I'm a city kid, who can often be unmoved by nature. But I am dazzled by autumn as it unfolds. I'm enthralled by how all the reds, tans, yellows and golds that paint the leaves that still stick to the ...

This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

“Momijigari” means hunting autumn leaves and people consult forecasts and follow predictions to find the most beautiful displays. This itinerary adds history and a sense of spirituality to the colors.