Japan Nov 2025 - Autumn Trip Suggestions

[billmurray]

Hi Brainstrust,

Planning a approx 12-14 day trip to Japan approx 7th November - 20th November this year, travelling with a 1 year old. We've been to Japan a bunch of times for skiing only, so it'll be our first trip outside of the ski season or seeing Japan without snow. Figured since we will have 1 year old who really enjoys going out for walks, we will go to Japan to check out the autumn colours. Looking for suggestions on areas to visit with the following criterias;

a) Spend approx 3-4 days in each location to keep the little man happy without jumping around to much, so we are not constantly packing/unpacking.
b) When transitting, travel up to 3ish hours a day to again keep little man in check.
c) Avoid massively touristy areas
d) Mt Fuji is a must - finally time to get up close to this beast.
e) Ive always wanted to check out Shirakawago (or maybe its better in winter when covered in snow?).
f) Arashiyama & Miyajima looks cool.

Im thinking about flying into cough and starting down that south island and working our way up to Nagoya over the course of the trip to fly home. Will book J CX rewards flight (SYD - HKG - cough or HND) then return with SQ J (cough or NGO - SYD), this is the only confirmed way to get in/out of Japan in J at the moment, obivously if availablity to book ANA J direct we will.

If anyone can provide suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sudoer]

c) Avoid massively touristy areas

Mt Fuji

Arashiyama

Miyajima

Hate to say it, but if you want to avoid tourists you should skip all of these.

Shirakawa-go is also pretty touristy but going in the off season is a good idea. Combine it with Takayama.

If you absolutely had to do Mt Fuji, I'd land in Haneda, rent a car and slowly make your way towards Osaka. (A car is crucial to getting away from tourists)

Gifu and Mie have some excellent kouyou spots, Ise / Iseshima is relatively undiscovered by foreign tourists but has excellent infrastructure as a popular destination for domestic travellers.

Kyushu is not a bad option but I don't know what the kouyou situation is down there.

 

[billmurray]

Hate to say it, but if you want to avoid tourists you should skip all of these.

Yep, Mt Fuji is expected. I was more thinking of Tokyo as an example, avoid Asakusa and Shibuya as an example. Been there but nothing overtly great about those areas (im sure it's different if you live there and know the secret spots)

 

[kpc]

In October last year, we chased the Autumn colours by going to Northern Honshu Island: Morioka, Akita (+ Lake Tazawa), Hirosaki (and hired a car here to go around and stay at Lake Towada), and Aomori. Caught the JR East Shinkansen mainly but there is a scenic train along the coast from Akita to Hirosaki. Hardly a Western tourist in sight, lots of Japanese menus requiring google translate etc. We had a ball in a week! Really felt we were in Japan...probably for seasoned Japan travellers only which you seem to be.

 

[Drakecula]

We did Japanese autumn colours last November/December and while we got our fill of autumn colours and temples in Kyoto it was packed with people. For a more off the beaten path option, we quite liked Kanazawa. There's a fantastic garden there and some areas with some older architecture.

 

[elanshin]

Yep, Mt Fuji is expected. I was more thinking of Tokyo as an example, avoid Asakusa and Shibuya as an example. Been there but nothing overtly great about those areas (im sure it's different if you live there and know the secret spots)

Tokyo is. Busy period. Doesn't matter the season just that if you go to the touristy spots, its foreigners. If you go elsewhere, there's lots of Japanese and rush hour trains are jammed.

Honestly, go to Nagoya for a wander if you want a bit more of a chill but still full blown Japanese city experience. There's just very little in the way of big tourist attractions (except the toyota museum ans legoland now).

Also give you a nice base to set up day trips out to Gifu, Takayama and Shirakawago.

 

[billmurray]

Also give you a nice base to set up day trips out to Gifu, Takayama and Shirakawago.

Ok cool, could stay there at the end of the trip for like 4/5 days and maybe hire a car to go to the various areas?

 

[elanshin]

Ok cool, could stay there at the end of the trip for like 4/5 days and maybe hire a car to go to the various areas?

Depends on the itinerary. If you're going to spend consecutive days up in the Takayama and Gifu region then no its better just to go to the region but if you're going to just day trip there to Shirakawago, then it might be a solid choice.

You could also day trip towards Shizuoka/Fuji although might be easier to just move yourself in thag general direction.

 

[Himeno]

Honestly, go to Nagoya for a wander if you want a bit more of a chill but still full blown Japanese city experience. There's just very little in the way of big tourist attractions (except the toyota museum ans legoland now).

You could go to Nagoya Castle and avoid the crowds at Osaka Castle.