Autumn Travel in Japan
As the last days of a hot summer are cooling down and relieving you from the natsubate (summer heat related fatigue) with a bit of more energy, the best and most beautiful time of the year has come: Autumn. Here are our best suggestions and selection of the most exciting areas for this coming season.
Let us recommend the best areas where you can fully enjoy the beautiful nature and colors of autumn in Japan.
Mt. Fuji / Hakone
Visited mostly by climbers throughout all the year, Mt. Fuji is with no exception a wonderful autumn spot where trees leaves spectacularly turn their color into so many fantastic seasonal tones which beautify the surroundings around Fuji Kawaguchi Lake. Another must-see place is definitely Hakone a hot-spring town situated at the base of the volcano where the combination of autumn shades with the silver tint impression of the Sengokuhara Grassland generate a "festival" of seasonal colors and a total relaxing moment for your mind.
Nikko
Nikko, one of the most popular and visited places by both Japanese and overseas tourists is especially famous for its large number of best scenery spots to admire various Autumn colorful tones. From the observation platform at Kegon Falls which access by an elevator had been constructed within the steep rock, you will be able to appreciate one of the largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the country with marvelous multicolored leaves around Lake Chuzenji and at Irohazaka Slope.
Kyoto
Kyoto, ancient and legendary capital of Japan which prospered for over more than a 1000 years, still get all the essence of Japanese traditions preserved until today. On your way to each Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple and traditional gardens spread throughout the city, the perfect combination of nature and architecture according to Shinto values acquires its climax point when tinted tree leaves are at their color peak in Autumn. Our "recommendations" go for Arashiyama and Tofuku-ji Temple if you wish to enjoy the best sights of Kyoto in that season. As one of the main attractive spots in Japan during that time of the year, it is quite a "mission impossible" to book a hotel at the very last minute. Make sure to reserve your hotel or tour well ahead in advance.
Takayama
Mostly well-known as the "Little Kyoto", Takayama conserved the charms of an ancient castle town located in the Northern Part of Gifu Prefecture and with no doubt a must see spot during the fall where the autumn tints amid the old traditional townscape at the Castle Ruin Park and Hida-no-sato (Hida Folk Village) with its famous festival will bring you a peaceful rest to your mind. Not to forget to mention Shirakawago registered as a World Heritage Site and the Autumn Takayama Festival usually held early October.
Have fun and learn about Japan at the following museums and facilities.
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
One of the oldest sake brewhouse originally built in the 1910s in Kobe, Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum stands just intact as it was constructed in the first days of its history. When the cool breeze of the Autumn is beginning to blow and you feel the need of a warming drink, there is no better way to chill out than the pleasure of a nice sake. Not only you will be able to taste most fresh sake right from the fermentation tank at the museum tasting corner, you will also have a chance to learn all about traditional Japanese methods of sake brewing... And why not maybe experience yourself back some sake brewing back home!
Hotels in Hyogo, close to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
The Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, beautifully located within the tree surroundings of Inokashira Park close to JR Mitaka station at 20 minutes away by train from Shinjuku in Tokyo and usually best known through the name of an animated film director, Hayao Miyazaki, who directed famous awarded feature animated film "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away", is a fine arts museum where you can totally experience the wonderful small universe of Miyazaki.
The permanent exhibition room "Where a Film is Born" displayed in five small rooms reproducing the atmosphere of an animation studio with sketches and storyboards allows you to understand the making process of an animatied film from its original idea from a first sketch a little draft of paper to its final completion and production.
In addition, the museum also holds a Special Exhibition Room unveiling worldwide high-quality works, a Short Movie Theater presenting original short animated feature only shown here in Ghibli Museum, "The Straw Hat Cafe" and a original souvenir gift shop, where both children and adults have a chance to become lost children together and enjoy a fantastic incredible world within an exceptional green nature scenery.
Edo-Tokyo Museum
With its most notable exhibit evoked by a full-size Edo replica of Nihonbashi bridge where visitors have the possibility to walk across and enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period, Edo-Tokyo is definitely one of the best highlight museum in Tokyo if you always wished to know how Tokyo looked like in former periods of its history. Divided mainly in two zones displaying at some point life-size exhibits, the Edo-Tokyo Museum offers for the Edo period zone portrays of lifestyle and culture of the Edo area which represent the main attraction. Others areas in the museum include a Tokyo zone dedicated to lifestyles in Tokyo after Meiji revolution at a time where western influences became a daily life basis until the reconstruction of Tokyo after WWII.
Toyota Factory
One of the symbols of the pioneering car industry and the wonder years of the Japanese economical boom, a visit to the Toyota Plant Tour will allow you to see and experience the processes of manufacturing automobiles. Not only will you be able to visit an automobile assembly line but also you will have the possibility to discover through exhibits and videos at Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall new models and latest automobile manufacture technologies which make Toyota as one of the most advanced automotive technology brand in the world.
Actively enjoy autumn, as well! Here are spots for families and groups to enjoy to the max!
Fujikyu Highland
Traveling around with your children and in search of an amusement park not too far from bustling Tokyo, Fujikyu Highland might be the solution for a wonderful day out of the city and just to have fun with your kids with many attractions featuring famous local popular characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Rickachan, Houses of Horrors in a Japanese horror movie style and lots of other themes. If you feel like relieving stress, ride one of these famous Guinness World Record class thrilling coasters called "Dodonpa","Ehjanaika" or "Fujiyama, The King of The Coasters", one of the biggest coaster in the world, that will give you incredible moments in the air with a majestic view on Mt. Fuji.
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura
Your movie is on! Just like if Kurosawa was behind the camera and filming you as one of the Seven Samurais next to Toshiro Mifune! A theme park designed just as a city emerging out of the Edo period (1603-1867)! A real Time Travel Experience with samurai, tradesmen and artisan traditional residences built as they were during that era. Ninja or samurai performances with other attractions such as a gorgeous procession of traditional Japanese courtesans where you have the chance to wear a samurai custom and pretend you are a feudal lord, princess or artisan and walk through town to feel the atmosphere of the old and great city of long-ago Edo among the beautiful color shades of the Autumn...
Tokyo Disney Resort®
Autumn is also a special and wonderful season with plenty of events to Enjoy at Tokyo Disney Resort at just a few steps out of Tokyo! Have fun and enjoy a magical time with Mickey Mouse and all his friends.
Tokyo Disneyland®
At Tokyo Disneyland, Discovery the actual both extremely popular "The Disney's Halloween" Special Event and "Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare" based on famous Tim Burton's "A Nightmare Before Christmas" movie which are bringing many visitors everyday.
Tokyo DisneySea®
At Tokyo DisneySea, the new opening attraction "Tower of Terror" is making a big hit at the moment! As well, from this mid-month and until the end of October, the Tokyo DisneySea Food & Art Festival will offer you a chance to enjoy food from around the world selected according the different themes that the park offers.
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