Nagoya Autumn Foliage 2026 | Korankei & Alps | Club Tourism

*This article was created for travelers planning to visit Japan, but readers in Japan may also find it useful.

* The spots where you can see autumn foliage vary depending on when you travel.

Korankei in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, is the leading autumn foliage spot in the Tokai region. About 4,000 maple trees set the banks of the Tomoe River ablaze with color, drawing large crowds every year.
By day you can stroll along the river; by night the illuminated scenery turns magical. You can take in the autumn landscape while sampling local specialties such as gohei-mochi rice cakes and roasted chestnuts.
Korankei is relatively easy to reach from Nagoya and is popular with travelers seeing Japanese autumn foliage for the first time. The foliage reflected on the water and the vermilion Taigetsukyo Bridge are known as prime photo spots and are widely shared on social media. During the autumn foliage festival, food stalls and events let you experience the atmosphere of a Japanese autumn festival — another part of the appeal.
_{[Access from Nagoya]About 1 hour 30 minutes from Nagoya Station by Meitetsu train and bus}

Hida Takayama, also known as the "Little Kyoto of Hida," is loved for a townscape that still carries the atmosphere of the Edo period.
The old streets lined with wooden buildings take on even more character in the autumn foliage season, offering a distinctly Japanese landscape. Hida beef and the morning markets are popular too.
Among travelers from overseas it is highly regarded as "a town where a truly Japanese streetscape survives," and walking it feels like stepping into a period drama. Sake brewery tours and street food make it a good choice not only for sightseeing but for anyone who wants to experience local culture and cuisine. The town shows a different face by day and by night, which makes it ideal for photography.
_{[Access from Nagoya]About 2 hours 30 minutes from Nagoya Station on the limited express "Hida"}

Shirakawa-go, registered as a World Cultural Heritage site, is one of Japan's foremost destinations.
The mountains surrounding the village of gassho-style farmhouses turn to autumn color, creating scenery that could be called the original landscape of Japan. The panoramic view of Shirakawa-go from the observation deck captivates visitors.
For travelers from overseas in particular, it is a rare chance to experience traditional Japanese rural culture. Thatched roofs set against vivid autumn leaves make a scene straight out of a picture book. Each season brings a different landscape, but the foliage season is the most popular and draws many photographers.
_{[Access from Nagoya]About 3 hours by highway bus from Nagoya Station}

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is one of Japan's premier mountain sightseeing routes. Riding six types of transport in turn — cable car, ropeway, highland bus and more — you take in the magnificent scenery of peaks rising over 3,000 meters.
At popular stops such as Murodo and the Kurobe Dam, autumn can bring the "three-tiered foliage" effect, with snow on the summits, colored leaves in the middle and green at the foot of the mountains all visible at once — a sight you will rarely find anywhere else. Because the difference in elevation lets you see several stages of foliage in a single day, travelers from overseas rate it highly as "a spectacular route you can experience only in Japan."
The carpet of color seen from the ropeway, and its contrast with the imposing Kurobe Dam, is stunning. Watching the colors shift with altitude as you travel is another charm unique to Tateyama Kurobe. Transport and reservations are complicated for independent visitors, which makes this an area where the benefits of a tour are especially clear.
_{[Access from Nagoya]About 4 to 5 hours from Nagoya Station via Toyama on the Alpine Route (to Murodo)}

Autumn foliage is a natural phenomenon, so peak color can arrive earlier or later depending on temperature and weather.
Even after traveling a long way, you may find the leaves have not started to turn, or have already fallen.
Changing your schedule is especially difficult when traveling from overseas, so checking the forecast for peak color is very important. Peak timing in Japan varies widely by region and elevation, so "it's a famous spot, any time will do" simply does not hold. To see the best scenery within a limited stay, build your itinerary around the latest foliage information.

Visiting popular foliage spots on your own takes a lot of preparation: checking transport, working out transfers, and booking accommodation.
Routes that include Tateyama Kurobe and Shirakawa-go cover a wide area, so an efficient travel plan is essential. Domestic travel demand also rises sharply in autumn, which makes popular hotels and sightseeing trains hard to book. For travelers from overseas, Japanese-language booking sites and complex transport information are often an additional hurdle.

Traffic jams and crowds are common in autumn foliage season, so moving efficiently matters when you want to cover several destinations on a limited schedule.
With a tour, transport and accommodation are arranged for you, so even first-time visitors to Japan can travel with peace of mind. The tour conductor's guidance and local information also help you understand what makes each spot special. Because you hear about the next destination while on the move, the trip as a whole feels more rewarding.

To visit Korankei, Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Tateyama Kurobe efficiently, take a look at Club Tourism's autumn foliage feature page. We offer a wide range of tours departing from Nagoya.

Autumn foliage season is one of the most popular times of the year, and bookings for accommodation and transport are concentrated into a short window.
If you want to see the foliage of Korankei, Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Tateyama Kurobe efficiently, we recommend booking early.
Come and enjoy the beautiful autumn scenery found only in Japan, and travel memories that stay with you.