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Autumn Foliage in Tohoku

Photo by Okuaizu local photographer, Kenko Hoshi　　

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Autumn Foliage in Tohoku

Ride the scenic railways of Tohoku and admire the colorful autumn scenery from a train window

Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization

In the Tohoku region, located in the northeast of the main island of Honshu, autumn arrives earlier than Tokyo and other cities, and visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage starting from early October. There are several scenic railways in Tohoku that allow passengers to enjoy the autumn colors and unspoiled, authentic nature from the train windows, and here are three of the most distinctive ones.

Running across the beautiful valley of Oku-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, the Tadami Line offers a scenic ride surrounded by magnificent nature. From the train window, you can enjoy forests and mountains covered in vibrant autumn leaves, as well as stunning views of the Tadami River and its many bridges reflecting on the water surface.

The Rikuu East Line connects the prefectures of Miyagi and Yamagata and runs through one of Tohoku's best autumn foliage viewing spots, the spectacular Naruko Gorge. During the season of autumn leaves, the train runs through deep, undulating valleys covered with colorful trees, and the view that unfolds before your eyes after passing through the long tunnel is a must-see!

Located in Akita Prefecture, the Akita Nairiku Line runs through mountains, rivers, and rural areas that in autumn light up in yellow, red, and green. Gaze at the changing scenery through the train window and admire the different faces of Akita’s vast nature.

No matter which destination you choose, a trip to Tohoku will give you the chance to enjoy autumn at its glorious best and explore stunning sceneries that are still undiscovered by tourists.

How to get there

Tadami Line: From Koriyama Station on Tohoku Shinkansen, take the JR Banetsu Line to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and transfer to Tadami Line (about 80 minutes).
Rikuu East Line: Transfer available at Furukawa Station on Tohoku Shinkansen
Akita Nairiku Line: Transfer available at Kakunodate Station on Akita Shinkansen

Tadami Line: Around Mishima-shi, Fukushima-ken
Rikuu East Line: Around Osaki-shi, Miyagi-ken
Akita Nairiku Line: Around Kitaakita-shi, Akita-ken