One of the highlights of traveling to Japan in autumn is enjoying the beautiful scenery colored by red and yellow leaves. In the Kansai region, there are many spots where you can experience breathtaking autumn views, such as Arashiyama in Kyoto, Nara Park, Osaka Castle Park, and the Metasequoia tree-lined road in Shiga. If you choose your hotel according to the best time for autumn foliage, you can make the most of not only sightseeing but also your time at the accommodation. In this article, we will introduce the 2026 autumn foliage forecast and recommend hotels and ryokan around each autumn foliage spot in Kansai in detail!
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When Will the 2026 Autumn Foliage Forecast Be Announced? When Is the Best Viewing Time in Kansai Areas Like Osaka and Kyoto?
Latest 2026 Forecast
Japan Weather Association announced on October 1, 2026, that due to temperature trends, the autumn foliage in western Japan is expected to start coloring slightly later than usual.
Kansai Area: Best Viewing Times in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Shiga
In the Kansai area, many popular autumn foliage spots reach their peak from mid-November to early December. This year, Osaka Castle Park, Minoh Park, and Nara Park are expected to be at their best from late November to early December. In Kyoto, Arashiyama will also be best viewed from late November to early December, and the Metasequoia Avenue in Shiga is expected to be at its peak during the same period.
4 Recommended Hotels Around Osaka Castle
Osaka Castle Park offers a dynamic view of ginkgo and maple trees turning color with the castle keep as a backdrop. In addition to the historic castle and vibrant autumn leaves, the approximately 1 km-long ginkgo tree avenue on the east side is also a must-see spot.
Here are some recommended hotels around Osaka Castle Park for those who want to enjoy an autumn foliage stroll.
Hotel Keihan Tenmabashi
This hotel is conveniently located about a 1-minute walk from the nearest station and about a 10-minute walk to Osaka Castle Park. The rooms are compact but well-equipped with functional amenities.
The restaurant "GRAND CANAL" at the sister hotel "Hotel Keihan Tenmabashi Ekimae" also features autumn menus. Enjoying a meal between your autumn strolls is highly recommended.
Hotel Keihan Tenmabashi
- Address: 1-2-10, Tanimachi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 1-minute walk from Tenmabashi Station
🏨Book Hotel Keihan Tenmabashi here
Hotel New Otani Osaka
This hotel boasts an excellent location right next to Osaka Castle Park. Of particular note is the Executive Heritage Suite, which offers a spacious 110㎡ and can accommodate up to six guests, with a special view facing Osaka Castle.
Not only can you enjoy the views from the rooms and inside the hotel, but the restaurants and lounges are also well-appointed. This hotel is recommended for those who want to enjoy not only autumn foliage walks but also fine dining and a luxurious hotel stay.
Hotel New Otani Osaka
- Address: 1-4-1, Shiromi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 3-minute walk from Osakajokoen Station
🏨Book Hotel New Otani Osaka here
DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle
A relatively new hotel that opened in 2024. Its location offers views of Osaka Castle and the Okawa River, which flows right next to the hotel. This makes it easy to include riverside walks and autumn foliage viewing at Osaka Castle Park in your itinerary.
The 6th floor, Restaurant SEN, is horizontally spacious, allowing guests to enjoy views of Osaka Castle Park colored in autumn hues from anywhere in the restaurant.
DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle
- Address: 1-1-1 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 5-minute walk from Tenmabashi Station
🏨Click here to book DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle
Hotel Monterey La Soeur Osaka
This hotel is located about a 15-minute walk from Osaka Castle Park, along the Neyagawa River. During the autumn season, the trees along the riverside promenade turn vibrant colors, allowing you to enjoy the autumn scenery even around the hotel.
Room types range from single rooms to family rooms with up to four beds including extra beds. There is also a hot spring spa and a Japanese restaurant, making it a relaxing place to stay.
Hotel Monterey La Soeur Osaka
- Address: 2-2-22, Shiromi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 5-minute walk from Kyobashi Station
🏨Click here to book Hotel Monterey La Soeur Osaka
4 Hotels with Easy Access to Minoh Park
Minoh Park, about 30 minutes by train from central Osaka, is a scenic spot rich in nature, featuring waterfalls and valleys. In autumn, the maples and Japanese maples in the park turn vivid colors, and especially along the Takimichi path leading to Minoh Great Falls, you can enjoy autumn foliage walks while listening to the sound of the river. Here are some hotels with easy access to Minoh Park.
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Minoh Kanko Hotel
This hot spring resort hotel, known for its spectacular views and gourmet cuisine, underwent a major renovation and reopened on October 1, 2026. The hotel features a variety of facilities, including the "Tenku Yuya" open-air bath with panoramic night views of the Osaka Plain from about 180 meters above sea level, a buffet, a premium lounge with free-flow drinks, and the Minoh Theater, which hosts popular stage performances and music shows.
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Minoh Kanko Hotel
- Address: 1-1, Onsen-cho, Minoh, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 5-minute walk from Minoh Station
🏨Click here to book Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Minoh Kanko Hotel
Sansou Kaze no Mori
This inn, with only 20 rooms, is nestled in the mountains within Minoh Quasi-National Park. Various types of rooms are available, including those with open-air baths and Japanese-Western style suites, allowing guests to enjoy autumn foliage from their rooms or the open-air baths.
The cuisine, featuring seasonal flavors such as beef shabu-shabu and yellowtail shabu-shabu, is also a highlight. You can spend a relaxing time away from everyday life.
Sansou Kaze no Mori
- Address: 2-14-71, Minoh, Minoh, Osaka Prefecture
- Access: About a 10-minute free shuttle ride from Minoh-Kayano Station or Minoh Station
🏨Click here to book Sanso Kazenomori
Fushio Onsen Fushioukaku
This hot spring inn features 19 guest rooms with open-air baths. From the open-air baths, you can enjoy the beauty of nature in every season, and during the autumn foliage season, you can soak while admiring the unique autumn scenery. The cuisine, which incorporates seasonal ingredients such as matsutake mushrooms, is also a highlight.
In March 2026, a new private villa with a barrel sauna and BBQ terrace, accommodating up to 15 people, was also opened.
Fushio Onsen Fushioukaku
- Address: 128-1 Fushio-cho, Ikeda-shi, Osaka
- Access: About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus from Ikeda Station
🏨Click here to book Fushio Onsen Fushioukaku
Komorebi no Yado Meitokuan
Opened in June 2025, this hidden inn with only three rooms is nestled within Meiji no Mori Minoh Quasi-National Park, near Minoh Otaki Waterfall. Guests can experience Japanese culture through activities such as tea ceremony, kimono dressing, and bonsai workshops. It is recommended for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and enjoy a quiet time surrounded by autumn foliage.
Komorebi no Yado Meitokuan
- Address: 2-27 Minoh Park, Minoh-shi, Osaka
- Access: About 20 minutes on foot from Minoh Station
🏨Click here to book Komorebi no Yado Meitokuan
3 Recommended Hotels and Ryokan Around Arashiyama (Kyoto)
Arashiyama is one of Kyoto's most famous spots for autumn leaves. You can enjoy the scenery woven by historic sites such as Togetsukyo Bridge, the Hozu River, and the gardens of Tenryu-ji Temple, all set against vibrant autumn colors. Here are some recommended hotels around Arashiyama, perfect as a base for autumn sightseeing in Kyoto.
Togetsutei
Founded in 1897, this long-established hot spring ryokan boasts over 120 years of history. The guest rooms, designed in traditional Japanese architectural style, offer a calm Kyoto atmosphere. Its location is close to Togetsukyo Bridge and the Katsura River, allowing guests to enjoy the quintessential autumn scenery of Arashiyama. In addition to the large public bath, some rooms also feature open-air baths.
Togetsutei
- Address: 54-4 Nakaoshita-cho, Arashiyama, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Access: About 7 minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station
🏨Click here to book Togetsutei
Arashiyama Onsen Saishiki no Yado Hanaikada
This inn boasts an open-air bath with panoramic views of Arashiyama. From the baths using Arashiyama Onsen water, you can enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding autumn scenery, including Togetsukyo Bridge, the Oi River, and Mt. Ogura. Some rooms also feature open-air baths, allowing you to enjoy a private soak in comfort.
Arashiyama Onsen Saishiki no Yado Hanaikada
- Address: 57 Nakaoshita-cho, Arashiyama, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Access: About 5 minutes on foot from Arashiyama Station
🏨Click here to book Arashiyama Onsen Saishiki no Yado Hanaikada
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
This hot spring inn allows you to use four different private baths for free, making it a perfect place to relax your body after enjoying the autumn leaves. The large public bath "Heian no Yu" is equipped with an indoor bath and open-air rock bath using natural Arashiyama hot spring water, as well as a medicinal bath. After your bath, complimentary ice pops and lactic acid drinks are also available.
Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
- Address: 5-4, Arashiyama Nishiichikawa-cho, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
- Access: About 1 minute walk from Arashiyama Station
🏨Click here to book Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
4 Recommended Hotels and Ryokan Around Nara Park
Nara Park is a representative sightseeing spot in Nara, dotted with historic temples and shrines such as Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, and Kofuku-ji. In autumn, the park's maple and ginkgo trees turn vibrant colors, creating a uniquely Nara landscape with deer strolling among the autumn leaves. Here are some hotels in the area that are perfect as a base for autumn leaf viewing and temple visits.
Koto no Yado Musashino
This purely Japanese-style ryokan, founded in the Edo period, is located at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa inside Nara Park.
All 12 guest rooms are built in different traditional Japanese architectural styles. Some rooms feature open-air or semi-open-air baths, and others have cypress baths. This is a place where you can feel the autumn leaves of Nara Park up close.
Koto no Yado Musashino
- Address: 90, Kasugano-cho, Nara-shi, Nara
- Access: About 10 minutes by taxi from Kintetsu Nara Station
🏨Click here to book Koto no Yado Musashino
Shikitei
A long-established, purely Japanese-style ryokan with over 100 years of history. Each of the nine guest rooms has a unique design, creating a calm Japanese atmosphere decorated with calligraphy and paintings. The temple-style architecture harmonizes with the surrounding nature, making the autumn foliage season even more atmospheric.
Shikitei
- Address: 1163, Takabatake-cho, Nara-shi, Nara
- Access: About 15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
Nara Hotel
A classic hotel established in 1909. In October 2026, the main building was designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The interior features spaces that evoke a sense of history, such as red carpets and a blend of Japanese and Western design elements. Enjoying a meal or tea while gazing at the autumn leaves of Nara Park from the tea lounge or restaurant is a truly special experience.
Nara Hotel
- Address: 1096 Takabatake-cho, Nara-shi, Nara
- Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station
🏨Click here to book Nara Hotel
Kasuga Hotel
A ryokan located adjacent to Nara Park and Kofuku-ji Temple. Most guest rooms are Japanese-modern style, but stylish Western-style rooms are also available. During the autumn foliage season, you can enjoy the changing colors of the trees from the open-air garden bath, feeling the atmosphere of fall while soaking in the hot spring.
Kasuga Hotel
- Address: 40 Noborioji-cho, Nara-shi, Nara
- Access: About 2 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nara Station
🏨Click here to book Kasuga Hotel
3 Hotels and Ryokan with Easy Access to Mt. Yoshino (Nara Prefecture)
Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture is one of the most scenic spots in the Kansai region, with its mountainsides brilliantly colored by autumn leaves. The area is dotted with historic temples and shrines such as Kinpusen-ji Temple and Yoshimizu Shrine, offering beautiful scenery where ancient temples and autumn foliage blend together. Here are some recommended hotels to use as a base for viewing the autumn leaves and sightseeing around Mt. Yoshino.
Chikurin-in Gumpoen
A ryokan with a history of over 1,300 years, originating as a distinguished temple lodging. It boasts the "Gumpoen" strolling garden, which covers about 10,000 tsubo (33,000 square meters), allowing guests to experience the beauty of Japanese gardens and nature throughout the seasons. In autumn, the garden and surrounding mountains are dyed in fall colors, letting you feel the history and nature of Mt. Yoshino up close.
Chikurin-in Gumpoen
- Address: 2142 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara
- Access: About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus (reservation required) from Kintetsu Yoshino Station
🏨Click here to book Chikurin-in Gumpoen
Yoshinoso Yukawaya
A long-established Japanese-style inn with a history of over 300 years. Its specialty is the "Saigyo Nabe," a mountain kaiseki dish made with their original special broth.
World Heritage temples and shrines such as Kinpusen-ji Temple Zao-do Hall and Yoshimizu Shrine are within walking distance, making it a great choice for those who want to enjoy mountain walks and visits to historic sites.
Yoshinoso Yukawaya
- Address: 440 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara
- Access: About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus (reservation required) from Yoshino Station
🏨Click here to book Yoshinoso Yukawaya
Keisho-no-Yado Hounkan
An inn boasting spectacular views overlooking the Naka-senbon and Kami-senbon areas of Mt. Yoshino. From the large public bath, you can gaze at the mountains that change their appearance with each season, and some guest rooms even feature open-air baths. There is also a shared space with an irori (traditional sunken hearth), where you can spend a relaxing time surrounded by the nature of Yoshino while enjoying the scenery outside the window.
Scenic Inn Hounkan
- Address: 2340 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara
- Access: About 10 minutes by free shuttle bus (reservation required) from Yoshino Station
3 Recommended Hotels with Easy Access to the Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue (Shiga Prefecture)
The Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, is a popular scenic spot where about 500 metasequoia trees stretch for approximately 2.4 km. In autumn, the avenue is beautifully colored in brick red.
Here are some hotels with easy access to the Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue, perfect as a base for autumn foliage viewing.
Okubiwako Makino Grand Park Hotel
This resort hotel is located on the shore of Lake Biwa, about 5 minutes by car from the Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue. The log house-style guest rooms offer either lake or mountain views, allowing you to enjoy your preferred scenery while surrounded by the warmth of wood. For breakfast, you can enjoy a Japanese-Western buffet featuring local ingredients.
Okubiwako Makino Grand Park Hotel
- Address: 763-2 Nishihama, Makino-cho, Takashima-shi, Shiga
- Access: About 12 minutes on foot from Makino Station
🏨Book Okubiwako Makino Grand Park Hotel here
WASUKI BASE Biwako VILLA STYLE
This accommodation is located about 10 minutes by car from the Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue. You can choose between two types of stays: glamping in dome tents or villa-style Western cottages.
With glamping, you can fully enjoy an open-air stay close to the autumnal nature along the shores of Lake Biwa.
WASUKI BASE Biwako VILLA STYLE
- Address: 87 Shiriuchi, Makino-cho, Takashima-shi, Shiga
- Access: About 15 minutes on foot from Makino Station
🏨Book WASUKI BASE Biwako VILLA STYLE here
Imazu Sun Bridge Hotel
This hotel is about 15 minutes by car from the Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue and features a location with views of Lake Biwa. You can choose between lake view and mountain view rooms, with the natural scenery outside the window adding color to your stay.
At the on-site restaurant "Ashimi by the Lake," you can enjoy your meal while gazing at the lake and the surrounding autumn foliage.
Imazu Sun Bridge Hotel
- Address: 1689-2 Imazu, Imazu-cho, Takashima-shi, Shiga
- Access: About 20 minutes on foot from Omi-Imazu Station
🏨Book Imazu Sun Bridge Hotel here
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