5 Shrines and Temples Near Tokyo for Autumn Foliage You Can Reach by Train
Savor Uniquely Japanese Autumn Scenery at Historic Shrines and Temples
In the autumn foliage season, the Tokyo area is dotted with shrines and temples where you can enjoy brilliantly colored leaves.
The crimson and golden leaves that decorate the temple grounds, together with historic buildings, creates an unforgettable scenery.
To make your autumn trip smooth and stress-free, use "Ekispert", a route search service that makes getting around on public transportation easy.
How to make the most of Ekispert
Simply enter the nearest station to a foliage spot in Ekispert and you’ll instantly see travel times and transfer information.
With the best route to your destination at your fingertips, you can make the most of a limited autumn day without second-guessing your transport options.
5 Recommended Autumn Foliage Spots
1. Takahata Fudoson (Hino City, Tokyo)
Famed as a temple associated with Shinsengumi vice-commander Toshizo Hijikata, Takahata Fudoson is one of the Kanto region’s premier foliage destinations.
Japanese maples and ginkgo trees light up the grounds, standing out beautifully against the five-story pagoda and evoking a harmony of history and nature.
It’s about a 5-minute walk from Takahatafudo Station on the Keio Line and Tama Monorail.
Nearest Station
- Takahatafudo Station (Keio Line, Tama Monorail)
2. Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple (Narita City, Chiba)
Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple is famous nationwide as a temple for good fortune.
In the expansive Naritasan Park within the temple grounds, maples around the ponds blaze with color.
It's about a 10-minute walk from Narita Station, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the lively temple town and its beautiful foliage.
Nearest Station
- Narita Station (JR East)
- Keisei-Narita Station (Keisei Electric Railway)
3. Kawagoe Kitain (Kawagoe City, Saitama)
Kitain Temples preserves structures crafted by Edo Castle’s official carpenters, as well as rooms associated with Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.
Beautiful maples are scattered throughout the grounds, making it perfect for an autumn stroll alongside the historic streets of “Little Edo” Kawagoe.
Nearest Station
- Kawagoe Station (JR East, Tobu Tojo Line)
- Kawagoeshi Station (Tobu Tojo Line)
- Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line)
4. Hasedera Temple (Kamakura City, Kanagawa)
Located not far from the Great Buddha of Kamakura, Hasedera is known for seasonal flowers.
In autumn, the temple’s maples turn brilliant shades, pairing beautifully with views over Yuigahama.
It’s an easy walk from Hase Station on the Enoden (Enoshima Electric Railway), making it a rare spot where you can enjoy both foliage and the sea.
Nearest Station
- Hase Station (Enoshima Electric Railway)
5. Hotokuji Temple (Kiryu City, Gunma)
Hotokuji Temple is famous for its “floor maple” (yuka momiji), where the temple’s maple trees reflect in the mirror-like shine of its polished floors—an ethereal sight.
The viewing is available only during the autumn foliage season, so check the schedule in advance.
Nearest Station
- Aioi Station (Tobu Kiryu Line)
- Akagi Station (Tobu Kiryu Line)
- Kiryū Station (JR East Ryomo Line)
- Note: From Kiryū Station North Exit (Kiryu-Eki-Kitaguch) take the Kawauchi Line (Orihime Bus) and get off at “Hotokuji Iriguchi (Hotokuji Temple Entrance)”. Approx. 20–40 minutes.
Summary
The scenery created by historic shrines and temples together with autumn foliage represents a unique charm of Japan’s fall season.
By using “Ekispert”, you can easily search for the best routes and travel times for your foliage trip.
This autumn, why not ride the train to tour foliage spots around Tokyo and enjoy a memorable seasonal journey?
At Val Laboratory Corporation, we offer a convenient route search service called “Japan Transit Guide Powered by Ekispert,” which allows you to enter your departure and destination points to easily search routes using public transportation.
It’s a powerful tool designed to support your travel within Japan.
We hope you find this information helpful and encourage you to utilize it during your journey.
If you’ve used "Japan Transit Guide Powered by Ekispert", please take a moment to fill out our short survey:
> "Japan Transit Guide Powered by Ekispert" User Survey
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Japan using the country’s famously punctual public transportation!