JAPANESE COUNTRYSIDE

Japanese lantern festivals are held to ward off evil or send off the dead, or just to warm up a chilly winter.

Fukuoka locals show their appreciation to the powers above at this goopy harvest festival.

It's hard to take a bad picture at these gorgeous locations!

Want to know the best, cheapest spots for fall colors in Japan?

Easily accessible from Tokyo by bullet train, Koshinetsu is fantastic for a fall getaway.

Places in Tohoku can be quite spread out, so if you're traveling through a number of spots in the area, a train pass or bus pass is your best bet.

Think you know your 'koyo'? Here's the autumn color hall of fame!

Immerse yourself in sites that look like they could be straight out of Ghibli's classic film 'Castle in the Sky.'