Introduction to Autumn Colours 2023 in Nagoya Chubu & Hokuriku Region’s Onsen Resorts – with information about the best time to view fall foliage in different regions

Photo: Tateyama (Kurobe Dam)

Nagoya Chubu ＆ Hokuriku Region

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: October 31, 2023） 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.

Gero Onsen (Gassho Village & Onsenji Temple)＜下呂温泉街（合掌村・温泉寺）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late November

Access

One hour 30 min by JR Limited Express from Nagoya Station to Gero Station, then 20 minutes on foot

List of Ryokans in Gero Onsen

Hida-Mino Seseragi Kaido Road（飛騨美濃せせらぎ街道）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) Approximately one hour 45 min by car from Nagoya Station
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Hida Takayama Onsen
(3) Approximately one hour by car from Gero Onsen

Shirakawago Village（白川郷）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to mid-November

Access

(1) 50 minutes by bus from Takayama Station (Hida Takayama Onsen) to Shirakawago Bus Terminal
(2) One hour 20 min by bus from Kanazawa Station to Shirakawago Bus Terminal
(3) Two hours 30 min by bus from Nagoya Meitetsu Bus Center to Shirakawago Bus Terminal

List of Ryokans in Hida Takayama Onsen

Shinhotaka Ropeway（新穂高ロープウェイ）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to late October

Access

Two hours 30 min by JR Limited Express from Nagoya Station to Takayama Station, then one hour 45 min by bus to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway

List of Ryokans in Okuhida Onsen

Hakusan Shirakawago White Road（白山白川郷ホワイトロード）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) Approximately one hour 30 min by car from Kanazawa Station
(2) Approximately two hours by car from Takayama Station (Hida Takayama Onsen)

Kenrokuen Garden（兼六園）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-November to early December

Access

Two hours 30 min by JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kanazawa Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa-jo (Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park) and 4-min walk from there

Natadera Temple（那谷寺）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-November to early December

Access

40 minutes by JR Hokuriku Main Line from Kanazawa Station to Awazu Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Natadera and 5-min walk from there

List of Ryokans in Kaga Yamashiro-Yamanaka Onsen (Kanazawa)

List of Ryokans in Wakura Onsen

List of Ryokans in Wajima Nebuta Onsen

Tateyama (Murodo & Kurobe Dam)＜立山（室堂・黒部ダム）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late September to late October

Access

(1) One hour 30 min by JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station, then one hour 10 min by bus to Ogisawa, or
(2) four hours 30 min by bus from Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal to Ogisawa, and 16-min electric bus ride to Kurobe Dam

Kurobe Gorge Railway（黒部峡谷トロッコ電車）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to mid-November

Access

Two hours 20 min by JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station, then 25 minutes by Toyama Chihou Railway to Unazuki Onsen Station and ride the Kurobe Gorge Railway

Unazuki Onsen（宇奈月温泉街）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

Two hours 20 min by JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station, then 25 minutes by Toyama Chihou Railway to Unazuki Onsen Station

List of Ryokans in Toyama Onsen

List of Ryokans in Unazuki Onsen

Eiheiji Temple（永平寺）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) 30 minutes by JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya Station to Maibara Station, then one hour by JR Limited Express to Fukui Station, or
(2) one hour 50 min by JR Limited Express from Osaka Station to Fukui Station, then approximately 30 min by bus to Eiheiji
(3) 50 minutes by bus from Awara Onsen Station to Eiheiji

Karikomi Ike Pond（刈込池）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) 30 minutes by JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya Station to Maibara Station, then one hour by JR Limited Express to Fukui Station, or
(2) one hour 50 min by JR Limited Express from Osaka Station to Fukui Station, then approximately one hour 30 min by car
(3) Approximately one hour 50 min by car from Awara Onsen
(4) Approximately two hours by car from Kaga Yamashiro-Yamanaka Onsen (Kanazawa)

Lake Kuzuryu（九頭竜湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to mid-November

Access

(1) 30 minutes by JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya Station to Maibara Station, then one hour by JR Limited Express to Fukui Station, or
(2) one hour 50 min by JR Limited Express from Osaka Station to Fukui Station, then approximately one hour 30 min by car
(3) Approximately one hour 30 min by car from Nagoya Onsen
(4) Approximately one hour 50 min by car from Awara Onsen

List of Ryokans in Awara Onsen

Korankei Gorge（香嵐渓）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late November

Access

(1) One hour 10 min by bus from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Toyotashi Station, then 40 minutes by bus to Korankei and 5-min walk from there
(2) Approximately one hour 20 min by car from Nagoya Onsen
(3) Approximately one hour 30 min by car from Mikawa Bay Onsen, Minami Chita Onsen or Hirugami Onsen

Tokugawaen（徳川園）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late November to early December

Access

12 minutes by JR Chuo Main Line from Nagoya Station to Ozone Station, then 10 minutes on foot

Koshoji Temple（八事山 興正寺）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-November to early December

Access

5 minutes by Nagoya City Subway Higashiyama Line from Nagoya Station to Fushimi Station, then 20 minutes by Nagoya City Subway Tsurumai Line to Yagoto Station and 3-min walk from there

List of Ryokans in Nagoya Onsen

List of Ryokans in Mikawa Bay Onsen

List of Ryokans in Minami Chita Onsen

Gozaisho Ropeway（御在所ロープウェイ）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to mid-November

Access

(1) One hour 10 min by bus from Nagoya Meitetsu Bus Center to Yunoyama Onsen/Gozaisho Ropeway Mae, and right over there
(2) Approximately 40 minutes by car from Nagashima Onsen

List of Ryokans in Nagashima Onsen

List of Ryokans in Ise-Shima Onsen