The weather in autumn is very cool and the leaves start to change color, you can see many bright orange to golden leaves. In Japan, there is a local belief that in autumn, people go to various sites where many fallen leaves make the place change color.

For those of you planning a vacation to Japan this autumn, this article shares a list of places you can visit in Japan in autumn 2024.

(Open: 06.00 a.m. – 06.00 p.m.)

Daisetsuzan Asahi-dake is located in Hokkaido. This is the city's highest peak and the earliest area where you can see leaf color changes during autumn. Asahi-dake is situated at an elevation of 2,291 meters above sea level. Even though it's on Hokkaido's highest peak, it's easy to get there because there is a cable car. Here you can see autumn in Hokkaido from above.

You can take the Limited Express or local train to Asahikawa to get to this location. Then, continue the journey to the cable car station by bus.

(Open: 09.00 a.m. – 05.00 p.m.; evening light up until 09.00 p.m. during autumn colors)

Rikugien Garden is located in Tokyo. This Japanese garden has existed since the Edo period and is one of the places to see cherry trees in bloom. In addition, Rikugien Garden is visited in autumn to see the fallen leaves. Autumn at Rikugien Garden begins at the end of November. About 400 Japanese maple trees make the garden very beautiful in autumn.

To get to Rikugien Garden, take a train to Komagome Station on the JR Yamanote Line or the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line.

(Open: 09.00 a.m. – 04.00 p.m.)

Eikando Temple in Kyoto is the next place that must be visited during autumn in Japan. Unlike other places, where visitors come to see the fallen leaves, here you can enjoy a cup of green tea and enjoy the garden’s temple, which is lit up with lights—the location of Eikando Temple near Nomura Art Museum and Nanzen-ji area.

The best time to visit Eikando Temple is mid to late November. To get to Eikando Temple, you can take bus number 5 to the Nanzen-ji Eikando bus stop.

(Open: around 05.00 a.m. – 05.00 p.m.)

Meiji Jingu Gaien in Tokyo is so popular that it is often used as a filming location for movies and TV series. This place is one of the most visited during autumn. This is a beautiful tunnel of 146 golden ginkgo trees. This place looks like it is covered in a golden carpet made of ginkgo leaves in autumn.

To go to Meiji Jingu Gaien, you can use public transportation to Gaienmae Station or Aoyama Itchome Station.

(Open: 24 hours)

Arashiyama is located in Kyoto, offering views of forested mountains with colorful trees. In autumn, the view of Arashiyama becomes breathtaking because the leaves turn orange and gold. Here, you can also go around the Arashiyama temple and enjoy a scenic ride with the Sagano Scenic train.

The best time to visit Arashiyama is late November to early December. You can use the Japan Rail Pass to Saga-Arashiyama Station to get to this place.

(Open: 08.00 a.m. – 05.45 p.m.)

Mount Takao in Tokyo is a place that can be visited in autumn to see beautiful autumn leaves. You can go up the hillside by cable car to enjoy its beauty. From this place, you can see skyscrapers in Tokyo and Mount Fuji. To visit Mount Takao, you can take the express train to Takaosanguchi Station.

(Open: 08.30 a.m. – 04.30 p.m.)

Tofukuji Temple is one of the most popular destinations during autumn in Kyoto. In this place, you can see orange and red leaves. For the best view, you can go to Tsuntenkuo Bridge, which offers an impressive temple view. You can visit this place from mid to late November by public transportation to Tofukuji Station.

(Open: 24 hours)

Lake Kawaguchi is located in Yamanashi. This place offers natural beauty around the lake, including the Tenka Teahouse. The spotlight during autumn in this place is the Maple Corridor, where there are 60 maple trees lined up. From Lake Kawaguchi, you can also see the view of Mount Fuji. To get to this place, you can use the bus or train.

(Open: 05.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m.)

Ueno Park is located in Tokyo and has more than 9,000 trees. This place is one of the destinations you can visit during autumn in Tokyo. The best time to come to Ueno Park is mid-November to early December. To get there, you can take public transportation to JR Ueno Station.

(Open: 08.00 a.m. – 05.00 p.m.)

Kegon Waterfall in Nikko provides a very beautiful view in autumn. The best view from this place, you can take the Akechidaira Ropeway to the observatory. From there, you can see a view of the waterfall and Chuzenji Lake surrounded by colorful trees. To get to that place from Tokyo, you can use the train to go to Nikko, then continue the journey by bus to the Chuzenji bus terminal.

(Open: 07.30 a.m. – 04.00 p.m.)

Oze National Park is located in Tokyo, a hiking trail that passes through the park to see beautiful autumn scenery. During your journey, you pass through mountains, grassland, and marshes. The fallen leaves and grass colors add to the beauty of Oze National Park in autumn.

The best time to visit is late September to mid-October. Then, to go to this place, you can use the train to Numata Station.

(Open: 08.00 a.m. – 03.30 p.m.)

Those of you who are on vacation to Japan in early autumn can go to Mount Nasu in Fukushima. This place presents an amazing view in autumn. You can use the cable car to go up the mountain and continue the journey by climbing for one hour. To get to Mount Nasu, you can use public transportation to Nasu-shiobara Station.

(Operated: around 05.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.)

The best way to enjoy the sights of Hakone in autumn is to take a Hakone Tozan Railway. This train will take you up to Hakone Mount. Along the way, you can see beautiful natural forest views. The train will stop briefly in the middle of the bridge between Tonosawa station and Ohiradai station, so passengers can enjoy the autumn scenery.

(Open: 09.00 a.m. – 05.00 p.m.)

Fuji Five Lakes is an interesting place to visit in autumn. Mount Fuji is known for its stunning views, becoming even more beautiful in autumn. You can rent a boat to go around the lake and see the mountain views. You can take the train to Kawaguchiko Station to get to this place.

(Open: 24 hours)

Kamugura is located in Kanagawa, a popular place to see amazing views. Not only beautiful natural scenery, but you also can visit the Buddha Temple. The best time to visit the shrine is during the day so that you can see a beautiful view of the falling leaves.

(Open: 24 hours)

Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto. This place is famous as a tourist destination that must be visited in autumn. Behind the shrine, there is a forest of cedars. In autumn, the leaves of the cedar trees turn a stunning red. You can visit Fushimi Inari Shrine by train.

^{Source: Miyajima from nippon.com}

(Open: 08.30 a.m. – 04.30 p.m)

Miyajima in Hiroshima is a park that stretches along the river to the foot of Mount Misen. The park is located about 20 minutes from the Miyajima Sanbashi Bridge. The view of this place is very beautiful in autumn because there are around 700 trees whose leaves turn red.

(Open: 24 hours)

Shirakawago, Gifu, is a historic village offering natural autumn beauty. This village is a UNESCO site that showcases its building style, known as gassho-zukuri. The leaves will start to change color in mid-October.

Yahiko in Niigata Prefecture offers the most breathtaking autumn view. During the fall season, it is recommended to visit beautiful landmarks such as Mount Yahiko and Yahiko Park. Mount Yahiko is popular due to its serene atmosphere and magnificent autumn foliage, as natural forests surround it. If you are into hiking, opt to hike this mountain. No worries, though; this site is quite friendly for hikers of all levels.

During autumn, stop by Yahiko Park, which has an iconic bridge over a pond. Breathe in the crisp autumn air under vermillion-colored trees and take some photographs, too!

Nagano should be on your autumn itinerary. Here's why: there are so many famous landmarks to enjoy the peaceful fall season. One of them is Senjojiki Cirque. This cirque is settled beneath Mount Hoken in Nagano Prefecture. This scenic spot is popular for its picturesque scenery, especially during autumn, when the giant mat of burnt orange, yellow, and red lies ahead of you.

Autumn in Japan presents an extraordinary experience for tourists. All places in Japan will be covered with red and gold colored leaves, which makes this country very beautiful. You must visit various destinations during autumn in Japan, some of which you can find in this article.

Start planning your vacation to Japan this autumn with Traveloka. Use the Traveloka application to buy JR East Pass and flight tickets and get the best prices. You can also book the best accommodations in Japan and buy tickets to various popular attractions. With Traveloka, your vacation will be more fun and practical. Get Traveloka app right now!

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