GALLERY: Autumn foliage in Japan's Kyoto

With the summer heat now a thing of the past, Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto is abrim with bursts of stunning colors as its iconic autumn foliage season draws in throngs of visitors from both Japan and overseas.

At Eikando Zenrinji, one of the city's most famous must-see destinations for autumn leaves, some 3,000 Japanese maple and mountain maple trees are illuminated by hundreds of lamps in the temple's compound.

The vibrant foliage below the Eikando pagoda creates an almost magical view.

At the World Heritage site Byodoin Temple in nearby Uji, also in Kyoto Prefecture, a reflection of the 1,000-year-old "Hoo-do" Phoenix Hall forms during a special illumination event.

The temple is open for night visits to view the illumination from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on selected dates until Dec. 3, 2017.

In addition to the standard temple- and shrine-hopping around the city, one can also hop on the Eizan Electric Railway's Kurama Line for an extraordinary panorama of deep red and gold colors as the train chugs slowly along the "Momiji Leaf Tunnel" of illuminated foliage.