Autumn is upon us here in Japan, and the relaxing ambience is one of the many reasons I love fall. In Japan, autumn is said to be the perfect time for reading, eating, and sports. I think it is also a great time for traveling. Japan has countless mountains which trees turn a vibrant red and yellow through autumn. Also, many shrines and traditional Japanese gardens have maple trees and gingko trees, so the country becomes filled with places to see beautiful autumn leaves. Like cherry blossom season, Japanese people like to look at these trees, and will travel to the countryside or to cultural sites to see the best autumn leaves.

Here I will introduce five popular spots in Japan to see autumn leaves.

  • Jingu Gaien, Tokyo

Located in the center of the city, the long line of trees at Jingu Gaien is a popular land mark of Tokyo.

  • Rokugien, Tokyo

Rokugien is a traditional Japanese park in Tokyo. The trees change colour and gives a new vibe to the garden. At night, the garden lights up and becomes a great place for a date.

  • Koudaiji, Kyoto

The famous temple, Koudaiji, has a beautiful Japanese garden that also lights up at night. If you stay at Kyoto, remember to visit other cultural and historical sites. There are so many to choose from.

  • Rokko Mountains, Hyogo

There is a rope way that goes up the side of the mountain, so you can enjoy the trees from above, along with the view of Kobe city and the port.

  • Mugikusa-touge and Shirokoma Lake, Nagano

Nagano Prefecture is not as famous as Tokyo or Kyoto, but this prefecture has beautiful nature. Around Shirokoma Lake is a hiking course. So, if you are an active person, why not take in the beautiful view while taking a good walk?

I recently went to Shinjuku Gyoen, a park located in Shinjuku city, to see the autumn leaves. Shinjuku is a railway hub, and so the park has easy access from most places in central Tokyo. The park is large, with plenty of trees, ponds, and clean air, and many people were enjoying picnics on the grass.

Autumn leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Autumn leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Red leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Red leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Red leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen

Red leaves at Shinjuku Gyoen