Let’s take the train! Easily accessible places to see fall foliage!

Destinations
The view from "Koyo Tunnel" (C) Fabimaru, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Fall season is round the corner. There are huge number of the spots to see fall foliage in Japan. But many of them are not accessible for overseas tourist. In this post, I would like to show you easy access spot to see fall foliage in Japan by regions. You can get the places to see fall foliage by train only. All places are located within walking distance from the station. You do not need to take a local bus. You do not need to drive! The route is very simple and you can enjoy gorgeous view by easy access!

Hokkaido

Maruyama Park (Sapporo)

(C) JNTO

Source: JNTO

This park is located in the city of Sapporo. You can enjoy short hiking in this park to see fall foliage.

Season
Mid October to late October

How to access
5 minutes walk from Sapporo subway Tozai line, Maruyama Koen station.
Subway map

Onuma Quasi-National Park

Onuma Koen is very closed to Hakodate.

Onuma Koen is very closed to Hakodate.

Onuma Park is located in southern Hokkaido and very closed to Hakodate. You can enjoy stunning scenery of Lake Onuma and Mt. Komagatake. You can watch short movie to find how beautiful this park is.

Season
late October

How to access
3 minutes walk from Onumakoen station
Onumakoen is 10 minutes away from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station and 30 minutes from Hakodate station by limited express train.

Tohoku

Kakunodate Bukeyashiki

Bukeyashiki (Samurai residence district) in Kakunodate (C) JNTO

Bukeyashiki (Samurai residence district) in Kakunodate (C) JNTO

Kakunodate is located in Akita prefecture and this town is very well known as cherry blossom spot. But fall foliage is as nice as cherry blossom. Especially Bukeyashiki district is amazing. If you have an extra time, you can visit Dakigaeri gorge. You have to take a taxi for 15 minutes. But it is worth visiting. Free shuttle bus from Kakunodate station may run in fall foliage season but it is not sure at this point.

Season
Early November

How to access
15 minutes walk from JR Kakunodate station
You can get Kakunodate station by Akita Shinkansen.

Entsuin temple, Matsushima

You may visit this temple in the evening. Light up is gorgeous. (C) Entsuin2.jpg - Kumamushi (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

You may visit this temple in the evening. Light up is gorgeous. (C) Entsuin2.jpg – Kumamushi (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Matsushima is known as one of three best scenaries of Japan. Entsuin temple is located in the heart of Matsushima. You can enjoy scenery of Matsushima and gorgeous fall foliage in this temple.

Season
Early November

How to access
10 minutes walk from Matsushimakaigan station
Please refer the link below to find more information about access to Matsushima in the link below:
Access to Matsushima from Sendai

Risshaku-ji temple, a.k.a Yama-dera

Risshaku-ji (Yamadera) (C) Yamagata Prefecture / JNTO

Risshaku-ji (Yamadera) (C) Yamagata Prefecture / JNTO

This temple is located at the border of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures. It is one hour away from Sendai station and 20 minutes away from Yamagata station by JR Senzan line train. This temple is known as Yama-dera. This means temple in the mountain. The temple is very closed to the station but you have to walk up to the middle of the mountain. I have visited this temple in the winter time. It is different season but you may get some idea about visiting this temple in the link below:

Trip report of Kakunodate to Nagoya via Sendai and Yamadera in 2016 winter

Season
Early November

How to access
10 minutes walk from JR Yamadera station to the entrance of Yamadera.

Chuson-ji temple, Hiraizumi

Source: JNTO

Source: JNTO


Chuson-ji temple is the highlight of Hiraizumi that is UNESCO World Heritage site. This temple is worth visiting in all year. Konjikido (Golden Hall) and other buildings are spectacular.

Season
Late October to early November

How to access
25 minutes walk from JR Hiraizumi station. 5 minutes by taxi

Surrounding Tokyo area

Heirin-ji temple

(C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

(C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

This temple is not very well known, however this temple in fall season is amazing. This temple is located in Saitama prefecture. It is 45 minutes from downtown Tokyo by train. This temple is closed at 16:30. You have to enter by 16:00 and you cannot see night view of fall foliage in this temple.

Season
Mid November to early December

How to access
30 minutes (3km) away from JR Musashino line, Niiza station

Lake Kawaguchi in Mt. Fuji area

The view from "Koyo Tunnel" (C) Fabimaru, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The view from “Koyo Tunnel” (C) Fabimaru, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

You have to take shuttle bus but I include this place because this is very popular place and very easy access.

Lake Kawaguchi is very popular place to visit as you probably know. It is one of the best places to see Mt. Fuji. In fall season, there is fall foliage event and you can enjoy the night light up view of fall foliage during this event. It is breathtaking view of lake, Mt. Fuji and fall foliage at same time.

Season
Mid October to late October

How to access
25 minutes from Fuji Kyuko railway, Kawaguchiko station by shuttle bus. Bus runs very frequently during this event.
Please see the link below to find the information about access to Lake Kawaguchi.
Fuji Hakone access guide by train and bus from both Tokyo and Osaka / Kyoto / Nagoya

Atami Baien

Atami Baien means Atami Plum Garden. This place is well known as plum blossom. However fall foliage is as nice as plum blossom. This is very recommended to see fall foliage if you visit Izu area. You also can find some photos of fall foliage of this garden at the link below:

Atami City Tourism Association (Japanese site)

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from JR Kinomiya station
Kinoyami station is just one station away from Atami station by local train. Please see the link below to find the information about access to Atami.
How to access to Atami, Ito, Shimoda and other places in Izu peninsula by railways

Tokyo

Mt. Takao

Mt. Takao is one of the best spots in Tokyo.  (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

Mt. Takao is one of the best spots in Tokyo. (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

This mountain is very popular to hike. It is located at the edge of Tokyo but some of you cannot believe this mountain is located in Tokyo Metropolis because of plenty of nature. You can access to this mountain by Keio Railway from Shinjuku in one hour. You can take Cablecar from the station to mountain area. You can hike but you do not need to.

Season
Mid November

How to access
You can take Cablecar to the middle of the mountain. Cablecar station is same place as Keio Railway Takaosanguchi station.

Showa Kinen Park

Golden leaves at Showa Kinen Park (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

Golden leaves at Showa Kinen Park (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

There are lots of gingko trees in this park. You also see red leaves but mostly yellow and golden. But it is impressive. It is only 30 minutes away from Shinjuku station by train. You can visit this park on the back to Tokyo from Mt. Takao.

Season
Early November to early December

How to access
2 minutes from JR Nishi-Tachikawa station or 10 minutes from JR Tachikawa station

Downtown Tokyo

Rikugien Gardens

The scene of late fall in Rikugien Gardens (C) 京浜にけ - Bunkyo Rikugien Panoramic View In Late Autumn 1.JPG

The scene of late fall in Rikugien Gardens (C) 京浜にけ – Bunkyo Rikugien Panoramic View In Late Autumn 1.JPG

This is the best spot to see fall foliage in downtown Tokyo. There are more than 1000 maple, ginkgo and many other trees. You can visit this garden in both day and night. Especially light up view after dusk is amazing.

Season
Mid November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from Komagome station
You can access to Komagome station by JR Yamanotel line or subway Nanboku line.
Please find more information about train network in Tokyo at the link below:
Guide to take trains in Tokyo. How to choose the best deal and the best route by train to get the major spots?

Meiji-Jingu Gaien

Golden leaves at Meiji Jingu Gaien (C) Yasufumi Nishi /  JNTO

Ginglo trees at Meiji Jingu Gaien (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

Meiji-Jingu Gaien is the garden where is located near Meiji-Jingu shrine. But it is a few stations away from Meiji-Jingu shrine. There many ginkgo trees beside the road to Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery in this garden. You can enjoy walking to see golden leaves.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
You can access there from JR Shinanomachi station, JR Sendayaga station, or subway Aoyama-Itchome station in 5 to 10 minutes.
Please find more information about train network in Tokyo at the link below:
Guide to take trains in Tokyo. How to choose the best deal and the best route by train to get the major spots?

Shinjuku Gyoen

Fall foliage at Shinjuku Gyoen

Fall foliage at Shinjuku Gyoen

This garden is located near Shinjuku. There are many spots to see fall foliage in Tokyo. Probably this is most accessible place in downtown Tokyo. There are many kinds of trees and that means the season is long to see the color trees.

Season
Mid October to early December

How to access
5 minutes walk from Subway Marunouchi line Shinjuku-Gyoen station or 10 minutes walk from Shinjuku station
Please find more information about train network in Tokyo at the link below:
Guide to take trains in Tokyo. How to choose the best deal and the best route by train to get the major spots?

Chubu, Hokuriku

Kaikoen Garden

The entrance of Kaikoen (C) Nagano Prefecture / JNTO

The entrance of Kaikoen (C) Nagano Prefecture / JNTO

It is the ruin of Komoro castle in Nagano prefecture. The castle is not there anymore but stone wall is more than 400 years old and it is covered by moss. The contrast of green stone wall and fall colors is impressive.

Season
Early November

How to access
3 minutes walk from Komoro station.
Komoro station is 6 stations away by JR Koumi line train from Saku-Daira. Saku-Daira can be accessed by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama or Kanazawa.

Kurobe Gorge

Please expect the cold weather. It is chilly in even summer time. (C) oyama Prefectural Tourism Association / JNTO

Please expect the cold weather. It is chilly in even summer time. (C) oyama Prefectural Tourism Association / JNTO

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is very popular in this region. But Kurobe Gorge is as spectacular as Alpine Route. And Kurobe Gorge is much easier to access.

You can enjoy easy train trip by Kurobe Keikoku Railway. It takes one hour 20 minutes train trip to Keiyakidaira station from Unazuki Onsen station. You can enjoy small hike and lunch at Keyakidaira. So you will spend at least half day for round trip to Keyakidaira. If you start this train trip from Toyama, you will spend almost full day.

The train has two classes. Ordinary class is open-air car. It does not have any windows and walls. You can enjoy mountain fresh air but it may be cold. Especially fall foliage season in Kurobe gorge is like winter. You must prepare winter clothing.

Season
Late October to mid November

How to access
You can take Kurobe Keikoku Railway train at Unazukionsen station. Unazukionsen station can be accessed by train from Toyama. You will spend at least 90 minutes from Toyama to get Unazukionsen.

Nagoya and surrounding area

Shirotori Garden

This is one of the biggest gardens in Nagoya area. 1500 trees show you an amazing autumn scenery. This garden describe the landscape of Nagoya and surrounding area.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from Nagoya subway Meijo line, Jingunishi station
Nagoya subway route map

Tokugawaen Garden

Tokugawaen is one of Edo era style gardens in Japan. There is a pond in the middle of the garden. You can walk around the pond to see many scenery in this garden. You can enter after dusk and enjoy the light up fall trees.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from JR Ozone station and Meitetsu railway Ozone station or 15 minutes walk from Nagoya subway Meijo line, Ozone station
Nagoya subway route map

Yoro Park and Falls

Yoro Park is located in Gifu prefecture. It is nice day trip destination from Nagoya. You can walk from Yoro station to the falls. It takes about 40 minutes hike and enjoy the fall scenery from the station to the falls.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
15 minutes walk from Yoro Railway Yoro station
You can access to Yoro station from Nagoya by Kintetsu Railway and Yoro Railway via Kuwana.

Kansai

Hikone Castle, Genkyuen Garden

Genkyuen garden is traditional Japanese garden beside Hikone castle. (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

Genkyuen garden is traditional Japanese garden beside Hikone castle. (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

Hikone Castle is one of most beautiful castles in Japan. This castle is worth visiting in all season. In fall season, it is no doubt that fall season is much more beautiful. You may enjoy the beautiful castle, great landscape of garden and fall color leaves.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from JR Hikone station

Kosho-ji temple, Uji

Kosho-ji temple is just steps away from Uji station. (C) 663highland, CC-BY-SA-3.0  or CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

Kosho-ji temple is just steps away from Uji station. (C) 663highland, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons

Uji is one of most popular spots in Kyoto. Kosho-ji temple is located beside Uji river. You can walk a moderate slope from the entrance of this temple. There are many fall trees beside this slope. It is like fall color tunnel. This view is called twelve scenery of Uji.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
10 minutes walk from Keihan Railway Uji station or 20 minutes walk from JR Uji station
Please see the link below to find more information about train network in Kyoto.
Guide to take trains in Kyoto. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?

Arashiyama, Kyoto

Togetsukyo bridge, Arashiyama (C) Akira Okada / JNTO

Togetsukyo bridge, Arashiyama (C) Akira Okada / JNTO

It is very popular place and no need to explain. There are many places to see fall color leaves in Arashiyama. Especially Togetsukyo bridge and Tenryu-ji temple are “Must-See” spot. If you have an extra time, Sagano scenic railway and Hozu river cruise are also very recommended. But in fall season, it is very very busy there. If you visit there, you must make the detailed plan and try to book in advance if you want to take Sagano scenic railway.

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
Hankyu Railway Arashiyama station and Keifuku Railway Arashiyama station are located in the Arashiyama. JR Saga-Arashiyama station is 10 minutes away from the center of Arahisyama by walk.
Please see the link below to find more information about train network in Kyoto.
Guide to take trains in Kyoto. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?

Nara Park

Lots of deer in Nara Park

Lots of deer in Nara Park

Nara Park is one of very accessible spot to see fall foliage. You can visit there by Kintetsu railway or JR from either Kyoto or Osaka. Nara is one of the highlight cities in Japan. There are lots of temples and shrines in Nara as you know. I recommend you to visit this park.

Season
Early November to early December

How to access
5 minutes walk from Kintetsu Railway, Kintetsunara station or 20 minutes walk from JR Nara station
Please see the link below to find the information about access to Nara.
How to access to Nara

Minoo Falls, Osaka

Minoo is one of most popular spots in Kansai area. (C) imi5 (大阪箕面の紅葉  Uploaded by Japan Maik) [CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Minoo is one of most popular spots in Kansai area. (C) imi5 (大阪箕面の紅葉 Uploaded by Japan Maik) [CC BY-SA 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Minoo is very accessible place from Osaka. You can get Minoo by Hankyu Railway from Umeda (JR Osaka). In fall season, Hankyu Railway operates many direct train to Minoo from Umeda. Even if you cannot catch direct train, you can change the train once at Ishibashi station. Ishibashi station is very small and easy to find the direction.

Minoo has 33m height falls and this is one of Japan’s 100 falls. The view of fall foliage at this fall is marvelous. I cannot find any words to describe this view. You can walk along the river from the station to falls. This is very nice walking route but very busy in the fall. It takes less than one hour to get fall from the station.

Season
Late November

How to access
40 minutes walk from Hankyu Railway Minoo station

Hase-dera temple

There are many other Hase-dera temples in Japan. This Hase-dera temple is sometimes called Yamato-Hase dera. (C) 663highland  [GFDL , CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5 ], via Wikimedia Commons

There are many other Hase-dera temples in Japan. This Hase-dera temple is sometimes called Yamato-Hase dera. (C) 663highland [GFDL , CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5 ], via Wikimedia Commons

Hase-dera temple is called “the temple of flowers”. This temple is very famous to see flowers and trees in all year long. Of course this temple offers us the gorgeous view of fall foliage. You will fall in love with the view of fall foliage and the pagoda.

Season
Mid December

How to access
15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Railway Hasedera station

Chugoku

Miyajima Momijidani

(C) そらみみ [CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

(C) そらみみ [CC BY-SA 3.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

You have to take train and ferry to get Miyajima. But I cannot exclude this popular island. This is very accessible from Hiroshima and you must go there if you go to Hiroshima even if you are there in other than fall foliage season.

Momijidani means the valley of maple trees. It is located based at Mt. Misen. You can see both popular spots in Miyajima and fall color leaves.

Season
Mid November to late November

How to access
20 minutes walk from Miyajima pier.
You can get Miyajima by ferry and train from Hiroshima. You can find some more information about access to Miyajima at the link below:
How to get Miyajima

Mitaki-dera temple

Mitaki means three falls. There are three falls in this temple.

Mitaki means three falls. There are three falls in this temple.

This temple is not very well known among foreign travelers but it is popular place to see fall foliage in Hiroshima locals. It is very closed to Hiroshima.

Season
Mid November to late November

How to access
20 minutes walk from JR Mitaki station
Mitaki is only three stations away from Hiroshima by Kabe line local train. It takes less than 10 minutes.

Shikoku

Ritsurin Park

(C) JNTO

(C) JNTO

Ritsurin Park is most popular site in Kagawa prefecture, Shikoku. It is located near Takamatsu. This park has two gardens. These gardens consists of six ponds and 13 “Tsukiyama” (artificial small mountain).

Season
Late November to early December

How to access
3 minutes walk from JR Ritsurinkoen-Kitaguchi station
It is only two stations away from Takamatsu by local train. It is only 5 minutes train ride.

Kyushu

Koumyouzen-ji temple

This temple is located near Dazaifu-Tenmangu shrine. Dazaifu is one of most famous “Tenmangu” shrines. This temple is sometimes called “the temple of moss”. The moss makes fall foliage be much more beautiful.

Season
Mid November

How to access
5 minutes walk from Nishitetsu railway Dazaifu station
Dazaifu is 25 minutes away from Tenjin, Fukuoka by Nishitetsu Railway. Tenjin is one of downtown cores in Fukuoka.

Hitoyoshi Castle

Htoyoshi is located at inland of Kyushu. You can get there from Kumamoto or Shin-Minamata by Hisatsu line train. Hitoyoshi is small townand very easy to walk. If you have an extra time, you can take river cruise on Kuma river. Your trip will be more amazing.

Season
Mid November to late November

How to access
20 minutes walk from JR Hitoyoshi station

Comments

  1. Aida says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be travelling in Dec with my family (husb & wife, my parents aged 60s & 1 kid) 12 days to Tokyo, planning to sightseeing tokyo and mount fuji for a few days and then stay at Osaka few more days. Then planning 1 day sightseeing to Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kobe & Nara then back to Tokyo for few more days. Planning to buy JR pass for 7days. I know that JR pass does not covers subway/city bus. Need your help to suggest/recommend what is the easiest and cheapest way for 1day sightseeing to Kansai city (can covers Kansai City transportation cost all in one) since there are IC cards (eg. icoca,pasmo,suica), each city eg Kyoto, Osaka got city bus 1 day pass , private rail Hankyu/Hanshin tourist 1day pass ?
    I really confuse which one to choose.

    Thanks in advance.
    Arigato

  2. Ryan says:

    Hi there,

    Firstly, hontoni arigato gozaimasu for your super awesome article. It will be invaluable for my trip to Japan in October and November!!

    Just a quick question about what you would recommend in terms of different passes/train tickets for my three and a half week stay in Nihon because at the moment I am thinking of the 1 x JR PASS (3weeks), 1 x JR PASS (1week), 1 x Mt Fuji & Hakone pass. Your feedback would be much appreciated. Below is my itinerary.

    Oct 10th Arrive at Narita airport and explore Tokyo
    Oct 11th-14th Tokyo
    Oct 15th Day trip to Mt. Takao
    Oct 16th Leave Tokyo for Hakone and explore Hakone & Mt. Fuji
    Oct 17th Hakone & Mt. Fuji
    Oct 18th Leave Hakone for Kyoto and explore Kyoto
    Oct 19th-24th Kyoto
    Oct 25th Day trip to Nara
    Oct 26th Leave Kyoto for Osaka and explore Osaka
    Oct 27th-28th Osaka
    Oct 29th Day trip to Minoo park
    Oct 30th Day trip to Kanazawa
    Oct 31st Day trip to Hiroshima and Kobe
    Nov 1st Day trip to Himeji
    Nov 2nd Leave Osaka for Tokyo and explore Tokyo
    Nov 3rd Day trip to Nikko
    Nov 4th Depart from Narita airport

    Thanks.

    Ryan

    • Hi Ryan,

      I think you need 1 x 21 days JR pass and Fuji Hakone Pass (or Hakone Free Pass).
      You can start using JR pass 21 days on Oct 15th, trip to Takao. It will covers your trip until the end of your trip on 4th Nov.
      There are lots of deals to get Tokyo from Narita. And JR pass is not required to trip in downtown Tokyo. Subway pass is okay. Please see the links below to fine more info:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html

      If you are sure to visit Lake Kawaguchi area, Fuji Hakone Pass is recommended. But if you just want to see Mt. Fuji, you can see it from Hakone area. In this case, you can use JR pass to get Odawara and purchase Hakone Free Pass there. It’s more economical.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Ryan says:

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thanks once again for your prompt reply I really appreciate it. So I only have to buy one 3week JR Pass and a Fuji Hakone pass (since Im going to lake Kawaguchi)! What a relief this will save me money since I dont have to buy another 1 week JR pass 🙂

        Would you recommend me to buy the JR pass and Fuji Hakone pass before arriving in Japan (if this option – buying them online – was possible)??

        Arigato Takeshi san!

        • HI Ryan,

          You cannot purchase exchange order of JR pass in Japan. You MUST purchase an exchange order of JR pass. And you will turn in the actual pass after you arrive in Japan. You will not start using JR Pass right after you arrive in Japan. But you can exchange it in advance if you want.

          Fuji Hakone Pass can be purchased on the spot at Odakyu railway Shinjuku station.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

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