2026 Lake Tanzawa Autumn Leaves: A Full-Day Course

Spend a day enjoying the lake, autumn leaves, and Mt. Fuji all at once at Lake Tanzawa (丹沢湖), nestled in the mountains of western Tanzawa. The autumn foliage usually peaks from mid to late November, when the mountains ringing the lake turn color all at once and offer a magnificent view of Mt. Fuji across the water. There are many ways to enjoy it, cycling around the lakeshore on a rental bicycle from the Tanzawa Memorial Hall (丹沢記念館), or taking a boat out onto the lake for a 360-degree view of the autumn colors. This area has also traditionally hosted the Nishi-Tanzawa Momiji Festival (西丹沢もみじ祭り) around this time of year (the 59th edition in 2025); the 2026 dates have not yet been announced, so please check with the Yamakita Town Tourist Association before you go. In the morning, meet Japan's most powerful steam locomotive, the D52, at the railway park in front of Yamakita Station on the JR Gotemba Line, then pick up some local flavors at the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Yamakita before heading to the lake. This driving course lets you savor all of autumn in Yamakita Town.