Kanagawa Autumn Foliage: Hakone, Tanzawa & Kamakura

Autumn Foliage in Kanagawa

Kanagawa Prefecture gathers some of the finest autumn foliage destinations in the Kanto region. Hakone's mountain resort, the grand natural landscapes of Tanzawa, the historically rich temples and shrines of Kamakura — each presents a completely different autumn color palette. From early October to late November each year, the colors progress sequentially from the mountain ridgelines down to the temples and shrines of the valleys, and the slow southward march of the foliage front through the prefecture is one of Kanagawa's autumn pleasures.

The beauty of the red, orange, and yellow gradients layering upon each other is impossible to fully describe in words. "Autumn foliage in Kanagawa?" — those who are slightly surprised by that may be the very people most astonished by its richness. The blazing mountain slopes viewed through the steam of a hot spring, the red leaves falling on the stone paths of ancient temples, the reflection of autumn colors in the clear mountain lakes — Kanagawa has all of this.

The typical season runs from early October (high elevation areas in Hakone) to early December (Kamakura temple areas), with most of the prefecture reaching its most reliable peak of color in mid-to-late November. Kamakura in particular peaks later than the rest — the Kamakura City Tourism Association's records show that December is the true peak for the city's temple gardens.

Hakone

The mountain resort area of Hakone, with its multiple lakes, volcanic scenery, and celebrated hot springs, offers some of the most dramatic autumn foliage in Kanagawa against a backdrop of sweeping mountain and lake views.

Lake Ashi (Ashino-ko)

The sight of Mount Fuji rising above the autumn-colored forest, perfectly reflected in the still surface of Lake Ashi, is one of Japan's most iconic scenic compositions. The lake, formed in a volcanic caldera, is surrounded by maples and other deciduous trees that turn brilliant red and yellow in late October and November. The Hakone Sightseeing Boat (pirate ship) cruise on the lake in autumn is a memorable experience.

Best period: Late October to mid-November

Hakone Open Air Museum

The permanent outdoor sculpture collection of the Hakone Open Air Museum — spread across a hillside with Mount Fuji visible on clear days — becomes a natural gallery of autumn color when the surrounding trees turn. The combination of contemporary sculpture and autumn landscape is unique and photogenic.

Hakone Ropeway

The gondola ropeway running from Sounzan to Togendai crosses the volcanic landscape of Owakudani, offering sweeping aerial views of autumn color across the Hakone mountains with Mount Fuji in the background on clear days.

Access: From Odakyu Line "Odawara Station" or "Hakone-Yumoto Station," take the Hakone Tozan Line to Gora, then Hakone Tozan Cable Car to Sounzan, then Hakone Ropeway.

💡 A local's tip: The riverside promenade along the Hayakawa River near Hakone-Yumoto Station is a hidden gem where local people take their everyday walks. During the hours when almost every visitor is heading off to Owakudani or Lake Ashi, this path beside the river stays quiet and deserted, and you can have the sight of the coloured trees reflected in the water all to yourself. Soaking in one of the footbaths along the promenade while gazing at the autumn leaves at your leisure makes for a superb break that melts away the tiredness of travel in an instant.

Tanzawa Mountains

The Tanzawa mountain range in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture — designated as Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park — offers superb autumn hiking with vivid foliage. The mountains range from accessible peaks like Mount Oyama (1,252 m) to the more challenging Mount Tanzawa (1,567 m), with trails suited to various fitness levels.

Mount Oyama (Isehara City)

Famous for its historic Oyama Afuri Shrine and the approach path lined with stone lanterns and tofu restaurants, Mount Oyama is one of the most accessible mountain hikes from Tokyo and Kanagawa. The cable car to the mid-station area makes it easy to reach the autumn foliage zone without a difficult climb, and the view looking down over the Kanto plain and across to Tokyo Bay on clear days is exceptional.

Best period: Early to mid-November

Access: From Odakyu Isehara Line "Isehara Station," take a bus to "Oyama Cable Car Shita" (about 25 minutes). Cable car to mid-station, then hike up.

💡 A local's tip: "Koma-sando," the shop-lined approach leading to the cable car station, is in fact a hidden treasure for food as well. Shops serving Oyama's famous tofu dishes stand side by side, offering everything from tofu kaiseki courses and agedashi-dofu to tofu soft-serve ice cream. Warming yourself with a hot tofu dish before you set off should make the autumn foliage viewing all the more rewarding. Stopping by on the way back from your hike for a "finishing tofu meal" is equally delicious.

Kamakura

The ancient capital of Kamakura — filled with Zen Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and the famous Great Buddha (Kotoku-in Daibutsu) — is also a magnificent autumn foliage destination. The combination of historic architecture and autumn trees makes for particularly photogenic scenes.

Engakuji Temple

One of Kamakura's most important Zen temples, Engakuji is spectacularly beautiful in autumn. The ancient temple buildings framed by towering camphor trees and Japanese maples in full color create images of exceptional beauty. The temple's broad grounds include multiple sub-temples (tatchuu), each with their own gardens and autumn atmosphere.

Best period: Late November

Zuisenji Temple (Kamakura's Secret Garden)

Slightly off the beaten tourist path, Zuisenji Temple is a hidden gem of autumn beauty in Kamakura. The temple's "Musoukokushi Garden" — a classic Zen dry-landscape garden designed by the renowned monk Muso Soseki in 1327 — is at its most magical in autumn, surrounded by ancient trees turning brilliant red and gold.

Best period: Late November

Access: From JR Yokosuka Line "Kamakura Station," about 20 minutes on foot to Zuisenji (via Egara Tenman-gu Shrine).

💡 A local's tip: Kamakura's autumn foliage season does not get as crowded as Kyoto's, but famous large temples such as Engaku-ji and Kencho-ji draw concentrated crowds at weekends, and there are times when the grounds are filled with people taking photographs. The smart way round is to finish the busy large temples early in the morning and then move on in the afternoon, once the crowds thin out, to quieter spots such as Shishimai-gayatsu Valley and Zuisen-ji. Combining the major sites with the hidden ones lets you enjoy the full picture of Kamakura's autumn colours.

Travel Tips for Kanagawa Autumn Foliage

Best Overall Timing: Late October is best for Hakone's high-altitude areas; late November is best for Kamakura's temple gardens. Planning a two-weekend visit covering both offers the most comprehensive experience.

Crowds: Hakone and Kamakura are extremely popular during autumn foliage season and can be very crowded on weekends. Weekday visits are significantly more peaceful. The Odakyu Romance Car (limited express) from Shinjuku to Hakone/Odawara should be booked in advance.

Transportation Passes: The "Hakone Free Pass" (Odakyu issue) offers unlimited use of Hakone's ropeway, cable car, sightseeing boats, and buses — excellent value for a full day of autumn foliage sightseeing.

Hot Springs: Hakone's onsen are a perfect complement to autumn foliage viewing — soak in an outdoor rotenburo surrounded by colored maples for a quintessential Japanese autumn experience.

Practical Information for the Autumn Foliage Season (Based on Official Announcements)

Hakone: The Altitude Difference Keeps Peak Colour Going for a Full Month

Hakone's great strength is that the peak foliage descends through the resort in stages, following the altitude. Even if you miss the peak in one spot, shifting to a higher or lower elevation will always bring you somewhere in colour.

The right approach is not "which exact date in November is best for Hakone?" but rather to choose your altitude based on the date you are going. Think of it this way: early November means head to the mountains; by December, come down to Yumoto.

One important point: there is no autumn foliage illumination in Hakone. An event called the "Hakone Sutekina Akari Project" does exist, but it is a winter illumination that takes place after the leaves have already fallen. If you book a night's stay hoping to see lit-up autumn leaves, you will be disappointed.

For admission fees at major facilities: Gora Park charges 650 yen; Hakone Museum of Art charges 1,430 yen for adults. Hakone Ropeway and Hakone Pirate Ship revised their fares on 1 October 2025, so please disregard prices quoted in older articles and check the official websites.

Oyama (Mt. Oyama): Illumination Is Confirmed — but Parking Is a Battle

Unlike Hakone, the Oyama in the Tanzawa Mountains has a well-established, multi-year track record of autumn foliage illumination.

The illumination takes place at two sites — Oyama-dera Temple and the Lower Shrine of Afuri Shrine — and admission to the illumination itself is free (separate fees apply for worship and the cable car). Three consecutive years of late-November events means you can plan around "late November as a rule" without going far wrong.

The challenge is transport. The Isehara City Tourism Association officially warns: "Severe congestion is expected at weekends; you may be asked to wait 2–3 hours in some cases." This covers both the car park queue and the cable car queue.

There are only two municipal car parks: Car Park 1 (84 spaces, 600 yen) and Car Park 2 (44 spaces, 1,000 yen). During the season, four temporary car parks are opened, all free of charge. From there, paid shuttles (150 yen) or free shuttles run to the area. The cheaper-and-faster option is actually the free temporary car park plus the shuttle — which undercuts the paid municipal options.

The Oyama Cable Car costs 640 yen one way or 1,270 yen return. The peak-season fare became the year-round standard in April 2024, so older information suggesting lower off-season prices no longer applies.

Note that there are no private-vehicle restrictions on Oyama; a park-and-ride system is in place. Driving to the base of the mountain is perfectly fine.

Kamakura: The Real Season Is December

Kamakura is one of the latest destinations in the Kanto region for autumn foliage. Even the actual data logs published by the Kamakura City Tourism Association confirm that the genuine peak is in December. Going in November often results in leaves that are still green, so please do not plan your visit on the same schedule as other areas.

As for evening viewing, Hase-dera Temple is the only place in Kamakura that holds an autumn foliage illumination. It is typically held from late November to early December, from sunset until closing at 19:00, with an adult admission of 400 yen. Well-known temples such as Engaku-ji and Meigetsu-in do not offer evening admission.

Kamakura's park-and-ride options have been shrinking: the Shichirigahama and Inamuragasaki sites are suspended, and the Enoshima site has ended entirely. Please avoid any plan that assumes you can drive into Kamakura.

Checklist Before You Go

• [ ] There is no autumn foliage illumination in Hakone (the winter illumination event is a separate thing)
• [ ] In Hakone, choose your location based on your date: early November = Owakudani; December = Yumoto
• [ ] Oyama illumination is free. Typically late November; weekdays until 19:00 / weekends & holidays until 20:00
• [ ] At Oyama, the free temporary car parks + 150-yen shuttle make more sense than the municipal car parks (600–1,000 yen)
• [ ] Oyama at weekends: the official announcement warns of "2–3 hour waits" — allow plenty of time
• [ ] Kamakura's autumn foliage peaks in December — going in November is too early
• [ ] The only place in Kamakura to see autumn leaves at night is Hase-dera Temple (adults 400 yen)

Information Sources

Hakone Town Tourism Association / Hakone Ropeway & Hakone Pirate Ship official websites / Gora Park official website / Hakone Museum of Art official website / Isehara City Tourism Association (Oyama) / Oyama Kanko Dentetsu (cable car) official website / Kamakura City Tourism Association / Hase-dera Temple official website

*Dates and prices are subject to change. Please check the latest information on each official website before you set out.*