2026 Gunma Autumn Foliage Forecast & Viewing Guide

Plan your autumn trip to Gunma using the estimated schedule below for the best viewing dates across top spots in the prefecture:

1. Oze National Park: starts mid-September; peaks late September to early October
2. Mt. Tanigawa: starts early October; peaks early October to late October
3. Mt. Akagi: starts early October; peaks early October to late October
4. Kusatsu (Tenguyama area): starts mid-October; peaks mid-October to early November
5. Hotokuji Temple: starts mid-October; peaks mid-October to late November
6. Ikaho Onsen (Kajika Bridge): starts mid-October; peaks late October to early November
7. Fukiware Falls: starts mid-October; peaks late October to early November
8. Watarase Keikoku Railway: starts late October; peaks late October to late November
9. Mt. Myogi: starts late October; peaks early November to late November
10. Shorinzan Darumaji Temple: starts early November; peaks mid-November to early December

Ref: https://koyo.walkerplus.com/list/ar0310/

*Note: Foliage timing depends on local weather conditions and temperatures. Check back for live updates as the season approaches.

Clear weather and crisp temperatures make autumn the ideal season to explore Gunma’s rich natural beauty. Hiking and walking trails traverse varied landscapes covered in seasonal foliage, with different routes available to suit everyone from casual walkers to advanced climbers.

In the heart of Oze National Park, a network of elevated wooden boardwalks provides access to Ozegahara, Japan’s largest highland marsh. From mid-September to early October, the marsh grasses shift from green to burnished gold. From the boardwalks above this shimmering blanket of golden grass, visitors have sweeping views of deep evergreen tones interspersed with autumn hues of yellow, orange, and red along the surrounding mountains. Within the wetlands, Sakasa Hiuchi Pond captures a striking upside-down mirror reflection of Mt. Hiuchi on clear autumn days.

For a rewarding yet manageable climb, hikers can head to Mt. Akagi, an ancient stratovolcano with a ring of peaks surrounding a central caldera lake. The trail winds upward through a kaleidoscope of colorful autumn leaves to the summit of Mt. Kurobi, the highest peak. Panoramic views reveal Lake Onuma below and the lakeside Akagi-jinja Shrine framed by vibrant foliage.

Mt. Myogi delivers some of Gunma’s most dramatic scenery, with jagged rock spires jutting up from the vibrant forests cloaking its lower slopes. Trails near the foot of the mountain around Myogi-jinja Shrine are ideal for a relaxing stroll through the woods, crunching through fallen leaves while admiring the contrast between towering gray cliffs and fiery maples. Hikers seeking a challenge can continue up steep paths to the base of the rocky crags for spectacular views of the cascade of autumn colors below.

Gunma’s attractive onsen (hot spring) towns offer a warm welcome as the weather begins to cool, with outdoor hot spring baths overlooking mountains, valleys, and rivers framed by vibrant autumn colors.

Takaragawa Onsen's open-air hot spring baths sit just steps from the clear waters of a fast-flowing mountain stream. Golden beech and red maple branches stretch directly across the river, enveloping bathers in a breathtaking autumn patchwork. Select baths are open to hotel guests 24 hours a day, where, after dark, views of the nearby foliage set against the night sky create a tranquil bathing experience.

Shima Onsen is a secluded hot spring town set along the upper reaches of the Shima River. It is home to historic ryokan inns like Sekizenkan, a traditional wooden structure dating back to the seventeenth century that is said to have inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s animated masterpiece Spirited Away. Day visitors can unwind at the public outdoor bath Shima Seiryu no Yu, soaking in mineral-rich waters while gazing at the river's vivid blue current framed by amber and gold forests—with autumn foliage typically reaching its peak from mid-October to mid-November.

In Ikaho Onsen, visitors can climb the town’s iconic 365 stone steps before relaxing at the Ikaho Open-Air Bath, where iron-rich thermal waters sit beneath a canopy of maple trees that blaze fiery red. Just down the road lies the picturesque Kajika Bridge, whose vermilion-lacquered railings perfectly complement the scarlet leaves draping over the stream.

Kusatsu Onsen is renowned for its mineral-rich waters and iconic yubatake, the steam-wreathed hot spring field at the heart of town. Within this highland resort town, strolling through the streets in a cozy yukata offers sweeping views of autumn colors stretching across the surrounding mountain slopes.

Pairing autumn leaf viewing with Gunma’s seasonal culinary specialties makes for an unforgettable journey. After a day admiring the vibrant foliage, visitors can head to orchards across the prefecture to pick fresh produce at peak harvest—sweet grapes from August to October and crisp Japanese pears from August to November, followed by juicy apples from late August into early December. On chilly autumn evenings, sukiyaki is a comforting local favorite, featuring Joshu Wagyu beef simmered in a sweet soy hotpot with seasonal vegetables and shirataki noodles. Gunma’s iconic soul food, okkirikomi, features wide wheat noodles in a hearty vegetable broth, while smooth, mellow hiyaoroshi sake debuts just in time to complement fall dining.

While Gunma’s foliage is stunning by day, nighttime illuminations offer an entirely different perspective after dark. One of the most iconic displays takes place at Ikaho Onsen's Kajika Bridge, where subtle lighting makes surrounding maple leaves appear to glow against the night sky. At Sakurayama Park in Fujioka, visitors can admire the rare spectacle of 7,000 fuyuzakura (winter-blooming cherry blossoms) blooming alongside vibrant autumn leaves—a scene rendered even more enchanting at night, when light-ups transform the central Japanese garden pond into a shimmering mirror of fall colors.