The Fuji Five Lakes area describes the five lakes that lie at the foot of Mount Fuji: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Motosu, Lake Shōji, and Lake Saiko.

Among them, Lake Kawaguchi is the most well-known for its stunning fall colors, most prominently represented in the Maple Corridor and its 60 beautiful trees, as well as a 1.5km-long “fall leaf avenue.”

Furthermore, the “Lake Kawaguchi Autumn Leaf Festival” is held every year on the northern shore of the lake. The colorful Japanese maple trees are lit up in the evening and the area is crowded with food and souvenir stalls, offering local crafts and more! With the majestic Mount Fuji in the background, Lake Kawaguchi is a wonderful spot to feel the beauty of fall colors in Japan.

The numerous ginkgo trees in Meijijingu Gaien (the Meiji Shrine Outer Gardens) were planted in 1926. From mid-November, the 146 trees lining the broad avenue turn to a vivid yellow and transform about 300 meters into Tokyo’s famous “Golden Road.”

Sundays and national holidays are a great time to see fall colors in Japan here, as the area bans all vehicles and becomes a pedestrian paradise, letting you leisurely stroll through this golden spectacle.

Stop by a local café, take a break on the terrace, and allow yourself to be thoroughly enchanted by the scenery. Every year, this fall leaf spot attracts about 1,800,000 people, making it one of the most famous golden ginkgo locations in all of Japan.

Lake Towada is a crater lake that sits on the prefectural border between Aomori and Akita. It is lush in nature and the seasonal scenery of the lake is simply breathtaking. Deciduous trees such as beech, maple, and the Japanese rowan (mountain-ash) grow abundantly on Lake Towada’s shores, taking on deep colors all at the same time as fall comes around.

Stunning reds and yellows dance on the blue waters of the lake, creating autumn scenery that is so vivid and rich, it almost looks like a painting. Kōgakudai Observation Deck and other spots dot the vicinity, allowing you to take in the scenery from various angles.

Pleasure boats cruise the lake’s waters outside of winter, so hop on board and enjoy Lake Towada’s fall leaves from a unique perspective!

With a history of more than 1,100 years to look back on, Risshaku-ji Temple is one of the most sacred sites of the Tohoku area and is known as a “power spot” that wards against evil throughout Japan.

Beech, maple, ginkgo, and other deciduous trees take on the most vivid colors come fall and are stunningly lit up after the sun has set, alongside the temple’s ancient main hall.

The combined scenery of lush, fall-colored trees, and the enigmatic Risshaku-ji Temple is a sight that you are sure to remember as one of the most impressive memories you’ve made in Japan.

The Mikuni Pass’s highest point is at 1,139 meters above sea level, making it the highest pass in all of Hokkaido. Looking down from it, a picturesque scenery called the Tokachi-Mitsumata Caldera spreads in front of your eyes.

It is hard to imagine that this lush primeval forest was once a caldera lake over 500,000 years ago, now inhabited with a rich diversity of plants that shine in reds and yellows during fall.

Mikuni Pass also features an S-shaped bridge called Masumi Bridge, and despite being an impressive man-made structure, it does not mar the natural scenery at all. Rather, it seems to be in tranquil harmony with its lush surroundings, creating a spectacular, one-of-a-kind panorama of fall colors in Japan.

Bishamon-do Temple is one of Kyoto’s Tendai-sect temples. It enshrines Bishamonten, a Buddhist deity associated with good fortune, and a lot of people visit the temple in hopes of boosting their luck.

Spring sees over 100 shidare-zakura cherry trees blossom on the precincts, while Bishamon-do Temple’s approach is covered in vivid fall foliage at the end of fall. This phenomenon is called shiki koyo in Japanese – “a bed of fall leaves.” The road to the temple and its bed of deep red might be the most iconic of Bishamon-do Temple’s seasonal sights, and one of the best places for Kyoto autumn leaves.

The Kanto area is dotted with beautiful and iconic fall leaf spots, such as Odashirogahara and Ryūzu Falls. Among them, the Irohazaka Winding Road stands out as a mountain road with an altitude difference of about 400 meters.

The slope is a national road that is about 15.8 kilometers long, connecting Nikkō City to Lake Chūzenji (the lake inside Nikkō National Park), famous for having a total of 48 hairpin curves in both directions.

During fall, you get to enjoy vivid fall leaves at every single curve and there is no greater pleasure than hopping in a rental car, lowering the windows and enjoying the sights first-hand.

The only drawback is that the road might be difficult for people who are not accustomed to driving. That’s why there are plenty of day-trip bus tours from Tokyo available via various travel agencies, allowing everyone to savor this unique way to enjoy fall colors in Japan.

Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, is one of the Three Views of Japan, the country’s most iconic sights. It is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolized by the vermilion torii gate standing in the water. The island features a plethora of beautiful places for fall leaves, such as Momijidani Park, the Five-Storied Pagoda, and the Senjōkaku Shrine.

They all offer the stunning harmony of ancient Japanese culture and the vivid colors of nature. Access to the island is via ferry, but contrary to what you might fear, access is wonderfully convenient. You can even go to the island with a rental car!

*Hours may have changed due to Covid-19. Be sure to check official websites for updates before heading down.
*This article was originally published in Autumn 2020.