When it comes to spring in Japan, people usually think of cherry blossom trees blooming everywhere in the country. This is also considered a symbol of Japan. However, autumn in Japan is equally brilliant when the rows of trees change color and begin to fall, creating an extremely impressive natural scene. Especially, autumn in Japan will be long, so you can perfectly plan to see autumn here.
The 7 best places to see autumn leaves in Japan will explore the Japanese autumn with you.
1. Yoyogi Park
Right next to Shibuya, Omotesando, and Harajuku, Yoyogi Park is an ideal fall stop for shopping and exploring the surrounding areas. This is one of the biggest parks in Tokyo. This place has many large lawns, ponds, and large trees that create a beautiful ecological forest. Because of those advantages, Yoyogi Park is one of the 7 best places to see autumn leaves in Japan that you cannot miss.
Yoyogi Park not only attracts tourists to visit but also attracts locals.
With each passing season, Yoyogi Park changes a new shirt. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, adding to the cheerful and lively atmosphere. In the summer, festivals are held at the park making the park more attractive. Coming to Yoyogi Park in autumn, visitors will be able to see the color of ginkgo with bright yellow leaves falling on the ground. In addition, tall water columns also add to the attractiveness of the park.
2. Icho Namiki
Located between office buildings in Aoyama’s business district and Meiji Jingu Gaien Park. Icho Namiki Avenue is one of the most beautiful nature walks in Tokyo. Icho Namiki means “row of ginkgo trees”. These rows of trees are inherently beautiful all year round but will be even more special in their bright yellow color when they come back. The golden leaves make this avenue a photographer’s paradise during November and December.
Icho Namiki is one of Tokyo’s most iconic fall foliage spots. The rows of towering trees were trimmed into giant, splendid teardrop shapes that made them resemble an avenue of golden torches.
This is one of the most visited places by tourists in late October and early November, so don’t miss the chance to visit it if you come to Tokyo during that time.
3. Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a peaceful and pleasant retreat for those who want to escape from the bustling city. This place was once the domain of a feudal lord, later became a resting place exclusively for the Royal Family and was used to entertain their distinguished guests. Although Yoyogi Park and other temples have green spaces, none of them can match the Shinjuku Gyoen – a vast garden that covers over 58 hectares and holds its place as one of the world’s most famous temples. Tokyo’s top attractions.
With a large area and a large number of trees, Shinjuku Gyoen is also an ideal place for you to visit and see autumn leaves in Japan. In Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, you can admire traditional Japanese, French, and English gardens as well as stroll through open spaces. There are small cafes as well as a Japanese tea room and it’s an ideal place for a picnic.
The park is famous for its hanami parties during cherry blossom season and is a great tourist spot to relax when you need an escape from the city streets.
4. Rikugien
Referring to autumn in Japan, it would be remiss to ignore Rikugien. Famous for the beauty of the cherry trees in the spring and the brilliant beauty of the yellow and orange leaves in the fall. This creates a distinctive and almost symbolic beauty of Japan. The garden is large enough for you to walk around and there is a tea house where you can rest and watch the small waterfall nearby.
Rikugien is built according to the typical method of Japanese gardens, which takes rivers and lakes in the middle of the garden and the surrounding landscape. The characteristic of this type of garden is a large lake also known as Sensui, with artificial mountains, viewers can walk around the garden to enjoy the scenery.
Rikugien is especially popular during the cherry blossom season and autumn foliage season because at this time the garden is filled with colorful trees. At these times, both locals and foreign tourists flock here to admire the changing colors and capture the beautiful moments that nature has to offer.
5. Mount Takao
Mount Takao is located in Meiji National Park in Hachijoji, west of Tokyo. The mountain is about 599 m high and is a very popular hiking destination, attracting more than 2.5 million tourists every year. The mountain is also famous for the number of animals – plants – insects amounting to more than 1200 species.
This mountain with a temple on top is a favorite spot for Tokyoites to go hiking on weekends, especially in the fall for beautiful views. In addition, it has six different routes leading up the mountain, making it a great choice for adventurous climbers.
Mount Takao is one of the must-visit places for its brilliant autumn leaves and beautiful scenery. Mount Takao is described as a breathtaking beauty of nature that humans cannot even imagine in an urban city. The location of the mountain is not difficult to find, so if you are in Japan, do not miss the opportunity to see the most beautiful autumn foliage in Tokyo.
6. Kyoto Botanical Garden
This is a highly rated destination in any season. With a huge variety of plants and trees, you will see the vibrant color of the trees in the fall, especially where there are many flowers for you to admire.
The Kyoto Botanical Garden is the oldest botanical garden in Japan, established in 1924 on an area of about 240,000 square kilometers, north of Kyoto.
It has about 12,000 different species of plants and is divided into separate zones, including a bamboo garden, a rose garden, a sunken garden, and a European-style garden. In addition, the campus also has a large greenhouse, growing a variety of tropical plants and flowers from different climates around the world.
In addition, the Kyoto Botanical Garden has many lawns, cafes, souvenir shops, and children’s playgrounds. Benches and tables are also arranged throughout the garden for visitors to stop and rest, and provide great picnic spots.
7. Daisetsuzan National Park
Also one of The 7 best places to see the autumn leaves in Japan, Daisetsuzan National Park is a great place to walk and watch the trees change color in mid-autumn. This is also a suitable place for sports and adventure lovers as it has some challenging roads.
The native Ainu people call Daisetsuzan Kamuimintara, which means playground of the gods. With an area of 2,267 km2, this name makes perfect sense for it. Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest park in Japan, including Mount Asahidake which is Hokkaido’s highest mountain.
The natural landscape here is very wild and majestic with vast valleys, natural hot springs, rivers and streams, trees, flowers, and diverse fauna, this place will be the ideal choice for tourists. people who love to hike and climb mountains. There are also several hot spring resorts for you to start exploring. And there are many great choices for you to choose from as a sightseeing and travel destination in Japan.
The 7 best places to see the autumn leaves in Japan have introduced you to interesting places where you can admire the beautiful scenes of the majestic nature of Japan.
Hope this article was useful to you!