b'Best Times octoberJAPANHOKKAIDOS AUTUMN LEAVES MAGICAutumn is a magical time in Hokkaido, Japans northernmost island. Catch the fall foliage (koyo) in October in cities, national parks, wetlands, mountains, and onsen towns, as leaves change their colours. Japanese maple (momiji), katsura, gingko, aspen, and Japanese beech are some of the showstoppers of Hokkaido, as their leaves move from green to yellow, red, orange or amber. Even grasslands change colour in autumn at Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, where Japans iconic red-crested cranes are the main attraction. Travel to Hokkaidos capital Sapporo where Odori Park has around 4,700 trees that slowly turn colour starting in early October. Ginkgo Biloba Avenue of Hokkaido University has 70 ginkgo trees that become a vivid yellow in autumn. The campus also hosts the Golden-leaf Festival (Konyousai) in late October. Maruyama Park, also within Sapporo city, has gorgeous cedars, magnolias, and maple trees that undergo a delightful transformation mid-October onwards. Other autumn hotspots in Hokkaido are the Jozankei Onsen area, Lake Toya, a volcanic caldera in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, and the summit of Mount Hakodate reached via a ropeway, from where you can see autumn foliage and panoramic views of the area. hayesandjarvis.co.uk/hokkaidoAutumn colours in Hokkaido Visitor hugs a giant tree in Sequoia National ParkUSACALIFORNIAS NATIONAL PARKSCalifornia has nine national parks, each with its own unique highlights. Sequoia National Park is the home of the worlds largest trees, the ancient giant red sequoias,and a landscape of mountains, canyons, caverns, and diverse flora and fauna. Explore the parks sequoia groves and embrace the majesty of these immense trees.Yosemite is Californias most famous park, well-known for its crystalline lakes, towering granite peaks, and iconic waterfalls like Yosemite and Bridalveil falls, cascading into deep valleys. It also has over 500 giant red sequoias at Mariposa Grove, including the Grizzly Giant, a 3,000-year-old specimen that is 63.7 m tall.Outstanding national parks tend to get huge crowds and even traffic jams, especially in the summertime, on weekends, and during school holidays. These fabulous parks are, therefore, best visited during shoulder season and on weekdays. October is an excellent time to drive through these parks. With autumn comes cool weather, and the sequoias, golden maples, and dogwoods turn golden, contrasting beautifully against the evergreen of the conifers. Whether you visit one or several of Californias parks (Death Valley and Joshua Tree are other favourites), you will be treated to a truly awe-inspiring visual spectacle. hayesandjarvis.co.uk/california20 \x1a HAYES JARVIS'