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 colors. 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 color 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 color starting in early October. Ginkgo Biloba Avenue of Hokkaido University has 70 ginkgo trees that become a vivid yellow in the fall. 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. enchantingtravels.com/hokkaidoAutumn colors in Hokkaido Old Town of Corfu GREECECORFUS BEACHES, HERITAGE, AND CUISINECorfu, the most northerly of the Ionian Islands in Greece, is a captivating destination of great natural beauty with a multi-layered historical and cultural heritage. Its mild and congenial autumn weather makes it a perfect destination for an October getaway with fewer crowds. Corfus Old Town is a web of narrow cobblestone streets with stairways and arched passages. Stroll along Spianada, the town square, and end up at the Kapodistrias Statue for extensive views across the sea and the magnificent Venetian Old Fortress. Corfus beaches, like Agios Georgios Pagon, Kerasia, and Myrtiotissa, offer mesmerizing seascapes and sunbathing opportunities. Just six miles outside town is Gastouri villages Achilleion Palace, built among cypresses and myrtles. Northwest on the island, at Paleokastritsa, a charming monastery atop the hill is bordered by an olive grove and offers fantastic ocean views. Take a boat to the islands of Antipaxos and Paxos to swim in turquoise waters and visit the Blue Caves. The local Corfiot cuisine is influenced by Italian and Greek culinary traditions, and rooted in sourcing fresh, locally grown ingredients and the use of homegrown olive oil. Some traditional dishes you must try are pastitsada, sofrito, and bianco.enchantingtravels.com/corfu20 \x1a BE ENCHANTED'