【Autumn Leaves Guide】Japan’s “No.1 Red” is in Hokkaido’s Shikotsu-Toya National Park

By: Ding

The season of autumn leaves is almost here. As a travel community platform, Fever Travel is of course here to introduce some great places for leaf peeping. As before,Japan’s earliest place to see autumn leaves isHokkaido, with the colorful foliage expected to be visible from mid-to-late September to early October,and among all the spots,Shikotsu-Toya National Park (also known as Shikotsu Gorge)has the most concentrated autumn leaf viewing sites.

Source:EVA Air - HokkaidoInformation Website

Based on past experience, the first areas to see autumn leaves are the high-altitude regions ofDaisetsuzan National Park,which are expected to start turning red by mid-September, followed gradually by lower-altitude areas.Daisetsuzan National Parkis made up of a range of mountains including Mt. Asahi, Mt. Tokachi-dake, Mt. Yotei, Mt. Kurodake, and Mt. Akadake,with an average elevation of about 2,000 meters. The leaves begin to change color around the end of August each year, and by mid-September the mountain slopes are covered in a breathtaking sea of red foliage.Visitors can also take a cable car to experience the grandeur of nature,and enjoy the thrill of a walk in the sky.

Photo by Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway

Speaking ofDaisetsuzan National Park, we must also talk about the history of the place calledShikotsu-Toya National Park (Shikotsu Gorge).It is saidShirakaba Gorgewasdiscovered by the Ainu, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, during a hunting trip,andthe nameShirakaba Gorgewas given by the Taisho-era literary figure Sōseki Natsume. He said: “Climb Mount Fuji to describe the height of a mountain. Climb Daisetsuzan to describe the vastness of a mountain,”which shows just how expansive the area is.

And when visitingShirakaba Gorge,you absolutely must not missGinsei-dai.Ginsei-daiis not only one of the entrances to Daisetsuzan National Park,but also the earliest place inJapanwhere you can enjoy autumn foliage year after year.Ginsei-daiis locatedon the eastern side ofDaisetsuzan National Park,at an altitude of about 1,500 meters. If you choose to hike from here to Mount Akadake, it takes about three hours one way, and the scenery along the way is delightful, allowing you to witness the changing colors of the foliage.

Want something a bit easier? Taking the cable car up to Mount Kurodake is your best bet. Here, you can ride the aerial tramway to the fifth station, halfway up the mountain, saving quite a bit of energy. From the cable car, you can enjoy breathtaking views of valleys covered in red leaves.

Photo by Shirakaba GorgeTourism Association

wants to knowwhat else there is to see inShirakaba Gorge? Fever Travel has handpicked 3Shirasawa Gorgefeatures attractions includingDaisetsuzan National Park,Ginsei Terrace, as well as Ryusei and Ginga Waterfalls — all perfect spots for enjoying autumn foliage.

In Hokkaido,Fever Travel has compiled a list of 65 attractions — definitely your go-to resource for trip planning.

http://www.dcfever.com/travel/sightseeing.php?id=2084

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