Photo= Maple leaves starting to faintly turn red (October 28, Jingoji Temple, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto)

Leaves are gradually turning to autumn colors on the surrounding mountains in Kyoto City. On October 28, maple leaves at Jingoji Temple in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, partially turned red or yellow, contrasted beautifully against the clear autumn sky. Kyoto Botanical Garden in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, expects the best time to see autumn leaves to be around mid-November to early December as usual.

According to the Meteorological Agency, the hours of sunlight for both August and September in Kyoto were longer than last year. Staff at Kyoto Botanical Garden said, "As temperatures in the morning and evening drop, leaves are set to change their colors beautifully."

There are approximately 3,000 maple trees in the Jingoji Temple precincts, with the majority of the leaves still green, but small leaves on some Japanese maple trees have started changing color to red or orange.