I love autumn, it is by far my favorite season! In Japan the profusion of Japanese maples and ginkgos also ensure that it is one of the most dramatic, beautiful seasons to visit.
So, here are a few ideas to thoroughly enjoy autumn in Japan:
- Spend time in nature
Seriously, the foliage is stunning, so choose a park (or mountain, stream, forest, shrine…) and spend the afternoon in golden bliss. Every year japan-guide.com does useful weekly reports on the progress of the leaves, so you can make sure you will be able to see autumn scenery even before you arrive!
- Get out of dodge
Naturally, you can find lovely koyo (autumn leaves) spots in major cities (Kyoto is particularly famous for having amazing trees on temple grounds). But for truly jaw-dropping scenery, it is worth taking a trip into the countryside. From Nikko to the Korankei Gorge and the wilds of Hokkaido, there are lots of options. Autumn color tours are popular, and often include a lunch of tasty regional dishes. There are several tour sites (including my own Veltra) which make booking in English a breeze.
- Eat, eat, eat!
A lot of Japanese cuisine focuses on seasonal ingredients, and autumn is a total jackpot. Try the rich sanma fish, roasted over hot coals, or any of the flavourful mushrooms (matsutake are amazing)! Nabe (a hot pot of various ingredients) makes its appearance thanks to the cooler weather, and sweets containing Japanese chestnuts and satsumaimo (sweet potato) are everywhere.
- Onsen it up
With just enough brisk winds, especially at night, autumn is the ideal time to enjoy onsen (hot springs). Not too hot and not too cold, sink into the steaming waters and relax. If you are lucky, there may even be some autumn scenery to gaze upon. After getting out, you can enjoy a glass of autumn beer or sake, made from the newly harvested rice. Glorious.
- Feel on top of the world
Clear, azure autumn skies mean that this is the best time to see panoramic vistas. Ride up to the top of the Tokyo Skytree, climb or take a ropeway to the top of a mountain or (my favorite) hike around Oze National Park (Gunma Prefecture).
Korankei Gorge: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3316.html
Oze National Park: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7440.html