Tokyo's Hidden Gardens for Fall Foliage, Tokyo, Japan

Every year in late November Tokyo becomes ablaze with color as the autumn leaves begin to change. Fiery maples and golden ginkgos transform the prefecture into a fall wonderland that can be enjoyed through early December. Koyo (colorful leaves) are the cherry blossoms of autumn, drawing huge crowds to Tokyo's parks and gardens for leaf-peeping. To get in on the fun, I joined a fall foliage tour provided by Alpine International of three lesser-known Tokyo gardens for koyo. Read on for a look inside each garden - all worthy of a visit if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Japan this time of year! 

One of nine Metropolitan Heritage Gardens in Tokyo, Tonogayato Garden was originally the grounds of a garden villa belonging to a Japanese railway executive, and later, the founder of Mitsubishi. The garden is quite expansive and features a bamboo grove, Hagi-covered trellis tunnel, beautiful river terraces and a tea ceremony house overlooking Japanese maples. 

Access: Kokubunji Station via the JR Chuo, Seibu-Kokubunji and Seibu Tama-ko lines. The garden is a 3-minute walk from the south exit of the station. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).