The northern Hokkaido area, dotted with high-altitude mountains, has the earliest fall foliage season in Hokkaido! Here are 10 recommended autumn foliage spots in the northern Hokkaido area for a drive or a weekend excursion to enjoy the autumn season ahead of others.

Autumn foliage viewing season in northern Hokkaido: September 14 to mid-October (as of September 6)

Asahidake, the highest mountain in Hokkaido at 2,291 meters above sea level, has been selected as one of the "100 most famous mountains in Japan" and is known as the earliest place in Japan for autumn foliage. Many tourists visit from all over the country to see the majestic colors spreading across the Daisetsuzan National Park.

Akadake Ginsendai, one of Daisetsuzan's famous autumn foliage viewing spots, is gaining popularity as the place where the autumn leaves can be seen the earliest in Japan. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the green coniferous trees and red and yellow broad-leaved trees overlapping each other in layers. Akadake, and the Sounkyo Onsen hot springs located at the foot of the mountain are perfect for sightseeing and refreshment after viewing the autumn leaves.

Sounkyo, a popular autumn spot in Hokkaido, is known as one of the earliest places in Japan to view the magnificent autumn leaves. The mountains, dyed in red and yellow, look like a picture-perfect world. The dynamic scenery and the autumn leaves are also attractive as you look down from the gondola of the ropeway.

This is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Biei-cho, and is a mysterious pond where the surface of the water looks blue. The blue surface of the lake, which turns various shades of blue depending on the season and weather, combined with the dead larch trees create a fantastic scenery. The contrast between the fresh greenery and the pond in summer and the golden autumn leaves on the surface of the lake are also spectacular.

Located in the village nature park, "Akaiwa Aogankyo" is famous for its unique scenery of red and blue giant rocks, and the maple trees turn red and yellow from late September to early October, enhancing the beauty of the scenery. It is also a popular spot for rafting and rock climbing, where visitors can experience nature and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Lake Shumarinai is the largest man-made lake in Japan, with 13 islands of various sizes floating in the lake. The lake is also known as a habitat for "Itou," Japan's largest freshwater fish, known as the "phantom fish," and attracts many visitors during the season. The lake is crowded with campers in summer and wakasagi anglers in winter, and in autumn the surrounding trees turn yellow, creating a beautiful scene reflected in the surface of the lake.

Kamuikotan means "village of the gods" in Ainu language, and is a scenic spot where strange rocks and monstrous stones stretch for about 10 km along the rapids of the Ishikari River. Visitors can enjoy the changing scenery of cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, autumn leaves in fall, and snow in winter. The dark green and black rocks in the valley are called Kamuikotanseki, and near the suspension bridge is the Kamuikotan Hole Group, which was created by the river over a long period of time.

Located directly below the main peak of Tokachi-dake in Daisetsuzan National Park, this autumn foliage viewing spot offers a magnificent view of the vast base of the mountain. Visitors can enjoy a variety of colors centering on Japanese white pine and white birch. The coloring of the autumn leaves and snowy valleys just after the first snowfall (first snowfall), which occurs only a few days a year, is a rare and spectacular sight that can only be seen when the timing is right.

This is a perfect spot to enjoy the rich nature of Yubari. The valley, created by the erosion of the Yubari River, is composed of oddly shaped rocks and countless waterfalls of various sizes, offering a powerful and impressive view of nature. The valley shows different expressions from season to season, and is known as one of the best places in Hokkaido to enjoy the autumn leaves, especially with Ryusenkyo Gorge and Chidorigataki Falls in autumn.

The observatory is located near the fifth station of the Nissho Pass. In autumn, the magnificent Tokachi Plain in red and yellow colors and the town of Shimizu can be seen from the observatory, as well as the Taisetsu mountain range and the mountains of Akan in the distance. In addition to the beauty of the autumn foliage, the sheer scale of the natural scenery spread out before you is overwhelming.

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