5 Beautiful Japanese Seasonal Words For Autumn

The leaves are changing colour, the days are getting shorter, there’s a nip in the air…
Autumn is here! (Or Fall, depending on where you’re from? )

Perhaps you already know that the seasons are very important in Japan.

In Japanese culture, people honour the changes in the seasons with foods, drinks, customs, festivals, and celebrations.
Of course, autumn or fall is no different! There are plenty of Japanese traditions to celebrate this time of year.

Let’s take a look at some essential Japanese vocabulary words to talk about autumn in Japan:

Aki (秋)

Let’s start with 秋(aki) – the Japanese word for autumn or fall. If you are studying kanji, you might recognise that the character for 秋includes the radical characters for grain (禾) and fire (火). Kanji are awesome, aren’t they?

Kouyou (紅葉)

People often travel to famous viewing points to see the most beautiful red and gold leaves. The kanji, 紅葉, literally means ‘crimson leaves’ – although it can describe yellow and gold leaves too.

Rakuyou (落葉)

After the kouyou comes rakuyou. Rakuyou means fallen or shed leaves. Is there anything more autumnal than going for a walk with crispy, bright red, or golden fallen leaves beneath your feet?

Momiji (紅葉)

Momiji are Japanese maple trees. Around October or November, momiji leaves turn the most stunning bright red colour. Funnily enough, the kanji for momiji is the same as the kanji for kouyou – ‘red leaves’ (紅葉).

Tsukimi (月見)

Tsukimi or otsukimi (polite version) is the Japanese moon-viewing festival. It takes place around the date of the autumn equinox in early autumn. This is when the moon is at its furthest point away from the earth. 

The word tsukmi contains the kanji 月(tsuki, moon) and 見(mi, view or watch).

Do you know any more autumnal words in Japanese? Share them in the comments below!