This past autumn, I ventured to two places on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean in a quest for spectacular scenery and colorful autumn foliage. One trip was to Alaska, my first time there. The fall colors season in Alaska is apparently very brief compared to other places, lasting only about 1-2 weeks. While it was not a primary objective of the trip, I was luckily able to catch the tail end of the fall colors around Anchorage.

And speaking of luck, I was extremely fortunate to be able to see the Northern Lights for the first time! Witnessing such a beautiful dance play out in the night sky is an experience I’d never forget.

My next trip was a return visit to Japan, this time to the Tokyo and Mount Fuji regions, as compared to the Kansai region back all the way back in the spring of 2014. Just like last time, I immediately fell in love with its welcoming people, delicious food, and beautiful architecture:

Yes, Tokyo can be extremely crowded at times, such as when trying to navigate the inexorable currents of people in a train station during peak hours, but even the barely-contained chaos of the metropolis is awe-inspiring, as if it were a living, breathing organism. That said, it was nice to take a breather to the (slightly) less crowded parts of Japan around Mount Fuji. And when you see Mount Fuji for the first time, especially in such close proximity, it’s easy to see why the mountain plays such a central role in Japanese culture.

The seasons also feature prominently in Japanese culture, and autumn is no exception, with beautiful maple and ginko trees turning entire forests and hillsides into a kaleidoscope of colors.

Yes, I admit I may have gone a bit overboard uploading three albums for Alaska, and six for Japan, but these are images and moments that will stay with me forever. I hope you enjoy them!