Introduction to Autumn Colours 2024 in Hokkaido’s Onsen Resorts – with information about the best time to view fall foliage in different regions

Photo: Onuma Quasi-National Park

Hokkaido Region

Being the northernmost district in the country, autumn colours start to arise as early as the beginning of September. Endowed with nature, you can enjoy tinted foliage at apparently all onsen resorts there.

Note: 

1. This article introduces the best time to view the foliage in each area’s onsen resorts, as well as a number of selected ryokans in each onsen area.

2. The best time to view fall colours listed here is based on open information published in Japan.（Survey date: November 18, 2024） Influenced by the weather and other natural factors, the actual period when autumnal leaf colouration meets its peak might be a little bit different from our prediction.

Jozankei Onsen（定山渓温泉）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

One hour by bus from Sapporo Station to Jozankei Onsen, then right over there

List of Ryokans in Jozankei Onsen

Lake Shikotsu（支笏湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) 55 minutes by bus from New Chitose Airport to Shikotsuko Bus Station, or
(2) 30 minutes by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Chitose Station, then 45 minutes by bus to Shikotsuko Bus Station, and right over there

List of Ryokans in Lake Shikotsu Onsen

Temiya Ryokuka Botanical Gardens（小樽・手宮緑化植物園）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) One hour 15 min by JR Limited Express from New Chitose Airport to Otaru Station, or
(2) 35 minutes by JR Hakodate Main Line from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Temiya and 5-min walk from there

List of Ryokans in Otaru Onsen

Shinsen-numa Marsh（神仙沼）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-October

Access

One hour 15 min by JR Limited Express from New Chitose Airport to Otaru Station, then one hour 20 min by JR Hakodate Main Line to Kutchan Station and 30-min taxi ride from there

List of Ryokans in Niseko Onsen

Jigokudani (Hell Valley) & Oyunuma Pond（登別地獄谷・大湯沼）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) One hour 20 min by bus from New Chitose Airport to Noboribetsu Onsen, or
(2) one hour 15 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Noboribetsu Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Noboribetsu Onsen, and 10-min walk from there

List of Ryokans in Noboribetsu Onsen

Lake Toya（洞爺湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) One hour 50 min by JR Limited Express from New Chitose Airport to Toya Station, then 20 minutes by bus to Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal, or
(2) two hours 40 min by bus from Sapporo Bus Station to Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal, and right over there

List of Ryokans in Lake Toya Onsen

Lake Shikaribetsu（然別湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

(1) 30 minutes by bus from Tokachi-Obihiro Airport to Obihiro Station, then one hour 40 min by bus to Lake Shikaribetsu (Shikaribetsuko) and right over there
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Tokachigawa Onsen

List of Ryokans in Tokachigawa Onsen

Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway（大雪山旭岳ロープウェイ）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-September

Access

(1) One hour 25 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, then one hour 40 min by bus to Asahidake and right over there
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Furano & Biei Onsen

Mount Tokachidake Onsen（十勝岳温泉郷）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

One hour 25 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, 55 minutes by JR Furano Line from Asahikawa Station to Kami-Furano Station, then 45 minutes by bus to Ryounkaku and right over there

Shirogane Blue Pond（白金青い池）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

(1) One hour 25 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, then 30 minutes by JR Furano Line to Biei Station, or (2) 15 minutes by bus from Asahikawa Airport to Biei Station, then 20 minutes by bus to Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi and right over there

Shirahige Waterfall（白ひげの滝）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

30 minutes by bus from Biei Station to Shirogane Onsen, then right over there

Biei Hills (Miyama Pass Viewing Platform)＜美瑛の丘（深山峠展望台）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late September to early November

Access

(1) One hour 25 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, 55 minutes by JR Furano Line from Asahikawa Station to Kamifurano Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Miyama Toge and right over there
(2) 40 minutes by bus from Furano Station to Miyama Toge, then right over there
(3) One hour by bus from Asahikawa Station to Miyama Toge, then right over there

List of Ryokans in Furano & Biei Onsen

Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ropeway（大雪山層雲峡・黒岳ロープウェイ）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early September to early October

Access

One hour 25 min by JR Limited Express from Sapporo Station to Asahikawa Station, then one hour 55 min by bus to Sounkyo Bus Terminal and 5-min walk from there

Ginga Waterfall & Ryusei Waterfalls（銀河の滝・流星の滝）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

Approximately five minutes by car from Sounkyo Bus Terminal

List of Ryokans in Sounkyo Onsen

Lake Akan（阿寒湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

(1) One hour 15 min by bus from Kushiro Airport to Lake Akanko Bus Center, or
(2) three minutes by JR Chitose Line from New Chitose Airport to Minami-Chitose Station, then three hours 30 min by JR Limited Express to Kushiro Station and two hours bus ride to Lake Akanko Bus Center, and right over there

Lake Onneto（オンネトー）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-October

Access

Approximately 20 minutes by car from Lake Akanko Bus Center

List of Ryokans in Lake Akan Onsen

Lake Notoro Coral Grass (Ubaranai Common Glasswort Colony)（能取湖サンゴ草群生地）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-September

Access

Approximately 20 minutes by car from Memanbetsu Airport

List of Ryokans in Abashiri Onsen (Memanbetsu)

Shiretoko Five Lakes (Shiretoko Goko)（知床五湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-October

Access

Two hours 10 min by bus from Memanbetsu Airport to Utoro Onsen Bus Terminal, then 25 minutes by bus to Shiretoko Goko and right over there (Operation period: May – October)

List of Ryokans in Shiretoko (Utoro) Onsen

Onuma Quasi-National Park（大沼国定公園）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

One hour 15 min by bus from Hakodate Airport to Onuma Koen Station, then right over there

List of Ryokans in Hakodate Yunokawa Onsen