Many would already know that November is a great time of the year to visit Japan. Tourists flock to the renowned temple gardens of Kyoto with their exquisite foliage colours, and the generally pleasant weather attracts visitors to other scenic spots throughout the country. On the down side, however, is the resultant overcrowding in many of the tourist areas, which can really detract from enjoying the otherwise spectacular sights. Unfortunately, this late autumn tourist rush leads into the major peak tourism period around Christmas and New Year, with even worse crowding.

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Away from the tourist areas in rural Japan, however, you can enjoy the best that November in Japan offers without the crowds. November is particularly a good time of the year to explore the Japanese countryside for many reasons. Enjoy a walk down country roads and historic trails, with the landscape in its warm autumnal hues and framed by mountains dusted with the first snows of the season. Enjoy the ultimate food experience as the bountiful autumn harvests are transformed into culinary delights in country kitchens. Visit a country brewery in full swing for the ‘brewing season’, and learn all about how sake, miso and soy sauce are produced. Autumn is also when activities related to traditional crafts and arts ramp up. Observe artisans painstakingly handcraft ceramics, textiles, wood and metalwork in small workshops, using time-honoured techniques. Drop in at some of the small galleries in the countryside and regional towns to admire traditional and contemporary art. And if you really need your temple garden ‘fix’, there are plenty of exquisite gardens hidden away in the countryside and regional towns, where you can appreciate the autumn foliage in peace, without the maddening crowds of Kyoto.