22 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Hokkaido: Spectacular Autumn Scenery Blending into Vast Natural Landscapes

A 10-minute walk north of Sapporo Station, a roughly 380-meter avenue of ginkgo trees runs along Kita 13-jo Street through the Hokkaido University campus. In late October, the 70 trees lining both sides form a golden tunnel, while fallen leaves create a carpet underfoot. The campus is free for anyone to explore, and general vehicle traffic is prohibited.
On a weekend during peak foliage, students organize the two-day Konyosai Festival, when the entire avenue is illuminated. If time permits, also visit the poplar avenue and the university museum, which offers free admission.

Despite its location in central Sapporo, Nakajima Park is surrounded by abundant greenery. Its changing seasonal scenery draws many visitors, making it one of the city's most popular parks. The park also features a Japanese garden, and its wide variety of fall foliage is a major attraction. In the garden, vivid leaves are reflected in the pond, their shimmering colors creating a distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
The surrounding high-rise buildings are visible from inside Nakajima Park, creating a striking and evocative contrast with the colorful foliage. At night, illumination makes the leaves appear even more vivid, and their reflections on the pond create a mysterious scene.

Mt. Moiwa stands near the center of Sapporo. Visitors can reach its 531-meter summit aboard a Swiss-made mini cable car designed for observing the forest. The mountain is also popular among Sapporo residents as an accessible hiking destination, with five trails leading to the summit. From the top, a 360-degree panorama encompasses the Sapporo cityscape, Ishikari Plain, Ishikari Bay, and the Mashike-Shokanbetsu mountain range.
A highlight is the sweeping view of the foliage from the ropeway. As the scenery moves slowly below, you can watch the colors gradually shift across the landscape. Viewed from above, the beauty of the foliage becomes even more striking. Since the mountain is relatively easy to climb, hiking to the summit while viewing the leaves up close is another good option.

Located a five-minute walk from Maruyama Koen Station on the Tozai Subway Line, this wooded park spreads across the western edge of Sapporo. Its history began in the early Meiji period, when the Hokkaido Development Commission established a tree-testing ground here. Mt. Maruyama behind the park is covered by primeval forest designated as a National Natural Monument.
From mid- to late October, katsura trees, Japanese maples, and painted maples change color, giving the park, with its many large trees, a depth of autumn color that is hard to believe exists within the city. A morning walk through the foliage followed by a visit to the shrine makes for an ideal autumn half-day in Sapporo.
Admission is free, and Hokkaido Jingu and Maruyama Zoo are located next to the park.

Adjacent to Maruyama Park, Hokkaido Jingu was founded in 1869 to enshrine deities protecting the development of Hokkaido. It is the most visited shrine in Hokkaido. Visitors may enter freely, and taking a break at the shrine's teahouse with a freshly baked Hangan-sama sweet is a popular tradition.
The roughly 180,000-square-meter grounds form a continuous forest with the primeval woodland of Mt. Maruyama. From mid- to late October, the ginkgo trees along the main approach and the maples within the grounds change color. The long path toward the shrine buildings becomes an autumn walkway beneath golden leaves.

This municipal garden for ornamental trees is located in a residential area of Sapporo's Kiyota Ward. Nomura maple trees line a roughly 220-meter path, forming a deep-red tunnel from mid-October to early November. When fallen leaves cover the path, everything above and below turns red. In recent years, the garden has rapidly grown in popularity as one of Sapporo's leading foliage spots.
It also has Japanese and Western-style gardens, and in some years its opening season is extended through mid-November for the fall colors.

About an hour by bus from central Sapporo, Jozankei is a historic hot spring town often called Sapporo's retreat. Its foliage is said to be among the most vivid in Hokkaido. This is attributed to the area's sharp temperature differences, and Jozankei has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Fall Foliage Spots. The view from Futami Suspension Bridge is particularly impressive, offering an up-close look at the colorful leaves.
Hoheikyo Dam, about a 15-minute drive farther into the mountains from the hot spring town, is the largest foliage spot in Jozankei. The view from the top of the nearly 100-meter-high dam encompasses Lake Jozan and autumn colors covering the mountains on both shores, creating one of Hokkaido's signature fall landscapes.
During the foliage season, the Koyo Kappa Bus also operates between the hot spring town and nearby attractions.

Located in Chitose, Lake Shikotsu is Japan's northernmost ice-free lake. It is about 40 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport and roughly an hour from Sapporo, making it suitable for a day trip that includes a hot spring bath. The lake is known for its clear water, which has repeatedly ranked first nationwide in Ministry of the Environment water-quality surveys. The autumn colors of Mt. Eniwa and Mt. Fuppushi are reflected on its surface.
The landscape has a subdued palette, with the reds and yellows of broadleaf trees mixed among green conifers. Rather than intense color, the appeal lies in the foliage's harmony with the lake. The red Yamasen Railway Bridge over the Chitose River near the lakeside hot spring town creates a classic autumn composition. From an underwater sightseeing boat, visitors can see both the blue water, clear enough to reveal the lakebed, and the foliage along the shore.

Mt. Asahidake is the highest peak in the Daisetsuzan mountain range, whose mountains rise to around 2,000 meters. Although the summit stands at 2,291 meters, a ropeway reaches an elevation of about 1,600 meters, making the mountain's scenery easily accessible. Sugatami Pond is located at this elevation. On clear days, Mt. Asahidake is reflected in its blue water, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
Because of its elevation and climate, Mt. Asahidake is famous as the first place in Japan to display fall colors. The leaves may begin changing as early as late August, heralding the arrival of autumn in Japan. The view from the ropeway is exceptional, with intricate shades of red, yellow, and green spreading below like a painting.

A seven-minute ride on the Kurodake Ropeway from Sounkyo Onsen leads to the fifth station at an elevation of about 1,300 meters. By mid-September, the slopes below are colored by red rowan trees and yellow Erman's birches. Continue by chairlift to the seventh station at about 1,520 meters for a panoramic view of the Daisetsuzan peaks and colorful valleys.
The panoramic foliage visible from the ropeway brings the autumn scenery of the Daisetsuzan Mountains within reach of visitors who do not hike. The peak season at higher elevations is brief, lasting from mid- to late September. The first snow may fall in October, so be sure to bring warm clothing.

At the northern foot of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, accommodations at Sounkyo Onsen stand at the bottom of a gorge where cliffs roughly 200 meters high extend for about 24 kilometers along the Ishikari River. The Momijidani walking trail, accessible on foot from the hot spring town, takes about 30 minutes each way and passes through a tunnel of colorful trees leading to Momiji Falls.
By car, continue to Obako, where walls of columnar-jointed rock rise close to the road, and Sobakudai Observation Deck, which overlooks Ginga and Ryusei Falls. The hot spring town also has facilities for day-use bathing, allowing visitors to see the foliage at both high and low elevations and finish the day with a relaxing soak.

Drive south from Sounkyo along National Route 273 for about an hour to reach Mikuni Pass, the highest point on a national highway in Hokkaido at an elevation of 1,139 meters. The vast forest viewed from the pass's observation deck, crossed by the red arch of Matsumi Bridge, forms one of Hokkaido's best-known fall foliage scenes. The elevation difference between the pass and Lake Nukabira below is about 600 meters, so colors continue along the route into early October.
Lake Nukabira is home to the Taushubetsu River Bridge, a concrete arch bridge left from the former Japan National Railways Shihoro Line. It appears only when the water level is low. No public transportation is available, so this is a stop to make while driving between Sounkyo and Obihiro.

This garden was created as a private retreat by Shikaoi businessman Jihei Fukuhara and is opened to the public free of charge only during the fall foliage season. Around 300 maple trees surround its ponds and streams, enveloping visitors in red both overhead and underfoot as they walk the paths.
It is so popular that large tour buses arrive daily during the opening period. It offers a rare opportunity to see temple-garden-style foliage, more commonly associated with Japan's main island of Honshu, in Hokkaido.
The garden is about 50 minutes by car from Obihiro on the way to Lake Shikaribetsu. No public transportation is available.

Located at the southern edge of Daisetsuzan National Park, Lake Shikaribetsu is Hokkaido's highest natural lake at an elevation of 810 meters. The surrounding mountains change color from late September to mid-October, and on calm mornings, the lake reflects the foliage like a mirror.
Sightseeing boats departing from lakeside accommodations offer views of the foliage from the water. Visitors may also encounter northern pikas, which have survived in the rocky terrain since the Ice Age. At about 1 hour and 40 minutes by local bus from Obihiro Station, it is one of the few foliage spots in Tokachi accessible by public transportation.
Hot spring accommodations stand along the shore, and an overnight stay offers the chance to experience the misty autumn lake in the quiet of early morning.

Lake Akan is Hokkaido's fifth-largest freshwater lake and is known as a habitat for marimo algae balls. Marimo live in freshwater lakes around the world, but those in Lake Akan are distinguished by their nearly perfect spherical shape and can grow to more than 15 centimeters in diameter, giving them global significance. The area surrounding the lake is part of Akan-Mashu National Park, where visitors can experience Hokkaido's mysterious natural scenery while walking through a setting regarded as spiritually uplifting.
During the peak foliage season, the surrounding area offers spectacular views combining expansive natural scenery and autumn colors. The view from Takimi Bridge, located about 4 kilometers from the lakeshore, is particularly recommended. Red and yellow foliage contrasts with the white spray of the rushing stream, creating an evocative scene found only here.

About 30 minutes by car from Akanko Onsen, this small lake lies hidden in the forest at the foot of Mt. Meakan. It is also known as Goshikinuma, or the Five-Colored Lake, because its surface changes from emerald green to cobalt blue depending on the weather and viewing angle.
In autumn, the Erman's birches and maples around the lake turn yellow and red, creating a contrast with the blue water found nowhere else in Hokkaido. From the lakeside observation deck, Mt. Meakan and Mt. Akanfuji are reflected on the water. No public transportation is available, so visitors must travel from Lake Akan by rental car or taxi.

These five lakes are scattered throughout the primeval forest of the Shiretoko Peninsula, a World Natural Heritage Site. From early to mid-October, the autumn colors of beech and maple trees are reflected on the water. The roughly 800-meter Elevated Wooden Path is open to everyone, and its observation deck overlooking the First Lake provides a panoramic view of the Shiretoko mountain range and surrounding foliage.
Because this is brown bear habitat, always follow local instructions. Bus service is seasonal and limited, so traveling by car is more reliable.

Known since the Edo period, Noboribetsu Onsen is an exceptionally rare hot spring destination offering many different types of mineral water in one area. Much of the spring water emerging throughout the region comes from Jigokudani, or Hell Valley, which was formed by volcanic activity around 10,000 years ago.
The white steam rising from Jigokudani and other areas makes Noboribetsu's red and yellow foliage appear especially vivid. The traditional atmosphere of the hot spring town and the colors covering the surrounding mountains provide a deeply relaxing setting. The cool autumn climate also makes it an ideal season to combine a hot spring bath with foliage viewing.
The Onibi-no-Michi walking trail is illuminated at ground level from sunset until 9:30 p.m. year-round. At night, the steam and autumn leaves emerge in an atmospheric glow.

This caldera lake spreads out at the foot of Mt. Usu. From mid- to late October, the scenery overlooking Nakajima Island in the center of the lake and Mt. Yotei on the opposite shore takes on its autumn colors. Sightseeing boats depart from Toyako Onsen on the lakeshore and travel to Nakajima Island, offering views of the colorful mountains from the water.
The Toyako Long-Run Fireworks Display is held every year, allowing visitors to experience both fireworks and the autumn lake on the same day during the foliage season. The area is also easy to reach by rail, with a 20-minute bus ride from JR Toya Station. It can be combined with Noboribetsu Onsen in a two-day, one-night itinerary featuring two major hot spring destinations.

Hakodate Kosetsuen is a garden within Miharashi Park in Hakodate. It originated in the Meiji period as the villa of a wealthy merchant based in the city. The name Kosetsuen is said to have been given by the head priest of Chion-in, the head temple of the Jodo school in Kyoto, during a visit to Hakodate in the Taisho period. It means “a garden where plum blossoms are fragrant in the snow.” In 2001, it was designated a Place of Scenic Beauty, making it Hokkaido's only nationally designated cultural-property garden.
About 7,000 trees representing roughly 150 species are planted here, creating a gradual transition of colors. The roughly 100-meter maple avenue is a particular highlight. The sight of fiery red maples forming a canopy overhead is impressive in scale. After sunset, the trees are illuminated, transforming the bright daytime scenery into an atmospheric nighttime landscape.

Goryokaku, a Western-style fortress completed in 1866, is also known as a place to view seasonal flowers. Its cherry trees are especially famous, to the point that cherry blossoms have become synonymous with Goryokaku Park. In autumn, the park's trees, including around 1,600 cherry trees, turn shades of red and yellow. A walking path circles the outside of the moat, allowing visitors to enjoy the foliage while strolling through an atmospheric setting.
The view from the nearby 107-meter Goryokaku Tower is particularly recommended. The star-shaped fortress covered in autumn colors, seen together with the Hakodate cityscape, is a scene found only at Goryokaku Park.

About 30 minutes by limited express train from Hakodate Station, followed by a five-minute walk from JR Onuma-Koen Station, the shore of Lake Onuma spreads out beneath the active volcano Mt. Komagatake. Designated in 1958, this is southern Hokkaido's only quasi-national park. Lakes Onuma and Konuma contain 126 small islands, and the roughly 50-minute Island-Hopping Trail connects several of them by bridges.
From mid-October to early November, maples along the lakeshore change color, and Mt. Komagatake framed by autumn leaves forms the park's signature view. Visitors can also take in the foliage by sightseeing boat or rental bicycle on the roughly 14-kilometer route around the lake. The view of Mt. Komagatake through the autumn leaves is particularly impressive, combining expansive natural scenery with seasonal color.