Mount Tamuke is known for its beautiful autumn leaves, and Michizane SUGAWARA wrote a waka poem which appeared in Kokin Wakashu (A Collection of Ancient and Modern Japanese Poetry), which says "I feel very sorry that I could not even prepare nusa to offer to the gods for this trip. Instead, I will devote these beautiful colored autumnal leaves as offerings."
手向山は紅葉の名所として知られ、古今和歌集では菅原道真が「このたびは幣もとりあへず手向山　紅葉の錦神のまにまに」と詠んでいる。