Japan Autumn Splendor: 8-Day Golden Leaves Journey

Maple Moats & Historic Alleys

• Morning: Visit Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden for autumn foliage and moat reflections at Nijubashi Bridge.

• Afternoon: Explore Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street, then ascend Tokyo Skytree for panoramic city views at twilight.

Autumn Secrets:

• At Imperial Palace Plaza, find the "Maple Mirror Spot" near Sakashita-mon Gate at 10am for perfect moat reflections
• Try seasonal momiji tempura (fried maple leaves) and persimmon skewers dipped in caramel (fruit Tanghulu) at Nakamise Street.
• Try a chestnut Mont Blanc dessert

Crimson Lakes & Steam Valleys

• Morning: Capture the iconic "Double Red" spectacle - Mount Fuji's snow-capped peak mirrored in Lake Kawaguchiko's scarlet waters, framed by maple tunnels along the northern shore.

• Afternoon: Ride the Hakone Ropeway over autumn valleys and experience the volcanic vents at Owakudani.

• Night: Relax at your ryokan with private onsen access.

Autumn Tip:

At Kawaguchiko, rent a red canoe for private Fuji reflection shots away from shore crowds.

Golden Forests & River Serenity

• Morning: Ride the Shinkansen west through autumn landscapes. Watch maple-covered hillsides while snacking on bento lunch boxes filled with chestnut rice and grilled sanma fish.

• Afternoon: Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove's golden corridors, then cruise the Katsura River beneath crimson maple canopies. Optional kimono experience adds elegance to riverside photos.

• Night:  Wander Gion's lantern-lit alleyways during foliage season and enjoy seasonal geisha dances.

Autumn Secret:

For magical bamboo shots, arrive at Arashiyama by 2pm when low-angle sunlight sets the grove ablaze with gold.

Vermilion Terraces & Edible Adventures

• Morning: Discover Kiyomizu-dera Temple's wooden stage perched above a valley of 1,000 flaming maples, then descend Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka's cobblestone slopes past Edo-era shops.

• Afternoon: Forage Nishiki Market's 400-year-old "Kitchen of Kyoto" for autumn delicacies. Then master samurai sword techniques at the Samurai and Ninja Museum.

Autumn Secret:

• At Kiyomizu, find the "Autumn Moon Window" behind the main hall - it frames Kyoto's skyline with falling crimson leaves.
• Find seasonal snacks like roasted ginkgo nuts and wild mushroom skewers grilled over binchotan charcoal

Castle Shadows & Sizzling Pans

• Morning: Explore Hiroshima Castle's reconstructed keep surrounded by moats reflecting golden ginkgos, then climb to the top floor for panoramic views of autumn-draped downtown.

• Afternoon: Walk Hiroshima Peace Park's ginkgo-lined paths where bronze monuments cast long amber shadows, touch the Atomic Bomb Dome's ivy-clad ruins, then master Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layering at a teppan counter.

Local Secret:

Peace Park's northeast corner has the densest ginkgo concentration - arrive at 3pm for golden tunnel photo ops.

Sacred Peaks & Crimson Shrines

• Morning: Ride the Miyajima Ropeway through clouds of scarlet maples to Mt. Misen Summit, where panoramic views reveal the Inland Sea dotted with gold-drenched islands. Hike down through "Maple Valley" to Momijidani Park's tunnel of 700 flaming trees.

• Afternoon: Stroll Omotesando Street sampling momiji manju (maple-leaf cakes) filled with chestnut paste, then witness Itsukushima Shrine's vermilion torii appear to float on high-tide waters strewn with fallen crimson leaves.

Garden Serenity & Urban Treasures

• Morning: Glide back to Tokyo aboard the Shinkansen, watching autumn's final masterpiece unfold outside your window - golden rice fields yielding to crimson maple hillsides and persimmon orchards heavy with orange fruit.

• Afternoon: Assembling gift boxes of autumn memories before departure.