Gardeners have long practised their art in Kyoto ... Hunting for red leaves, especially for bronze and crimson maple leaves — called momiji in Japan — is so popular in autumn that the pastime ...

Hibiya Park is one of the best spots in the city centre to admire koyo (autumn foliage). Blazing red maple trees and mustard-yellow ginkgo leaves can be found around the Kumogata-ike pond ...

In Japan, koyo — the spectacular colours of autumn leaves — inspires a reverence that borders on the spiritual. For a few brief weeks, momiji-gari (maple viewing) becomes the national obsession.