This might come as a surprise to some given our recent history, but I find myself largely agreeing with the OP on this one. This is an insightful and interesting thread and I think Maciamo is spot on with his observations.

There is strong evidence of a tourist industry based around Autumn leaves from the simple fact that a considerable number of my friends have recently ventured out of Sapporo on bus tours, in search of the illusive "beautiful views" that many Japanese seem to crave at this time of year. However Autumn has come late to Hokkaido this year, and the tour companies know this more than anyone.

I've sat in no end of Izakayas over the last couple of weeks listening to my co-workers moaning that they booked into a particular tour, only to find when they arrived in the country that the leaves on the trees are still as green as they were a couple of months ago, and the 'views' are yet to establish themselves.

Autumn is very much an industry, as well as a season, and is undoubtedly driven by a conditioned reflex to escape the concrete jungle most of us find ourselves living in. Although it hasn't affected me up until now, this year I've even found myself trying to talk my wife into jumping into the car and heading off to some distant place in order to sit and look at a bunch of trees. Something I wouldn't have dreamed of doing in my years in England.