秋天的伊吕波坂，日光市，栃木县，日本 Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (© oneinchpunch/Shutterstock)

秋天的伊吕波坂，日光市，栃木县，日本 Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan (© oneinchpunch/Shutterstock)

像日光那样“弯道飞驰” Bend it like Nikko

秋天的伊吕波坂，日光市，栃木县，日本

秋天是伊吕波坂最耀眼的季节，正如今日画面所示。从10月下旬到11月上旬，枫叶的红、银杏的金、落叶松的黄层层叠叠，铺满山坡。蜿蜒的道路一路通向日光的著名景点：攀登至顶，便可抵达赤地平原。这里有缆车可俯瞰中禅寺湖和气势磅礴的华严瀑布。山顶的中禅寺湖静谧如镜，与盘旋的山路形成鲜明对比，而瀑布在下方轰鸣奔泻。几个世纪前，朝圣者沿着这条路前往神社与寺院，如今旅行者依旧踏上同样的路径，只是相机快门声取代了虔诚的诵经声。

Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan

If you think the alphabet is straightforward, Japan's Irohazaka Road in Nikko will twist that belief right out of you. Named after the old Japanese syllabary 'Iroha,' this mountain pass once had 48 hairpin bends—each curve matched to a character of the alphabet. Today, it's a pair of separate one-way roads—one goes up, the other comes down, and both make drivers feel as if they're spelling out a story with every turn.

Fall is when Irohazaka truly shows off, as captured in today's image. From late October to early November, maple reds, ginkgo golds, and larch yellows spill down the slopes. The winding route also leads to some of Nikko's greatest hits. Climb up, and you'll reach the Akechidaira Plateau. Here, a ropeway gives you sweeping views of Lake Chuzenji and the powerful Kegon Falls. At the top, Lake Chuzenji offers a calm contrast to the dizzying drive, while the waterfall roars below. Centuries ago, pilgrims took this same route to reach sacred shrines and temples. Today, travelers follow in their tracks, though probably with more camera clicks than chants.