Discover Hokkaido’s Secret Autumn: Where Mountain Peaks Glow and Nature Whispers

While Japan’s bustling cities burst into vibrant autumn festivals filled with drumming and dazzling lights, Hokkaido offers a quieter, more intimate experience.

Here, the highlands breathe with early fall colors, cable cars glide over crimson mountain tops, and crystal-clear blue ponds invite moments of awe. Autumn arrives in Hokkaido sooner than the rest of Japan, by September, its landscapes begin to blaze with fiery reds and golds. From Sapporo’s golden city parks to hidden mountain onsens, this is your ultimate guide to experiencing Hokkaido’s most authentic autumn moments.

Sapporo’s Golden Escape: Odori Park and Hokkaido University

Odori Park stretches 1.5 kilometers through downtown Sapporo, turning into a corridor of golden ginkgo leaves each autumn. Walking beneath the trees, you’ll find vendors selling warm roasted sweet potatoes, a perfect seasonal treat as sunlight filters softly through the branches. This park offers a peaceful pause between the city’s vibrant energy and the wild beauty of Hokkaido.

Just a short walk away, Hokkaido University’s campus is home to the famous Gingko Tunnel, a breathtaking path lined with radiant yellow trees. Nearby, the Heisei Poplar Avenue offers sweeping views of clear autumn skies framed by towering poplars. It’s the perfect spot to soak in fall’s colors and calm.

Kosetsuen Garden: A Historic Autumn Sanctuary

Originally built as a villa for the wealthy Iwafune family in the 19th century, Kosetsuen Garden is a hidden gem where traditional Japanese architecture blends seamlessly with nature’s autumn display. With over 150 species of trees, the garden bursts into color as early as September. Plan your visit for late October to early November to catch the Hakodate MOMI-G Festa, an enchanting nighttime event where autumn leaves glow under delicate illumination, creating a magical atmosphere.

Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway: Ride Above Japan’s Earliest Fall

The Asahidake Ropeway offers one of the earliest glimpses of autumn in Japan. By late August, the mountains begin to shift into yellow and gold, and by September’s end, the alpine slopes shimmer with fall hues. From Sugatami Station, the cable car climbs, revealing sweeping mountain ridges dusted with early snow and golden grasses dancing in the crisp alpine breeze,, a breathtaking panorama that feels like a front-row seat to nature’s show.

Biei’s Blue Pond and Shirahige Waterfall: Nature’s Vibrant Contrast

Biei’s Blue Pond is a peaceful retreat far from the crowds, famous for its surreal blue waters that contrast strikingly with golden larches and ghostly submerged tree trunks. Just minutes away, Shirahige Waterfall cascades powerfully into the same “Blue River” feeding the pond. From the nearby gorge bridge, you can take in the full spectrum of autumn: vivid blue water against blazing foliage under Hokkaido’s expansive skies.

Jozankei Onsen: Soak in Autumn’s Warm Embrace

After exploring Hokkaido’s wild highlands, Jozankei Onsen offers a soothing escape. Nestled in a river gorge about an hour from Sapporo, its hot springs steam amid cliffs covered in vibrant fall colors. Whether you choose a ryokan with private outdoor baths or the free riverside foot baths, this tranquil spot lets you recharge while soaking in the rich energy of autumn.

Hokkaido’s autumn is a quiet celebration, far from the noise of city festivals, it’s a season of slow, lingering moments. Each red leaf, every steaming spring, feels like a fresh discovery. Here, nature leads the way, offering the most genuine and breathtaking experience of fall in Japan. If you want to see autumn as it was meant to be, Hokkaido’s hidden highlands are waiting.