[Kanto Autumn Leaves Viewing] 5 Must-Visit Autumn Foliage Viewing Spots in Kanto!
The hot summer is over and autumn is here. When you think of autumn, you can’t help but think of autumn leaves. Surely everyone loves the magnificent crimson scenery of nature. In this article, as well as the standard autumn leaves spots in the Kanto region, we will introduce some hidden spots that are not often featured in magazines!
All can be reached on a day trip from Tokyo, so it's great to go for a change of scenery or to take a short trip with friends and family.
Why not recharge by looking at the beautiful autumn leaves?
Also we will thoroughly explain access, highlights, extra information, etc. so please check it out!
Autumn leaves near Kanto! Highlights and common spots are also introduced!
Showa Kinen Park
Located in Tachikawa, Tokyo, this is the most popular spot for autumn leaf viewing. Colorful flowers are planted everywhere in the park, and there are plenty of activities you can enjoy all year round.
The “Yellow Autumn Leaves Festival” is held every year from the beginning to the end of November, and is visited by many people. Also, from the evening, under the title of “Autumn Night Walk”, a section of the park is lit up so you can even enjoy the fantastic autumn leaves at night time.
There are two main highlights of Showa Kinen Park:
① Ginkgo Tree Walk
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/B58z3leAQXj/?utm_medium=copy_link
First of all, is the “Ginkgo Tree Walk”. This is located right before the entry of the Tachikawa entrance to the park.
Ginkgo trees 20 meters high are planted across an area of 300 meters, a beautiful golden tunnel. The leaves that fall from the trees color the path beneath your feet, and you feel as though you are walking on a yellow carpet.
The ginkgo tree walk starts changing color in early November. It is very crowded, especially during the “Autumn Leaves Festival”, we recommend you go before the festival to avoid congestion.
② “Japanese garden”
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/B4-BCcCAwcP/?utm_medium=copy_link
Next, I would like to introduce the “Japanese Garden”. This is near the Sunagawa and Tamagawa Josui entrances of the park. There are about 300 maple trees in the garden, and when they are at their best, the garden is filled with bright red colours.
Why not take a stroll through the garden and experience autumn in all its glory?
Additionally, both the “Ginkgo Tree Walk” and “Japanese Garden” are lit up at night, so we recommend viewing these at night too.
| Showa Kinen Park | |
| Access | ・10 minute walk from Tachikawa Station on the JR Chuo Line ・8 minute walk from Tachikawa-Kita Station on the Tama City Monorail * Evening (16:30-21:00) entrance and exit is limited to the Nishi-Tachikawa entrance. |
| Official site | https://www.showakinen-koen.jp/ |
Inokashira Park
Kichijoji in Tokyo is always ranked high in the “Easiest Towns to Live in” ranking, and it is a popular area for men and women of all ages with various points of interest such as gourmet food, second-hand clothing, and Harmonica Yokocho where you can feel the atmosphere of the Showa era. The symbol of Kichijoji is “Inokashira Park”.
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFL5fulpJ8/?utm_medium=copy_link
Inokashira Park is a 5-minute walk from the south exit of Kichijoji Station. Japanese maples, cherry trees, ginkgo trees and zelkova trees, among other foliage are planted in the park, and you can enjoy the “upside-down autumn leaves” reflected on the water surface of “Inokashira Pond” in the park.
The autumn leaves when viewed from the bridge connecting the north and south of the park are especially beautiful. The bridge is lit up at night so you can enjoy the scenery in a romantic atmosphere.
There is also a shrine called “Inokashira Benzaiten” in the park. This is a famous power spot for praying for victories and triumphs, and is a popular tourist spot of Kichijoji.
It is widely recommended you pray here before important “battles” such as before an exam or a competition.
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwlBAZvoYi/?utm_medium=copy_link
| Inokashira Park | |
| Access | ・5 minutes walk from Kichijoji Station (JR Chuo Line/Keio Inokashira Line) ・1 minute walk from Inokashira-Koen Station (Keio Inokashira Line) * There is a charge for the parking lot. |
| Official site | https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jimusho/seibuk/inokashira/index.html |
Nagatoro
Nagatoro Town is located in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. Nagatoro is famous for its river rafting and shaved ice, and is a popular summer destination.
Nagatoro is such a popular summer spot, but in autumn, you can enjoy it in a different way!
The best part is that you get to see the autumn colours as you float down the river!
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/B4_86TUAv70/?utm_medium=copy_link
The Nagatoro Valley, which is an area where you catch a boat downstream, is so beautiful that it has been designated as a national scenic spot and a natural icon. The Arakawa River, a beautiful river, flows through it. Maples and oaks are planted along the riverbed, and you can enjoy the autumn foliage up close from the top of the river. It is a great activity to go down the river, sometimes at an exciting speed, and at other times, when the current is slower, to admire the brightly coloured trees in all directions.
In the area around Nagatoro Station, you can enjoy the popular B-grade gourmet (reasonably priced, down-to-earth dishes) “pork miso cutlet rice bowl” and “grilled sweetfish” fresh from the Arakawa River!
You can even eat grilled sweetfish with salt!
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1noE8p17H/?utm_medium=copy_link
After catching a boat downriver, please also try these foods.
| Nagatoro | |
| Access | 1-minute walk from Nagatoro Station on the Chichibu Railway |
| Official site | https://www.nagatoro.gr.jp/ |
Nasu Plateau
Nasu Kogen, which is famous as a tourist spot in Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture, is said to have the earliest change to autumn colors in the Kanto area, with the best time to see the autumn foliage starting from early October. During the autumn season, the scenery from the top of the mountain to the foot of the mountain is truly spectacular.
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/CGhJDRyADgv/?utm_medium=copy_link
Our recommended spot in Nasu Kogen is the Nasu Ropeway. The Nasu Ropeway stops at the 9th station of Mt. Chausu, which is located in the center of the Nasu mountain range, and the scenery you can see from here is reputed to be extremely beautiful.
From the ropeway, you can see autumn leaves of trees including maples, Japanese rowan, and Enkianthus plant that bloom in Nasu and the Kanto plain, and you can enjoy a great 5-minute aerial walk up at a height of 293m.
Also, the “Gourd Pond”, which can be reached by trekking about 40 minutes from the mountaintop station, is also one of the most famous spots for viewing autumn foliage, and, if the weather is nice, you can see the autumn leaves Inverted Mt. Chausu Peak reflected in the pond.
| Nasu Kogen | |
| Access | ・ Shinkansen Nasuno between Tokyo and Nasu Shiobara, 75 minutes ・ Shinkansen Yamabiko Sendai-Nasu Shiobara, 75 minutes ・ Get off at the conventional line [Kuroiso Station] |
| Officail site | https://www.nasukogen.org/access/ |
| Nasu Ropeway | |
| Access | ・ 60 minutes by bus (From Nasu Shiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, take the Toya Kotsu Bus bound for Nasu Ropeway for about 60 minutes. Get off at the end point Nasu Ropeway. ・ 75 minutes by bus (From JR Kuroiso Station, take the Toya Kotsu bus bound for Nasu Ropeway for about 75 minutes. Get off at the end point Nasu Ropeway.) ・ Car (about 20km from Nasu IC on the Tohoku Expressway via Nasu Kaido) |
| Official site | https://www.nasu-ropeway.jp/ |
Fukuroda Falls
Located in Daigo Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, “Fukuroda Falls” is one of the three famous waterfalls in Japan, and boasts a height of 120m and a width of 73m. It is also a famous power spot and is popular with tourists throughout the year.
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/CTmI4brnyeQ/?utm_medium=copy_link
Fukuroda Falls itself is a beautiful sight, but looking at this striking waterfall whilst viewing the autumn colors is very popular.
In front of you, and spread out around this powerful waterfall, will be vibrant colors such as Japanese oak, and Japanese maple. It’s so beautiful that the poet Saigyo Hoshi of the Heian period (794-1185) wrote a poem in praise of the scenery when he visited Fukuroda Falls.
The recommended time to go is around 2 pm as the sunlight seems to reflect off the trees and you can better see the beauty of the autumn foliage.
From sunset to around 8pm, the waterfall is illuminated and you can enjoy the mysterious view of the waterfall and the autumn leaves at night.
In addition, there are souvenir shops and restaurants near Fukuroda Falls. We recommend a restaurant called Sanrokutei where you can enjoy your meal while gazing out at the waterfall and surrounding autumn foliage.
Instagram image https://www.instagram.com/p/BqDthtaFWa8/?utm_medium=copy_link
Their famous Kenchin soba is very popular, so why not give it a try when you visit Fukuroda Falls?
| Fukuroda Falls | |
| Access | ・ Approximately 10 minutes by bus from Fukuroda Station on the JR Suigun Line, and approximately 10 minutes on foot from Takimoto ・ Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Fukuroda Station on the JR Suigun Line ・ Approximately 40 minutes on foot from Fukuroda Station on the JR Suigun Line ・ Approximately 50 minutes from the Joban Expressway Naka IC ・ Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Tohoku Expressway Utsunomiya IC |
| Official site | https://www.town.daigo.ibaraki.jp/page/page001474.html |
Conclusion
What did you think?
We have introduced several autumn foliage viewing spots that you can go to in the Kanto area. All of these spots are places that you can easily visit on a day trip.
Whether it’s your first time to see the autumn leaves or you couldn’t make it last year, why not enjoy nature to the fullest this year and refresh your body and soul?
Writer
