Best places to see autumn leaves (紅葉) in Japan

Hello there Smilers! Autumn in Japan will officially start on the 23rd of September. It is a month away from now and some of you might have already started looking for a good spot for you to see the yellow, red autumn leaves, or as they call it in Japan 紅葉. 

 

In this article, we are going to introduce to you the best places to go by region in Japan to see the autumn leaves (紅葉). Check out the best place in your region!

Table of contents

1. Hokkaido 北海道

Source: https://www.discovernippon.jp/autumn/east/asahidake.html

We will start this article with the place where the autumn leaves (紅葉) are visible the earliest in Japan and it is in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan National Park (大雪山) in Kamikawa-gun, Kamikawa-cho. The leaves will turn red from mid-September and will last until mid-October. You can take the Asahidake Ropeway up the Asahidake mountain to enjoy the beautiful view.

2. Tohoku 東北

Source: https://aomori-tourism.com/spot/detail_2567.html

Moving on to the Tohoku region, the top spot for seeing autumn leaves is at Tsutanuma Lake(蔦沼) in Aomori prefecture, Towada city from mid-October until late November. The most picturesque scene is when the morning glow will shine through the forest and the red autumn leaves (紅葉) will reflect on the pond making it such a breathtaking view. 

3. Kanto 関東

Source: https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0310e12824/image2.html

The next stop is In the Kanto region, the best spot for you to see the autumn leaves (紅葉) is in Gunma prefecture, Tone county, Minakami town Mt.Tanigawa (谷川岳) from mid-October to the end of October. You can take a 15 minutes ride by the Tanigawadake Ropeway to enjoy the panoramic view of the red forest around you. 

4. Koshinetsu 甲信越

Source: https://www.driveconsultant.jp/detail/spot/4111.html

In the Koshinetsu region, our top spot is the Senjojiki Curl (千畳敷カール) in Nagano prefecture, Komagane city. Its Autumn leaves can be seen from the end of September up till early October. You can enjoy the view with a 7 and a half minutes ride in the Chuo Alps Komagatake Ropeway. You can see the mountains around you with yellow, green and red colors all around mixed with the blue sky and white snow at the top of the mountain. 

5. Hokuriku 北陸

Source: https://tenki.jp/kouyou/4/19/30715.html

The hot spot in Hokuriku is the Kurobe Gorge Truck Train (黒部峡谷トロッコ電車) in Toyama prefecture, Kurobe City. The reddish autumn leaves can be seen from the end of October until mid-November. there is a red railway in between mountains that blends well with the scenery. You can really enjoy nature here as you can ride the train from Keyakidaira station up the mountains while enjoying the mountain views, the red autumn leaves and the river running below the track.

6. Tokai 東海

Source: http://asuke.info/view/shizen/entry-56.html

The top momiji spot in the Tokai region is at Korankei Gorge (香嵐渓) Aichi prefecture, Toyota city. Said to be the top 3 places to see autumn leaves in Japan, the Korankei Gorge have a day and night time viewing of the different colored autumn leaves. Have a good view of the whole gorge from the red Tomoebashi bridge and if you continue walking in, it will lead you to tall maple trees for you to enjoy the autumn leaves. 

7. Kansai 関西

Source: https://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/tourist_info/594/

For the Kansai region, the top spot is at Metasequoia Namiki (メタセコイア並木) in Shiga prefecture, Takashima city. The best time to visit is from late November until early December. The best spot to take a photo here is the 2.4-kilometer road from Makino Pick Land to Makino Kogen which is covered with 500 Metasequoia trees which will feel like you are in a tunnel covered with yellow leaves. If you stay near this area, be sure to visit them every season as the place changes colors with the seasons passing by

8. Chugoku 中国

Source: https://www.jalan.net/news/article/590811/

One of the most beautiful spot in Chugoku region is the Miyajima Momijidani Park (宮島・紅葉谷公園) in  Hiroshima prefecture, Hatsukaichi city. The best time to visit Miyajima Momijidani Park is from mid-November until late November. From the name itself, Momijidani (紅葉谷) momiji (紅葉) means autumn leaves and dani (谷) meaning valley, this is an autumn leave valley! Enjoy nature  as there is a small river stream to add to the autumn leaves view.

9. Shikoku 四国

Source: https://forestpost-jp.com/2021/11/22/kankakeikoyo/

The famous place for seeing autumn leaves (紅葉) in the Shikoku region is the Kankakei Gorge (寒霞渓) in Kagawa prefecture, Shozu district. The best time to visit this place is in early November till the end of November. The Kankakei Gorge is one of the three most spectacular gorges in Japan. You can take the ropeway up to the upper station to enjoy the view of the red autumn leaves and once you are up there, you will be able to go to the observation decks to enjoy the panoramic views over the george. 

10. Kyushu 九州

Source: https://4travel.jp/travelogue/11653156

The top spot in Kyushu region is the Kuju Mountain Range (くじゅう連山) in Oita prefecture, Taketa City. The best time to visit Kuju Mountain Range (くじゅう連山) is at the end of October till mid November. Because this is a mountain range, you can hike through various mountains and routes and you can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves from the top of the mountain. For those of you who are not so active, you can walk through the largest wetland in Japan at the foot of Mt.Mimata and enjoy the golden autumn colors there. 

This wraps up the top places to visit by region. Which place would you like to visit the most? Or do you know any hidden spots to see the beautiful autumn leaves (紅葉)? Please share it with us in the comment section.

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