As the summer heat fades, autumn arrives — the most ideal travel season of the year — and among its many charms, the autumn foliage steals the show. If you wish to avoid the crowds at domestic leaf-viewing spots, neighboring Hokkaido in Japan is a great alternative. Travel advisors note that Hokkaido, located in the northern part of Japan’s main islands, experiences an early autumn, making it one of the first places in Japan where you can enjoy the fall colors. With fewer crowds, it's perfect for travelers seeking tranquility. Spots like Daisetsuzan National Park, Shikisai Gorge, and Shiretoko Five Lakes rank among the best for foliage viewing in Hokkaido.
It is said that Mount Asahi, the highest peak in Daisetsuzan National Park, is the earliest place in all of Japan to see autumn leaves. Visitors can take a cable car up to about 1,600 meters above sea level. Shikisai Gorge is another top destination for leaf-peeping, where you can admire the vibrant foliage blanketing the mountains. Meanwhile, Shiretoko Five Lakes offers the unique beauty of reflection — mountains and crimson leaves mirrored on calm lake surfaces. You can either walk around the lakeshore or take a boat ride.
In Japan, the custom of viewing autumn leaves is called "momijigari," while people in Hokkaido refer to it as "kaede-kai" (maple viewing gathering). When the maple leaves turn red each year, families in Hokkaido often head to hot spring resorts to leisurely gaze at the distant mountains and their crimson foliage from open-air baths. This serene lifestyle is considered one of the secrets to the longevity of Hokkaido residents. According to the Guinness World Records, the world’s oldest living man hails from Hokkaido — he is 112 years old, and his favorite pastime is soaking in hot springs.
In fact, Japan has long been known for its citizens’ longevity, but more and more Japanese are feeling the pressures brought on by an aging society. According to Japan’s 2018 “National Public Opinion Survey on People’s Livelihood,” over half of Japanese people are most worried about “planning for old age.” In reality, with increasing life expectancy, “elder care” has become a global issue. Beyond basic pension systems, many countries are actively developing third-pillar personal pension schemes to serve as an important supplement to public pensions.
In China, the construction of the “third pillar” of retirement security has also been vigorously promoted. The China-Europe Vision Retirement 2035 Three-Year Holding (FOF) fund, currently on offer, is a product designed specifically for individual retirement planning. Targeted at those expected to retire around 2035, this fund dynamically adjusts its asset allocation ratio based on a set retirement date. As investors age, the investment style of the China-Europe Retirement 2035 Fund transitions accordingly — from “aggressive” to “steady,” and then to “conservative.” Through a strategy of “staggered investment + long-term lock-in + asset allocation,” this target-date fund provides investors with a one-stop retirement investment solution and a better retirement investment service experience.