15 Best Hotels and Ryokan for Autumn Foliage Near Tokyo, Hakone, Nikko, and More: Enjoy the Autumn Leaves from Guest Rooms, Open-Air Baths, and Gardens

Autumn leaves are one of the highlights to enjoy during a trip to Japan in the fall. Instead of just visiting famous spots, why not take a relaxing trip where you can admire the autumn scenery from your hotel or ryokan?

There are many accommodations in popular destinations like Hakone, Nikko, Nasu, and Ikaho, all easily accessible from Tokyo in about two hours, where you can enjoy mountain views from your room or soak in an open-air bath while admiring the fall foliage.

This article introduces the autumn foliage forecast for 2026, as well as recommended accommodations near Tokyo where you can enjoy hot springs and garden walks along with the autumn leaves.

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When Will the 2026 Autumn Foliage Forecast Be Announced? When Is the Best Viewing Time in Tokyo and Surrounding Areas?

The timing of autumn foliage varies each year depending on temperature and weather conditions. In particular, the colder the autumn temperatures, the earlier the leaves change color, while warmer years tend to delay the season.

According to the Japan Weather Association, autumn 2026 is expected to see higher-than-average temperatures nationwide, so the best time to view autumn leaves will be about average or later than usual in many places.

Specifically, the forecast is around November 7 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, around November 29 in Tokyo, around December 4 in Osaka, and around December 7 in Fukuoka. Focusing on the eastern Japan area where Tokyo is located, the best viewing time is expected to be from late October to early December in mountainous areas, and from late November to mid-December in lowland areas.

However, in areas with significant elevation differences, such as Hakone and Nikko, the best viewing time can vary even within the same region. When planning your trip, it's a good idea to check not only your accommodation but also whether the autumn foliage spots you want to visit are in the mountains or lowlands, and to confirm the latest forecasts for peace of mind.

Recommended Areas Near Tokyo for Autumn Foliage Viewing: Reachable in About 2 Hours!

Hakone and Nikko, both easily accessible from Tokyo, are perfect destinations for those who want to enjoy both autumn leaves and hot springs. In Hakone, Lake Ashi and the Gora area are popular, while in Nikko, Lake Chuzenji, Ryuzu Falls, and Senjogahara are great spots where you can easily combine sightseeing and accommodation.

Prefecture	Area	Best Viewing Time	Highlights	Access
Kanagawa	Hakone	Late October – Early December	Hakone Mountain Range, Lake Ashi, Tenseien Garden	About 1.5–2 hours from Tokyo by train or car
Tochigi	Nikko	Early October – Early November	Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, Irohazaka	About 2 hours from Tokyo by train
Tochigi	Nasu	Mid-October – Late November	Nasu Highlands, Mt. Nasu, Shiobara Valley	About 2 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen and bus
Tokyo	Mt. Takao	Mid-November – Early December	Mountains, Hiking Trails, Momijidai Viewpoint	About 1 hour from Tokyo by train

How to Enjoy Autumn Leaves at Hotels: Guest Rooms, Gardens, and Open-Air Baths

During the autumn foliage season, we recommend treating your accommodation itself as a foliage spot and making the most of your stay! You can enjoy the view from your room's window or terrace, and if you have a room with an open-air bath, you can soak in the bath while admiring the autumn colors.

Additionally, if your hotel has a Japanese garden, you can take a leisurely stroll on the grounds and avoid the crowds at tourist spots. The scenery created by ponds, stone lanterns, and colorful trees offers a truly Japanese autumn atmosphere.

Hotels Where You Can View Autumn Leaves from Your Room

Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel (Kinugawa, Tochigi)

All rooms at Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel face the Kinugawa Valley, transforming the inn into a breathtaking retreat embraced by autumn foliage when fall arrives. From the wooden deck terrace of each guest room, you can look down on the brilliantly colored trees covering the slopes and the graceful flow of the Kinugawa River between them. Staying in this prime location, where you feel as if you have the autumn leaves of Kinugawa all to yourself, is perfect for a relaxing, sophisticated getaway.

🏨Check rates and availability for Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel

Kinugawa Kanaya Hotel

Address: 1394 Kinugawa Onsen Ohara, Nikko-shi, Tochigi
Access: 3-minute walk from Kinugawa Onsen Station

Gora Kadan (Hakone, Kanagawa)

Gora Kadan is one of Hakone's most renowned ryokan. When the autumn leaves reach their peak, parts of its vast 5,000-tsubo (about 16,528 square meters) grounds are vividly colored, and you can enjoy views of the beautiful autumn garden from the glass-walled colonnade or the open-air baths in the guest rooms. The architecture, which incorporates Western elements into traditional Japanese designs such as moss gardens and stone pavements, is also impressive. The autumn colors add charm to the tasteful spaces, allowing you to fully experience Hakone's autumn while staying at this famous inn.

🏨Check rates and availability for Gora Kadan

Gora Kadan

Address: 1300-306 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Access: From Hakone-Yumoto Station, take the Hakone Tozan Railway to Gora Station, then walk 3 minutes

Hakone Ginyu (Hakone, Kanagawa)

Hoshi Type Japanese Room "Kousei" Terrace & Open-air Bath

Tsuki Japanese Special Room 1st Floor Guest Room Open-air Bath

Large public bath with sauna, mountain infinity onsen Tsukishiro

Located in a valley with a panoramic view of the Hakone mountain range, Hakone Ginyu is a hot spring inn where every room features an open terrace and a private open-air bath. Due to the varying altitudes of the Hakone mountains, the best time to view the autumn leaves differs by location, allowing you to enjoy the colorful scenery for an extended period. The view of the red and yellow mountains, the surface of Lake Ashi, the valley, and the hot spring town is truly exceptional. From the open-air baths in every room, you can leisurely take in the beautiful autumn gradation of Hakone's landscape.

🏨Check rates and availability for Hakone Ginyu

Hakone Ginyu

Address: 100-1 Miyanoshita, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Access: 5-minute walk from Miyanoshita Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway from Hakone-Yumoto Station

Hatsuhana (Hakone, Kanagawa)

Hatsuhana is a hot spring inn where every room is equipped with an open-air bath. Located in Oku-Yumoto, Hakone, away from the bustling station area, you can spend a quiet time surrounded by rich nature and the murmuring of the stream. All guest rooms offer views of Mt. Yusaka and the Sukumo River, allowing you to relax and enjoy the colorful mountains, making for a quintessential Hakone autumn stay. Some rooms feature infinity-style open-air baths with close-up views of the autumn leaves, letting you feel as if you are one with nature.

🏨Check rates and availability for Hatsuhana

Hatsuhana

Address: 20-1 Sukumogawa, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Access: 5 minutes by taxi from Hakone-Yumoto Station

Inns Where You Can Enjoy Autumn Leaves from the Open-Air Bath

Nasu Onsen Sanraku (Nasu, Tochigi)

Founded in 1923 during the Taisho era, Nasu Onsen Sanraku is a historic, purely Japanese-style inn associated with Emperor Showa. The large open-air bath, surrounded by the nature of the Nasu Highlands, features a private hot spring source that gushes 800 liters per minute, enjoyed without heating, circulation, or filtration, purely as it is. The open-air bath, surrounded by trees, offers different expressions with each season. During the autumn foliage season, it feels as if you are wrapped in a curtain of autumn leaves.

🏨Check rates and availability for Nasu Onsen Sanraku

Nasu Onsen Sanraku

Address: 206 Yumoto, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi
Access: 1-minute walk from the Shin-Nasu bus stop

Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel (Nikko, Tochigi)

Located within Nikko National Park and surrounded by the forests along Lake Chuzenji, Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel is a Western-style hotel with a log house design. At the stone-built open-air hot spring bath Soraburo, nestled in nature, you can enjoy a luxurious time soaking in the hot spring while gazing at the colorful autumn leaves. The hot spring is a sulfur spring with water drawn from Oku-Nikko Yumoto, about 12 km away, and both the indoor and open-air baths feature free-flowing hot spring water directly from the source. The charm lies in being able to enjoy both the carefully selected hot spring and the autumn foliage at the same time.

🏨Check rates and availability for Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel

Address: 2482 Chugushi, Nikko-shi, Tochigi
Access: About 1 hour by bus from Nikko Station, then a 5-minute walk from the Chuzenji Kanaya Hotel-mae bus stop

Kai Kinugawa (Kinugawa, Tochigi)

Located on a small hill facing the Kinugawa River, Kai Kinugawa is a hot spring inn. In autumn, the maple trees in the courtyard turn vivid colors, and in the evening, you can enjoy the magical autumn foliage illuminated by lights. The spacious indoor bath in the large public bath reflects the four seasons of Kinugawa, allowing you to feel at one with nature. There are also guest rooms with open-air baths, where you can relax and enjoy the autumn leaves and hot springs while feeling the pleasant breeze.

🏨Check rates and availability for Kai Kinugawa

Kai Kinugawa

Address: 308 Kinugawa Onsen Taki, Nikko-shi, Tochigi
Access: 5 minutes by taxi from Kinugawa-Onsen Station

Oku-Nikko Hotel Shikisai (Nikko, Tochigi)

Nestled within Nikko National Park, Oku-Nikko Hotel Shikisai is a hot spring inn surrounded by Lake Chuzenji and the mountains of Oku-Nikko. From the large windows that cover an entire wall of the large public bath, you can gaze at the autumn leaves. The two open-air baths are surrounded by trees, and soaking in the hot spring makes you feel as if you are immersed in the autumn foliage. One of the baths has a roof, so you can relax even on rainy days.

The hot spring is a naturally milky-white sulfur spring. At night, the birch and oak trees are illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere different from the daytime, where you can enjoy bathing while admiring the autumn leaves.

🏨Check rates and availability for Oku-Nikko Hotel Shikisai

Oku-Nikko Hotel Shikisai

Address: 2485 Chugushi, Nikko-shi, Tochigi
Access: From Nikko Station, take the Tobu Bus and get off at Oku-Nikko Hotel Shikisai Iriguchi, then walk 15 minutes

Minakami Kogen Hotel 200 (Minakami, Gunma)

Located in Minakami Kogen, Gunma Prefecture, Minakami Kogen Hotel 200 is a highland resort hotel at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, surrounded by a vast natural area of 2 million tsubo (about 660,000 square meters). At the exclusive open-air bath Rinraku for hotel guests, you can enjoy two types of baths: Chobo-no-Yu, which offers views of the Echigo mountains, and Shirakaba-no-Yu, surrounded by a birch forest. During the autumn foliage season, the surrounding mountains turn vivid colors, allowing you to enjoy the magnificent autumn scenery while soaking in the hot spring.

🏨 Check rates and availability for Minakami Kogen Hotel 200

Minakami Kogen Hotel 200

Address: 6152-1 Fujiwara, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Access: 30 minutes by taxi from Minakami Station

An Inn Where You Can Enjoy a Japanese Garden and Autumn Leaves

Yoshiike Ryokan (Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Yoshiike Ryokan, a long-established inn in Hakone Yumoto, is famous for its expansive Japanese garden Sangetsuen, which covers about 33,000 square meters. The garden features the former Iwasaki family villa, a nationally registered tangible cultural property, as well as tea houses and clear streams. When the maple trees reach their peak autumn colors, the garden, woven with grand nature and historical romance, becomes even more atmospheric. The nighttime illumination is also a must-see.

🏨 Check rates and availability for Yoshiike Ryokan

Yoshiike Ryokan

Address: 597 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access: 7 minutes on foot from Hakone-Yumoto Station

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo (Tokyo)

Prime Executive Suite Room Garden View 60㎡ (Classic Example)

Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, a prestigious hotel in the Mejiro area of Tokyo, is beloved for its vast garden filled with trees that turn vibrant colors in autumn. The scenery makes you forget you are in the heart of the city, enveloping you in an extraordinary atmosphere that feels just like a getaway. One of its unique features is the Tokyo Sea of Clouds, an installation produced at certain times of the day, creating a magical view where the autumn leaves and mist gently overlap.

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Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

Address: 2-10-8 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Access: 10 minutes on foot from Edogawabashi Station

Oyado Tamaki (Ikaho, Gunma Prefecture)

Oyado Tamaki in Ikaho Onsen is a hot spring inn where you can enjoy views of a Japanese garden from various places inside the building, such as the lounge, teahouse, and large public bath. At the engawa (veranda) Tsukimidai next to the garden, you can relax while admiring the autumn leaves. If you're lucky, you may even catch the atmospheric scene of the moon and autumn foliage overlapping.

The garden features stone lanterns and Japanese umbrellas, creating a photogenic space with a traditional Japanese atmosphere.

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Oyado Tamaki

Address: 87-2 Ikaho, Ikaho-machi, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma
Access: 15 minutes by taxi from Shibukawa Station

Accommodations Convenient for Access to Autumn Foliage Spots

Hotel Epinard Nasu (Nasu, Tochigi Prefecture)

Located almost in the center of the Nasu Highlands, Hotel Epinard Nasu is a perfect resort hotel for sightseeing in Nasu. There are many autumn foliage spots in the area, but the Kurenai Suspension Bridge in the Nasu-Shiobara Onsen area is a must-visit. This suspension bridge is 52.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, and in autumn, the maples along the Houki River turn vivid colors, with the autumn leaves spreading out around the bridge.

🏨Check rates and availability for Hotel Epinard Nasu

Hotel Epinard Nasu

Address: 1 Takakuhei, Nasu-machi, Nasu-gun, Tochigi
Access: 30 minutes by shuttle bus from Nasu-Shiobara Station

Hakone Yumoto Tenseien (Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture)

If you want to enjoy an autumn foliage trip based in Hakone Yumoto, Hakone Yumoto Tenseien is a convenient choice. Not only is it great for strolling around Hakone-Yumoto Station, but it also offers easy access to other areas of Hakone such as Gora, Sengokuhara, and Lake Ashi, making it a recommended base for touring autumn foliage spots.

🏨Check rates and availability for Hakone Yumoto Tenseien

Hakone Yumoto Tenseien

Address: 682 Yumoto, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Access: 12 minutes on foot from Hakone-Yumoto Station

Kinugawa Plaza Hotel (Kinugawa, Tochigi Prefecture)

Private open-air bath Akebi in the detached natural bath area

Located along the valley of Kinugawa Onsen, Kinugawa Plaza Hotel is surrounded by scenic spots where you can enjoy autumn leaves, such as valleys and mountains. We recommend a travel plan where you use the hotel as a base to explore the autumn foliage of Kinugawa, and then relax in the hot springs after sightseeing. If you extend your trip about 30 minutes by car or train to the Nikko area, you can also enjoy autumn leaves at lakes, waterfalls, temples, and shrines with different scenery.

🏨Check rates and availability for Kinugawa Plaza Hotel

Kinugawa Plaza Hotel

Address: 530 Kinugawa Onsen Taki, Nikko-shi, Tochigi
Access: 10 minutes by taxi from Kinugawa Onsen Station

Plenty of Autumn Foliage Trip Options Near Tokyo!

There are many autumn foliage spots easily accessible from Tokyo, each offering different autumn scenery such as mountains, lakes, valleys, and Japanese gardens. When choosing accommodation, consider what kind of autumn foliage experience you want to combine with your stay to make the best choice.

For 2026, the autumn foliage is expected to be around the average time or slightly later nationwide. As forecasts will be updated towards autumn, be sure to check the latest autumn foliage predictions when planning your trip so you can fully enjoy the season.