Matsushima. This city on the northeastern coast of the main island of Honshu looks out onto a bay sprinkled with 260 little islands.
Nikko. It's less than two hours from Tokyo by train, but some of the peaks in this scenic mountainous area rise to 2,438m. As a result, the season starts quite a bit earlier than in the low-lying cities. The region is also known for its combination of natural and man-made beauty, Ueno said, with temples and shrines in stunning settings.
Tateyama. In Honshu's Japanese Alps you can trek through fall colors on a "grand scale," Ueno said, with remarkable vistas from what's called "the roof of Japan."
Kanazawa. On the northern coast of Honshu, this castle town has one of the country's three most famous landscape gardens.
Miyajima Island. Located near Hiroshima in the Inland Sea, Miyajima is known for its temples and for Mount Misen, a holy site that also gives quite a kouyou show.
Takachiho Gorge. On Kyushu, the southernmost of the large islands, the changing colors of the leaves are mixed with ravines and rushing waterfalls.
RSS