AKIRUNO, Tokyo -- Nature's voice is sometimes silent, but its beauty speaks volumes, especially this time of year when the leaves tell us winter is just around the corner.
An expression that often tickles the ears nationwide in late autumn is koyo, the Japanese word to describe the varying hues of red and yellow leaves that decorate trees like festive ornaments.
And what better way to appreciate nature's beauty than to explore the hills around Tokyo and experience these colors up close on a hike.
The nature-rich Metropolitan Akigawa Hills Wildlife Park area, hidden away in Akiruno, Tokyo, presents the opportunity to enjoy a blood-pumping hike while taking in some of nature's colorful eye candy.
It's home to the Katarai-no-Michi Road Akigawa Hill Course, which highlights an area about one hour from Shinjuku Station on the JR Itsukaichi Line.
The area also features an abundance of outdoor spots to enjoy in addition to the changing leaves.
The hiking course itself, a basic trek to Ajiro Bentenyama that starts and finishes at Musashi-Masuko Station, is about 5 kilometers. And with the hills and the time needed to stop and take in the sights, plan for at least two hours to complete it.
Part of the beauty of this area is that it offers numerous options to fill up a day of nature appreciation.
And now seems to be the perfect time to see the leaves change, with the peak for this brief period expected to run through early December.
Right out of Musashi-Masuko Station, a map next to the lone exit gives visitors a general idea of the direction. There are a number of signs (in Japanese) indicating the way to Ajiro Bentenyama after walkers make a right from the station exit and go left at the main road (turn at the Lawson convenience store across the street, which is called Yamada-dori street).
The Ajirobashi bridge is currently getting a face-lift so a detour is required to get to Kishijima Jinja shrine, which is a good entrance to the woods because there are signs pointing in the direction of Ajiro Bentenyama (see map at above or use your smartphone to help find the course).
The stairs at the Kishijima Jinja shrine entrance present a sudden challenge for beginning hikers because they are steep -- and plentiful. Relief, though, comes soon enough.
About 10 minutes in, signs point to Ajiro Bentenyama lookout point, from which walkers can gaze down onto the Akiruno area. On the way, there are benches where you can relax and have a bite to eat.
Those who want to sit down and perhaps have a picnic should keep the location of that area in mind.
The Ajiro Bentenyama area also houses a cave for visitors to explore, and there are other optional detours along the course that can add a challenge for the legs.
Mt. Shiroyama, for instance, is a point along the Katarai-no-Michi Akigawa Hill Course that features a steep climb for those aiming to bump up the heartbeats per minute.
The area also includes Komine Park, within which are various areas to hike, a waterfall, many kinds of trees and a wetland botanical garden as well as numerous kinds of animals.
It's easy to make a day of it, and this is the moment to take advantage of a great opportunity to add a little color to the grayness that life in the city sometimes leaves us with.
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