Japan

Winter is a cold but beautiful time to visit Nikko. A light snow dusting overnight was no impediment to hiking the Takino'o Path.

Tokyo holds sumo tournaments every January. Nobori banners list wrestlers and their sponsors. Kensho banners are used to advertise sponsors of the tournament who place stakes on the matches with proceeds going to victorious wrestlers.

Kyoto may be most popular in the springtime when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, but fall leaves are equally spectacular at their peak. The most vivid colors usually occur sometime between late November and mid-December.