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

Photo: Mount Kurikoma

Tohoku 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: 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.

Hakkoda Mountains & Hakkoda Ropeway（八甲田山・八甲田ロープウェー）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to late October

Access

Three hours 10 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori Station, then one hour by bus to Ropeway Station and right over there

Jogakura Ohashi Bridge（城ケ倉大橋）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) Approximately eight minutes by car from Ropeway Station
(2) One hour 10 min by bus from Shin-Aomori Station to Jogakura Onsen, then 20 minutes on foot

Oirase Gorge（奥入瀬渓流）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) Approximately one hour 15 min by bus from Ropeway Station to Ishigedo, or
(2) two hours 20 min by bus from Shin-Aomori Station to Ishigedo, then right over there

Tsutanuma Pond, Tsuta Nana Numa (Tsuta Seven Lakes)（蔦沼・蔦七沼）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October

Access

(1) Approximately 50 minutes by bus from Ropeway Station to Tsuta Onsen, or
(2) one hour 45 min by bus from Shin-Aomori Station to Tsuta Onsen, then 5 minutes on foot

List of Ryokans in Oirase & Hakkoda Onsen

Tsugaru Iwaki Skyline（津軽岩木スカイライン）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid-October

Access

(1) Three hours 10 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori Station, then approximately one hour 30 min by car
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Aomori Airport

Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle)＜弘前城（弘前公園）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

45 minutes by JR Ou Main Line from Shin-Aomori Station to Hirosaki Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Shiyakusho-mae (City Hall) and 4-min walk from there

Lake Juniko & World Heritage Beech Forest Trail in Shirakami Sanchi Mountain Range（白神山地・十二湖・世界遺産の径ブナ散策道）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) Three hours 10 min by JR Limited Express from Shin-Aomori Station to Juniko Station, then 15 minutes by bus to Oku-Juniko Lakes Parking Lot (Aoike Pond) and right over there
(2) Approximately two hours by car from Aomori Airport
(3) Approximately two hours by car from Akita Airport
(4) Approximately two hours by car from Oga Peninsula Onsen

List of Ryokans in Hirosaki Onsen

Mount Mitsuishi & Amihari Observation Lift（三ツ石山・網張展望リフト）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late September to early October

Access

(1) Two hours 10 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Morioka Station, 20 minutes by JR Tazawako Line from Morioka Station to Shizukuishi Station, then 45 minutes by bus to Amihari Onsen and right over there
(2) Approximately 30 minutes by car from Tsunagi-Oshuku Onsen

Hachimantai Aspite Line（八幡平アスピーテライン）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late September to late October

Access

(1) Approximately one hour by car from Morioka Station
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Tsunagi-Oshuku Onsen
(3) Approximately one hour by car from Yuze Onsen

List of Ryokans in Tsunagi-Oshuku Onsen

Chusonji Temple, Hiraizumi（中尊寺・平泉）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Three hours 30 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Ichinoseki Station, or
(2) one hour by JR Tohoku Main Line from Hanamaki Kuko (Airport) Station (near Hanamaki Onsen) to Ichinoseki Station, then 25 minutes by bus to Chusonji
(3) Approximately one hour 15 min by car from Minami Sanriku Onsen

Motsuji Temple, Hiraizumi（毛越寺・平泉）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Three hours 30 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Ichinoseki Station, then 10 min by JR Tohoku Main Line to Hiraizumi Station and 7-min walk from there
(2) 50 minutes by JR Tohoku Main Line from Hanamaki Kuko (Airport) Station (near Hanamaki Onsen) to Hiraizumi Station, then 7 minutes on foot
(3) Approximately one hour 15 min by car from Minami Sanriku Onsen

Sukawa Highland & Sukawa Lake（須川高原・須川湖）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

One hour 30 min by bus from Ichinoseki Station to Sukawa Onsen, then right over there

Mount Kurikoma（栗駒山）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to late October

Access

One hour 55 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kurikoma Kogen Station, then approximately one hour 10 min by car to Iwakagami Daira

List of Ryokans in Hanamaki Onsen

Zao Echo Line（蔵王エコーライン）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October

Access

(1) One hour 30 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station, then approximately one hour 20 min by car
(2) Approximately 30 minutes by car from Togatta & Kamasaki Onsen (Miyagi Zao)
(3) Approximately one hour by car from Zao Onsen

List of Ryokans in Togatta & Kamasaki Onsen (Miyagi Zao)

Matsushima Bay（松島）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) One hour 30 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station, then 40 minutesr by JR Senzan Line to Matsushima-Kaigan Station
(3) Approximately 50 minutes by car from Akiu Onsen
(4) Approximately one hour 30 min by car from Zao Onsen
(5) Approximately two hours by car from Ginzan Onsen

List of Ryokans in Minami Sanriku Onsen

List of Ryokans in Matsushima Onsen

Akiu Otaki Falls（秋保大滝不動尊）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early November

Access

One hour 30 min by JR Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station, then 40 min by Akiu Kawasaki Sendai Seibu Liner to Akiu Sato Center (near Akiu Onsen) and 20-min taxi ride from there

List of Ryokans in Akiu Onsen

Kakunodate Samurai House（角館武家屋敷通り）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Three hours by JR Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kakunodate Station, then 15 minutes on foot
(2) Approximately two hours by car from Yuze Onsen
(3) Approximately two hours by car from Oga Peninsula Onsen

Dakigaeri Valley（抱返り渓谷）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Approximately 15 minutes by taxi from Kakunodate Station
(2) Approximately two hours by car from Yuze Onsen
(3) Approximately two hours by car from Oga Peninsula Onsen

List of Ryokans in Kakunodate & Lake Tazawa Onsen

List of Ryokans in Yuze Onsen

List of Ryokans in Oga Peninsula Onsen

Ginzan Onsen（銀山温泉）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early November

Access

(1) Three hours 50 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Oishida Station, then 40 minutes by bus to Ginzan Onsen
(2) 50 min by JR Ou Main Line from Yamagata Station (Zao Onsen) to Oishida Station, then 40 minutes by bus to Ginzan Onsen

Naruko Gorge（鳴子峡）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

(1) Two hours 15 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Furukawa Station, 45 minutes by JR Rikuu East Line from Furukawa Station to Naruko Onsen Station, then 7 minutes by bus to Narukokyo Nakayamadaira Guchi and right over there
(2) Approximately 45 minutes by car from Ginzan Onsen
(3) Approximately one hour 30 min by car from Akiu Onsen
(4) Approximately two hours by car from Zao Onsen

Mogami Gorge & Mogamigawa River Cruise（最上峡・最上川舟下り）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Two hours 50 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station, then 20 minutes by JR Rikuu West Line to Furukuchi Station and 5-min walk from there
(2) Approximately 50 minutes by car from Ginzan Onsen
(3) Approximately one hour 40 min by car from Zao Onsen

List of Ryokans in Ginzan Onsen

Yamadera (Risshakuji Temple)＜山寺（宝珠山立石寺）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) One hour 30 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai Station, then one hour by JR Senzan Line to Yamadera Station, or
(2) two hours 50 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station, then 20 minutes by JR Senzan Line to Yamadera Station, and 5-min walk from there
(3) Approximately 50 minutes by car from Zao Onsen
(4) Approximately one hour by car from Akiu Onsen
(5) Approximately one hour 10 minby car from Ginzan Onsen

List of Ryokans in Tendo Onsen

Zao Onsen（蔵王温泉）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to late October

Access

(1) Three hours 20 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station, then 35 min by bus to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal (Zao Onsen)
(2) 50 min by JR Ou Main Line from Oishida Station (Ginzan Onsen) to Yamagata Station, then 35 min by bus to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal (Zao Onsen)

List of Ryokans in Zao Onsen

List of Ryokans in Kaminoyama Onsen

Mount Chokai（鳥海山）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) Three hours 10 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shinjo Station, then approximately one hour 40 min by car
(2) Approximately two hours 10 min by car from Ginzan Onsen
(3) Approximately two hours 40 min by car from Zao Onsen

Mount Gassan 8th Station (Midagahara Marsh)＜月山8合目（弥陀ヶ原湿原）＞[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

(1) Two hours 50 min by JR Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Yamagata Station, then approximately two hours by car
(2) Approximately two hours by car from Ginzan Onsen
(3) Approximately two hours 30 min by car from Zao Onsen

List of Ryokans in Atsumi Onsen

Bandai Azuma Skyline & Mount Azuma-kofuji（磐梯吾妻スカイライン・吾妻小富士）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Mid to late October

Access

One hour 50 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Fukushima Station, then approximately 40 minutes by car

Mount Adatara Ropeway（安達太良山ロープウェイ）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October

Access

One hour 15 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Koriyama Station, 25 minutes by JR Tohoku Main Line from Koriyama Station to Nihonmatsu Station then 45 minutes by bus to Okudake and right over there

List of Ryokans in Anahara Onsen

List of Ryokans in Fukushima Onsen

Urabandai Goshikinuma Ponds（裏磐梯・五色沼湖沼群）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Late October to early November

Access

One hour 15 min by JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Koriyama Station, 40 minutes by JR Banetsu West Line from Koriyama Station to Inawashiro Station then 35 minutes by bus to Goshikinuma Iriguchi and 2-min walk from there

List of Ryokans in Koriyama Onsen

Ouchijuku（大内宿）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Approximately 20 minutes by car from Aizuwakamatsu Onsen
(2) Approximately one hour by car from Koriyama Onsen

Tsuruga Castle (Tsurugajo)（鶴ヶ城）[ Map ]

Best time to view fall foliage

Early to mid-November

Access

(1) Approximately 30 minutes by car from Aizuwakamatsu Onsen
(2) Approximately 40 minutes by car from Koriyama Onsen

List of Ryokans in Aizuwakamatsu Onsen