There are far worse times than autumn to visit Mt. Haruna. Located west of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture, this peaceful peak is home to an ancient shrine that stands as one of the best examples of the former syncretic union between Shinto and Buddhism. Over on the Shibukawa side

If you’re on the hunt for a day trip from Tokyo, look no further than Tochigi’s Nasu Highlands. Here, you’ll find a nice hot spring, epic autumn vibes, and a now-broken stone that is said to have contained the spirit of Japan’s nine-tailed fox demon.

Located just north of the Kanto Plain, the fantastic city of Shirakawa in Fukushima was once the gateway to Japan's Tohoku region and is absolutely stunning in autumn. If you're heading to Tohoku this fall, consider making a stop in Shirakawa en route!

Mount Fuji capped with snow for first time this season https://t.co/OzBUqtILVr

If you’re on the hunt for a day trip from Tokyo, look no further than Tochigi’s Nasu Highlands. Here, you’ll find a nice hot spring, epic autumn vibes, and a now-broken stone that is said to have contained the spirit of Japan’s nine-tailed fox demon.

You don’t need to go far from the beaten path to find little slices of tranquility. For example, Kyoto’s Arashiyama is crammed with tourists, but nearby Kameoka barely sees anyone. While it’s true that a few intrepid souls do venture out to Kameoka for a Hozugawa River Boat

Located just north of the Kanto Plain, the fantastic city of Shirakawa in Fukushima was once the gateway to Japan's Tohoku region and is absolutely stunning in autumn. If you're heading to Tohoku this fall, consider making a stop in Shirakawa en route!

If you don’t like the sound of being squished onto trains or having to contend with excessive crowds even at minor destinations, do yourself a favor and don’t travel on national holidays in Japan!

You don’t need to go far from the beaten path to find little slices of tranquility. For example, Kyoto’s Arashiyama is crammed with tourists, but nearby Kameoka barely sees anyone. While it’s true that a few intrepid souls do venture out to Kameoka for a Hozugawa River Boat

Sanae Takaichi: - First female Prime Minister of Japan - The first female ruler of Japan since Empress Go-Sakuramachi in 1771 - First Prime Minister from Nara Prefecture - First Prime Minister from the Kansai Region since Sōsuke Uno in 1989

If you're looking to get your autumn fix a little earlier than the current forecast, why not head up into the highlands of somewhere like Nasu? Here, you'll find some amazing fall foliage that starts to turn far earlier than back down at lower elevations. While there, just be

If you don’t like the sound of being squished onto trains or having to contend with excessive crowds even at minor destinations, do yourself a favor and don’t travel on national holidays in Japan!

Nara is a vast prefecture with far more than just the deer and giant Buddha statue that most people come to see. Next time you're in the area, do yourself a favor and check out spots like Asuka in the southern part of the prefecture.

If you're looking to get your autumn fix a little earlier than the current forecast, why not head up into the highlands of somewhere like Nasu? Here, you'll find some amazing fall foliage that starts to turn far earlier than back down at lower elevations. While there, just be

No joke, there are far worse times of the year to visit rural Tokushima than autumn. As the fall foliage transforms the bucolic countryside into a colorful tapestry of red and orange, this underrated corner of Shikoku takes on a whole new level of charm. Be sure to add it to

Nara is a vast prefecture with far more than just the deer and giant Buddha statue that most people come to see. Next time you're in the area, do yourself a favor and check out spots like Asuka in the southern part of the prefecture.

No joke, there are far worse times of the year to visit rural Tokushima than autumn. As the fall foliage transforms the bucolic countryside into a colorful tapestry of red and orange, this underrated corner of Shikoku takes on a whole new level of charm. Be sure to add it to

While I originally made this trip during winter, the route and my suggestion to use the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area) is also perfect for anyone looking to chase the fall foliage this year.

While it’s true that Nara Park and its adorable deer are absolutely breathtaking in autumn, the same can be said for the southern parts of Nara Prefecture. Here, you’ll find a selection of sublime hidden gems like Hase-dera and Muro-ji, as well as the hot spring town of Dorogawa

Kurobe Gorge in Toyama is truly terrific during any time of the year that the tram to Keyakidaira Station is running. That said, this part of the prefecture reaches its peak during autumn when the entirety of the crevasse comes alive with the vibrant hues of the fall foliage.