After suffering through the sweltering hot, humid summer, autumn comes rolling in as a welcomed relief and there are many ways you can enjoy this season. Fall foliage in Japan, also called koyo, is very beautiful to see. You can appreciate all the beautiful sights that autumn has to offer (and don't forget to take pictures!).
Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium
This is the one of best spots to view autumn leaves in Tokyo. There are 146 ginkgo trees, and it feels like you're walking through a golden tunnel. You can relax and revel in the surrounding scenery, as well as do some shopping in the nearby shops.
- Time: from the middle of November to beginning of December
- Access: 5 walk minutes from Shinanomachi Station on the JR line or Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro
- Address: 1-1 Kasumigaokatyo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Lakeside of Kawaguchiko at the foot of Mt. Fuji
This spot is a very beautiful one, especially at night when the trees are lit up. At night, you can see the trees lit up against the background of Mt. Fuji.
- Time: from late October to the middle of November
- Access: from Kawaguchiko Station of Fuji Express line (take the Chuo Main line from Shinjuku Station and transfer at Otsuki Station to get to Kawaguchiko Station), then take the bus which goes to Oishi Petit Pension Mura from Kawaguchiko Station to Hirose Kubota Ichiku Bijutukanmae Bus stop.(20 min.) OR Take the Retro bus (Lake Kawaguchiko Circuit)from Kawaguchiko Station to Kubota Ichiku Bijutukan Bus stop.(20 min.)
- Address: Kawaguchikotyo, Yamanashi prefecture
You might want to also check out the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. It's a 25-minute ride on the Retro bus and a 3-minute walk from the bus stop.
Nikko
Nikko has many spots for viewing the autumn foliage such as rohazaka, Tosyogu, Kegonnotaki, Mt. Ohira, Yunoko, etc., and many of these places are within walking distance of each other.
- Time: In October
- Access: Nikko Station on the JR line (If you want to know more about Nikko, check out this link.)
- Address: Nikko, Tochigi prefecture
Hakone
In Hakone, you can take a ride on the Hakone Tosan train to enjoy the picturesque scenery. The view from the train is simply breathtaking.
- Time: from late October to late November
- Access: from Odawara Station
- Address: Hakone, Kanagawa prefecture
Kamakura
Kamakura has many famous temples, so you can see autumn leaves while taking a stroll through the temples, or walk along the water.
- Time: from late November to the middle of December
- Access: 10 walk minute from Kamakura Station of JR line (If you want to learn more about Kamakura, check out this link.)
- Address: Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture
Kyoto
Kyoto has a plethora of temples, walkways and venues where you can gaze at the beautiful autumn leaves.
- Time: from late November to the beginning of December
- Access: 15 minutes by bus from Kyoto Station.
- From Tokyo: by the JR Tōkaidō/Sanyo Shinkansen: Direct Nozomi trains take about 95 minutes to reach Kyoto from Tokyo. By Hikari, Kodama and/or Sakura trains, the trip takes about two hours with a transfer of trains at Shin-Osaka Station. Price: Nozomi train - 11,100 yen for reserved seating, Hikari and Sakura trains - 10,280 yen for non-reserved seating; 10,800 yen for reserved seating (all prices are for a one-way ticket)
from Tokyo by Overnight highway bus: Willer Express which departs from Shinjuku Station offers cheap fares starting from 7,000 yen for a one-way ticket. - Address: 1-294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyamashi, Kyotoshi, Kyoto
Miyajima
Miyajima’s autumn leaves can be seen in the famous Momijidani Koen.
- Time: middle of November to late November
- Access: 5 walk minutes from Miyajimaguchi Station of JR line
- From Tokyo: by the JR Tōkaidō/Sanyo Shinkansen: Direct Nozomi trains take about four hours to reach Hiroshima from Tokyo. By Hikari and Sakura trains, the trip takes about five hours, with a transfer of trains at Shin-Osaka Station.
- Price: Nozomi train - 18,500 yen for reserved seating, Hikari and Sakura trains - 17,540 yen for non-reserved seating; 18,000 yen for reserved seating (all prices are for a one-way ticket)
- From Tokyo by Overnight highway bus: Willer Express which departs from Shinjuku Station offers cheap fares starting from 7,000 yen for a one-way ticket.
- From Haneda Airport: JAL (Japan Airlines) and ANA (All Nippon Airways) operate several flights per day between Hiroshima and Tokyo's Haneda Airport. A regular one way fare is around 31,000 yen, but discounts tickets can bring the cost down to around 15,000 to 17,000 yen. Flight duration is about 90 minutes.
Address: Koyodani, Miyajimatyo, Hatsukaichishi, Hiroshima prefecture
