the colors of autumn even on the plates

This text corresponds to part of the transcription of the report above. Click on the video to watch it in full.

North of Tokyo, Japan, the Nikko Mountains. The Japanese flock to discover an ephemeral spectacle, that of a magical season with its magnificent paintings. So, there are many of them on the forest paths who come to observe nature. “It’s wonderful. In such a short time, the leaves turn from green to yellow to red. Watching this change is truly incredible.“, exults a tourist.

Lake Chuzenji, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, is the perfect setting for Masako Sakamoto, a regular visitor. With her easel and her brushes, she sketches the edges of the water. Trees with yellow leaves plunge into the blue of the lake. “I have been in love with this place for 20 years and come back to paint regularly. I have traveled all over Japan, but I have never found a landscape like this. The lake, the mountains and these vibrant colors that appear with the arrival of cold“, testifies the artist.

A few kilometers further, the autumn walk passes by a 17th century sanctuary, among the crowds of French tourists impressed by these buildings which honor a warlord, once a great samurai leader. “In Japan, people come. It is also the treasure of heritage which is an incredible wealth“, relates Nathalie Ting, a French tourist. For Thierry Brethes, another French tourist: “There is a whole art of living in Japan linked to each season. And that is very interesting. There is this patchwork of colors. And that is also very unique, especially in a somewhat mountainous context.“.

These Marseillais come to admire the green of the conifers, the red of the maples, and they take advantage of the hot water springs. The “onsen”, small natural pools at 40 degrees, an immersion into Japanese culture. “It’s magical. We are a little out of the world. And at the same time, we are close to nature. It’s very nice“, reacts Thierry Brethes. The traditional thermal bath.

Now it’s time to eat with a surprise in this restaurant. The chef greets his customers. He created a menu for them in the colors of fall. Only seasonal products. There are the essentials like chestnuts, matsutake, mushrooms very popular in the archipelago, salmon, it comes from Japan. The dishes parade and look like colorful canvases.

Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, the flavors of fall spread around the tables. “In Japan, they say that autumn is the season of appetite. The weather is cooler, we are recovering from summer fatigue. In fact, we regain our appetite and end up overeating“, indicates a customer at the table.

Autumn came late this year. He will leave quickly. This colorful interlude only lasts three weeks on average.