Best Fall Spots & Tours Near Kanazawa
The time of the year that the Hokuriku region really shines is fall. The temperatures starting heading down by the end of September and October brings actually chilly weather. This means that the leaves begin to change colors earlier than most of the major cities in Japan. Shirakawago will get to peak color by the end of October and the cities of the region follow in the beginning of November. Many of the famous mountain passes and roads close by the end of November so it is usually the last chance to see Kurobe Dam, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, the Hakusan White Road and more! The entire region is magical during these chilly months and are worth the extended trip to see everything Hokuriku has to offer.
There is something for everyone and below is a list of those great cultural activities, natural beauty and overall best spots in and around Kanazawa.
— Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
— Hakusan-Shirakawago White Road
— Tsurugi
KANAZAWA CITY / peak color: mid to late November
The largest city in the region, Kanazawa punches far about its weight and will pleasantly surprise you no matter what you are looking to do. The top places to see are the Higashi Chaya Tea House District with its beautiful traditional houses, Kenrokuen Garden and its wonderfully curated grounds and the Nagamachi Samurai District with its old fashion Edo-period streetscape. Fall means the coming of cold and rain in Kanazawa and there is a plethora of museums to check out, like the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, the Yasue Gold Leaf Museum, the Ninja Weapons Museum, the National Crafts Museum, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, the Maeda Samurai Museum and the list goes on. This is why it’s a great city to explore the region, it is easy to do half-day trips anywhere and there will always be something else to do in Kanazawa!
Join us for a pleasant walking tour around the city for a full day of most of the top sights in the city. You will see the Samurai District, have some matcha, eat in the Omicho market, walk through the castle and Kenrokuen Garden and, finally, experience the Higashi Chaya Teahouse (or Geisha) District. Check it out below!
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
KUROBE GORGE / peak color: late October to early November
Deep, deep in the mountains is the beautiful Kurobe Gorge. Starting from the quaint town of Unazuki Onsen, you can take a train over the many rivers and small lakes and through steep mountains to see many of the amazing natural sights of the area. The full train ride to the last station at Keyakidaira takes about 1.5 hours as it winds its way to what seems like a fantasy world. This is especially stunning in fall when the valleys are dyed yellow, orange and red, contrasting with the green-blue of the water below. At the last station there are some trails for walking around and breathing in the fresh air. In the future there will another route opening to connect this railway to the Kurobe Dam on the Alpine Route!
Enjoying the forests and mountains is best when you know exactly what you’re looking at. Join us for a tour of Unazuki Onsen and on the Kurobe Gorge Railway. Get the best angles for pictures and learn more about the history with one of our guides! Click on the tour card below for more information.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen | |
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| Period | May to November |
| Time | 08:00 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 / 24,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 / 21,000 |
EIHEIJI TEMPLE / peak color: peak color: late October to early November
As the spot above, Eiheiji Temple is one that shines bright in the mountains during the fall autumn leaf period. The entire mountainside as well as many of the individual trees inside the complex really bring out the beauty in the traditional architecture. The silent contemplation of Zen again the supernova of life before winter is something that is not easy to forget. If you want to see more in the area, there is a waterfall slightly past the temple that gives you an extra step into the tranquility of the mountain landscape.
Eiheiji Temple, as well as, the nearby city of Fukui are often passed by when traveling to and from Kanazawa. To get the most out the trip, join us for a tour and learn about this regions great history and importance to the Japan of today. Check it out below!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City Castle Town | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:30 – 18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station Fukui Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥25,300 / 17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥14,500 / 11,000 |
SHIRAKAWAGO & GOKAYAMA / peak color: mid October to mid November
Fall brings much change to the mountains everywhere, and the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Shirakawago and Gokayama are no exception. The bright colors of the trees against the grey-brown of the thatch roof houses make for a sight that is from times long past. The leaves here start changing colors a few weeks earlier than the big cities of Tokyo and Osaka so escape to a bit cooler and more traditional set of villages. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes, especially in Shirakawago, for you to enjoy local foods and sweets. As the temperature slowly declines, the warm local soba or the warm amazake drink are great options for the season!
It can be difficult to reach both of these easily so join us for a tour of Shirakawago, Gokayama and the wood carving town of Inami. You can try your hand at paper-making in one of the thatched roof houses! Check it out below.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥23,800 / 25,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,000 / 17,000 |
TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE / peak color: mid September to early October
Most people come to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route during the spring when you can still see the famous Snow Walls. The fall is equally as incredible but instead of the white or the snow, it is the tapestry of colors of the trees. The trip up to the top is beautiful from both the Toyama and Nagano side. During this season it is best to do the do the multitude of hiking courses at Murodo or some of the other stops along the way!
If you are coming from Kanazawa and want to piece of mind of hopping on only one mode of transportation all the way to the top, join us for a tour of Tateyama from the end of April below. If you you are coming from the Nagano side, click the link below that one for more information.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa & Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley | |
| Period | April to June |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station / Toyama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
1 Day Tour
| [Summer/Autumn only] Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the ‘Roof of Japan’ | |
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| Period | July to October |
| Time | 07:50/08:15 – 18:00-19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
HAKUSAN-SHIRAKAWAGO WHITE ROAD / peak color: mid October to early November
Open from June due to the heavy snow in the mountain passes, this road connect Kanazawa and Shirakawago through the southern route. In summer you can enjoy the numerous waterfalls and views of the famous Hakusan. This is also true of autumn as well but the many colors of the leaves enhances the beauty. The Hakusan White Road can be difficult to access without a car but if you find a bus or rent a car it is an unforgettable experience.
TSURUGI / peak color: mid October to early November
The closest and easiest way to get to the mountains from Kanazawa is by train to a small town called Tsurugi. The Shirayama-hime Shrine in the town has a history going back over 2000 years and is the head for thousands of similarly named shrines. If you are looking to not just learn more about the deep history of this area, make sure to head up the Shishiku Highland Gondola. The best views of the Kaga Plain are from here and even the ride up and down the gondola is amazing. You can even see deep into the mountains and stand in awe of fall’s majesty.
Although it is quite close to Kanazawa, Tsurugi is an excellent place to have a guide to learn more about the importance of this area in Kanazawa’s and Japan’s history. Join us for a tour that includes Shirayama-hime Shrine, the Shishiku Highland and Insect Museum! Check it out below.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Ancient Temples, Panoramic Landscape Views and Butterflies in Tsurugi | |
| Period | April-November |
| Time | 09:00-17:15 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
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