{"id":772,"date":"2026-10-01T21:32:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T21:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/?p=772"},"modified":"2026-10-17T16:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T16:39:13","slug":"i-migliori-luoghi-per-ammirare-i-colori-autunnali-in-giappone-nel-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/best-fall-foliage-spots-japan-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"I 7 migliori luoghi per ammirare i colori autunnali in Giappone nel 2026, in ordine cronologico"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Dates, prices and forecasts checked 2 October 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan&#8217;s fall foliage doesn&#8217;t arrive everywhere at once. It starts on the high peaks in late September, works its way down the mountains and south, and reaches the gardens of Tokyo at the very end of November. This guide takes seven of the best fall foliage spots in Japan in the order they peak, from an alpine bowl in Nagano that turns in late September to a Tokyo garden lit up in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For each fall foliage spot you&#8217;ll find when to go, how to get there and what it costs. Three of them also have a gate of some kind: one you can only queue for, one you book ahead or pay for in cash, and one with a ticket. Those details shape your day as much as the forecast does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>La versione breve<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Senjojiki Cirque (Nagano):<\/strong> late September to early October at the top, then mid to late October lower down<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mount Mitsuishi (Iwate):<\/strong> late September to early October; a full-day hike<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mount Tanigawa (Gunma):<\/strong> at its best from around 12 October<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jozankei Onsen (Hokkaido):<\/strong> usually early to mid October; the foliage buses run in October only<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tsutanuma (Aomori):<\/strong> late October; dawn entry by advance booking from 23 October to 3 November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki):<\/strong> early to mid November; \u00a5500 to see the falls<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rikugien (Tokyo):<\/strong> late November into December; lit up at night from 25 November to 6 December<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Japan&#8217;s Fall Foliage Spots at a Glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the seven fall foliage spots side by side, in the order they usually peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Fall foliage spot<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Usual peak<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">What it is<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">The catch<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Come arrivare<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Senjojiki Cirque<\/strong> (Nagano)<\/td><td>Late Sep to early Oct at the top; mid to late Oct lower down<\/td><td>Alpine bowl by ropeway<\/td><td>No cars and no bookings; waits of 2+ hours on busy days<\/td><td>Bus from Sugano-dai, then the ropeway<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mount Mitsuishi<\/strong> (Iwate)<\/td><td>Late Sep to early Oct<\/td><td>Mountain hike<\/td><td>A full day on foot<\/td><td>Trailheads at Matsukawa Onsen or Amihari<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Mount Tanigawa<\/strong> (Gunma)<\/td><td>From about 12 Oct<\/td><td>Ropeway and chairlift<\/td><td>Last lift up at 16:00<\/td><td>Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen, then a bus<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Jozankei Onsen<\/strong> (Hokkaido)<\/td><td>Early to mid Oct<\/td><td>Hot spring town in a gorge<\/td><td>Foliage buses stop in October<\/td><td>Kappa Liner from Sapporo, about 60 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Tsutanuma<\/strong> (Aomori)<\/td><td>Late Oct<\/td><td>Pond at dawn<\/td><td>Dawn by booking only, 23 Oct to 3 Nov; \u00a52,000 a person<\/td><td>Car, or a room at Tsuta Onsen<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Fukuroda Falls<\/strong> (Ibaraki)<\/td><td>Early to mid Nov<\/td><td>Waterfall<\/td><td>\u00a5500 ticket<\/td><td>JR Suigun Line, then a bus<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rikugien<\/strong> (Tokyo)<\/td><td>Late Nov to early Dec<\/td><td>Garden, lit up at night<\/td><td>Night tickets \u00a51,000<\/td><td>Komagome Station<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Fall Foliage Moves Down the Mountains<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For fall foliage, height matters more than latitude. Leaves turn when the nights get cold, and the higher you go, the sooner that happens. That&#8217;s why a cirque in central Japan peaks about two months before a garden in Tokyo, even though both are far south of Aomori.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can watch fall foliage move down a single mountain. The Komagatake Ropeway&#8217;s own guide puts Senjojiki, at 2,612 metres, at its best from late September to early October; the forest around the ropeway&#8217;s lower station, at 1,662 metres, from mid to late October; and the road below, at about 850 metres, from late October to early November. The same ladder runs across the country, which is why the fall foliage on this list moves from the mountains of Nagano and Iwate to Gunma, Hokkaido, Aomori, Ibaraki and, last of all, Tokyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year looks late. The Japan Meteorological Corporation&#8217;s second forecast, out on 1 October, puts maples at their best around 4 November in Sapporo, 28 November in Tokyo and 11 December in Kyoto. Those are forecasts for each city as a whole; a high mountain spot runs on its own clock. For the fall foliage forecast city by city, see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/japan-autumn-foliage-forecast-2026\/\">Previsione delle foglie d'autunno in Giappone 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Official forecast:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/n-kishou.com\/corp\/news-contents\/autumn\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Japan Meteorological Corporation autumn forecast<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Senjojiki Cirque (Nagano): Alpine Colour by Ropeway<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Fall foliage across Senjojiki Cirque, below the jagged ridge of the Central Alps\" class=\"wp-image-775\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"Fall foliage across Senjojiki Cirque, below the jagged ridge of the Central Alps\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-767x511.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-33.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senjojiki is a bowl carved by a glacier high in the Central Alps, and one of the few places in Japan where you can ride straight into alpine fall foliage. The Komagatake Ropeway climbs 950 metres, the biggest height difference of any ropeway in Japan, to Senjojiki Station at 2,612 metres, the highest station in the country. At the top, rowan turns red and birch turns yellow against bare rock, and a walking path loops around the bowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ropeway&#8217;s report on 25 September said the fall foliage was arriving later than last year, because the nights had not yet turned properly cold. If you miss the top, ride the colour down: the forest around Shirabidaira, the lower station, usually peaks from mid to late October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two catches. You can&#8217;t drive up: private cars are banned on the road above Sugano-dai, so you park there and take the bus, about 30 minutes to Shirabidaira. And you can&#8217;t book. The ropeway runs first come, first served, and on the busiest October days the operator expects waits of more than two hours for both the bus and the ropeway, and may limit how many people go up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bus:<\/strong> \u00a51,660 return for adults, \u00a5840 for children, Sugano-dai to Shirabidaira<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ropeway:<\/strong> from \u00a52,290 return for adults and \u00a51,130 for children; the fare depends on the date<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Parking:<\/strong> \u00a5800 a day at Sugano-dai Bus Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>From Tokyo:<\/strong> highway bus from Busta Shinjuku to Komagane, about 3.5 hours, then the bus up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sito ufficiale:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chuo-alps.com\/fare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Komagatake Ropeway fares (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> Check the operator&#8217;s October crowding calendar and avoid the days it marks as very busy. Pack a warm jacket whatever the weather at the car park: the operator says the first snow can come as early as mid-October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Mount Mitsuishi (Iwate): Fall Foliage on Foot<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mount Mitsuishi, 1,466 metres up in the Hachimantai range, is known for slopes of low alpine shrubs that turn a deep, even red, with Mount Iwate across the valley. It&#8217;s one of the first places in Japan for fall foliage, usually from late September to early October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This one is a mountain hike, not a viewpoint, so allow most of a day and bring proper hiking gear. There is no ropeway and no road to the top. The Shizukuishi Tourism Association, which handles enquiries about the mountain, warns that the trail gets very crowded on weekends at the peak of the season, so start early and go on a weekday if you can. For current trail conditions, the association&#8217;s number is 019-692-5138.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Black bears live throughout these mountains, and Iwate Prefecture issued a bear warning for the whole prefecture on 22 April 2026. Check the latest local advice before you go, and don&#8217;t hike alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Usual peak:<\/strong> late September to early October<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trailheads:<\/strong> Matsukawa Onsen, about two hours by bus from Morioka Station, or the Amihari side<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> free<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> Not a hiker? The Matsukawa Gorge, below the trailhead, usually peaks from mid to late October, and Matsukawa Onsen has hot spring baths to finish in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Mount Tanigawa (Gunma): The Easiest Day Trip From Tokyo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"A waterfall among yellow and orange leaves, seen from high above\" class=\"wp-image-777\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"A waterfall among yellow and orange leaves, seen from high above\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-767x511.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-35.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of the mountain spots, Mount Tanigawa is the easiest fall foliage trip from Tokyo. A ropeway lifts you in about 15 minutes to Tenjindaira, at around 1,300 metres, with the ravines and ridges of the Tanigawa range all around, and a chairlift goes higher still, to Tenjin Pass. The ropeway has a new name: it&#8217;s now Tanigawadake Yoho by Hoshino Resorts, though most guides still call it the Tanigawadake Ropeway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weathernews expects the fall foliage here to be at its best from around 12 October, with the leaves starting to fall around 8 November, so this is a window of a few weeks rather than a single day. On 1 October, the Japan Weather Association reported the leaves just starting to turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ropeway:<\/strong> \u00a53,000 return for adults and \u00a51,500 for children; \u00a53,600 and \u00a52,000 with the lift; \u00a51,800 one way<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ore:<\/strong> 8:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, from 7:00 at weekends and on holidays; last ropeway up 16:30, last lift up 16:00<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Season:<\/strong> open until 15 November 2026 (planned)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Come arrivare:<\/strong> Joetsu Shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen, 62 to 77 minutes from Tokyo, then a bus; or the JR Joetsu Line to Minakami and a bus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sito ufficiale:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/tanigawadake-joch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tanigawadake Yoho (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen is covered by the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, and Minakami is one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/jr-tokyo-wide-pass-per-gite-giornaliere\/\">Gite giornaliere con il JR Tokyo Wide Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> Arrive in the morning. The lift is the part with the big view, and its last ride up is at 16:00, so an afternoon arrival can leave you with the ropeway only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Jozankei Onsen (Hokkaido): A Gorge Near Sapporo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"A red suspension bridge over the river at Jozankei, with the trees on the cliff turning yellow and orange\" class=\"wp-image-776\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"A red suspension bridge over the river at Jozankei, with the trees on the cliff turning yellow and orange\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-767x511.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-34.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jozankei is a hot spring town in a river gorge about an hour from Sapporo, and the red Futami Suspension Bridge over the river is its classic fall foliage view. The fall foliage is usually at its best from early to mid October; on 30 September it was just beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The town promotes five foliage areas around it, each with its own seasonal bus from the Jozankei Tourist Information Center, and every one of them stops in October. For 2026, the Kappa Bus to the Jozankei Onsen area and to Hakkenzan runs from 1 to 21 October, the Toyohira Gorge Dam Liner from 3 to 25 October, the Gondola Liner to the Sapporo Kokusai ski area from 1 to 20 October, and a free shuttle to the Kamui Forest from 1 to 31 October. Come at the end of October and the town is still lovely, but most of the buses have gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>From Sapporo:<\/strong> Kappa Liner bus from Sapporo Station, about 60 minutes; \u00a51,700, or \u00a51,460 booked online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Booking:<\/strong> the Kappa Liner runs on reservations, from a month ahead until 17:00 the day before; without one you can board only if seats are left<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Foliage buses:<\/strong> last year&#8217;s fares ran from \u00a5700 to \u00a52,200, and the Kamui Forest shuttle is free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Siti ufficiali:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jotetsu.co.jp\/bus\/kappa_liner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kappa Liner (Japanese)<\/a> e <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sapporo.travel\/news\/jozankei-godaikoyo-bus2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jozankei foliage buses 2026 (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> For a mid-October trip, book the Kappa Liner before anything else. Same-day seats are only there if the bus isn&#8217;t already full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Tsutanuma (Aomori): Booking the Dawn<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Golden beech forest reflected in Tsutanuma, with a snow-dusted peak behind\" class=\"wp-image-774\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"Golden beech forest reflected in Tsutanuma, with a snow-dusted peak behind\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-767x511.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-32.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tsutanuma is a small pond in the beech forests of the Towada area, and at dawn in late October the first sun lights up the trees on the far bank and doubles them in the still water. It&#8217;s one of the most photographed fall foliage scenes in Japan, and its busiest weeks are now managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 23 October to 3 November 2026, Towada City runs an entry system. Between 5:00 and 7:30 you can&#8217;t get in without an advance booking, made online for groups of up to eight people and one car. Bookings opened on 1 August at 11:00 and close when the slots run out. From 7:30 to 16:00 you don&#8217;t need to book, but you pay at the Tsuta Onsen car park entrance on the day, in cash only, and parking depends on space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fee is the same either way: \u00a52,000 a person for the viewing deck, plus \u00a52,000 per car or \u00a51,000 per motorcycle. From 20:00 until 4:50, only guests of Tsuta Onsen can park, so you can&#8217;t wait in the car park for dawn. In practice, a dawn visit needs a car or a room at Tsuta Onsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Usual peak:<\/strong> late October<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Entry system:<\/strong> 23 October to 3 November 2026; booking needed from 5:00 to 7:30<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fees:<\/strong> \u00a52,000 per person plus \u00a52,000 per car; cash only in the daytime<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sito ufficiale:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.city.towada.lg.jp\/kanko\/guide\/tutanuma.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tsutanuma entry system (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> Staying at Tsuta Onsen? Guests are handled by the inn, so call it (0176-74-2311) rather than using the booking site. And if Tsutanuma is full, the Oirase Gorge is nearby, peaks in the same weeks and needs no booking: see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/oirase-gorge-autumn-foliage\/\">Oirase Gorge autumn guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Fukuroda Falls (Ibaraki): A Ticket for the View<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Fukuroda Falls dropping down its rock wall between red, orange and yellow leaves\" class=\"wp-image-778\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"Fukuroda Falls dropping down its rock wall between red, orange and yellow leaves\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-767x511.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-36.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fukuroda Falls is counted among Japan&#8217;s three great waterfalls: 120 metres high and 73 metres wide, falling in four steps down a rock wall, which is why it&#8217;s also called Yodo no Taki, the &#8220;four-times falls&#8221;. It&#8217;s a national Place of Scenic Beauty, and in autumn the falls are framed in red and gold. The fall foliage usually starts in late October and peaks in early to mid November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You see the falls from viewing decks reached through a tunnel, and that has a ticket: \u00a5500 for adults and \u00a5300 for children. The hours get shorter just as the leaves turn, from 8:00 to 18:00 through October to 8:00 to 17:00 in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The falls are also lit up at night in autumn and winter, an event called Daigolight. Last season it ran from 1 November 2025 to 12 January 2026, from sunset to 20:00 in November, and the \u00a5500 ticket covered the tunnel. The 2026\u201327 dates had not been announced by 2 October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tickets:<\/strong> \u00a5500 for adults, \u00a5300 for children; groups of 20 or more \u00a5400 and \u00a5200<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ore:<\/strong> 8:00 to 17:00 in November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Come arrivare:<\/strong> JR Suigun Line to Fukuroda Station, then about 10 minutes by bus to Takimoto and a 10-minute walk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sito ufficiale:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.daigo-kanko.jp\/fukuroda-falls.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fukuroda Falls (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> During last year&#8217;s light-up, the tunnel stayed open until 20:00 in November, so a late-afternoon visit covered the falls in daylight and lit up in one trip. Expect the same once this year&#8217;s dates are out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Rikugien (Tokyo): The Last of the Season<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"Maples turning red and orange over a garden pond and its stone slab bridge in late November\" class=\"wp-image-779\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4962593516209477;width:600px;height:auto\" title=\"Maples turning red and orange over a garden pond and its stone slab bridge in late November\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-1536x1025.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37-18x12.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-37.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rikugien, a strolling garden built around a pond about 300 years ago in Komagome, is where Japan&#8217;s fall foliage season ends. Tokyo&#8217;s maples are forecast at their best around 28 November, and the garden holds its colour into early December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its night viewing is the famous part: the maples around the pond are lit up and reflected in the water. For 2026 it runs from 25 November to 6 December, 18:00 to 20:30, with last entry at 19:30, and tickets start at \u00a51,000. By day the garden is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and costs \u00a5300, or \u00a5150 for over-65s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Night viewing:<\/strong> 25 November to 6 December 2026, from \u00a51,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Come arrivare:<\/strong> 7 minutes on foot from Komagome Station, on the JR Yamanote Line and the Namboku Line<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sito ufficiale:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gotokyo.org\/jp\/spot\/ev126\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rikugien night viewing (Japanese)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Consiglio per i giocatori giapponesi:<\/strong> Buy your night ticket online in advance. Last year that saved \u00a5200 on the \u00a51,200 same-day price, and advance sales opened on 1 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which Fall Foliage Spots Need Booking?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three of the seven fall foliage spots have a gate, and each works differently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Senjojiki:<\/strong> no booking at all. You queue, and on the busiest days the wait passes two hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tsutanuma:<\/strong> book ahead for 5:00 to 7:30 between 23 October and 3 November; from 7:30, pay in cash on the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fukuroda Falls:<\/strong> a \u00a5500 ticket for the viewing tunnel, with no booking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two more need planning rather than permission: the Kappa Liner to Jozankei runs on reservations, and Rikugien&#8217;s night tickets are cheaper bought online in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Plan a Fall Foliage Trip in Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pick your fall foliage spot by your dates, not by the photo. A rough guide to fall foliage in 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Early October:<\/strong> the top of Senjojiki and Mount Mitsuishi, Mount Tanigawa just turning, and Jozankei<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mid October:<\/strong> Mount Tanigawa and Jozankei at their best, and Senjojiki&#8217;s lower slopes; the Jozankei buses stop between 20 and 31 October<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Late October:<\/strong> Tsutanuma, with the Oirase Gorge nearby, and the road below Senjojiki<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Early to mid November:<\/strong> Fukuroda Falls<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Late November and early December:<\/strong> Rikugien and the rest of Tokyo, then Kyoto<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travelling between 3 and 18 October on a budget? The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/jr-autumn-unlimited-pass-2026\/\">JR Autumn Unlimited Pass<\/a> gives you three days of JR local and rapid trains for \u00a57,850, which works for the JR Joetsu Line to Minakami for Mount Tanigawa. It doesn&#8217;t cover the shinkansen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the weather month by month, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/best-time-to-visit-japan\/\">Il momento migliore per visitare il Giappone<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What to Bring for Fall Foliage in the Mountains<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Warm layers:<\/strong> Senjojiki, at 2,612 metres, is far colder than the car park, and the first snow can come in mid-October.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proper shoes:<\/strong> for Mount Mitsuishi, and for the rocky path around Senjojiki.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cash:<\/strong> Tsutanuma&#8217;s daytime fee is cash only.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time to spare:<\/strong> queues for buses and ropeways are part of the fall foliage season, so leave room in your plans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fall Foliage FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890199514\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Quando \u00e8 il momento migliore per ammirare i colori autunnali in Giappone nel 2026?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>It depends on where. Fall foliage in the high mountains peaks from late September to mid-October, in Hokkaido and Tohoku in October, and in Tokyo and Kyoto in late November and early December. Forecasters expect a late season this year.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890204734\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Can you drive to Senjojiki Cirque?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>No. Private cars are banned above Sugano-dai, where you park for \u00a5800 a day and take the bus to the ropeway.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890211034\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Can you book the Komagatake Ropeway?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>No. It&#8217;s first come, first served, and the operator expects waits of more than two hours on the busiest October days.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890221450\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Do you need a reservation for Tsutanuma?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Only for 5:00 to 7:30 between 23 October and 3 November 2026. From 7:30 to 16:00 on those dates you don&#8217;t need to book, but you pay \u00a52,000 a person, plus \u00a52,000 per car, in cash.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890226050\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>How much does it cost to see Fukuroda Falls?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>\u00a5500 for adults and \u00a5300 for children. In November it&#8217;s open from 8:00 to 17:00.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890235000\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>When is Rikugien lit up in 2026?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>From 25 November to 6 December, 18:00 to 20:30, with last entry at 19:30. Tickets start at \u00a51,000.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890244583\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Which fall foliage spot is easiest from Tokyo?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Mount Tanigawa: the shinkansen to Jomo-Kogen, a bus and the ropeway, with the fall foliage at its best from around 12 October. In late November, Rikugien is in Tokyo itself.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1790890249084\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>How long is the Mount Mitsuishi hike?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Allow most of a day. There&#8217;s no ropeway or road to the top, and the trail gets busy on peak weekends.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Aggiorniamo questa pagina<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We checked every date, price and timetable here on 2 October 2026, using official sites wherever they publish them, and the latest forecasts. We&#8217;ll add Fukuroda Falls&#8217; 2026\u201327 light-up dates when they&#8217;re announced, and update the fall foliage dates as the forecasts change through the season.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From an alpine cirque turning now to a Tokyo garden lit up in December: seven fall foliage spots in date order, with what each costs and which ones you need to book.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":773,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jpj_city":"","jpj_station":"","jpj_label":"Autumn leaves","jpj_top_pick":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[105],"tags":[220,222,221,218,219,223,196,355,224,217],"class_list":["post-772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seasonal","tag-autumn-leaves","tag-fall-foliage","tag-fukuroda-falls","tag-jozankei","tag-koyo","tag-mount-tanigawa","tag-rikugien","tag-sakura-autumn-leaves","tag-senjojiki-cirque","tag-tsutanuma"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=772"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/772\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":845,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/772\/revisions\/845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thejapanpro.com\/blog\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}