Local Guide
[2024 Edition] 9 Top Spots to See Gorgeously Colored Autumn Leaves in Aomori Prefecture

Located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, Aomori Prefecture is the first prefecture in Japan to experience the autumn foliage season. In addition to famous autumn foliage spots that everyone has heard of, such as Oirase Gorge, Hirosaki Park, and Lake Towada, we will introduce some recommended autumn foliage spots in Aomori Prefecture, where you can enjoy unique landscapes such as the combination of autumn foliage and a marsh where sulfurous gas and hot spring spew out, and autumn foliage viewed from a 120m-high arch bridge.

Enjoy the colorful autumn leaves that enhance the beauty of the mountain stream

The stream flows from Nenokuchi on the eastern shore of Lake Towada and stretches for about 14km to the Yakeyama area in the northeast. The scenery of the stream, with its lush trees, over a dozen waterfalls that are said to have been created by soil and sand from volcanic eruptions, oddly shaped rocks, and moss, is so fantastical that it will leave you speechless.
The leaves usually start to change color around early October, but the best season is late October. Sweet-smelling katsura trees, beech trees, maples, Japanese maples and more turn red and yellow, covering the mountain streams.
Among the highlights are the "Ashura no Nagare", the fastest current in the Oirase Gorge, the "Choshi Otaki", the largest waterfall, and the "Kujukushima", a rolling mass of moss-covered rocks. It takes about five hours to walk the entire 14km, so it is recommended that you choose a route that suits your physical strength.

[Start of coloring] Early October every year
[Best time to see] Late October
[Types of autumn leaves] Katsura, beech, maple, Japanese maple, etc.

Oirase Stream

A perfect spot to see autumn leaves with the blue of Lake Towada shining through the water

The world's largest double caldera lake was created by volcanic activity about 2000 years ago. It straddles Aomori and Akita prefectures and has been designated as a national special scenic spot. From mid-October, beech, katsura, maple and other trees begin to change color, creating a beautiful combination of the deep blue lake surface and the red, yellow and green trees. Of the many observation decks, the best is the Hakka Pass Observatory, located at an altitude of 631m on the southern shore of the lake. From here, you can see the beautiful Nakayama Peninsula, with its cove jutting out into the lake, and Mount Mikura on the Mikura Peninsula beyond, as well as the towering Hakkoda mountain range in the distance.
Another popular option is a sightseeing boat trip, where you can view the colorful mountains and steep cliffs from the lake. Parking and the sightseeing boats start to get crowded from around 11:00, so be sure to leave early. After viewing the autumn leaves, you can also enjoy the kokanee salmon, a specialty of Lake Towada.

[Start of coloring] Usually around mid-October
[Best time to see] Mid-October to late October
[Types of autumn leaves] Beech, katsura, maple, etc.

Lake Towada
  • URLhttp://towadako.or.jp/
  • 住所Aomori Prefecture Towada City Okuse Lake Towada MAP
  • バスアクセスTake the JR bus "Oirase-go" from JR Hachinohe Station for about 150 minutes and get off at "Towada Lake"
  • TEL0176-75-1531（十和田観光交流ぷらっと）
  • 駐車場free
  • メモFor more information about the sightseeing boat, please check the website.​

Be amazed by the bright red autumn leaves at dawn

Tsuta Onsen is the gateway to Hakkoda. Behind it are the Tsuta no hot spring, a group of lakes and marshes formed by the volcanic explosion of Mount Akakura, one of the peaks in the Hakkoda mountain range. The area is covered with virgin beech forests and has been designated a bird sanctuary, home to a variety of wild birds, leaving untouched nature. Of the seven marshes - Tsuta Numa, Kagami Numa, Tsukinuma, Hyotan Numa, Suganuma, Naganuma, and Akanuma - Tsuta Numa is the largest and most popular. The lake's surface reflects the virgin beech forest in a beautiful mirror-like shape, and many tourists visit during the autumn foliage season. It is particularly breathtakingly beautiful in the early morning, when the beech trees and the lake surface are dyed bright red by the morning glow.
The six swamps, excluding Akanuma, which is located a little further away, have been linked by a 2.8 km long "Swamp Tour Path," so it is recommended to enjoy visiting the swamps while hiking.

*Admission to the Tsutanuma Observation Deck from 5:00 to 7:30 in the morning from October 20th (Sun) to October 31st (Thu), 2024 requires advance reservations and a contribution to traffic congestion countermeasures and environmental conservation. Admission will end as soon as the admission slots are filled. For more information, please visit https://save-tsutanuma.com/.

[Start of coloring] Usually around late September
[Best time to see] Mid-October to late October
[Type of autumn leaves] Beech

Ivy Swamp
  • URLhttps://www.aptinet.jp/Detail_display_00002567.html
  • 住所Okuze, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 70 minutes by car from JR Hachinohe Station
  • バスアクセスTake JR bus "Mizuumi-go" from JR Shin-Aomori Station for about 120 minutes, get off at "Tsuta hot spring" and walk for about 14 minutes
  • TEL0176-24-3006（十和田奥入瀬観光機構）
  • 駐車場None (Please use Tsuta hot spring Parking. Priority is given to Guest/customer using Property)

Take a walk in the air on a red and yellow carpet

Located south of Aomori City, Hakkoda Mountains is a collective name for 18 volcanoes, including the main peak, Hakkoda Daidake. It is one of Japan's 100 most famous mountains and is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy nature throughout the seasons. While it is fun to trek to the summit while admiring the nature and autumn leaves, we recommend taking an aerial stroll on the Hakkoda Ropeway, where you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the world of autumn leaves. On the 10-minute one-way ride to Tamoyachidake Sancho Koen Station, you will be greeted by a magnificent view below that looks like a carpet of red and yellow.
From Sancho Koen Station, you can see the Hakkoda mountain range, as well as Aomori city, Mutsu Bay, the Tsugaru Peninsula, and even Hokkaido in the distance. Snow starts to fall around the end of November, so if you're lucky, you can enjoy the fantastic combination of autumn leaves and snow.

[The leaves start to change color] Around the base station, usually around early October; around the summit station, usually around late September
[Best time to see] Early to late October
[Types of autumn leaves] Beech, maple, rowan, oak

Hakkoda Mountain Range (Hakkoda Ropeway)
  • URLhttp://www.hakkoda-ropeway.jp/
  • 住所Aomori Prefecture, Aomori City, Arakawa, Kansuizawa 1-12 MAP
  • 営業時間March to early November 9:00 to 16:20
    Mid-November to February 9:00 to 15:40
    *Operates every 15 to 20 minutes
  • 定休日Closed for inspection in early November. * May be suspended in the event of strong winds or bad weather.
  • 入場料[Round trip] Junior high school students and above: 2,200 yen, elementary school students: 700 yen
  • TEL017-738-0343

A fantastic combination of steaming swamp and autumn leaves

This swamp is located at the western foot of Mt. Odake, the main peak of the Hakkoda mountain range. It was formed by the accumulation of hot spring water from nearby hot springs in the remains of Hakkoda's explosion crater, and sulfur-rich gas and hot spring erupt in the surrounding area. Boiling water at 70-90°C also bubbles up from the swamp itself. The view from Jigoku Numa is magnificent, especially during the autumn foliage season, when the beech, oak, maple, and Erman's birch trees take on vibrant red and yellow colors. The sight of the swamp, dyed red by the autumn leaves and rising steam, is truly mystical. This rare and unusual sight attracts many tourists.
Nearby is Manju Fukashi, an outdoor hot spring Property where you can sit on benches through which hot hot spring steam flows, as well as Sukayu Onsen, a popular hidden hot hot spring in Hakkoda known as the "holy spring above the clouds." Why not visit these places after viewing the autumn leaves?

[Start of coloring] Usually around early October
[Best time to see] Mid-October to late October
[Types of autumn leaves] Beech, oak, maple, Erman's birch, etc.

Hell Swamp
  • URLhttps://www.aptinet.jp/Detail_display_00000095.html
  • 住所Aomori Prefecture Aomori City Hakkoda Mountains MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 50 minutes by car from JR Shin-Aomori Station
  • バスアクセスTake JR bus "Mizuumi-go" from JR Shin-Aomori Station for about 73 minutes, get off at "Sukayu hot spring" and walk for about 5 minutes
  • TEL017-738-6400（酸ヶ湯温泉）
  • 駐車場None

The 360-degree panoramic view of autumn leaves is spectacular

This bridge connects the Tsugaru and Nanbu regions of Aomori Prefecture, and is a spectacular spot overlooking the Jogakura Stream, one of the most scenic spots in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. With a total length of 360m and an arch span of 225m, it is the longest deck arch bridge in Japan, and is 120m above the valley floor. Looking down at the stream from the bridge, you can see a carpet of autumn leaves and the rugged stream carved into the rock face. The scenery is so impressive that you feel as if you are being sucked in.
Looking out over the surrounding area, you can see the Hakkoda mountain range to the east and Mt. Iwaki to the west, and in addition to the autumn leaves below, you can also enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the autumn leaves. If you head towards Sukayu hot spring, there is a sidewalk in the parking space just before the bridge, and the composition of the bridge and autumn leaves from here is a popular photo spot.

[Start of coloring] Early October every year
[Best time to see] Mid-October
[Types of autumn leaves] Beech, oak, maple, Erman's birch, etc.

Jogakura Bridge

The autumn leaves reflected in the blue swamp are beautiful

A swamp and marshland area at an altitude of 1,000 m along the Hakkoda Gold Line, a road connecting Aomori City and Lake Towada. It is located between Hakkoda's secret hot spring, Sukayu, and Yachi hot spring, which boasts a 400-year history of opening hot springs.
In summer, the white flowers of the water lily family Aezo sheep daintily color the surface of the lake, hence the name of the water lily swamp. There is only space for more than a dozen cars to stop along the road, and it is easy to miss it if you are careless, but the view from the observation deck is a spectacular view that you should definitely see. Through the blue water, you can see Mt. Odake and Mt. Iwo in the Hakkoda mountain range.
During the autumn foliage season, the surrounding trees begin to turn red and yellow, and you can enjoy the spectacular view of the Hakkoda mountain range and the marshland towering behind the water surface where the autumn leaves are reflected.

[Start of coloring] Usually around late September
[Best time to see] Early October
[Type of autumn leaves] Beech

Water Lily Swamp
  • 住所Aomori Prefecture Towada City Horyou Yachi MAP
  • バスアクセスTake JR bus "Mizuumi-go" from JR Aomori Station for about 90 minutes, get off at "Suiren-numa" and walk for about 1 minute
  • TEL0176-24-3006（十和田奥入瀬観光機構）
  • 駐車場free

The combination of the bright red autumn leaves and the red bridge is breathtakingly beautiful.

Located in Kuroishi City, this is the prefecture's best spot for viewing autumn leaves, known as the "Little Arashiyama" of the Tohoku region. It has been a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves ever since 1802 (Kyowa 2), when Tsugaru Yasuchika, the ninth lord of Hirosaki and a native of Kuroishi territory, ordered over 100 maple seedlings from Kyoto and planted them.
Nakano Shrine is located in the mountains, and just before the shrine entrance is a spectacular spot. You can get a panoramic view of the entire Nakanoyama area, with vibrant autumn foliage, the clear waters of the Nakano River curving in a U-shape, and a red bridge. There are many sights to see within the shrine grounds, such as Fudo Falls and Kanpudai, so you can enjoy a stroll at your leisure. The autumn leaves are also fantastical at night, when they are lit up for a limited time.

[Start of coloring] Usually around early October
[Best time to see] Mid-October to early November
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple, etc.

Nakano Momiji Mountain
  • URLhttps://kuroishi.or.jp/sightseeing/nakanomomijiyama
  • 住所27 Minami Nakano Fudodate, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • バスアクセスFrom Kuroishi Station on the Konan Railway, take the Konan Bus Okawahara Line for about 30 minutes, get off at Nakano Jinja-mae and walk for about 1 minute
  • TEL0172-52-2111（黒石市商工部観光課）
  • 駐車場free

The symbolic park of the ancient city of Hirosaki, bathed in autumn colors

Hirosaki Park, which was the castle of the Tsugaru clan during the feudal era, is designated as a national historic site and is a symbol of the ancient capital of Hirosaki. It is known nationwide as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, but in fact, the autumn foliage season is also a popular tourist season. The greenery of the approximately 2,000 pine trees is beautifully complemented by the approximately 2,600 cherry trees and the autumn leaves of the approximately 1,000 maple trees, creating a deeply emotional atmosphere that is different from the spring cherry blossoms.

[Start of coloring] Usually around early October
[Best time to see] Late October to early November
[Types of autumn leaves] Cherry, maple, ginkgo, etc.

Hirosaki Park (Hirosaki Castle)
  • URLhttps://www.hirosaki-kanko.or.jp/details.html?id=CNT00403311702141656
  • 住所Aomori Prefecture, Hirosaki City, Shimoshiroganecho 1 MAP
  • 営業時間Admission is free, Honmaru and Kita no Kuruwa are open from April 1st to November 23rd from 9:00am to 5:00pm
  • 定休日Hirosaki Castle Tower: November 24th to March 31st
  • 入場料Admission is free, but the Honmaru and Kita no Kuruwa area are paid areas, 320 yen for high school students and older, 100 yen for elementary and junior high school students (free during the winter season from November 24th to March 31st)
  • TEL0172-37-5501（弘前市立観光館）

MAP

<Aomori's best spots for viewing autumn leaves>
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