By REO KOMEDA/ Staff Writer
November 21, 2025 at 15:58 JST
"Dodan tsutsuji" at Ankokuji temple are seen in their full autumn glory on Nov. 13 in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture. (Reo Komeda)
TOYOOKA, Hyogo Prefecture—The vividly red leaves of the "dodan tsutsuji" (Enkianthus perultas) at Ankokuji temple here are now at their peak.
The trees at the Zen Buddhist temple in Hyogo Prefecture are more than 160 years old, with branches stretching about 10 meters in all directions.
Viewed from the main hall, the landscape resembles a painting, earning high praise and drawing crowds of tourists.
Although there were concerns about the impact of this year’s intense heat, the recent cold snap has allowed the leaves to turn their fall colors as usual.
Former chief priest Yoshinaga Sanada, 86, said, “From the sight of the tsutsuji that endured the scorching summer, I hope people can feel the breath of nature and the preciousness of life.”
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