Leaf peeping is an informal term in the United States and Canada for the activity in which people travel to view and photograph the fall foliage in areas where leaves change colors in autumn,[1] particularly in northern New England,[2][3] Appalachia, the Pacific Northwest, and the upper Midwest, as well as the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.[4][5] An organized excursion for leaf peeping is known as a foliage tourorcolor tour.
A similar custom in Japan is called momijigari (紅葉狩). In Finland, the season is ruska and a trek is called ruskaretki.
The term "leaf peeper" is used both with appreciation from businesses that benefit from the millions that pour into the higher elevations of the West, upper Midwest, and northern New England in fall, and with disdain from those who have to use the roads that get over-crowded due to leaf peepers.[6] Hobbyists who get together for leaf peeping may refer to their gatherings as leaf peepshows.[7]
The term "leaf peeping" has been used in numerous television shows, including "And It's Surely to Their Credit," an episode of The West Wing, and "Live Free or Die," an episode of The Sopranos.
Momijigari (紅葉狩), from the Japanese momiji (紅葉) 'red leaves' or 'maple tree' and kari (狩り) 'hunting', is the Japanese tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves have turned red in the autumn. It is also called kōyō (紅葉).[8] Kōyō is another pronunciation of the characters for momiji which means "fall colors" or "leaves changing colors".[9] It is also called kanpūkai (観楓会)inHokkaidō,[10] which means "getting together to view the leaves".[9]
