Mie Autumn Foliage: Akame 48 Waterfalls, Mt. Gozaisho & Odaigahara

About Autumn Foliage in Mie

Mountains ablaze in fiery red, brocade bridges spanning deep ravines—Mie Prefecture concentrates these breathtaking autumn vistas. From high-altitude mountain areas to deeply carved gorges, the diversity of terrain produces some of the most varied autumn foliage in the country. Each year from early October to late November, gradations of red, orange, and yellow descend in turn from the mountain peaks down to the villages.

The reason Mie's autumn foliage is so special lies in its "time lag." Coloring begins at the highest point, Odaigahara (about 1,600m elevation), then moves to Mt. Gozaisho (1,212m), and finally to the gorge of Akame 48 Waterfalls—autumn races downhill as if passing a baton. If you plan your schedule well, you can enjoy three completely different "faces of autumn" all at their peak in a single trip. The easy access from Nagoya and Osaka, reachable in a day trip to one overnight stay, is another major reason to choose Mie this season. Whether for a weekend getaway or a leisurely overnight journey, come and feel Mie's autumn with your whole body.

Mt. Gozaisho

The autumn foliage viewed from the 1,212m summit is truly a "brocade painting in the sky." Mt. Gozaisho's greatest appeal is that you can encounter scenery of this scale with the ease of just a 12-minute ropeway ride. With the townscape of Yunoyama Onsen spreading below and a magnificent panorama stretching all the way to distant Ise Bay as a backdrop, the sight of maples and beeches covering the mountainside blazing into color is something you will never forget for the rest of your life.

As the ropeway gondola climbs in altitude, the scenery before your eyes changes moment by moment. At the foot the green still lingers, but halfway up vivid orange spreads out, and near the summit deep crimson maples cover the sky—experiencing this dramatic change in just 12 minutes is the dynamic thrill unique to the ropeway. On a clear day, the contrast of autumn foliage and blue sky reflected in the gondola windows is as beautiful as a painting, and you will find yourself unable to stop pressing the shutter.

Best viewing time: mid-October to early November Near the summit, coloring begins from mid-October, with late October to early November being the most vivid. Because the degree of coloring differs by elevation, a great appeal is being able to enjoy multiple "faces of autumn foliage" while changing altitude by ropeway. Weekends in late October overlap with the peak and get especially crowded, so aim for a weekday if possible.

Recommended time: morning (right after opening) In the clear morning air, colors appear more vivid, and you can encounter moments when sunlight shines through the leaves making them glow like garnets. Aim for the first ride at 9 a.m. to avoid crowds and spend a relaxed time at the summit. In the afternoon it tends to become backlit, so a morning visit is especially recommended for those who want to enjoy photography.

A way to enjoy it like a local After descending, soaking away your fatigue at Yunoyama Onsen is the local way. The ultimate luxury awaits: gazing at mountains dyed in autumn colors while soaking in an open-air bath. Many inns in the hot spring town accept day-use bathing, and a welcome point is that you can drop by empty-handed.

Also, for those confident in their legs, the hiking route up the "Nakamichi" trail is highly recommended. The one-of-a-kind landscape woven by rugged rocky terrain dotted with strange rock formations and blazing autumn foliage is a spectacular view you can never see from the ropeway (about 2 hours, for the fit). A plan combining a hike up and a ropeway descent is also popular.

Access

• Train + bus: About 10 minutes by bus from Kintetsu Yunoyama Onsen Station; get off at the "Yunoyama Onsen" bus stop, then about 10 minutes on foot to Gozaisho Ropeway
• From Nagoya: Kintetsu Nagoya Station → Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station (express, about 35 min) → transfer to Yunoyama Line → Yunoyama Onsen Station (about 30 min), about 1 hour 15 min total
• From Osaka: Osaka Namba Station → Kintetsu Yokkaichi Station (about 1 hour 10 min by limited express) → transfer to Yunoyama Line → Yunoyama Onsen Station (about 30 min)
• By car: About 30 minutes from the "Yokkaichi IC" on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway. Surrounding roads are prone to congestion during the foliage season, so an early-morning departure is recommended

Tip for travelers: On peak-foliage weekends, the ropeway can have a 1-2 hour wait. Visiting on a weekday, or boarding right after opening, is the trick to minimizing wait time. The summit is 5-8°C colder than the lowlands and the wind is strong, so be sure to bring warm clothing such as a windbreaker. The ropeway may suspend operations in rain or strong wind, so checking the operation status on the official website in advance gives peace of mind. There are restaurants and shops at the summit, but they get crowded at peak times, so bringing a light snack gives you some leeway.

Akame 48 Waterfalls

A secluded place where 48 waterfalls large and small line up within a deep primeval forest—Akame 48 Waterfalls is Mie's premier "moving painting," combining gorge beauty and autumn foliage. White spray crashing down with a roar, and maples colored like flames. The beauty of that overwhelming contrast cannot be conveyed no matter how many photos you see; nothing matches the sense of scale you experience on site.

The moment you step into the gorge, the clamor of the outside world quietly fades away. In silence where only the sound of water echoes, look up and red and orange leaves spread out as if covering you overhead, while at your feet the spray of the falls glistens white. The well-maintained promenade extends about 4 km, and collaborations of waterfalls and autumn foliage that change expression with each step appear one after another. Stopping beside famous falls like "Fudo Falls," "Senju Falls," and "Nunobiki Falls" to gaze at the autumn foliage reflected on the water surface—the so-called "inverted maples"—is an exceptional time. To say it is so beautiful that the hand holding your camera trembles is by no means an exaggeration.

Best viewing time: early November to late November Because the elevation is lower than Mt. Gozaisho, the peak comes a little later. Around mid-November is the most colorful, with red, orange, and yellow covering the entire valley. Since its peak is relatively late, a plan to visit it as the "finale" after enjoying other foliage spots is especially recommended.

Recommended time: morning to early afternoon Because the gorge is surrounded by trees, the time when the sun is high, around 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is when the most light pours in and it is brightest, and the foliage colors appear most vivid. The gorge darkens quickly in the evening, so schedule your turnaround point to be reached by 3 p.m. at the latest.

A way to enjoy it like a local Akame 48 Waterfalls is actually known as one of Japan's largest habitats for the Japanese giant salamander. The Akame Waterfalls Aquarium (formerly the Japan Salamander Center) right by the entrance is a famous spot among locals where you can observe rare Japanese giant salamanders up close. Admission is included in the gorge conservation fee, so stop by before or after your foliage stroll.

Furthermore, after touring the waterfalls, day-use bathing at the nearby Akame Onsen "Taisenkaku" is quietly gaining popularity. Soaking in the quiet hot water of the mountain village while reflecting on the gorge scenery you walked today—this is the local way to wrap up Akame. Passing the entrance area bustling with tourists, the deeper you go into the gorge the fewer people there are, and being able to have the more tranquil world of autumn foliage all to yourself is a hidden charm of Akame 48 Waterfalls.

Access

• Train: About 10 minutes by bus bound for Akame 48 Waterfalls from "Akameguchi Station" on the Kintetsu Osaka Line (service is infrequent, so check the timetable), or about 25 minutes on foot
• From Osaka: Kintetsu Osaka Uehommachi Station → Akameguchi Station (express, about 70 min). It is at a distance fully enjoyable even on a day trip from Osaka
• From Nagoya: Kintetsu Nagoya Station → transfer at Yamato-Yagi Station → Akameguchi Station (about 1 hour 30 min)
• By car: About 20 minutes from "Nabari IC" on the Meihan National Highway. Surrounding roads get congested on foliage-season weekends, so aiming to arrive early in the morning gives peace of mind. Temporary parking lots may be set up

Tip for travelers: Inside the gorge there are many places where the path is wet and slippery, so trekking shoes or hiking shoes are safer than sneakers. Walking the full course (about 4 km) takes about 2-3 hours round trip, so be sure to bring drinking water and a light snack. Admission requires a gorge conservation fee of 1,000 yen for adults (junior high school age and above) and 500 yen for elementary school children. This is double the former 500 yen for adults, so if you budget from an out-of-date page you will arrive short. The fee includes admission to the Akame Waterfalls Aquarium. On peak-foliage weekends the entrance area is especially crowded, so a weekday visit is by far the best bet. The deeper you go into the gorge the fewer people there are, and you can enjoy a quiet foliage stroll.

Odaigahara

Known as "the rainiest place in Japan," Odaigahara is a little-known paradise of autumn foliage where its abundant rainfall has nurtured moss and primeval forest over hundreds of years, creating a uniquely mysterious atmosphere. Spanning Mie and Nara Prefectures, this highland is also imbued with the spiritual energy of the World Heritage Omine Okugake Trail, and in the foliage season fantastical scenery shrouded in mist unfolds.

On a clear day, Odaigahara shines as if it were another world. Passing through forests of golden-dyed spruce and rowan, the view suddenly opens up, and a 360-degree panorama from the summit of Mt. Hidedake (1,695m elevation) spreads before your eyes—the emotion of that moment cannot be expressed in any words. Furthermore, standing on the cliff called "Daijagura," a sheer precipice that seems to suck you in below, and the sight of layer upon layer of colored mountains, presses in on you along with the thrill. A quietness that is not over-touristed and the overwhelming sense of scale of untouched nature—that is precisely why Odaigahara endlessly captivates true nature lovers.

Best viewing time: early October to late October At about 1,600m elevation, the highest in Mie Prefecture, the arrival of autumn foliage is also the earliest. Coloring begins from early October, with mid- to late October being the golden peak. Since you can enjoy autumn a step ahead of Mt. Gozaisho and Akame 48 Waterfalls, it is ideal to visit it as the "start" of a Mie foliage tour.

Recommended time: early morning The summit of Mt. Hidedake in the early morning, where a sea of clouds and autumn foliage overlap, is truly a "heavenly sunrise glow." The moment the soft light right after sunrise dyes the autumn foliage golden will surely become an experience deeply etched in your life's memory. Those who can arrange a plan to stay the night before and head for the summit in the early morning should by all means do so. It will surely be a choice you won't regret.

A way to enjoy it like a local At the Odaigahara Visitor Center, nature interpretation programs guided by local rangers are held irregularly. Learning about the changes in vegetation caused by deer browsing damage and the current state of rare ecosystems—the deep world of Odaigahara that becomes more fascinating the more you know—is an experience only available here. Before your visit, check the program schedule on the Visitor Center's website.

Also, walking the well-maintained "Higashi-Odai Course (about 8 km)" lets you visit all three highlights: Mt. Hidedake, Masakigahara, and Daijagura. Masakigahara on a misty day in particular reveals a fantastical sight of dead-standing spruce dimly floating in the haze, showing a beauty unique to here that is completely different from "clear-weather Odaigahara."

Access

• Bus (seasonal only): During the foliage season, Nara Kotsu runs seasonal buses bound for Odaigahara from Ion Mall Kashihara, Yamato-Yagi Station, and Kashihara-Jingu-mae Station (advance check required). The journey from Kashihara-Jingu-mae takes approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours. Note: the bus no longer stops at Yamato-Kamiichi Station — do not follow older guides that route via that stop. Operating days and times change by year, so be sure to check the official Nara Kotsu website
• By car: Via National Route 169 to the Odaigahara parking lot. About 2 hours 30 min from Osaka, about 3 hours from Nagoya. Parking is free, but at peak foliage it often fills up from early morning, so arriving around 6-7 a.m. is the guideline
• *Since there is virtually no access other than your own car or the seasonal bus, be sure to check operation information before visiting. If using the seasonal bus, check the timetable by the day before and plan your course working backward from the time of the return bus*

Tip for travelers: The weather changes easily, and even when it's clear it can suddenly turn to fog or rain. Rainwear and warm clothing (fleece + windbreaker level) are absolutely essential. The trail is generally well-maintained, but the area around Daijagura has terrain that juts out over a cliff, so those who dislike heights should not push themselves and may wisely turn back before reaching it. Restrooms are only near the Visitor Center, so be sure to stop by before starting the course. Since there are wide areas where mobile phone signal is hard to reach, downloading offline maps for your map app in advance is strongly recommended.

Best Viewing Times and How to Enjoy the Foliage

What decisively distinguishes Mie's autumn foliage from other prefectures is the dynamism of the peak shifting over about two months within a single prefecture. Beginning with the earliest Odaigahara (early to late October), then Mt. Gozaisho (mid-October to early November), and on to Akame 48 Waterfalls (early to late November), the autumn foliage grows brighter one after another across the prefecture throughout October and November, as if passing a baton.

Try building your own "Mie autumn" to suit your travel style. For easily enjoying spectacular sky-high views by ropeway, head to Mt. Gozaisho; to experience with all five senses the drama of white spray and blazing foliage, head to Akame 48 Waterfalls; to leave the crowds and face nature in silence, head to Odaigahara—Mie's autumn, with three distinct faces, answers any travel style.

If you plan your schedule well, touring all three "peak foliage" spots in a single trip is by no means a dream. In the morning catch your breath at misty Odaigahara, the next day look out over Ise Bay from the sky at Mt. Gozaisho, and to wrap up your trip immerse yourself in the gorge beauty of Akame 48 Waterfalls—such a luxurious autumn journey is possible in Mie. Surely an unforgettable autumn memory, all your own, will be born.

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

The section below is a summary drawn solely from pages published by the Gozaisho Ropeway official website, the Akame 48 Falls official website, Kanko Mie (Mie Prefecture tourism), Mie Kotsu (bus company), the Nara Prefecture official website (Odaigahara Visitor Centre), the Kamikitayama Village official website, and the Nara Prefecture official tourism website "Awoniyoshi Nara Tabi Net" (as of September 2026).

[Most Important] The Entrance Fee at Akame 48 Falls Is 1,000 Yen

Akame 48 Falls used to charge 500 yen as an "admission fee for the Japan Giant Salamander Centre." The facility has since been renamed "Akame Waterfalls Aquarium" (赤目滝水族館), and the fee has been revised to 1,000 yen for adults (junior high school students and above) / 500 yen for children (primary and junior high school students), now collected as a "canyon conservation fee." A very large number of articles online still quote the old price, making this a particularly easy place to be caught out expecting to pay 500 yen and finding it is double.

The official website explains: "The canyon conservation fee is collected for the purpose of environmental conservation, cleaning, and safety management within the canyon." Anyone planning a Thursday visit from late November onwards should note that entry will not be possible.

Illumination: "Mie Akame Taki Akari" (dates confirmed for 2026)

There are no outdoor lights within the canyon (official warning). Walking the trail after dark outside the illumination hours is dangerous.

Note that the Akame Waterfalls Aquarium will be closed on 15 September 2026 (official news, dated 29 August 2026).

Gozaisho Ropeway

Confirmed closure dates for 2026:

• Thursday, 10 September 2026: Full-day suspension for equipment inspection. All facilities including the restaurant will also be closed.
• Monday, 14 December – Tuesday, 22 December 2026: 9-day suspension for equipment inspection and improvement works. All facilities closed.

Regarding the December closure: some aggregator sites state "9 December – 23 December (15 days)," but the Gozaisho Ropeway official website homepage states "Monday 14 December to Tuesday 22 December." This is the authoritative schedule.

Bus: From Kintetsu Yunoyama-Onsen Station, take a Mie Kotsu bus for approximately 10 minutes and alight at "Yunoyama-Onsen / Gozaisho Ropeway-mae." From the Nagoya area, a direct express bus operated by Mie Kotsu departs from Meitetsu Bus Center and takes approximately 60 minutes. The adult fare is 460 yen; children 230 yen.

Odaigahara (Access Is via the Nara Prefecture Side)

Odaigahara straddles the border between Mie and Nara Prefectures, but the Visitor Centre, car park, and all public transport access are on the Nara Prefecture side (Kamikitayama Village). No public transport information for reaching Odaigahara from the Mie Prefecture side (Odai-cho) could be found on any official source.

[Important] Winter Closure of the Odaigahara Driveway

The prefectural road leading to the summit — Odaigahara Koen Kawakami-sen (commonly known as the Odaigahara Driveway) — is closed every winter.

• Typical range: late November – late April of the following year (Nara Prefecture official tourism site and Kamikitayama Village official website)
• Most recent record (fiscal year 2025): 15:00 on 1 December 2025 – 15:00 on 20 April 2026
• The closure start date for 2026 (from November 2026 onwards) has not been announced as of September 2026

This means that if you plan to visit Odaigahara for the autumn foliage in mid- to late November, the road may already be closed. Anyone planning a visit during this period must confirm in advance with the Nara Prefecture Yoshino Civil Engineering Office (0746-32-4051), "Road Information Nara," or the Japan Road Traffic Information Centre (050-3369-6666). That said, peak colour is in mid-October, so aiming for that period is the surest strategy.

Things We Could Not Confirm

To be transparent: the following items could not be found on any official website.

1. The exact date of the 2026 Odaigahara Driveway winter closure (announced each autumn by the Nara Prefecture Yoshino Civil Engineering Office / 0746-32-4051) 2. The timetable and operating days for the Nara Kotsu Odaigahara bus in autumn 2026 (the timetable currently on the Kamikitayama Village official website is from 2022) 3. Public transport options from the Mie Prefecture side (Odai-cho) to Odaigahara 4. Specific foliage peak forecasts for each spot in 2026 (the Gozaisho Ropeway's figures are also noted as "based on typical-year predictions") 5. Whether the Mie Kotsu bus to Gozaisho also runs on weekdays — latest timetable (059-392-2261) 6. Current operating status and prices of foot baths and day-use bathing facilities at Yunoyama Onsen 7. Whether any sections of the Akame 48 Falls trail are currently closed (0595-41-1180) 8. The schedule for autumn 2026 nature experience programmes at the Odaigahara Visitor Centre (07468-3-0312)

Information Sources

The figures in this section are based on information published on the Gozaisho Ropeway official website (gozaisho.co.jp), the Akame 48 Falls official website (akame48taki.com), Kanko Mie, the Mie Kotsu official website, the Nara Prefecture official website page for the Odaigahara Visitor Centre (updated 27 February 2026), the Kamikitayama Village official website, and the Nara Prefecture official tourism website "Awoniyoshi Nara Tabi Net" (as of September 2026). Fees, operating hours, and road restrictions are subject to change, so please always check the latest official information before setting out.

• Contact: Akame 48 Falls 0595-41-1180 / Mie Kotsu Iga Sales Office 0595-66-3715 / Nara Prefecture Yoshino Civil Engineering Office 0746-32-4051 / Japan Road Traffic Information Center 050-3369-6666