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Zao Onsen
About less than an hour away from the capital of Yamagata Prefecture by bus, Zao Onsen is a ski resort and hot spring town with a long history. While the most popular season to come visit is undoubtedly in the winter to take full advantage of the quality of snow, there’s still so many things to do and see regardless of the season. Skiing and Ice MonstersThere are multiple ski equipment rental shops available as well as several ski and snowboarding schools in town. Lift tickets are valid on all of the lifts throughout the resort, ranging from a 4-hour ticket for ¥4000 to a 7-day ticket for ¥21,...
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Higashiyama Onsen
Higashiyama Onsen is a historical onsen (hot spring) town located on the eastern outskirts of Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. More than 1,300 years old, the town’s healing waters have been a respite for Buddhist priests, noble samurai, and weary travelers alike.Today, Higashiyama Onsen is known as one of Tohoku’s top three onsen resorts. About 15 different hot spring hotels and ryokan (traditional inn) and hotels sit along the tranquil Yu River, nestled in a scenic valley. The old-style wooden ryokan are the best option, as they give you the impression of stepping back in time and make yo...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Kanto
While many people may only be familiar with Tokyo, the Kanto region is comprised of six additional prefectures: Kanagawa, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Chiba, and Ibaraki. Peak viewing time for autumn leaves varies. It generally falls between late October and early December. Ibaraki and Tochigi are the first in the region to turn colors.After a sweltering summer, and being pummeled with rain during typhoon season, everyone is anxiously awaiting cooler fall temperatures. Thankfully, Kanto has loads of scenic spots offering a full array of autumn colors in Tokyo and beyond.Tag us on InstagramIf you t...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Kansai
The Kansai region is seven prefectures: Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga. Depending on the region’s location, the peak times for Koyo will be slightly different, but most leaves will change throughout November. Many popular tourist spots have a special nighttime illumination, which will enhance the koyo experience. They’re highly worth seeing despite the crowds—especially in Kyoto.Tag us on InstagramIf you travel to one of these spots, use #GaijinPotTravel on your Instagram photos for a chance to be featured in our Top 10 Reader’s Photos of the Month!
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Kyushu
Japan’s southernmost main island, Kyushu, is one of its most diverse regions. Sunny, tropical vibes radiate across high-rise urban landscapes, emerald rice paddies, and even a fiery, active volcano in the middle of the sea, making it difficult to picture this kaleidoscopic landscape cloaked in the cooler temperatures of fall.Don’t worry, though, autumn in Kyushu is the real deal, and it’s equally as spectacular as the more well-known northern areas. Leaves here are among the last to fall across the country, which means there’s plenty of time to plan a trip to hit every one of these breathtakin...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Tohoku
It’s a journey in itself to get to the remote and rugged northern region of Tohoku, but the quest is full of rewards in the form of atmospheric hot spring resorts, samurai villages, and sky-high temples to name a few.The region’s prefectures of Akita, Aomori, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima together make up one-fifth of Japan’s total area—one that’s blanketed in a swathe of yellows, burnt oranges, and deep reds from mid-October to mid-November. Since the koyo (autumn leaves) arrived late this year, there are still chances to experience some of Tohoku’s stunning seasonal beauty.Seek and ...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Chubu
Packed full of hillside landscapes, mountainous terrains, and quiet castle towns, the Chubu region throws visitors right into the heart of Japan’s natural landscapes. This central area of the country is often overlooked by travelers jetting from Tokyo to Osaka on the shinkansen, but that whir of green you see through the train windows is ripe for exploration.Nine prefectures comprise the Chubu region, including Yamanashi, Aichi, Shizuoka, Gifu, Nagano, Niigata, Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama. From the Northern Japan Alps stretching across Toyama and Nagano to the valiant Mount Fuji in Yamanashi, ...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Chugoku
Chugoku is one of the most culturally rich regions of Japan. Almost every iconic aspect of Japanese culture has an embodiment here, from the country’s oldest and most sacred shrine, the Izumo Taisha, to the colorful manga kingdom of Sakaiminato in Tottori to the sobering A-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima. One-of-a-kind destinations, too, include an island reigned by rabbits and majestic ever-changing sand dunes which prove that there’s so much more to Japan than you might expect.Five prefectures, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane, Tottori, and Okayama, make up Chugoku. Here’s our pick of some of the top sp...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Hokkaido
This northernmost region of Japan is known for heavy snowfall during the winter which attracts skiers and snowboarders every year. Though popular in winter, Hokkaido’s vast wilderness comes alive in autumn with countless national parks perfect for hiking and camping—aka quintessential autumn activities.Hokkaido is the only prefecture in Japan that has its own region all to itself due to the wide landmass it covers. The prefecture has some of the earliest changing leaves in Japan with peak times ranging from mid-September to early November.Tag us on InstagramIf you travel to one of these spots,...
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The Best Spots to See Autumn Leaves in Shikoku
The smallest of Japan’s four islands, Shikoku is a true hidden gem of history and spirituality. What it lacks in size it makes up for in sweeping mountains and valleys, rugged coastlines, and secluded traditional towns straight out of anime.In fact, Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture was the inspiration behind the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away while Pom Poko, also from Ghibli, portrays the island as the home of its mythical tanuki (raccoon) heroes.It’s no surprise then that Shikoku is ripe for Koyo (autumn-leaves) viewing adventures, especially of the off-the-beaten-track kind. There ...
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