Shirahone onsen

1st visit in mid Oct.

 

Kamikochi (上高地)

2nd visit in mid Oct to witness the fall foliage there for the first time. Been mesmerized by its pristine nature ever since.

 

Naruko (鳴子峡) and Mogamigawa (最上川)

1st visit to both in Yamagata, Tohoku. Took a 1hr boat ride downstream in Mogamigawa in peak fall colours. Returned to Tokyo by Tsubasa Shinkansen from Shinjo.

 

Nikko (日光)

2nd visit to witness peak fall foliage there for the first time. Took the lake cruise in Chuzenji-ko up on 1300m. Temp was below 10C with freezing cold wind chill on cruise.

 

Kusatsu onsen (草津温泉)

visited the public Sainokawara Rotenburo. It was just huge – could eaily accommodate more than 100 ppl. While onsen was in turquoise,  fall colours overhead was beautiful as a bonus 🙂

 

 

 

Visited the followings in early and late Oct for koyo.

Hakuba

visited Tsugaike Kogen in early Oct. Did not complete the loop due to misty day. Returned to stay in Hakuba Wadano for overnight onsen. The 3 summits of Shirouma-dake were already covered in snow.

The Alpine route

Visited the Alpine route for the 1st time on public holiday from Hakuba. Due to huge crowd and long queue up to Daikanbo via ropeway, had to abandon that ride and return back to Tokyo via Ogizawa.

Naruko gorge

2nd visit. Finished walking trail at the bottom of the gorge which took about 1hr. Returned back to onsen town for quick lunch and daytime onsen before returning to Sendai.

Goshiki-numa (5-coloured ponds)

Prior to going for the walking trail takes about 1 hour, we took a lake cruise of Hibara-ko when it’s in peak colours. Of the ponds there we like these more – Yagi-numa, Ao-numa, Ruri-numa and Bishamon-numa.

 

Nikko

Took the lake cruise where the most stunning foliage were.

 

Shirahone onsen

2nd visit and stay