Autumn : Marunouchi and Tokyo Station in Maidenhair yellow colors

Autumn in the Tokyo Metropolis is a mix of the architecture and nature. The Marunouchi area (area surrounding the Tokyo Station) has many trees of Ginkgo Biloba or Maidenhair which change colors in the autumn (usually mid November to first week of December). Marunouchi district is located between the Tokyo Station and the Imperial Garden Palace. A prestigious business district with the country’s three largest banks headquartered here, the autumn season brongs awesomely beautiful combination of the architecture blended with the color change…
Tokyo Station in background with Ginkgo, Maidenhair color change The Maidenhair tree is actually a Native to China, but if you have visited a temple or a shrine in Japan, you might have seen Gingko trees growing in front of the main building there. Since Gingko trees are water-retentive and they do not burn easily that they are traditionally planted near precious wooden buildings as a conductor in order to avoid fires by lightning strike. Although this area is now more of concrete and modern constructions the Maidenhair trees still line the Marunouchi streets.
Tokyo Station in background with Ginkgo, Maidenhair color change Although the area has undergone transformation over the times, the Tokyo Station building with its red bricks looks in awesome contrast to the yellow leaves. Another building which still stands is the one designed by British Architect Josiah Conder on an invitation from the Japanese government, still newly formed after Japan’s opening to the West in 1894, Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum.
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in autumnThe red bricks and the autumn colors is a beautiful contrast. Feels like in London, the building in 1968, however, had become dilapidated and was demolished. After 40 years, the Mitsubishi Ichigokan has been reborn on the same site as a major new museum, rebuilt according to Conder’s original plans.
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in autumnYou can access this spot by walk of around 5 minutes from the Marunouchi side exit of the Tokyo Station. Visit in late November for the best impact and beautiful colors.
Marunouchi in autumn Crossing over to the Imperial palace side the street can be seen in one single view with the yellow leaves in full color.
Marunouchi in autumnWe did some photography tricks called intentional camera movement to capture the essence of the motion of the season. Some snaps are below. Hope you enjoy them.
intentional camera movement for Marunouchi autumn Towards the night the trees look further beautiful with reflection in the Imperial Palace moat. Beautiful Marunouchi…
Gingko Biloba Leaves at Tokyo Imperial Palace GroundsYou can access this spot from the Nijyubashi Mae Station exit. It is just outside the station exit. The snap below is the exact spot where you get out of Nijyubashi Mae Station.
Gingko Biloba Leaves at Tokyo Imperial Palace GroundsA zoom out perspective of the autumn colors of the Maidenhair tree
intentional camera movement for Marunouchi autumn A radial movement of the lens to capture the Maidenhair tree action in autumn.
intentional camera movement for Marunouchi autumn We highly recommend you to visit this place and also visit the palace ground in the immediate vicinity during autumn… Hope you enjoy the yellow colors of autumn the next time you visit. If you love to sketch you can also find company in front of the Tokyo Station where many artists sit on plastic chairs with all their gear and are busy drawing the sketch of the building and the leaves with the cool breeze of autumn in the city. Try it…
DSC01184One last snap in the night time of the Tokyo Station before I got back to the Otemachi Station and went back home….
Gingko Biloba Yello blossoms outside Tokyo Station

2 Comments

  1. Makarand

    Reply

    I see this every summer just outside my office. Never had time to click snaps.

Leave a Reply to Makarand Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Loading Facebook Comments ...
%d bloggers like this: