a National Natural Monument, is characterized by its vibrant and contrasting autumn leaves densely packed on steep slopes.
Photo: UNZEN Destination Service
Located in the northwestern part of Kyushu, in the southwest of the Japanese archipelago, Nagasaki Prefecture is home to Mount Fugendake* (1,359 m) and a range of other mountains collectively known as Mount Unzen. The Fugendake area is well known for its beautiful autumn leaves. We spoke with a person involved in tourism promotion in the Unzen region to learn more about the appeal of its autumn scenery.
Located in the central part of the Shimabara Peninsula in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, Fugendake is a picturesque mountain surrounded by the sea on three sides due to its peninsula geography, offering breathtaking views of both the sea and mountains from the summit.
SHIRAHAMA Erika, a public relations staff member for UNZEN Destination Service, comments, “Mount Fugendake, which is still experiencing volcanic activity, features a magnificent and undulating landscape where visitors can enjoy views of the Ariake Sea, the Amakusa Islands, and far beyond. Many tourists visit each year to experience the colorful autumn leaves that peak in early November.”
Overview map of Mount Fugendake Area
In the Fugendake area, the Fugendake Autumn Leaves Forest was designated as a National Natural Monument in 1928. This area is covered with a deciduous broadleaf forest that has been preserved in its natural state, featuring 70 to 80 species of trees and around 50 other plant species. The diverse array of trees and plants that change color in autumn is a distinctive feature of the area, with 3 species (as seen in the photos below) such as the Siebold maple, Tsuri-bana (spindle-tree), and Red-vein maple particularly covering large parts of the forest.
“The highlight is the breathtaking view of autumn leaves just before reaching the summit, seen from the gondola of the Unzen Ropeway, which connects the observation deck at Nita Pass** (1,040 m) to Mount Myokendake (1,333 m), located southwest of Mount Fugendake. You can enjoy a full 360-degree panorama of stunning autumn colors. In addition, the steep slopes of Mount Myokendake, ranging from 850 to 1,300 meters in elevation, offer a remarkable contrast between exposed rock, green evergreen trees, and the dense autumn leaves. This contrast is often compared to a coral reef,” explains SHIRAHAMA. The easy access to Nita Pass, thanks to well-maintained roads, is another reason it attracts so many visitors.
Photo: UNZEN Destination Service
“Visitors can enjoy the view of Mount Fugendake and the adjacent Mount Heisei-Shinzan (1,486 m) along with the autumn leaves from the observation deck near the summit of Mount Myokendake,” says SHIRAHAMA.
The Fugendake area, which attracts around 200,000 visitors annually, is also seeing an increase in international tourists, many of whom come to enjoy hiking. Near the trailhead leading to Nita Pass, there is an information center called UNZEN Visitor Center, which offers English brochures and audio guides. In autumn, the stunning landscape created by the vibrant autumn leaves around the Fugendake area is truly incredible. When visiting Japan, why not experience this extraordinary natural beauty for yourself?
* Located in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula, this is the highest mountain within a volcanic group collectively referred to as Mount Unzen. Mount Fugendake erupted in 1990, and as a result of this volcanic activity, a lava dome (1,468 m) appeared about 500 meters east of Mount Fugendake, which was named Mount Heisei-Shinzan. Additionally, Mount Fugendake is sometimes written as “Mount Fugen” or “Mount Unzen-Fugendake.”
** Nita Pass is a central hub for tourism of the Unzen area. Roads provide access to the pass, and visitors can take the ropeway up Mount Myokendake.
Plants found in the Fugendake area
A native Japanese maple species that grows naturally in Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. It has smaller leaves and a more compact shape. The coloring varies within a single tree.
A native species of maple found in mountainous and lowland areas of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Yakushima. It is a deciduous broadleaf tree characterized by its leaves, which are shallowly divided into three lobes.
Tsuri-bana (spindle-tree)
A native Japanese tree found in the mountainous regions of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, it is named for its hanging berries. “Tsuri” corresponds to hanging in Japanese. This deciduous shrub belongs to the Celastraceae family.
By TANAKA Nozomi
Photos: UNZEN Destination Service; PIXTA