Tottori Autumn Foliage: Mt. Daisen, Oku-Daisen & Misasa Onsen

About Tottori's Autumn Leaves

Tottori, the hidden region of San'in facing the Sea of Japan. When autumn visits this land far removed from the city's clamor, the mountains are colored fiery red and orange and a dazzling golden, and a superb view spreads out that robs the viewer of words. With Mt. Daisen, the highest peak of the Chugoku region, as the lead, untouched beech primeval forest, and charming hot-spring towns—the colorful autumn scenery becomes a gradation layered many times over, deeply shaking the traveler's heart.

The viewing peak is usually late October to late November. The Daisen Tourist Bureau publishes the peak in two stages: an "act one" from late October to the beginning of November, and an "act two" from mid- to late November, when the first snow on the summit overlaps with the deep-autumn colour lower down. In 2025 the bureau declared its "autumn colour week" on 24 October and recorded the first snow on 3 November. Arriving in early October is too early. Because the coloring period shifts little by little with altitude, autumn descends the mountain as if passing a baton—from near the summit of Mt. Daisen to the foot, and further to the hot-spring town along the gorge. Being able to meet three different faces of autumn—"burning summit," "golden forest," and "tranquil hot-spring town"—in a single trip is a luxury unique to this Tottori. If you assemble your itinerary well, one of Japan's leading autumn-leaf experiences awaits you.

Mt. Daisen

I know no other mountain that the elegant name "Hoki Fuji" suits this much. When beech and maple are dyed a fiery red against the backdrop of the imposing mountain form at an altitude of 1,729m, Mt. Daisen is not just a mountain but stands before your eyes with a power like a living artwork. That someone who has burned that sight into their eyes even once ends up visiting again the next year is by no means strange.

What we'd love for you to visit is the autumn-leaf tunnel continuing along the stone pavement of the Daisenji approach. Look up while slowly treading the moss-covered stone steps, and the vividly colored leaves fill the sky, wrapping you in the sensation of having wandered into a historical picture scroll. The scenery where the old temple's mountain gate and autumn leaves melt together is so beautiful you can never take enough photos. In this serene space completely cut off from daily life, by all means savor an autumn deep breath.

Note that Kagamiganaru is not a pond but a highland basin in Kofu Town on the far side of the mountain, and there is no lake there that reflects the foliage. Around Goen-zan and the Daisenji approach, the classic early-morning shot is the mountain wall of colour rising behind the temple, with photographers lining up before dawn.

⚠️ Important, as of September 2026: the "Masumizu Kogen - Kagikake Pass" section of Tottori Prefectural Route 45 (the Daisen Loop Road) has been completely closed since 13:50 on 3 September 2026 after heavy rain washed out the roadbed, and no reopening date has been announced. You therefore cannot drive the loop road from the Daisenji side to Kagikake Pass, the single most famous viewpoint for Mt. Daisen's autumn colours. Tottori Prefecture publishes detour routes for ordinary and for large vehicles, so check the prefecture's road information page before you set out (Tottori Prefecture, Hino Regional Development Bureau, Hino Prefectural Land Improvement Office, tel. 0859-72-2042).

Best season and recommended hours

• Colour starts to show near the summit: the beginning of October
• Official peak, act one (summit to mountainside): late October to the beginning of November
• Official peak, act two (first snow with deep-autumn colour): mid- to late November
• Daisenji and around the approach: within the act-one window above
• What we'd especially recommend is early morning, 6 to 8 a.m. The fantastical sight where the morning mist rising from the mountain mingles with the autumn leaves is special, never to be seen during the day. Because tourists also increase as the sun rises high, those who want to face Mt. Daisen in stillness should by all means start moving with the dawn.

A way to enjoy it like a local ⚠️ Take care with your footwear. The "Fifth-Station Observatory," reached along the Natsuyama climbing path from Daisenji, is not a place to drop in on casually in sneakers: the fifth station sits at around 1,300 m on a genuine mountain trail of steps and tree roots, and it needs proper hiking shoes, rain gear, water and time in hand. If you want the autumn colours without a climb, walk the Daisenji approach, the roughly 700 m natural-stone path to Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya (said to be the longest of its kind in Japan), or the trails around the Daisen Oki National Park Nature Centre instead. A complete change from the approach area crowded with tourists, it's quiet, and you can taste the sensation of monopolizing "the true face of Mt. Daisen's autumn leaves." After your stroll, don't forget to drop by a farm restaurant around Mt. Daisen. The autumn-limited Daisen okowa and dishes using plenty of locally harvested mountain vegetables have a gentle flavor that warms you from the core of your body. A rustic dish gently calms the feelings heightened by the autumn leaves.

Access

• By train + bus: Board the Hinomaru Bus "bound for Daisenji" from JR Yonago Station, and get off at the Daisenji bus stop in about 50 minutes. Temporary extra services are often run in the autumn-leaf season, but because crowds are also expected on weekends, be sure to check the latest timetable in advance.
• By car: About 40 minutes from Yonago IC via Prefectural Route 45. Around Daisenji there are multiple parking lots, paid and free combined, but from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends and holidays they're almost full. Working backward to depart so you can arrive before 8 a.m. is the first step of a regret-free trip.

(Autumn leaves) Tip for travelers: Think of mountain weather as something entirely different from the plains. Even in October the morning and evening can chill to around 5°C, and the temperature difference with daytime can be more than 10°C. Be sure to slip into your backpack cold-weather clothing you can throw on quickly, such as a fleece or thin down. If walking the climbing path, shoes with firm grip are reassuring to prepare for the stone pavement made slippery by fallen leaves.

Oku-Daisen

Beyond pushing further and further in from Mt. Daisen's liveliness, a hidden region as if forgotten by the world quietly breathes—that is Oku-Daisen. As you cross the Kagamiganaru Highland and proceed further, the presence of people thins, and instead the solemn sight of golden-shining beech primeval forest begins to spread fully across your field of view. Its beauty makes even the words "like a painting" feel banal. Including the sweet scent of fallen leaves drifting in the clear autumn air, it's truly a place to receive autumn with all five senses.

Around the Oku-Daisen Ski Area, you can enjoy a pastoral scenery woven from golden-shining beech forest and a vast grassland. There's a gentle, all-embracing beauty here, with a flavor different from Mt. Daisen's dynamism. Walk the maintained hiking course and a moment arrives when you can monopolize a 360-degree autumn-leaf panorama from the observatory. Within the course there are also marsh areas with boardwalks, and the time of walking while gazing at the colorful leaves shining on the water surface gives a sensation of being quietly filled to the depths of your heart. Because round trips of 2 to 3 hours are the main, the point that even those not confident in their stamina can casually take it on is also Oku-Daisen's depth of generosity.

Best season and recommended hours

• Kagikake Pass: late October to mid-November / Kagamiganaru: mid-October to the beginning of November, when the pampas grass is also at its best.
• In the morning, when mist easily forms, you may meet a fantastical sight where autumn leaves float up out of the white haze. The moment a sea of clouds and autumn leaves overlap is truly breathtaking beauty, and many repeat visitors come every year aiming for this. The morning after the weather forecast calls for mist is worth visiting even if you get up early.

A way to enjoy it like a local In fact, Oku-Daisen is a village of fine water, also known as the water-collection site for Suntory's natural water "Oku-Daisen no Tennensui." The clear water nurtured by this mountain soaks deep into the ground and eventually springs out as fine water. A hike walked while feeling such water blessings has a depth with a different flavor. After hiking, drop by the roadside station "Oku-Daisen." The local game cuisine and the thick, rich soft serve using Oku-Daisen milk have a happiness that soaks into a tired body. Also, because an "autumn-leaf trekking tour" guided by a local guide is sometimes run only in the autumn-leaf season, checking the tourism association's official website in advance may let you meet an unexpected special experience.

Access

• By car: About 1 hour from Yonago IC via National Route 181 and Prefectural Route 45. ⚠️ Important, as of September 2026: the "Masumizu Kogen - Kagikake Pass" section of Tottori Prefectural Route 45 (the Daisen Loop Road) has been completely closed since 13:50 on 3 September 2026 after heavy rain washed out the roadbed, and no reopening date has been announced. You therefore cannot drive the loop road from the Daisenji side to Kagikake Pass, the single most famous viewpoint for Mt. Daisen's autumn colours. Tottori Prefecture publishes detour routes for ordinary and for large vehicles, so check the prefecture's road information page before you set out (Tottori Prefecture, Hino Regional Development Bureau, Hino Prefectural Land Improvement Office, tel. 0859-72-2042). There are free parking lots around the Oku-Daisen Ski Area and Kagamiganaru. We could not confirm any official announcement of temporary parking at the foliage peak, so plan on the regular car parks and on an early-morning departure. Move on a schedule with room to spare so you don't have to rush down narrow mountain roads in a panic.
• By public transportation: Going to the Daisenji bus stop by Hinomaru Bus and using a taxi from there is the realistic choice. However, if you want to fully enjoy Oku-Daisen's nature at your own pace, using a rental car is by far recommended. There are several rental car companies around Yonago Station.

(Autumn leaves) Tip for travelers: Because some parts of the hiking course get muddy easily, having trekking shoes or waterproof sneakers ready is reassuring. Also, Oku-Daisen is a bear habitat, and sighting information is sometimes issued. Consider carrying a bear bell essential. Because there are areas where mobile signal is hard to reach, we strongly recommend downloading map apps such as Google Maps or YAMAP offline. Preparation for an emergency is the foundation for enjoying nature with peace of mind.

Misasa Onsen

After bathing your whole body in the autumn of mountain and forest at Mt. Daisen and Oku-Daisen, spend a night at Misasa Onsen, slowly embracing that lingering memory. This hot-spring resort, where inns stand quietly in a row along the murmur of the Mitoku River, is a village of a famous spring internationally highly regarded as "the world's number-one radioactive spring," boasting one of the world's leading radium contents. When that warm water and the autumn leaves overlap, the hot-spring town is wrapped in an indescribably tranquil charm. The sight of the trees on the riverbank dyed crimson and golden, mingling with the steam, has a beauty more than suitable as the finish to Tottori's autumn.

On the riverbed of the Mitoku River flowing through the center of the hot-spring town, there is a free open-air bath on the riverbed. Its official name is not "Kajika no Yu" but Kawara-buro (a mixed-gender open-air bath beside Misasa Bridge, free and open 24 hours), alongside the free footbath Kawara-no-yu. Note that the footbath cannot be used on odd-numbered mornings, when it is cleaned. Gazing at the autumn leaves spreading before your eyes, sinking your feet into the smooth, soft water, and feeling the fatigue of the journey gradually dissolve—this luxury can be obtained only here. At dusk, stroll the stone pavement in a yukata, and admire the vivid persimmons hung under the eaves and the colored leaves swaying in the inns' gardens. There's the richness of Japan's autumn there, which you can never notice at a hurried pace.

Best season and recommended hours

• Viewing peak at Misasa Onsen: no official dates have been announced (Misasa Onsen Tourist Association, tel. 0858-43-0431)
• What we'd especially recommend is the time from dusk to night. The scene where the inns' warm light reflects on the river surface and faintly illuminates the autumn leaves shows a fantastical beauty like an entirely different world from the daytime vividness. Because nighttime illumination is held in some years, check the latest information at the front desk during your stay.

A way to enjoy it like a local About 20 minutes by car from Misasa Onsen is one of Japan's leading power spots, "Mitokusan Sanbutsuji" (Nageiredo). The national-treasure Nageiredo, built as if tossed into a rock cave on a sheer cliff, is a sight that loses your words just by itself, but in the season when autumn leaves dye the surroundings, the sanctity increases several more levels and overwhelms the traveler. Worship requires a mountain-entry fee and corresponding stamina, and is by no means an easy path. But that there's no end to travelers who say "I want to see it once in my life" is because there's that much value there. If you stay at Misasa Onsen, it's a place we'd love for you to incorporate into the next morning's itinerary.

Access

• By train + bus: Board the Hinomaru Bus "bound for Misasa Onsen" from JR Kurayoshi Station, about 25 minutes. With easy access, within a 5-minute walk from the bus stop to the center of the hot-spring town, you can arrive without getting lost even carrying luggage.
• By car: About 15 minutes from Kurayoshi IC via National Route 313. Around the hot-spring town there are multiple parking lots, free and paid, and the delightful thing about Misasa Onsen is being able to park with relatively more room compared to Mt. Daisen and Oku-Daisen. The ease of access by car is also one reason it's chosen as the last lodging of a trip.

(Autumn leaves) Tip for travelers: Misasa Onsen has gentler crowds compared to Mt. Daisen and Oku-Daisen, and you can spend time relatively at leisure even in the autumn-leaf season. We strongly recommend staying a night if possible. A dawn stroll with morning haze drifting on the river surface, a near-private early-morning riverbed bath—these are special rewards only for overnight guests, which you can never experience on a day trip. Note that the radium spring of Misasa Onsen may put a strain on those with concerns about their heart or blood pressure. Be sure to consult the inn staff before bathing and then enjoy it.

Autumn-Leaf Peak and How to Enjoy It

Tottori's autumn-leaf season runs for about a month of real substance, late October to mid-November, and the seasonal timing differs little by little by area. This "shift" is precisely the greatest reason that makes a Tottori autumn-leaf trip special. Coloring begins near the high-altitude summit of Mt. Daisen, dyes the highland of Oku-Daisen, and finally autumn slowly descends to the hot-spring town of Misasa Onsen—if you assemble your itinerary along that flow, you can luxuriously enjoy three different autumn expressions, from mountain to gorge to hot-spring town.

Because crowds are expected at every spot on weekends, a weekday visit or early-morning departure is the absolute condition for a comfortable trip. Especially at Mt. Daisen, the line waiting for parking on weekend daytimes can reach several hundred meters. It's no exaggeration to say the quality of the trip is decided by your departure time. Also, because real-time autumn-leaf information is updated every year on the Tottori Prefecture Tourism Federation's official website, be sure to check it before visiting. Because the viewing peak can shift around 1 to 2 weeks depending on that year's climate, making the latest information your ally is the shortcut to a "winning trip."

From mountain to forest, and then to the hot-spring town—at Tottori, where varied autumn expressions layer over each other, engrave a special page into this year's autumn-leaf trip.

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

The following information has been confirmed on the Tottori Prefecture official website (Tori-Net), the Tottori City official website, the Daisen Tourism Bureau's "Tottori Daisen Tourism Guide," and the official websites of individual temples, shrines, and tourism associations (as of September 2026).

[Most Important] The Daisen Kanjo-doro Loop Road Is Closed

Kagikake Pass is the most famous viewpoint for autumn foliage on Mt. Daisen. The standard route along the loop road from the Daisen-ji Temple side is unavailable, so please check the latest closure status before planning your itinerary.

⚠️ Additionally, the Tottori Prefecture official website's past closure notices for Prefectural Route 45 are almost all broken links (404), making it impossible to trace the typical annual winter closure dates from the official website. If you plan to visit after late November, contact the Hino Civil Engineering Bureau directly to check whether snow-related closures apply.

Daisen Autumn Foliage Peak (Daisen Tourism Bureau Official)

In 2025, the "Daisen Autumn Colour Week" began on 24 October, and the first snowfall was recorded on 3 November.

⚠️ The most recent real-time foliage information on the Daisen Tourism Bureau's website is still the "2025 edition"; the 2026 page had not yet been created as of September 2026. Check for updates just before your visit.

Daisen-ji Temple and Okuno-miya Shrine (Ogamiyama Jinja)

⚠️ Beware of information stating "Daisen-ji closes at 15:00." This is a confusion with the reception hours at Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji (8:00–15:00); Daisen-ji's official hours are 9:00–16:00. That said, the Daisen Tourism Bureau's website also contains a passage saying "9:00–15:00," so the two official sources disagree. For certainty, contact Daisen-ji directly (0859-52-2158).

Daisen Car Parks

During the autumn foliage season, the car parks actually available are Hakuroza (600 spaces) and Nankogawara. The large multi-storey and Makinohara car parks are winter-only, so do not head to Daisen expecting "more than 2,000 spaces" — you will be caught out.

※ During the ski season (approximately 21 December 2025 – late March 2026), Nankogawara charges 1,000 yen for standard cars (700 yen from 14:00, 500 yen from 17:00) and 100 yen for motorcycles. The management and pricing structure differ from the three prefectural car parks.

Daisen National Park Centre (Daisen Information Hall)

Open from early morning to evening, year-round. A useful base for checking weather and road conditions.

Oku-Daisen (Kofu Town)

Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji (Nageiredo Hall) — Conditions for the Climbing Visit

Even during the foliage season, entry is not permitted if it is raining. It is advisable to have a backup plan for another day.

The Free Baths at Misasa Onsen

Ametaki Falls (Tottori City, Kokufu Town) — Reopened in July 2026

⚠️ The Tottori City official website underwent a major redesign on 17 March 2026, and many old URLs are now returning 404 errors. If a search result leads to a page that will not load, search again within the Tottori City official website.

Wakasa Town Autumn Foliage

Enquiries: Wakasa Town Tourism Association 0858-82-2237

Even visitors who cannot climb to Nageiredo can see the cliff-face hall close-up at Fudoin Iwayado (note that the car park holds only 5 cars).

Things We Could Not Confirm (Not Stated on Official Sources)

• Autumn foliage peak period at Misasa Onsen — no information on the Misasa Onsen Tourism Association official website (0858-43-0431)
• Capacity of Nankogawara Car Park — not stated in the Daisen Town bylaw, Tottori Prefecture official, or the Daisen Tourism Guide (Daisen Tourism Bureau 0859-52-2502)
• Foliage-season conditions and maintenance information for the Daisen Summer Hiking Trail (Gyoja Tozan-do) — not on official sources (Daisen Tourism Bureau 0859-52-2502)
• Plans for private car restrictions or pedestrian-zone closures on the Daisen Kanjo-doro loop road during the 2026 foliage season — a "Let's Walk the Scenic Daisen Loop Road!" event was held in 2018 (Heisei 30), but 2026 plans are unconfirmed (Hino Civil Engineering Bureau 0859-72-2042)
• Typical annual closure dates for Prefectural Route 45 in winter — all past closure notices are broken links and cannot be traced (0859-72-2042)
• Foliage-season conditions and facility information for Masumizu Plateau — no standalone official page could be confirmed (Daisen Tourism Bureau 0859-52-2502)
• Car park details and access information for Ontsurue (Kagikake area) — the detailed official page could not be retrieved (Kofu Town Tourism Association 0859-75-6007)
• Foliage information for Uradome Coast — this is a coastal scenic area and no official foliage guide could be confirmed (Iwami Town Tourism Association 0857-73-1445)
• Opening period and any separate admission for the Sanbutsu-ji treasure hall — the only available information is that "admission to the treasure hall is included in the mountain entry fee" (0858-43-2666)
• Whether the 2026 guided foliage tour in Oku-Daisen is taking place — could not be confirmed on official sources (Kofu Town Tourism Association 0859-75-6007)

Information Sources

Tottori Prefecture official website "Tori-Net" (Hino District foliage information, Kagikake Pass / Hino District autumn foliage, Kidanisawa Stream, Daisen parking information, Prefectural Route 45 closure notice, Tottori Foliage Map), Tottori City official website (Ametaki Falls), Daisen-ji official website, Mitokusan Sanbutsu-ji official website, Misasa Onsen official website, Tottori Daisen Tourism Guide (Daisen Tourism Bureau), Nankogawara Car Park bylaw (Daisen Town), Wakasa Town Tourism Association official website (all as of September 2026). Fares, opening hours, and road restrictions are subject to change. In particular, the closure of Prefectural Route 45 has no confirmed reopening date, so please check the latest official information from Tottori Prefecture and each facility before you set out.

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