Autumn is the perfect season to take a trip to Japan. On your holiday here, you will definitely enjoy the nature–red and yellow leaves, cosmos flowers, red spider lilies, pampas grass, and rice fields scattered throughout the land. Then of course there are also the striking red sunsets, a balance of cool and warm weather, and a sea of delicate clouds.
With the help of the LINE Travel.jp navigator, we have gathered a few spots and scenes that are worth checking out on your next autumn vacation. Let us introduce you to the top 20 recommendations for autumn scenery in Japan.
1. See this year’s light-up event at Sounkyo (Hokkaido)
Sounkyo is one of Hokkaido’s most famous places to see autumn colors. During its autumn season, its valleys are covered in golden autumn leaves. Its hot springs, located at an elevation of 670 meters (2198 ft) above sea level, are also popular. Also, in 2018, it held its first Autumn Leaves Light-Up Event, “Miracle Illumination” at its entrance.
Sounkyo
Address: Sounkyo, Kawakami-cho, Kawakami-gun, Hokkaido Prefecture
Access: It is a 45-minute bus ride from Kawakami Station on the JR Sekihokuhon Line
Express buses are also accessible from Obihiro, Kushiro, and Kitami
2. Witness a 360-degree panoramic view at Jogakura Bridge (Aomori)
Towada – Hachimantai National Park is Aomori Prefecture’s mecca for autumn leaves. At the park, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the autumn leaves from Jogakura Bridge. If you’re driving, the best route to take is through passing the Oirase Gorge. This view will allow you to further appreciate the autumn leaves of Aomori Prefecture.
Jogakura Bridge
Address: 1-1 Minami Arakawa, Arakwa-Ji Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture
Access: It is a 35-minute drive from the Kuroishi Interchange
3. Be awed by the contrasting beauty of Goshiki-numa (Fukushima)
At Mt. Bandai’s northern end behind the mountain, you can find Goshiki-numa, a field of many marshes. It is likewise home to one of Fukushima Prefecture’s most famous hiking courses and tourist spots. Complementing its marshes are the illusion-like colors of the autumn leaves from the northeast. This perfect harmony shows just how majestic Mt. Bandai is.
Goshiki-numa
Address: Hibara Yudairayama, Kita Shiobara-mura, Yama-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
Access: It is a 25-minute bus ride from Inawashiro Station
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4. Take plenty of photos at Lake Chuzenji (Tochigi)
Lake Chuzenji is a symbol of Nikko National Park. The observation deck at Mt. Hangetsu, where you can see the Haccho Dejima peninsula, is a trendy spot to take photos for your Instagram accounts. After you enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Chuzenji, you should take the Lake Chuzenji Cruise to venture into the center of the lake! The tour will give you many opportunities to take photographs with the scenery it features.
Lake Chuzenji
Address: 2478 Chugushi Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture (Tobu Kokgyo Co. Lake Chuzenji Ferry Office）
Access: From JR Nikko Station and Tobu Niko Station, you can take the Tobu Bus for Chuzenji Hot Springs, or take a 45-minute bus ride for Yumoto Hot Springs and is a 5-minute walk from Chuzenji Hot Springs once you get off that bus
5. Experience the fluffy red world of Hitachi Seaside Park (Ibaraki)
At Hitachi Seaside Park, you can enjoy a world of red and fluffy fire weeds covering a hill. From the end of September, the fire weeds turn from green to red. By the middle of October, be prepared to see red as the field turns into a world of pure crimson together with the autumn sky. The fire weed world at Hitachi is a popular attraction especially from the middle of September to October.F
Hitachi Seaside Park
Address: 605-4 Mawatari Oonuma, Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Access: Take the Kita Kanto Expressway ~ Hitachinaka Toll Road, and it is right by the Hitachi Seaside Park Interchange
6. Visit Kinchakuda Higanbana Fields, home to 5 million red spider lilies (Saitama)
Kinchakuda in Hidaka City in Saitama Prefecture is famous for the clear and zig-zagging streams of the Koma River. It is also known for being home to 5 million higanbana flowers, which make the land look like an embellished string purse. These flowers bloom during the autumn. See these flowers during the Kinchakuda Higanbana Festival where you can enjoy a fulfilling day by also visiting its cafes, souvenir shops, and other outdoor shops.
Kinchakuda Higanbana Fields
Address: 125-2 Koma Hongo, Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture（Kinchakuda Main Office）
Access: It is a 15-minute walk from Koma Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line
7. Get a view of 4 million cosmo flowers at Showa Memorial Park (Tokyo)
In Tokyo, be sure to visit Showa Memorial Park where you can see about 4 million cosmo flowers at the Flower Hill. For the people of Tokyo, it is their pride and joy. When you look at the pink cosmo flowers that seem limitless, its beauty feels like a scene out of a dream.
Showa Memorial Park
Address: 3173 Midori-cho, Tachikawa City, Tokyo
Access: It is a 10-minute from Tachikawa Station on the JR Chou Line
8. Feel the visual poetry Hakone’s autumn season with the pampas grass fields of Sengokuhara (Kanagawa)
The pampas grass fields of Sengokuhara in Hakone is one of Eastern Japan’s most famous places. This shiny yellow grass that you can find on its hillside has been recognized as Kanagawa’s Top 50 Sceneries and Kanagawa’s Top 100 for flowers viewing. Many people come to see it between the end of September and the middle of November.
Sengokuhara
Address: Sengokuhara, Ashigarashimo-gun, Hakone-cho, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access: It is a 30-minute ride from Hakone Yumoto Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway headed for the Tougendai Bus Stop. It is right by the Sengokuhara Bus Stop. From Shinjuku Station, you can take the Odakyu Hakone Express Bus and get off at the Sengokuhara Bus Stop.
9. Attend the must-see light event of the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (Yamanashi)
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Easily accessible from Tokyo, Lake Kawaguchi is a famous spot for enjoying the autumn leaves and the view of Mt. Fuji. Every year, many tourists come to see the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival to make memories of the season in the Maple Corridor and along the banks of Lake Kawaguchi. The Maple Corridor, a tunnel of autumn leaves, is a famous tourist spot for people to walk through. During the festival, there is a light-up event that is held from sundown to 10pm.
Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival
Address: Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko-cho, Minami Tsuru-gun, Yamanashi Prefecture
Access: It is a 15-minute drive from the Chuo Expressway Kawaguchiko interchange by National Highway 137
10. Visit the once-in-a-lifetime Yume no Tsuribashi Bridge in Sumatakyo (Shizuoka)
The Yume no Tsuribashi Bridge has been rising in popularity as a once-in-a-lifetime bridge to visit in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is a beautiful bridge that spans across the cobalt blue reservoir. Many people come to see the scenery when it is the season for autumn leaves. While there are many ways to get there, we recommend the Oigawa Railway steam engine train.
Yume no Tsuribashi Bridge
Address: Sumatakyo, Senzu, Kawaehon, Haibara-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture
Access: It is a 40-minute bus ride from Sento Station on the Oigawa Railway, and its is a 20-minute walk from the Sumatakyo Hot Spring bus stop
11. See Ootago Beach, Japan’s number 1 sunset spot for Autumn (Shizuoka)
The locals of Nishiizu are proud to say that the wonderful sunsets of Ootago Beach are the best in Japan. The best time to see them are shortly before or after spring and autumn equinoxes, and there are volunteers on-site who can guide you on the best ways to see the sunsets.
Ootago Beach,
Address: Tago, Nishiizu-cho, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture
Access: From Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway, it is a 1 hour 24-minute bus ride by the Tokai Bus that departs for Dogashima/Matsuzaki. Get off at Ootago, and it is a 5-minute walk from there. It is a 1-hour-and-25-minute drive from Tomei Expressway Numazu interchange. It is a 50-minute drive from Shuzenji Station on the Izuhakone Railway.
12. Go hiking at Korankei, famous for its autumn leaves (Aichi)
Korankei is one famous place for autumn leaves in Aichi Prefecture. Since viewing season is only two weeks a year, tens of thousands of people from across the country come here. It is so sought-after that its crowded conditions will not allow you to walk freely during the weekends. Mt. Iimori in Korankei has the perfect hiking course. This is a good chance to exercise as you enjoy the autumn leaves.
Korankei
Address: Asuke-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture
Access: From East Okazaki Station, it is a 70-minute bus ride, and you get off at Korankei
13. See Yokotanikyo, a beautiful lake that inspired a painting and commercial (Nagano)
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Yokotanikyo lake is a wonderful site for autumn scenery, with knotweeds, the surrounding autumn leaves at Oshaga Pond, and the Oshidori Kakushi falls. The spot is so beautiful, it served as an inspiration for a painting and a TV commercial. If you wish to see its autumn leaves and waterfalls together, then you cannot miss the Yokotanikyo Kannon Observation Deck.
Yokotanikyo
Address: Kitayama, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
Access: It is a 30-minute drive from the Suwa interchange
14. Experience the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, an autumn must-see (Nagano/Mt. Fuji)
Many attractions of the Alpine Route include snow covering its valleys in the early spring, the falls of the Kurobe Dam, and the autumn leaves. From Ogizawa Station in Omachi in Nagano Prefecture, you can enjoy the scenery by taking a trolley bus, a cable car, the ropeway, or a tunnel trolley bus.
15. Delight in the beautiful yellow rice paddies of Inabuchi (Nara)
The rice fields of Inabuchi in Asuka Village of Nara Prefecture is a trendy spot for photographers to gather. While its green summers are stunning, Inabuchi’s rice paddies turn an overwhelmingly vibrant yellow between the middle of September and October. One nice place to go sightseeing is Scarecrow Road, where these striking birds often grace the rice paddies.
Inabuchi
Address: Inabuchi, Asuka-mura, Takaichi-gun, Nara Prefecture
Access: It is 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the Kame Bus Ishibutai Bus Stop
16. Witness the overwhelming beauty of scattered autumn leaves at the Enkouji Temple (Nara)
There are numerous famous places to see autumn leaves in Kyoto. In recent years, the Enkouji Temple instantly went from being unknown to being packed with tourists. Many people come to see the overwhelming beauty of its scattered autumn leaves. It is known for Jyu-gyu no Niwa, Kyoto Pond Garden, and Seiryuuchi, which is said to be one of the oldest ponds in Kyoto.
Enkouji Temple
Address: 13 Ichojoji Kotani-cho, Sakyou Ward, Kyoto
Access: It is a 10-minute walk from Ichijoji Kudari Matsucho on the City Bus, and it is a 15-minute walk from Ichijoji on the Eizan Electric Railway
17. Experience the sea of clouds season at Shikoku Karst (Ehime/Kochi)
On the border of Ehime and Kochi Prefectures is a plateau where Shikoku Karst can be found. Thanks to its limestones and low-lying trees, it is considered one of the best places to go stargazing in Japan, and it is also famous for its beautiful sea of clouds during the spring and autumn seasons. When you gaze at the sea of clouds above the Shikoku Karst, you will feel as if the changing skies are indeed the work of a higher power.
Shikoku Karst Natural Park
Address: Tsuno Town, Takaoka County, Kochi Prefecture
Access: It is a 1-hour-and-20-minute drive from Susaki-Higashi Exit on Kochi Expressway
18. Kankakei, the most thrilling way to see the skies (Kagawa)
The scenery of Kankakei National Park in Shodoshima Island is famous for being featured in the movie, “Twenty-Four Eyes.” Its amazing valley has been recognized as one of Japan’s top three valleys, Japan’s top three sceneries, and Japan’s top 100 famous views. One of its top thrills is the non-stop ropeway ride to the station at the summit of the mountain. On this 5-minute ride, you can get a spectacular view of its beautiful valleys combined with the autumn leaves.
Kankakei
Address: Kankakei, Shodoshima-cho, Shodoshima-gun, Kagawa Prefecture
Access: It is a 40-minute drive from Shodoshima’s ports and about 5 minutes by ropeway from Ropeway Kouun Station
19. Visit the Bicchu Matsuyama Castle Observatory, a mountain castle floating above a sea of clouds (Okayama)
Bicchu Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi City in Okayama Prefecture is considered to be one of Japan’s Top 3 Mountain Castles. It is known as the “Mountain Castle in the Sky,” placed above a sea of clouds as if floating on it. The best time to visit is from the start of September to the end of April, but it is generally agreed that it is at its most beautiful at the beginning of autumn. You can view the sea of clouds from sunrise around 5:30am to 8am, so if you can get up early enough, you are in for a treat.
The Bicchu Matsuyama Castle Observatory
Address: Okumanda-cho, Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture
Access: It is about 30 minutes from the Kayo interchange on the Okayama Expressway (Park parking lot)
You can take a shuttle bus from the Shiromibashi Park parking lot
(Schedule is subject to change in April and May, everyday of September to November, weekends and national holiday for June to August and December to March due to crowd conditions)
20. Walk the Kokonoe “Yume” Otsurihashi Bridge, the highest you can get in Japan (Oita)
The Kokonoe “Yume” Otsurihashi Bridge is located at 777 meters (2549 ft) above sea level, is 390 meters (1279 ft) in length, 173 meters (567 ft) in height, and 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) in width. It is considered one of Japan’s most famous tourist spots. From the bridge, you can see where the water of one of Japan’s top 100 waterfalls originates from, as well as the gradating beauty of the autumn leaves spread throughout the valley. If you typically get a thrill from heights, then you can enjoy a walk here.
The Kokonoe “Yume” Otsurihashi Bridge
Address: 1208 Tano, Kokonoe-cho Kusu-gun, Oita Prefecture
Access: It is around 25 minutes from the Kokonoe Interchange
Enjoy Japan's autumn scenery
There are many places to view scenery throughout Japan during autumn! While it is difficult to schedule any trips that can go overnight, we also recommend you take a one-day trip bus tour to relish the spectacular autumn sceneries Japan offers during this beautiful season.
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