Five Hotels Close to Japan’s Popular Autumn Foliage Spots

Cherry blossom season in spring isn’t the only time throngs of crowds in Japan head out to admire nature’s colors. Autumn in Japan is also quite the scenic affair, with momiji-gari — literally “autumn-leaf hunting”, or rather, “autumn-leaf viewing” — being a popular pastime.

From around October to early December, you can expect the most popular autumn leaf spots across the country to be packed. For exceptionally famous and breathtaking areas that people would go out of their way to travel to, you can expect nearby hotels to be fully booked, too. Stay close to the scenery to give yourself more time to admire the autumn leaves by booking one of these five hotels near Japan’s popular autumn leaf-viewing spots as soon as possible! 

One of Kyoto’s best-known sightseeing spots is Arashiyama, a quaint district to the west of the city center. With the iconic Togetsukyo Bridge, a dense bamboo forest, and rustic scenery of the Oi River framed by the backdrop of the epoponyymouous mountain, Arashiyama has been loved for its scenic beauty since time immemorial.

While Arashiyama attracts tourists all year long, autumn is one of those times when even more people than usual flock here to see Mount Arashi burst into vivid colors. If you want to take photos without the crowds, your best bet is to do so early in the morning, so you’ll want to stay at Hotel Arashiyama, which prides itself on being an accommodation in town where every room comes with a view.

This 11-room business hotel is a mere five-minute walk from Hankyu Arashiyama Station, the closest station to Togetsukyo Bridge. It’s worth noting that there are three different stations leading to Arashiyama, all served by different railway companies; Saga-Arashiyama Station on the JR Line is a bit farther from Arashiyama’s main attractions, requiring a walk of around 12 to 15 minutes.

Rooms are no-frills but clean, comfortable, and equipped with the basic amenities you’d expect at a hotel. Japanese-style meals are also available, either for an additional price or included in some stay packages.

Spend the night here, then start the next day bright and early to capture photos of Arashiyama’s scenery. Or, if avoiding the crowd is more of your priority than taking good pictures, enjoy the view from your room!

Known as one of the deepest gorges — if not the deepest — in Japan is the stunning V-shaped Kurobe Gorge in mountainous Toyama Prefecture. The pristine Kurobe River flows between it, and the Kurobe Gorge Railway, repurposed for sightseeing, takes visitors on a leisurely journey to see the gorge’s unspoiled nature, which is most gorgeous in autumn. Along the path of this railway are hot spring baths and hiking trails, which travelers can access by getting off at certain stops.

At the entrance of Kurobe Gorge is one of Toyama’s most popular hot spring towns, Unazuki Onsen, whose clear waters are believed to bring skin-moisturizing benefits. Among this town’s many accommodations, Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Yamanoha is often praised for having the best views of Kurobe Gorge. Guests can enjoy panoramic views of Kurobe Gorge — complete with its distinctive red Shin-Yamabiko Bridge, which serves as the tracks for the Kurobe Gorge Railway — not only from the lounge and select rooms but also from the rejuvenating hot spring baths.

One would think that such a fancy ryokan with fantastic views would be secluded and difficult to access. Still, it’s only a three-minute walk from Unazuki Onsen Station on the Toyama Chiho Railway, meaning guests can easily reach this ryokan from Toyama Station. It’s also not too far from the Kurobe Gorge Railway’s starting point, Unazuki, so you can easily start your Kurobe Gorge journey here.

But convenient access, fantastic baths, and breathtaking views aren’t the only things that Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Yamanoha is loved for. Its buffet restaurant offers various choices, including fresh seafood from Toyama Bay and other local specialties. Book an accommodation plan that includes a buffet dinner and buffet breakfast, and come hungry!

The island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima), linked to Hiroshima City by ferry, doesn’t just have a floating torii gate and deer as its claim to fame. It’s also considered one of Japan’s best places for seeing autumn leaves. On this tiny island, at the foot of Mount Misen, is Momijidani Park, so named after its 700-or-so maple trees. So well known is Miyajima for momiji (maple leaves) that they’ve become a local symbol and specialty of sorts, with souvenir shops selling an assortment of maple-themed sweets: momiji manju (maple-shaped cakes stuffed with red bean paste), maple leaf-shaped cookies, and more.

Visitors commonly go to Miyajima on a day trip, but if you’d rather spend the night on the island, you can’t go wrong with a stay at Miyajima Hotel Kikunoya. Sitting on a plateau overlooking the island, this hotel boasts scenic views of Miyajima. Ocean-side rooms command the best views, as guests can see Itsukushima-jinja Shrine’s world-famous torii from them.

Miyajima’s best sights are within a short walk of Kikunoya, with Itsukushima-jinja Shrine being a roughly five-minute walk away and Momijidani Park just behind the hotel.

Relax at the hotel’s communal baths: a foot bath, indoor bath, and open-air bath. At the foot bath, you can also enjoy momiji manju and other delights from Kikunoya’s cafe. Meanwhile, meals at this hotel make the most of the bounties of the Setouchi (Seto Inland Sea) region: oysters and other types of seafood, seasonal vegetables, and the like.

Located in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward is Rikugien Gardens, a unique and stunning representation of a feudal lord’s garden. This tranquil oasis in the heart of bustling Tokyo draws inspiration from classical Chinese and Japanese poetry, with its trees, pebbles, and rocks meticulously arranged to depict scenes from these ancient verses.

Rikugien is illuminated at night in both spring and autumn so visitors can enjoy the scenery all day. The lit-up garden has a magical glow at night as the lights enhance the trees’ colors.

As convenient as Tokyo’s public transport network may be, how about staying nearby so that you can simply rest after strolling around Rikugien all day? Right next to Komagome Station, outside the JR Line’s south exit, is JR-East Hotel Mets Komagome, an economically priced business hotel.

This hotel’s excellent location and compact but comfortable rooms make it an excellent choice for business people and travelers. In particular, tourists who prefer staying in Tokyo’s more low-key neighborhoods appreciate the quieter vibe. Even so, there’s no shortage of restaurants, shops, and convenience stores nearby; there’s a NewDays convenience store and a Denny’s in the same building as Hotel Mets Komagome. What’s more, the rest of Tokyo’s popular attractions are just a train ride away, making this hotel ideal for visiting Rikugien and as a base for exploring Tokyo.

Aichi Prefecture, where Nagoya is located, is home to one of Japan’s most famous spots for autumn foliage — Korankei Gorge, where around 4,000 maple trees of 10 or 11 varieties line the Tomoe River along the foot of Mount Iimori. It’s said that in the 17th century, the head monk of Kojaku-ji Temple (which lies within the gorge) planted maple trees along the temple’s approach.

In autumn, usually in November, the area holds a Maple Festival, during which visitors can enjoy the sight of colorful maple trees all over the gorge well into the night when Mount Iimori is illuminated golden yellow. The gorge is dotted with scenic viewing spots for these beautiful trees: paths along the Tomoe River, the approach of Kojaku-ji Temple, Taigetsukyo Bridge, hiking trails leading to Mount Iimori, and Tomoebashi Bridge, among others.

Though many might find it more convenient to stay in Nagoya, finding Korankei to be rather remote, we recommend you to stay at Korantei near Korankei Gorge if you’d like a getaway from the city. Just a four-minute walk from the Korankei bus stop, this ryokan is a good base for a Korankei Gorge excursion. From its 10 Japanese-style rooms to its baths, the entire facility overlooks the gorge, treating guests to views of the multicolored scenery and Taigetsukyo Bridge.