A man sits beneath a maple tree adorned with autumn hues in a park near Kiyosumi Garden in Tokyo on December 3, 2024. – AFP
Japan has experienced its warmest autumn since record-keeping began 126 years ago, according to the weather agency, pushing the country's renowned seasonal foliage displays into December. "This year was 1.97 degrees Celsius warmer than the norm... marking it the hottest autumn since 1898, when records first started," the Japan Meteorological Agency stated on their website Monday. From September to November, temperatures were 2.4 degrees Celsius above average in Tokyo, 2.9 degrees higher in the central city of Nagoya, and 1.2 degrees warmer in northern Sapporo. The unseasonably warm weather has delayed the nation's autumn leaf season, a time when tourists typically flock to witness leaves transforming into vivid reds and yellows. In Kyoto, a railway company famous for its nighttime runs through illuminated maple forests has extended its schedule due to the slower-than-usual leaf color changes. According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the optimal time to view autumn leaves in Tokyo is around December 5 and in Osaka on December 9, both later than typical. Japan also recorded its joint-hottest summer this year amid extreme heatwaves, which scientists attribute to climate change, sweeping across many parts of the globe. The iconic snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest period on record this year, only appearing in early November, compared to the usual early October.
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