Japan is lovely in the fall. The weather is crisp, the leaves are turning, and the summer crowds have died down. If you are looking for a unique experience, visit Japan in the ‘ber’ months. You can go forest bathing while taking in majestic fiery foliage, or indulge in local delicacies around harvest time. Here are a few unique ideas to discover this facet of Japan.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Located near Tokyo in the city of Hitachinaka, Hitachi Seaside Park is well known for its incredible gardens. The flowers in the springtime are exquisite, but coming in the fall is a whole new experience. The Kochia plants turn red and the entire field is awash in crimson.
Autumn is one of the popular times to visit as there is also chestnut picking and you can have a taste of the pears local to the area. Hitachi Seaside Park has other amusement facilities onsite and would make an excellent day trip.
From Katsuta Station, take the East Exit Bus Stop No. 2. The bus should take 15 minutes to the West Gate of Hitachi Park or 20 minutes to the South Gate. Katsuta Station is 1 hour and 15 minutes from Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. Alternatively, if you are driving there, take the exit at Hitachi Seaside Park Interchange.
From Tokai Station, Take the Tokai Station East Exit Bus Stop No. 1. The journey should take about 30 mins.
Daisetsuzan National Park
As one of the largest national parks in Japan, this spot in Hokkaido is the perfect place to forest bathe. Lovers of the outdoors can check out hiking trails and nature walks through this wild landscape.
Do not miss the Mikuni Pass. Bask in the sea of trees in one of the most beautiful spots in Japan. If you are looking for fall foliage, this is the perfect place to get a taste of it.
To get to Daisetsuzan National Park, the closest city is Asahikawa. A flight from Haneda or Narita should take about 90 minutes. From Sapporo Station, take the 90-minute Lilac or Kamui limited express train from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station.
There are onsens or hot springs to enjoy for those who are interested in taking in the waters near Asahikawa. Asahidake Onsen is an hour and forty minutes away by Asahikawa Denkikidou bus from Asahikawa Station. Sounkyo is a charming hot spring town reachable in two-hours from Asahikawa Station via Dohoku Bus. The Kurodake Ropeway, a cable car that connects to a chair lift which provides access to numerous hiking trails in the Daisetsuzan mountain range, is also found at Sounkyo.
Alternatively, the best way to get to the park and the quaint onsens nearby is to rent a car. It should take you half an hour to get from New Chitose airport to the outskirts of the park.
Persimmon Season
Fall is the persimmon season in Japan! Rather than just basking in the sight of red and gold foliage and exploring the wilderness, why not immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience: Pick your own Kaki–which is a kind of persimmon! Not only can you eat as many as you want, you can go home with a few bags of your own. Persimmons are excellent to add to any salad or even to eat by themselves. Some villages even have persimmon festivals. The best persimmons, according to most sources, come from Nara.
The easiest way to get to Nara is from Osaka or Kyoto. From Shin-Osaka Station, you can take the Osaka Higashi Line – Yamatoji Line to Nara Station, which is around an hour to get there. On the other hand, from Kyoto Station, take the Nara Line and you should arrive at Nara station in about 50 minutes. You may also take the train on the Kyoto line from Kintetsu Kyoto Station to Kintetsu Nara Station.
Autumn is the perfect time to visit Japan. There are tons of activities to check out with a range of experiences from incredible views to brand-new delicacies. Go beyond the usual tourist spots of Japan and discover why people keep coming back for more. With so much to explore you can’t do it all in one trip!
