2026 Ikemine Momiji-no-Sato Full-Day Autumn Leaves Course

This hiking-style day trip heads for Ikemine Momiji-no-Sato (池峯 もみじの郷), a famous autumn foliage spot in the mountains of Oku-Yugawara. With about 540 Japanese maple trees planted here, the area colors later than the surrounding region, so the foliage can typically be enjoyed for a long stretch from mid-November through early December. In the morning, head from Yugawara Station to Manyo Park (万葉公園), where you can take in the atmosphere of the hot spring town along the riverside promenade and at the Genkan Terrace. In the afternoon, take the bus to Oku-Yugawara, then walk the mountain trail from the bus stop to Momiji-no-Sato. There is no parking lot, and it lies within a hiking course about 40 minutes on foot from the bus stop, so come prepared with comfortable walking gear. This course is best suited to families old enough to enjoy mountain walking rather than those with small children, offering a chance to encounter brilliant red maples deep in Yugawara.