[2018 Edition] 3 Must-Visit Spots in the Kanto Region for Fall Foliage in November

Fall Foliage in Japan

The act of viewing autumn leaves is called "momiji-gari" in Japanese. You can find places all over Japan that are famous for their beautiful autumn foliage, including easily-accessible places like city parks and temples to more remote locations like mountain peaks and deep forests. In other words, there should be a spot to satisfy everyone!

The above picture is a forecast map for Japan's fall foliage in 2018. If you're interested in practicing momiji-gari, you need to acquire a good, accurate forecast map. We've done our research, but please keep in mind that the dates are ultimately estimates.

This is the first part of the November edition of this series, but check out the article below to catch up on the October series (and see even more stunning photos of autumn foliage in Japan). 

Enjoy the Fall Colors in Kanto this November

Walk Through a Tunnel of Gold at Meijijingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue (Tokyo)

This is arguably the most famous spot to view autumn foliage in all of Tokyo, and it is at its peak from mid-November to early December. Here, 146 ginkgo trees stretch from Aoyama Street to Meijijingu Gaien, and show off gorgeous golden-yellow leaves during the autumn. 

 

This park is also known for the Meijijingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival, which runs during peak autumn foliage season. In 2018, the festival will run from Nov. 16 - Dec. 2. Duirng the running of the festival, there will be food stalls set up selling fried foods, sweets, and more, so you can enjoy some delicious Japanese festival food while admiring the stunning ginkgo avenue. 

 

If you're not familiar with Japanese festival foods (there are so many!), the article below is a great place to start. See what looks good and try to see if you can try some for yourself at Meijijingu Gaien! 

Take a Day Trip from Tokyo to Mt. Takao (Tokyo)

Mt. Takao (Takao-san) is one of the closest natural hiking spots to central Tokyo, taking just under an hour to reach from Shinjuku via train. With a height of 599m, the mountain offers both stunning views and ample hiking opportunities to visitors throughout the year.

The mountain-top views are particularly stunning in the fall, when the mountain gets painted in various autumn colors, from crimson to amber and gold. You can even see the skyscrapers of Tokyo, along with the beautiful natural scenery, from the peak of the mountain.

 

Those who want to see beautiful views and breathe in the mountain-top air, but don't want to hike, will be happy to know that there is a cable car service that will take them to the top of the mountain. Make sure to pay attention during the ride, as the views from the cable car are worth seeing as well!

 

Take a Leisurely Cruise Around Lake Kameyama (Chiba)

This is the largest dam lake in all of Chiba Prefecture, and is a great place for families to spend time, as there are camp grounds, hot springs, boat-riding opportunities, and more. 

In the fall, the whole area lights up in the gorgeous colors of autumn foliage, and on days with little wind, you can see the stunning scenery of the tree-covered mountain reflected in the still surface of the lake.

 

Here, you can enjoy the somewhat rare activity of enjoying the fall foliage from a boat. Nothing quite compares to the feeling of enjoying the crisp autumn breeze from aboard a boat, surrounded in the bright and warm colors of fall. 

Also, make sure to visiting during the Kameyama Autumn Festival if you can, which usually starts in the beginning of November, as there will be delicous food and other activities to enjoy. 

 

Despite being known for its shopping, cuisine, and bustling city centers, Kanto is still full of gorgeous nature, especially during momiji-gari season. There are even some stunning natural spots, such as Mt. Takao, that are technically within Tokyo! If you're in the middle of planning your Japan autumn-leaf viewing itinerary for November, refer to this article and all of our upcoming articles in this series!

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