There are many beautiful places just short train ride from Tokyo to admire the fall foliage. You can spend a couple of hours to Gotokuji Temple, to half a day in Kamakura, or spend a day at Kawaguchiko, Nikko, or Hakone.
1. KAMAKURA
Kotoku-in “The Great Buddha of Kamakura”
Famous for The Great Buddha of Kamakura or
“Kamakura Daibutsu” in the Kotokuin Temple. It is a large outdoor
bronze statue is a National Treasure. It is the 3rd largest
bronze statue in Japan. The temple grounds is small and easy to walk around. It
is just a 7 minute walk from the Station, there are signs to lead you to the
temple. You’ll pass several food establishments and souvenir stores on your
way.
Hours of Operation:
8:00-5:30 PM (April to Sept); 8 AM – 5 PM (October to March)
Entrance Fee: Y200 additional 20
yen/person if you want to enter the interior of the Buddha
Nearest Train Station: Hase
Station, Enoshima Electric Railway
Hase-Dera Temple
A Buddhist Temple the Hase Dera Temple houses a
30.1 foot gilded wooden Hase Kannon Statue. It is made from one single
piece of camphor wood. The temple grounds is on the slope of a small hill
so you’ll need to go up a few stairs to reach the Kannon-do Hall that houses
the statue. On the way up, stop by the Jizo-do hall which houses little Jizo
stone statues (Guardian Deity of Children) that are there to comfort the souls
of unborn children. Another must see is the Kyozo Sutra Archive. They say that
by turning the rotating bookracks called Rinzo, you can earn the same merits of
reading all the sutras. There is a certain direction you’re suppose to follow
as you rotate the rinzo. There is a nice viewing deck near here to see
the city of Kamakura.
Entrance Fee: Y300 (adults)
Operation Hours: 8:00 – 5:00 PM (March to
September) ; 8am-4:30 (October to Feb)
Website: http://www.hasedera.jp/en/
Nearest Train Station: 3 minute
walk from Hase Station, Enoshima Electric Railway. It’s about an hour train
ride from Tokyo Station.
Tip: From Kamakura Station if using a
JR Pass, one must exit the JR Station then go to Enoshin Station via the street
gate when transferring. IF using SUICA, you an pass by gate transfer by tapping
the SUICA again.
2. HAKONE
Hakone is a good destination for a day trip or an
overnight visit. You have the option of taking a Shinkansen to Hakone. There’s
quite a lot you can do here from relaxing in an onsen, visiting Odawara castle
or taking one of the scenic ropeways or trains. Take in the amazing autumn
colors on a scenic cruise on Lake Ashi and see the beauty of scenery like the
Tori Gates by the water of the Hakone-Jinja Shrine. On a clear day, you can
even see the majestic Mt. Fuji. In Autumn, you should stop by the “Sengoku-ko-gen”
or Pampas Grass Fields. It’s a hillside that is one of the best scenic sights
in the area.
Lake Ashi Sightseeing Cruise
To get here, from the east exit of the Odawara
Station at Bus Stop #3 take the Hakone Machi (H) or Hakone Kyukaido (K) Bus to
Motohakone-ko (about 50 minutes). The ride is scenic but passes zigzag roads.
The bus stops near the Ticket Office. You can use your Suica card to pay for
the fare of Y1050.
The sightseeing cruise is on a pirate ship
that has a first class and second class compartments. The first class cabin are
on the front of the ship while the second class cabin is at the back. There is
an enclosed area with seats or you can go up a level and enjoy the view from
the deck. There is a look out platform too that goes up one more level from the
deck. There is limited seating on the deck and can get chilly.
On a clear day, you are able to see a glimpse of
Mt. Fuji. On my visit though, we weren’t able to see it from the ship. But the
view of the autumn foliage was beautiful.
Train: Take Bullet Train to Odawara,
then choose among the trains or buses to get around Hakone.
Ticket: Free if on Hakone Free Pass;
Y1000 for adults for Moto-Hakone to Togendai. Y1000 for Togendai to
Hakone-machi; Y360 from Hakone-machi to Moto Hakone
For example: MotoHakone-ko to Togendai Port Y1000 2nd
class ; Y1500 1st class
Pampas Grass Fields
At Sengokubara, the hillside of Pampas Grass is
beautiful in Autumn. The Pampas Grass Fields glitters like gold and is
considered one of “Kanagawa’s 100 Best Flower Vistas and 50 Best Scenic Spots”.
There is a small unpaved road you can walk up the
hillside. There are usually a lot of people especially in the fall but is a
definite must stop. It would take you just a couple of minutes up to an hour
depending if you want to just take photos and appreciate the view or go up the
hillside and enjoy the view from the top.
t’s just a bus ride to the "Sengoku
Kogen" bus stop from Togendai Port of the Hakone Sightseeing Cruise on the
Hakone Tozan Bus Togendai Line (Bus Line T). The Grass fields is a 2-5 minute
walk from the bus stop.
Website:
Website:
Economical pass around Hakone:
http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/freepass
3. KAWAGUCHIKO
You can enjoy the fall foliage and Mt. Fuji from
several areas around Lake Kawaguchiko.From Tokyo, it’s about 2-3 hours
depending on the trains you take. The fastest route is by taking the limited
express JR Chuo Line to Otsuki then taking the Fujisan Express to
Kawaguchiko. You can just take the Fujikyu Retro or Green Bus to get
around. You can purchase unlimited day pass for the buses at the ticket counter
at the Kawaguchiko Train Station. You can also pay per trip.
They'll be celebrating the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn
Festival from November 1 to 23 with illuminations up to 10 pm. At the
Nashigawa, Kawaguchi area (north side of lake) . from 9am to 9 pm(illumination
: until 10pm) daily
The Maple Corridor (Kawaguchiko Bijutukan
road)nearest bus stop is # 19 Itchiku Kubota on the red line. You can enjoy
other maple trees on the green line.
Enjoy the "Momiji Tunnel" for autumn
colors, a maple tree covered road section along the lake's northern shore.
How To Get There: Take the bus which goes
to Oishi Petit Pension Mura from Kawaguchiko Station to Hirose Kubota Ichiku
Bijutukanmae Bus stop.(20minutes) or Take the Retro bus (Lake Kawaguchiko
Circuit)from Kawaguchiko Station to Kubota Ichiku Bijutukan Bus
stop.(20minutes)
TIP: you can get a Sightseeing Bus 2
day ticket for Y1200 which allows you Unlimited Rides on the Red (Lake
Kawaguchiko circuit) & Green Line (Lake Saiko/Aokigahara Circuit) for
2 days.
Website:
Autumn Festival: http://en.kawaguchiko.net/event-en/fujikawaguchiko-momiji-festival/
Fujikyu Railway:
http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp
Timetable Of The Sightseeing Bus :
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/heritage-tour/detail/id/1/
4. NIKKO
This is among the top spots to visit when you have
time for a day trip from Tokyo. Admire the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in
Nikko. I’m hoping to visit this soon.
Website:
http://www.city.nikko.lg.jp.e.tj.hp.transer.com
5. GOTOKUJI
Have you ever wondered where the origin of the
waving cat figure you see around Japan? The Gotokuji Temple, known
as the origin of the Maneki Neko or beckoning cat. It's the cat with one
arm waving and is believed to attract luck. The kind of luck they say depends
on which arm is waving and decor the cat may have.
Located in Setagaya, it is in a quiet local
neighborhood and don't have any other tourist place around. The temple is
beautiful especially in Autumn and is a just quick walk from the Miyanosa
station. When you first enter there is a Pagoda on the left, a big bell on the
right side and a shrine in the middle.
The shrine with the Maneki Neko are on the left
side after you enter the small gate. Once you enter there are beckoning cats
hidden around. The bulk of them are on the left side. There are many different
sizes and usually have something written on the back. These are messages of
thanks for wishes granted. There are available ones for purchase at the office
/store so you can leave your very own. To get to there, exit the small gate on
the right side of the temple and find the store across the open area.
While in the Gotokuji Temple, you can also visit
the cemetery on the grounds.
How to get there: The nearest station is
Miyanosaka Station via the Tokyu Setagaya Line. When you get out of the train
station, exit towards the main road. Go up the street on the 3rd corner turn
left going up a smaller street with 2 pillars with dragon/lion statues on top
(see photo). You'll reach the main gate of the Gotokuji Temple. Total walk is
about 5-10 minutes with an uphill slope. There is a map at the train station.
Nearest Train Station:
Miyanosaka Station
Tip: The Gotokuji station is further
from the temple and you’ll have to walk through a residential area with no
signs leading you so it’s easier to get lost.
