1Nita Pass

A dynamic and spectacular spot where you can experience the great outdoors of Unzen

Nita Pass offers beautiful scenery throughout the year: pink Miyamakirishima flowers in spring, fresh greenery and white kousa dogwood in summer, fiery foliage in autumn, and mystical frost in winter. Head to the pass via the Nita Pass Circular Road, a rare one-way mountain road in Japan that circles the middle of Mount Unzen. If the weather is good, you can see Ariake Sea, Tachibana Bay, and even the distant Kuju Mountains from the observation points along the way.
From Nita Pass, take the Unzen Ropeway and enjoy a stroll through the air at 1,300 meters above sea level. With the autumn leaves of Mt. Myoken spreading out at eye level, you'll feel as if you're swimming in a colorful sea of autumn.
A five-minute walk from Myokodake Station will take you to the summit, where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the autumn scenery, including Mt. Kunimidake, Mt. Fugen, and Mt. Heisei Shinzan.

[Start of coloring] Late October every year
[Best time to see] Late October to early November
[Types of autumn leaves] Komine maple, kousa dogwood, white enkianthus, etc.

Nita Pass

• 551 Unzen, Obama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 65 minutes by car from JR Isahaya Station, approximately 15 minutes by car from Hoshino Resorts KAI Unzen
• Take a bus from JR Isahaya Station, get off at "Unzen" and walk for about 20 minutes by taxi from Unzen hot spring Town.
  *A shuttle bus is scheduled to run from Unzen hot spring Town to Nita Pass from November 1, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
  For details about the shuttle bus, https://www.unzen.org/news/nitapass_bus Please check
• First ropeway departure: 8:51 (Ticket sales until 17:00 *11/1~3/31 until 16:50)
• In bad weather (service may be suspended for inspections, etc. Check the Unzen Ropeway website for details)
• Environmental contributions start from 100 yen. Ropeway one-way fare is 830 yen, round trip fare is 1,500 yen.
  
• 0957-73-3572 (Unzen Ropeway), 0957-73-3434 (Unzen Tourism Bureau)
• free
• The Nita Pass Circular Road is open from April to October from 8:00 to 18:00 (the gate for the outbound lane is locked at 18:45), and from November to March from 8:00 to 17:00 (the gate for the outbound lane is locked at 17:45).
  For more information about the Unzen Ropeway, please visit https://unzen-ropeway.com​

2Misojien

The vibrant colors of the maple leaves and bamboo forests paint the vast grounds

Sanjuroen, which is only open during the autumn season, is a spot known only to those in the know for its autumn foliage. Located between Unzen hot spring and Obama hot spring, at an altitude nearly 1,000m lower than Mt. Myoken, the best time to see the leaves is around mid-November, when the autumn leaves at Nita Pass have finished falling.
Sanjuroen began in the 1980s when the owner of Rokubei Teahouse, which serves the Shimabara region's local dish Rokubei, planted maple trees on the mountain behind his home. Today, over 1,000 maple trees are vibrantly colored across the roughly 26,000m2 site, captivating visitors with the contrast of autumn leaves and bamboo forest.
When the sun goes down, the pond is lit up, creating a fantastical scene that is different from the daytime one. The most beautiful sight is the "upside-down autumn leaves" that are reflected on the surface of the pond.

[Beginning of coloring] Mid-November
[Best time to see] Mid-November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple, Japanese maple, etc.

▼Misoujien ~Maple Festival~
Date and time: Saturday, November 22, 2025 - early December
The illuminations are from sunset to 9:00 PM

Sanjujien

• 1870-4 Minamikisashi, Obama-cho, Unzen City, Nagasaki Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 60 minutes by car from JR Isahaya Station
• Take the bus from JR Isahaya Station, get off at "Mimitori" and walk for 4 minutes
• Saturday, November 22, 2025 - Early December 9:00 - 21:00
• Adults (high school students and above): 600 yen, junior high school students and below: free
• 090-3607-3852
• free
• Open only during the autumn foliage season

3Nagasaki Park

Enjoy the stunning combination of a fountain and autumn leaves in Nagasaki's oldest park

Nagasaki's oldest park is adjacent to Suwa Shrine, known for Nagasaki's traditional autumn festival, "Nagasaki Kunchi." Together with Suwa Shrine, it is known as "Suwa no Mori," and is a popular place for relaxation surrounded by nature, even in the city.
The Japanese garden within the park features a pond with a restored decorative fountain, Japan's oldest, and in late autumn the surrounding trees display vibrant gradations of color. Enjoy the fountain, carp leisurely swimming in the pond, and the picturesque scenery of the stunning autumn leaves. Also enjoy the taste of "Osuwa Botamochi" and thin udon noodles, a dish that has been passed down since the Meiji period, at Tsukimi Chaya, which was founded in 1885 (Meiji 18).
At night, the area around the fountain is lit up, and we recommend taking a stroll through the autumn leaves at night, enveloped in a romantic atmosphere.

[Start of coloring] Usually late November
[Best time to see] Usually from late November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple and others

▼Light up
Date and time: 17:00-22:00 all year round
Location: Around the Japanese garden fountain

Nagasaki Park

• 19-8 Kaminishiyamacho, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes on foot from JR Nagasaki Station
  Take the streetcar from Nagasaki Station, get off at "Suwajinja-mae" stop and walk for about 5 minutes
• Take the bus from the east exit of Nagasaki Station, get off at "History and Culture Museum" and walk for about 7 minutes
• Animal Plaza is open from 9:30 to 17:00, Tsukimi Chaya is open from 10:00 to 16:00, and on weekends and holidays from 9:00 to 17:00
• Tsukimi Chaya is closed on Wednesdays
• 095-823-6080
• none

4Todorokikyo Gorge

The colorful beauty of the valley, created by the autumn leaves and waterfalls

The upper reaches of the Sakai River, which originates in the Taradake mountain range, are the "Todoroki Gorge," with over 30 waterfalls of various sizes and strangely shaped rocks. Selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's "100 Famous Waters," the river is a treasure trove of nature, where fireflies, freshwater crabs, yamame trout, and sculpins live.
There are many sights to see, such as the "Yoryu Falls," which creates a rainbow when bathed in sunlight, and the "Tairyu Falls," with its dynamic flow.

In mid-November, the trees in the gorge begin to change color, creating a beautiful contrast with the emerald green of the waterfall basin. Red and yellow leaves flutter across the water's surface and rock faces, enveloping you in the colors of autumn all the way down to your feet. Enjoy the beauty of the autumn leaves that can only be found in the gorge while touring the waterfalls.

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

5Kuroki Valley

The vibrantly colored maple leaves and clear streams are soothing

Kuroki Valley is home to the Korigawa Erosion Control Park, which makes use of the natural mountain stream, and a campground. Many people visit to enjoy the changing seasons, whether it's playing in the river, forest bathing, or viewing autumn leaves. The valley is also home to the trailhead for Mt. Taradake, making it a popular spot for hikers all year round.
The gorge is blessed with abundant nature, and you can see rare alpine plants, as well as the fantastic sight of fireflies dancing in the early summer.
As autumn deepens, the trees in the area take on vermilion and gold, vividly reflecting the clear water and rock surfaces. The maple leaves scattered in the stream sparkle in the light, creating a breathtaking scene that colors the mountain stream. Why not spend some time cleansing your soul, listening to the pure sound of the water and the autumn leaves?

[Start of coloring] Usually mid-November
[Best time to see] Mid-November to early December
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple and others

Kuroki Valley

• Kurogicho, Omura City, Nagasaki Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 25 minutes by car from JR Omura Station
• Take the bus from JR Omura Station, get off at "Kodake Iriguchi" and walk for about 3 minutes
• 0957-53-4111（大村市観光振興課）
• free

6Jufukuji Temple

It's like a painting. Enjoy the beauty of autumn reflected in the "upside-down autumn leaves"

This historic temple was founded in 1583 (Tensho 11) and moved to its current location in 1635 (Kan'ei 12) as a prayer temple for the Hirado Matsuura domain.
During the autumn foliage season, the "Upside-Down Autumn Leaves" are open to the public for a limited time, attracting a lot of attention. The Upside-Down Autumn Leaves is a photogenic device that involves fitting an acrylic panel the size of 10 tatami mats into the large hall of the former main hall, projecting the vibrant maple leaves of the Japanese garden upside down. Crimson, pale pink, orange, amber, and the jade-like green of the pine. The diverse colors of the trees are reflected on the floor, creating a mesmerizing world of colors that is like a painting. The view, which changes its appearance depending on the angle, is one of the seasonal sights that symbolize autumn in Sasebo.

[Start of coloring] Usually mid-November
[Best time to see] Mid-November to late November
[Types of autumn leaves] Maple, ginkgo, etc.

Upside-down autumn leaves
Date and time: Mid-November 12:00-16:00
Location: Former main hall
Admission fee: 500 yen
URL: https://www.nagasaki-tabinet.com/event/64506

Fukujuji Temple

• 276 Nagasaka, Emukae-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture MAP
• Take the Matsuura Railway from JR Sasebo Station, get off at Emukai-Shikamachi Station and walk for about 10 minutes
• From JR Sasebo Station, get off at "Emukae Bus Center" and walk for about 5 minutes
• 0956-65-2040
• free