Our love for Japan exhibits no indicators of slowing down. More than 2.7 million Americans visited Japan in 2024, a whopping improve of 33% over 2023, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). From Tokyo’s neon nightlife and unimaginable meals scene to Kyoto’s laid-back appeal and cultural sights, as much as the mountain onsens, there are many causes we’re returning time and time once more. Indeed, Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Japan as their number-one favorite country in our Readers’ Choice Awards this yr.
Pair this obsession with Japan with the continued renaissance of prepare journey, and also you’ve obtained a bucket listing journey like no different. While the scenes out of Japan’s home windows get notably picturesque round cherry blossom season, there’s one other time we like visiting, saving a good amount of money in the method: throughout autumn. Noticing the huge quantity of world month-to-month searches for “autumn in Japan,” the specialists at JR Pass have compiled an inventory of the most effective prepare journeys in Japan for leaf-peeping. Using inclusions and mentions from publications together with Condé Nast Traveler and a handful of rivals, TripAdvisor evaluations, social media hashtag frequency, and climate knowledge from Climate Japan, JR Pass has revealed a number of the most effective autumnal adventures by the nation.
A model of this text initially appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Japanese prepare in a maple tunnelGetty Images
5. Eizan Railway, Kyoto
With 2,572 Instagram tags capturing its magnificence, the Eizan Railway is clearly a favourite amongst leaf-peepers. Its most scenic stretch contains a pure tunnel created by maple timber that arch over the observe, making a fiery show that passes in a flash as you zoom out of Tokyo as you head to Kyoto.
4. Keihan Railway, Kyoto & Osaka
In fourth place is the Keihan Main Line connecting Sanjō Station in Kyoto with Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka. Sunny skies for virtually half of the autumn season enable the orange and brown hues of the panorama to replicate into carriages because the prepare whizzes previous well-known temple gardens and conventional neighborhoods.