[2023 ]Selected by our guide! 10 recommended autumn foliage spots in Nara

Nara Park is an indispensable place for viewing the autumn leaves in Nara. There are various kinds of trees such as maple, ginkgo, and cherry, and you can enjoy the autumn leaves from late October to early December, which is a relatively long period of time. There are many historical buildings such as Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and Kofukuji Temple, so you can enjoy the autumn leaves in many different places.

There are many recommended photo spots, but among them, you should definitely stop by "Ukimido ". The beautifully colored autumn leaves in the park and the floating Ukimido floating on the Sagiike (Sagi Pond) are very photogenic. The reflection on the surface of the water is also beautiful, and at night when the pond is illuminated, the scenery is even more magical.

Also, if you go to Nara Park, you should not miss taking pictures of deer and autumn leaves. Basically, you can go anywhere in the park to take pictures of deer and autumn leaves, but if you are looking for a place with more deer, we recommend Asakayagahara Park, which stretches on the south side of the main approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine! Toward the end of the season, you may encounter deer relaxing on a carpet of maple and ginkgo trees.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒630-8212 Kasugino-machi, Nara City
Phone number (Nara Park Office): 0742-22-0375
URL：https://www3.pref.nara.jp/park/

Shoryakuji Temple has long been known as "the village of brocade ", a spot known for its beautiful autumn foliage. In the fall, approximately 3,000 maple trees in the mountain turn color in turn, turning the precincts into a vivid autumnal hue.

A recommended view spot is the important cultural property "Fukujuin ". Here you can enjoy a spectacular autumn view of the beautifully landscaped garden and the brocaded mountains in the background, which are combined in a borrowed garden.
Another highlight is the maple tree tunnel leading from the entrance to the main hall. In late fall, more than 1,000 nanten (Japanese nanten) trees bear red berries, and the approach to the temple is dyed red along with the autumn leaves.

Like Nara Park, Shorakuji Temple is located within Nara City, but it is unique in that it is a place where visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage in a mountainous setting. During the fall foliage season, the temple also holds a special opening of the statue of Yakushi Nyorai, a hidden statue of Buddha, so why not visit the temple in conjunction with maple picking?

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒630-8413 Nara City, Bodayama-cho 157
Phone number: 0742-62-9569
URL：https://shoryakuji.jp/index.html

Tanzan Shrine is said to be one of the best places in Nara Prefecture for autumn foliage. "The shrine is dedicated to Fujiwara (Nakatomi) Kamatoku, famous for the Taika no Kaihin ". In autumn, maple trees, maples, and azaleas turn beautiful colors of red, yellow, and orange, and the mountain where Kamatari is said to have discussed the overthrow of the Soga clan with Prince Nakaotomi-Ohonji, is dyed in autumn colors.

The highlight is the collaboration of the world's only 13-story pagoda and autumn leaves. The "kemari no niwa "in front of the worship hall is a popular photo spot, where you can capture the soaring thirteen-story pagoda, Gonden, and the mausoleum worship place in a single photo as they are surrounded by autumn leaves.

Of course, you should visit during the daytime when the clear autumn sky is beautiful, but you should especially visit during the hours when the temple is illuminated. The various pavilions of important cultural properties and the 3,000 autumn leaves are beautifully illuminated, creating a fantastic world that is different from that of the daytime.

"Facility Information "
Address: 319 Tabubu, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, 633-0032, Japan
Phone number: 0744-49-0001
URL：https://www.tanzan.or.jp/

Located in the eastern part of the Nara Basin on Mount Muro-ji, near the border with Mie Prefecture, the best time to view the autumn leaves is in late November, a little later than in urban areas. When the season arrives, the entire temple grounds are covered in vivid maple leaves, and visitors can feel the autumnal atmosphere wherever they are.

At the entrance to the temple, ", you will be warmly greeted by the Taiko-Bashi Bridge ", lined on both sides with maple trees as red as the color of the bridge. Beyond the bridge, visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Niomon Gate and the upside-down maple leaves reflected in a pond called "Banjizu-ike Pond ". Past the Niomon Gate is one of Muroji Temple's most famous landmarks, "Armor Slope ", where you can see rhododendrons in early summer and magnificent autumn leaves in fall.

In addition to the lighting up of the temple during the season, there are many events such as illumination and projection, musical instrument performances, special Buddhist talks, and so on. If you are planning to go to Muroji Temple to pick maple leaves, please check the event information as well.

"Facility Information "
Address: 78 Muro, Uda City, Nara Prefecture, 633-0421
Phone number: 0745-93-2003
URL：http://www.murouji.or.jp/

Chogaku-ji Temple has long been known for its azaleas and autumn leaves. The temple is also famous for a collection of Buddhist stories from the Kamakura period "Sashiki-shu "but also "The mouth of the kettle, kogae-miru, momiji-kana, nabe-no-yoni ni arajito-omou ". In autumn, you can see the beautiful autumn leaves that brighten the precincts of the temple.

The most famous of all is the foliage in the Pure Land style garden in front of the main hall. The maple leaves reflected in the pond and the autumn leaves spreading out from the porch of the main hall to the garden are beautiful and have been selected as one of the 100 best places for viewing autumn leaves in Japan "" .

The best time to visit is from late November to early December, but the best time to visit is late November. During this period, the great painting of the hell is opened in the main hall of the temple, so you can enjoy it along with the autumn leaves. Located along the Yamanobe-no-michi trail, it is recommended to stop by while taking a stroll.

"Facility Information "
Address:〒632-0052 508 Yanagimoto-machi, Tenri City, Nara Prefecture
Phone number: 0743-66-1051
URL：https://www.chogakuji.or.jp/chogakujiN/

Known since ancient times as "the temple of flowers ", Hase-ji Temple offers beautiful flowers in every season. The temple is also famous for its autumn foliage, with approximately 600 maple trees brightly decorating the temple grounds in late fall. The view from the outer stage of the main hall, a national treasure, is breathtaking! The red and yellow leaves surrounding the main hall, Niomon Gate, and five-story pagoda fill the entire field of view.

If you enjoy the autumn leaves at Hase-ji Temple, you should definitely stop by the Reido Hall. The beautiful gradation of Japanese maple leaves, the silhouette of the statue of Binzuruzonja with its back to the temple, and the maple leaves reflected on the floorboards are so beautiful that one cannot help but sigh.

"Facility Information "
Address: 731-1 Hatsuse, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, 633-0112
Phone number: 0744-47-7001
URL：https://www.hasedera.or.jp/

Yoshinoyama is known as the best cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan. In spring, the entire mountain is tinted pale pink by the 30,000 cherry trees of 200 varieties that grow in clusters. In autumn, they turn bright red, orange, and yellow, blending with the green trees to create a picturesque autumn scene.

Yoshinoyama is divided into four major areas: Shimo-Senbon, Naka-Senbon, Kami-Senbon, and Oku-Senbon, and the main feature of Yoshinoyama is that visitors can enjoy different scenery in each area. Among them, the Takagisan Observatory located in the highest elevation area, Okusenbon, is densely covered with autumn leaves, and visitors can enjoy the vivid autumn colors even on the slopes and stairs on the way to the observatory.

"Facility information "*Yoshinoyama Tourist Association
Address: 2430 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara 639-3115
Phone number: 0746-32-1007
URL：https://yoshinoyama-kankou.com/

The Pingpu Iwa Park is a scenic spot where you can literally see Pingpu Iwa, a rock wall that rises up like a folding screen. The 2-kilometer-wide, 200-meter-high rock wall rises sharply like a saw blade, offering a spectacular view created by nature.

Originally, it was not famous for its autumn foliage, but about 100 years ago, "and mountain cherry trees were planted to enhance "this wonderful view, and now we can see the magnificent autumn foliage in the fall. The contrast between the autumn leaves in the park at the foot of the mountain and the magnificent rock walls is breathtaking! On a clear day, the colors of the sky reflect the colors of the trees, making the view even more beautiful and spectacular.

"Facility Information "
Address: 〒633-1214 Nagano, Soga-mura, Uta-gun
Telephone number (Soni Village Tourist Association): 0745-94-2106

"Tatsuta Park is famous for its autumn foliage, as seen in "the poem by Narihira Zaihara ""Chihayaburu, kamidai mo mo kikarumo, tatsuta gawa, kara kurenai ni, mizu kuru wa "" and the poem by Hoshi Noin ""Arashi fu, mimuro no yama, momiji ha tatsuta no gawa, nishiki narikakeri ".

In autumn, the banks of the Tatsuta River are brightly colored with yellow maples, mountain maples, and maple trees, offering beautiful views for approximately 2 kilometers. Recommended viewing spots are around the "Autumn Leaves Bridge "over the Tatsuta River. You can enjoy the view from various angles, from a distance looking at the red parapets that seem to blend in with the autumn leaves, or from the bridge looking at the reflection of the autumn leaves on the Tatsuta River.

"Facility Information "
Address: 2-553, Inaba Kurumase, Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara, 636-0141, Japan
Phone number (Nakazu Park Office): 0745-56-3851

Located on the border between Nara and Mie prefectures, the entire mountain is designated as a special protection area, so its pristine nature remains untouched. In the fall, maple trees, mizunara oak, nanakamado, white ash, beech, and other foliage trees turn the entire mountain into a brilliant color, creating a powerful and spectacular autumn view.

There are four hiking trails in total, but we recommend the Dongdaidai Course, which is suitable for beginners, for those who want to enjoy the autumn leaves. There are many scenic spots such as the precipitous cliff "Daijagura "and the Shio-kara-dani Suspension Bridge "where you can enjoy the beauty of the valley ". You can enjoy the autumn leaves in a relaxed atmosphere while hiking.

"Facility Information "*Odaigahara Visitor Center
Address: 660-1, Korogo, Kamikitayama-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara, 639-3702
Phone number: 07468-3-0312

Whether you are enjoying the elegant autumn scenery at a historic temple or shrine, or climbing a mountain to view the autumn foliage that fills the entire field of vision, there are many ways to enjoy the autumn leaves in Nara, depending on the location. The entire prefecture is famous for its autumn foliage, and you can enjoy the spectacular autumn scenery wherever you go. Depending on the location, the best time to view the autumn leaves in Nara Prefecture is from late October to mid-December. If you are planning to visit Nara Prefecture in the fall, why not stop by one of the many places famous for their autumn foliage?