Discover 7 things to do at Wakayama Castle 和歌山城 and Momijidani Teien Garden 紅葉渓庭園, also called Nishinomaru Teien 西之丸庭園 — a hidden-gem autumn colours spot in Kansai, an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka. Explore vivid fall foliage, Engyokaku Pavilion, and Ohashiroka Bridge in this castle garden in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
Komyo-in, also known as Rainbow Moss Temple, is Kyoto’s best-kept secret for introverts — a quiet sub-temple near Tofuku-ji. Watch light shift through shoji screens, sliding doors, and round windows framing moss, rocks, and raked gravel in the Hashin-tei Zen garden, viewed from the engawa. An uncrowded alternative to Kyoto’s busiest temples for quiet reflection and slow travel.
Okochi Sanso Garden in autumn, a hidden gem in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district, is just steps from the famous bamboo groves. Explore 7 stunning sights, from Japanese maples and moss-covered paths to mountain panoramas and Kyoto city views. A quiet escape for autumn foliage lovers visiting Arashiyama and Kyoto during the fall season.
Discover Mizuya Chaya, a hidden thatched roof teahouse in Nara Park where deers roam freely and join you for lunch at outdoor tables. Tucked off the main trail between Todaiji and Kasuga Taisha, this lunch spot has been serving udon since 1948. In autumn, maple leaves frame the teahouse in an atmospheric scene. A must-visit for those seeking rustic beauty off the beaten path.
Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, glimmers in gold and casts a perfect reflection across a tranquil pond. This iconic gold temple attracts photographers and travelers all over to capture that perfect reflection photo in all seasons. Get travel tips on Kinkakuji – a must-see during autumn in Kyoto!
Tofukuji 東福寺 is one of Kyoto’s 5 greatest zen temples with a famed landscape garden designed by Mirei Shigemori. The temple garden is one of the best places to admire those gorgeous autumn colors and Japanese maple leaves — on trees or scattered to create a vibrant carpet of reds, oranges, and yellows.
If you are a traveler from overseas on a tour group, tour guides might skip this part of Kyoto and head straight to the busy hub of Gion (祇園) for shopping and . Dubbed by locals as Kyoto’s most beautiful street, Shirakawa (白川) is a few minutes’ walk from central Gion and the Hanamichi (花道小路) area. It is off the beaten path, and there seemed to be no sight of other tourists when we visited it. The street runs into a Y-shape, with a little shrine situated at the intersection. This little red shrine, like the Yasaka Shrine, was frequented by geishas (芸者) living in that area. And by our lucky stars, we caught a happy couple taking their wedding photos at this picturesque place just when we reached it. A babbling stream runs through this street with shops, restaurants and tea houses lining one side of it. On the other side, you see willow trees, cherry blossom trees, and Japanese maple trees. The majestic willow trees were indeed a sight. Their long strings of …
