Awaji Island is known for its coastline, but in autumn the hillside temples and parks change color as well. Because the island peaks later than Honshu and Kyoto, you can still see autumn leaves from late November into early December.
This guide covers five places to see autumn leaves on Awaji Island, with the best time to visit, evening illumination, and parking details.
It is useful if you want to avoid the crowds at the better-known sites, if you are traveling in December, or if you want to combine the coast with autumn color on an Awaji Island day trip.
When Autumn Leaves Peak on Awaji Island
Color starts with the trees in the parks and then moves to the temples in the hills. Check the peak period for each place before you set your dates.
| Place | Peak period | In brief |
|---|---|---|
| Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park | Around mid-October to mid-November | A large park with sweetgum and ginkgo trees |
| Tosanji Temple | Late November | The oldest temple gate on Awaji Island, with evening illumination |
| Senzan Senkoji Temple | Late November | The vermilion three-story pagoda against the hillside |
| Asano Park | Late November | Maples that cover the Fudo Falls |
| Nariaiji Temple (Minamiawaji City) | Early December | Temple grounds that hold their color into late autumn |
Late November is the island-wide peak, but Nariaiji Temple in Minamiawaji City does not reach its peak until December. Being able to see autumn leaves again after the season has ended elsewhere is what makes Awaji Island interesting.
Five Places to See Autumn Leaves on Awaji Island
These five range from hillside temples, where a gate or a hall stands among the maples, to a park that is easy to walk around.
Tosanji Temple: The Oldest Gate on the Island, Lit Up at Night
Tosanji Temple in Nagasawa, Awaji City, is known for its gate, said to be the oldest wooden structure on Awaji Island. The maples usually peak in late November, when the gate and the autumn color line up in the same view.
Evening illumination is held during the season, and in some years a maple festival takes place in late November. The dates and hours change from year to year, so check before you go.
There is parking near the gate, but parts of the road are narrow. If you are driving a larger vehicle, watch for oncoming traffic on the way up.
| Name | Tosanji Temple |
|---|---|
| Address | 1389 Nagasawa, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Phone | 0799-64-1185 |
| Visiting | The grounds are open to visitors (the interiors of the Yakushi hall and main hall are not open) |
| Peak period | Late November |
| Parking | 20 cars |
| Getting there | About 20 minutes by car from the Hokudan exit on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway. By bus, about 30 minutes from Kosoku Maiko toward Fukura, then a one-hour walk from the Toda stop |
Senzan Senkoji Temple: A Vermilion Pagoda Among the Maples
Senzan Senkoji Temple in Sumoto City stands near the summit of Mount Senzan, at about 448 meters. The vermilion of the three-story pagoda sits against the autumn color, which gives the view more depth than you get on flat ground. The temple is also the first stop on the Awaji Shikoku 88 pilgrimage.
You can drive most of the way to the summit, but the Senzan road is narrow with continuous curves. Allow extra time and take it slowly.
| Name | Senzan Senkoji Temple |
|---|---|
| Address | 2132 Kaminaizen, Sumoto City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Phone | 0799-22-0281 |
| Visiting | Open to visitors year-round |
| Admission | Free |
| Peak period | Late November |
| Parking | 20 cars |
| Getting there | About 30 minutes by taxi from Sumoto Bus Center |
| Also here | The temple bell is a National Important Cultural Property |
Asano Park: Maples That Cover the Fudo Falls
At Asano Park in Asanominami, Awaji City, the maples turn as though they are covering the 15-meter Fudo Falls. The falls were once known as the maple waterfall. The peak is usually late November, and you can watch the color with the sound of the water behind it.
The site has been written about since the time of the Manyoshu, and there is free parking for 50 cars. It stays calm even in season, which suits anyone who would rather skip the crowds.
| Name | Asano Park |
|---|---|
| Address | Asanominami, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Phone | 0799-64-2542 |
| Hours | Open to visitors year-round |
| Admission | Free |
| Peak period | Late November |
| Parking | 50 cars (free) |
| Getting there | By bus, take the highway bus from Kosoku Maiko to Hokudan IC, transfer to the Awa-shin Awa-hime bus and get off at Asano, then walk about an hour. Driving is more practical |
Nariaiji Temple: Autumn Color That Waits Until December
Nariaiji Temple in Yagi Umamawari, Minamiawaji City, is a Shingon temple whose autumn color peaks in early December. Its main image, a standing wooden Yakushi Nyorai, is a National Important Cultural Property from the early Heian period and is considered the oldest Buddhist statue on Awaji Island.
Because the temple peaks after the season has ended elsewhere, a December trip still works. For questions about visiting, the Minamiawaji City Social Education Division can be reached at 0799-43-5232.
| Name | Nariaiji Temple |
|---|---|
| Address | 394 Yagi Umamawari, Minamiawaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Inquiries | Minamiawaji City Social Education Division, 0799-43-5232 |
| Peak period | Early December |
| Also here | The standing wooden Yakushi Nyorai is a National Important Cultural Property from the early Heian period |
Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park: Color from October, and Easy Walking
Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park in Awaji City is a large park where sweetgum, ginkgo, and sawtooth oak change color in turn. Color usually starts around mid-October, earlier than at the other places in this guide.
The autumn color is concentrated around the Forest Zone. The park is large, so it helps to check the park map on the official site and pick the parking lot closest to that zone before you arrive. Nijigen no Mori, an anime theme park, is also on the grounds, which makes this an easy stop with children.
| Name | Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 2425-2 Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Phone | 0799-72-5377 (park office) |
| Hours | Open to visitors year-round (park office 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) |
| Admission | Free (Nijigen no Mori facilities charge separately) |
| Autumn leaves | A sweetgum avenue in the Forest Zone. Ask the park office about current conditions |
| Getting there | From National Route 28 or Prefectural Route 157. You can also enter directly from the Awaji Service Area |
Planning an Autumn Day on Awaji Island
Awaji Island is long from north to south, and the sites are far apart. These are the points that make the route work.
How to divide the island
・Awaji City (Tosanji Temple, Asano Park, Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park) is in the north, Senzan Senkoji Temple is in the center, and Nariaiji Temple is in the south
・Half a day for the north and center, and another half day for the south
・The roads to the hillside temples are narrow, so move while it is still light
The three sites in the north are close together and fit into half a day. Adding Senzan Senkoji Temple makes it a full day, and reaching Nariaiji Temple in Minamiawaji City means allowing for the drive down the length of the island.
After the autumn leaves, you can watch the sunset from a place on the coast or spend the evening in a hot spring, which is its own reason to be on Awaji Island. Rather than rushing through in a day, staying a night lets you take in both the autumn color and the sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do the autumn leaves peak on Awaji Island?
-
Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park runs from around mid-October to mid-November. Tosanji Temple, Senzan Senkoji Temple, and Asano Park peak in late November, and Nariaiji Temple in Minamiawaji City peaks in early December. Peak timing shifts from year to year, so check each site before you go.
- Is there evening illumination?
-
Tosanji Temple holds evening illumination during the autumn season. The dates and hours change each year, so check before your visit.
- Can I still see autumn leaves in December?
-
Nariaiji Temple in Minamiawaji City peaks in early December, so it is still worth a visit after the season has ended elsewhere.
- Can I visit without a car?
-
Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park is within walking distance of a highway bus stop, but Tosanji Temple, Senzan Senkoji Temple, and Asano Park are built around car access. A rental car makes the route much easier.
Summary
Autumn on Awaji Island starts with the parks in October, moves to the hillside temples, and continues into December. A gate, a pagoda, or a waterfall set among the maples is a different side of the island from its coastline.
A day trip from the Kansai area covers the main sites, but daylight is short during the season. Staying one night and visiting Nariaiji Temple in the south the next day gives the trip more room.
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