Wife has decided we should drag the kids see some colourful leaves tomorrow.
We were intending to go to Nikko but our friends said the traffic queues in the best areas are insane, so I’m not so keen on that right now!
We have a car and are happy to leave early, driving about 2 hours.
Tried Mt.Oyama a few weeks ago and it was all still green. Great, but should try something else.
Just wondered if anyone has any “go here” tips.
Thanks
13 comments
Showa Park (Tachikawa)?
Okutama?
Chichibu!
Let’s just pray that these recommendations don’t wind up on r/Japantravel in some hipster “off the beaten path” thread.
Are you open to suggestions by direct message?
Showa Kinen Park! There are still “tourists” there but they’re mostly near the entrance where the famous photospot is. The park is HUGE but you can rent bicycles to get around. I went there today and it was beautiful.
Togo Park in Hanno, Saitama, right before Chichibu. It has lots of maple trees and it’s famous for the autumn colors. It’s a magical little place, dedicated to a Japanese naval hero. Some 300ish steep stone stairs up to the main shrine atop, but you can also use a winding path up instead. It takes about 20 minutes to the top maybe. This year is a bit difficult to catch the right timing, because the long summer is delaying the autumn leaves and there’s still a lot of green, but it’s already quite pretty. There’s a michi no eki rest stop with ice cream and soba nearby as well as small forest cafe and bbq places in the area.
This is still Tokyo but just a heads up that it’s the Gingko festival in Hachioji tomorrow! They have a stamp rally and food stalls etc 🙂
Visit the ice cave out past Ome.
Nagatoro is nice. Get off the train at Kami-Nagatoro station, walk down to the river, and walk to Nagatoro station along the ishitatami rocks by the river. Beautiful. Or go to the end of the Chichibu line to Mitsumine Jinja. Even more beautiful.
I went to Hakone Museum of Art today. Arrived early and autumn color (momiji) view was great. Past afternoon, here came the tourists buses (from country you know where) and we left immediately lol.
Head up to Nasu! It’s quieter than Nikko and has some nice scenery, Snow is present on the mountain now however there is a gondola! If you go to Nikko Shirane is the highest mountain in the area and might have its gondola still running, otherwise lake Chuzenji is gorgeous to walk around. Kawaguchiko is also pretty nice.
Okutama area still has red leaves now I.e mt.Mitake, buko, bonooreyama, Izugatake, Ryokami – Okuchichibu would be real fun for the kids
If you drive to Chino Akadake Goya is a short 2-3 hour hike. Tateshina is also just north of that area. Yatsugatake is great but I bet the Goya’s are
Mostly closed for the season, better do some research.
Tanzawa is also really close – Hadano area, the mountain trails are great all year
IZU Road trip along entire coat line… (with several fabulous stops). Take train to Odawara or Atami and rent car from there early AM. start east side (sun all the way) and by time you get to south west side the sun is over there with MANY amazing places to watch it set (especially Dogashima)
If you have a car, try Ueno-mura and Kanna-machi in Gunma-ken. Pretty much a straight shot driving from Tokyo once you hit Saitama (in the sense that there’s only one road).
Both have fantastic autumn views; Ueno is a bit more developed in terms of activities (there’s some caves, one of those old-timey mountain slides, a “skybridge”, and a decent adventure park, etc…) and Kanna has some good eating options (Maruhachi and Kicori cafes…the latter is really cozy in the autumn).
(Personally I think Kanna is the prettier of the two because of its river)