Autumn Leaves
Autumn Leaves With Kids: Family Hotels Where Fall Color Meets the Onsen
Peak color timing, plus hotels in autumn leaf areas you can manage with a baby or toddler, from Hokkaido to Kyushu
26 areas ยท 543 hotels (total listings across these areas)
You want to get the family out during the autumn leaf season, but heading for mountain roads and traffic jams with a small child feels daunting. The autumn trips that go most smoothly with kids are the ones where you choose an area with the sights within walking distance of the hotel or a short drive away, and where you can enjoy the color from your room or the bath as well. Rather than packing in long walks and crowded landmarks, make the hotel itself your autumn leaf base, and your baby's nap and meal rhythm stays intact.
For this collection we picked out the areas known for fall color that also have a good cluster of family friendly hotels, and lined them up from north to south, in the order the leaves turn. Each area comes with a rough guide to when the color peaks and the sights worth knowing about when you have a baby or toddler along. On each area page you can narrow the hotels down by conditions such as a room with its own open-air bath, heya-shoku (meals served in your room), or a private bath the family can reserve to itself.
Peak timing shifts with each year's temperatures. Before you leave, check the current year's color reports from the local government or tourism association, and in mountain areas pack one extra layer for your child against the chilly mornings and evenings.
The easiest shape for an autumn trip with kids is to watch the color from a riverside in the onsen town or from the hotel's own open-air bath. Touring one famous spot after another means long transfers and long waits, but if you stay somewhere that has both fall color and hot springs, you can head straight back to the room the moment your child has had enough. One autumn leaf spot near the hotel is plenty, and the rest of the time can go to soaking in different baths or resting in the room. If what you are really deciding is when to take your autumn holiday, that is covered by our autumn holiday collection, and if you would rather make outdoor play the main event, see the autumn highlands collection.
Features to look for in this collection
Hokkaido and Tohoku (peak color roughly early October to early November)
The first region the autumn leaf front reaches. Mornings and evenings turn cold, so a stay centered on hot springs works best here.
Jozankei Onsen
Sapporo's nearest hot spring retreat. The gorge running through the onsen town and the color around the Futami Suspension Bridge are the classics. Early to mid October
Noboribetsu Onsen
Steam rising from Jigokudani (Hell Valley) set against the fall color. Early to mid October
Appi, Hachimantai & Shizukuishi
Mountain color along the Hachimantai Aspite Line, which you can cover mostly by car. Early to mid October
Hanamaki Onsen
The river running through the onsen town, plus Kamabuchi Falls. Hanamaki Onsen Hotel Koyokan lets you bath hop between three adjoining hotels, and children aged 0 to 2 sharing their parents' bedding stay free. Late October to early November
Akiu Onsen
Rairaikyo Gorge and Akiu Great Falls, close to central Sendai. Late October to early November
Kanto, Yamanashi and Nagano (peak color roughly mid October to mid November)
Easy to reach from the Tokyo area by car or limited express, and the region with the most family friendly hotels. The key is timing your movements to dodge the weekend traffic. To see Kanto's fall color with kids, treat the Tokyo landmarks like Mount Takao and Shinjuku Gyoen as day trips, then book your stay in Hakone, Nikko, Kinugawa or Nasu and set out first thing in the morning. Hakone Hotel Kowakien has 7 private baths, available for a fee by reservation; children who are not yet potty trained are asked to stay out of the tubs in the large public baths, but the private baths carry no such restriction. Nikko Kinugawa Hotel Mikazuki is about a 3 minute walk from Tobu Railway's Kinugawa Onsen Station, so you can reach the onsen town without a car.
Nasu Kogen
Mountain color seen from the Nasu Ropeway arrives early. Early to mid October
Kusatsu Onsen
The Yubatake hot water field and the Kusatsu Shirane mountains. Early to mid October
Kita-Karuizawa
The foot of Mount Asama and Shiraito Falls. Mid to late October
Karuizawa
Kumoba Pond and the tree lined streets of Old Karuizawa. Mid October to early November
Yatsugatake
Highland color at Kiyosato Kogen and along the Yatsugatake Kogen Line. Mid to late October
Nikko
The Irohazaka switchbacks, Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls. The traffic jams are famous, so plan an early start or stay the night. Mid to late October
Kinugawa Onsen
The Kinugawa river boat ride and Ryuokyo Gorge, easy to combine with Nikko. Late October to early November
Ikaho Onsen
Kajika Bridge lit up in the evening, with Mount Haruna behind. Late October to early November
Hakone
The Lake Ashi sightseeing boats, the pampas grass fields of Sengokuhara, and Gora. Early to mid November
the Fuji Five Lakes
The Momiji Corridor maple tunnel at Lake Kawaguchi, with Mount Fuji beyond. Early to mid November
Chubu and Kansai (peak color roughly early to late November)
Kyoto's temples and shrines come with crowds and plenty of steps, so with babies and toddlers it is easier to base yourself in an onsen town or by a lake and go in for the day. To see Kansai's fall color with kids, families from Osaka, Nara, Shiga and Kobe will find it realistic to book a room in Arima Onsen or beside Lake Biwa and cover Kyoto's leaves as a day trip. Minoh and Nara Park work the same way: day trip spots you can enjoy without booking a hotel.
Gero Onsen
The onsen town along the Hida River and the mountains ringing it. Early to mid November
Kaga Onsenkyo
Kakusenkei Gorge and Korogi Bridge in Yamanaka Onsen. Early to mid November
Arima Onsen
Zuihoji Park and Mount Rokko, close to both Kobe and Osaka. Early to mid November
Kinosaki Onsen
Willows and maples along the Otani River, and from November the crab season overlaps. Mid to late November
Lake Biwa
A base for Mount Hiei and the Koto Sanzan temples. Take it slow at a lakeside hotel. Mid to late November
Kyoto
Tofukuji, Kiyomizudera, Eikando and more. Crowds and steps abound, so with a baby or toddler the early morning hours are the easiest. Mid to late November
Arashiyama
Togetsukyo Bridge, the Arashiyama ridgeline, and the Sagano Romantic Train. Mid to late November
Kyushu (peak color roughly late October to late November)
The color comes later here, and it pairs easily with hot springs while the weather is still mild. It is about an hour and a half by car from central Kumamoto to Aso or Kurokawa Onsen, and from Fukuoka, Yufuin and Beppu sit at a comfortable distance as bases.
Aso
The outer crater rim and the grasslands turning gold, easy to cover by car. Late October to early November
Kurokawa Onsen
The river running through the onsen town, with Aso's outer rim beyond. Early to mid November
Yufuin Onsen
Lake Kinrin and Mount Yufu. Early to mid November
Beppu Onsen
Lake Shidaka and Mount Tsurumi, close to the city center and easy going with small children. Early to mid November
Tips for traveling with kids
- checkRoads toward the famous spots jam up on peak weekends. Book near the sight itself and move first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon, and your kids will have an easier time of it
- checkMountain areas swing widely between day and night. Even if the daytime feels mild, pack one extra jacket and one extra blanket
- checkIf you are pushing a stroller, pick the flat paths by a lake, along a river, or at the top of a ropeway over temples and shrines with lots of steps
- checkAt a hotel with a room that has its own open-air bath, or with heya-shoku (meals served in your room), you can enjoy the color without going anywhere. With an infant along, this is by far the easiest way to choose
- checkPeak color moves a week or two either way depending on the year. Right before you leave, check the tourism association's foliage report for how far along this year's color is
- checkKeep your leaf viewing destination within walking distance of the hotel or a 15 minute drive. Day trip mountains like Mount Takao and Minoh have no family friendly hotels, so base yourself in an onsen town such as Hakone, Kyoto or Arima
Recommended hotels in this collection (52)
Selected automatically from the top-ranked hotels in each area.
Jozankei Hanamomiji
Jozankei Yuraku Souan
Noboribetsu Onsen Dai-ichi Takimotokan
Noboribetsu Onsen Noboribetsu Manseikaku
ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen
ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort by IHG
Hotel Shidotaira
Musubino Yado Airinkan
Akiu Onsen Hotel New Mitoya
Sendai Akiu Onsen Geihinkan Sakura Rikyu
See all hotels in this collection (52)expand_more
- Jozankei Hanamomiji
- Jozankei Yuraku Souan
- Noboribetsu Onsen Dai-ichi Takimotokan
- Noboribetsu Onsen Noboribetsu Manseikaku
- ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen
- ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort by IHG
- Hotel Shidotaira
- Musubino Yado Airinkan
- Akiu Onsen Hotel New Mitoya
- Sendai Akiu Onsen Geihinkan Sakura Rikyu
- Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
- Hotel Epinard Nasu
- Hotel Sakurai
- Kusatsu Onsen Kusatsu Now Resort Hotel
- Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Club Hotel Karuizawa 1130 / Hewitt Resort
- Dormy Club Karuizawa
- Karuizawa Prince Hotel West
- Kids Pension Maple
- Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa
- Pension Troll's Forest
- Nikko Hoshi no Yado
- Kinugawa Onsen Hotel
- Nikko Kinugawa Hotel Mikazuki
- Hotel Matsumotoro
- Hotel Kogure
- Hakone Hotel Kowakien
- Hotel Okada
- Mars Garden Wood Gotemba
- Fujilake Hotel
- Gero Onsen Ogawaya
- Gero Onsen Fugaku
- Yamashiro Onsen Housyoutei
- Oedo Onsen Monogatari Awazu Grand Hotel
- Kobe Arima Onsen Motoyu Ryusenkaku
- Arima Onsen Arima Grand Hotel
- Kinosaki Onsen Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei
- Kinosaki Onsen Yanagiso
- GLAMP ELEMENT
- Kyukamura Omihachiman
- MIMARU Kyoto Nijo Castle
- farm-inn Toricotoya
- The GrandWest Arashiyama
- Kyoto Arashiyama Onsen Kadensho
- La Vista Minamiaso
- Kamenoi Hotel Aso Park Resort
- Kurokawa Onsen Yumerindo Hanadomari
- Kurokawa Onsen Kurokawaso
- Yawaraginosato Yadoya
- Yufuin Sansuikan
- Beppu Daiichi Hotel
- Suginoi Hotel
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas suit an autumn leaf trip with a baby?
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Areas with short travel times, where you can enjoy the view from your room or the bath. Places where an onsen town and the fall color overlap, such as Hakone, Lake Kawaguchi, Arima Onsen and Kurokawa Onsen, let you feel the season without walking from landmark to landmark. Choose a hotel with a room that has its own open-air bath, or one that serves heya-shoku (meals in your room), and naps and feedings stay on schedule.
When does the fall color peak?
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The mountains of Hokkaido and Tohoku start in early October, the highlands of Kanto, Yamanashi and Nagano run from mid October to early November, and Kyoto, Arima and the hot spring towns of Kyushu peak from mid to late November. Because each year's temperatures shift this by a week or two, check the local tourism association's foliage report for the current year before you set out.
Can we reach the autumn leaf areas without a car?
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Hakone, Nikko, Kinugawa, Arima Onsen, Gero Onsen and Yufuin can all be reached right into the onsen town by train or limited express, and from there you can use hotel shuttles or local buses. Kyoto and Arashiyama are easy to cover by train but get crowded, so with a baby or toddler the early morning hours are the most comfortable. Areas built around driving, such as Yatsugatake and Aso, give you far more freedom with a car.
How far ahead should we book during the autumn leaf season?
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Peak weekends fill up early, and demand concentrates especially around Nikko, Hakone and Kyoto. Room types that suit families, such as Japanese style rooms with futon bedding, Japanese-Western rooms, and rooms with a private open-air bath, are limited in number, so lock one in as soon as your dates are set and check the cancellation policy while you are at it.
Can a child who is not yet potty trained go into the hot spring?
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It varies by hotel. On this site you can filter for hotels where the official information confirms that children in diapers may enter the tub, and you can also choose a hotel with a private bath you reserve or a room with its own bath so the family bathes alone. We recommend checking each hotel page and confirming when you book.
Are there hotels where we can enjoy both the fall color and the hot springs with kids?
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To enjoy both at once with children, filter by conditions such as a room with its own open-air bath, heya-shoku (meals served in your room), or a private bath, and you can take in the color from your room or the tub without going out to a landmark at all. In the onsen towns of Hakone, Nikko, Arima, Kurokawa and Hanamaki, the area around the hotel is itself a well known spot for autumn leaves.