October · Valley foliage sequence
JNTO describes mountain colour in early October, broadleaf colour along the valley in mid-October and larch colour from late October. Plan around the seasonal bus timetable.
Tourism source ↗An alpine valley walk beside the Azusa River with views of the Hotaka range, October broadleaf colour and late-October larch. Private-car access is restricted and the visitor season ends before heavy winter snow.
Best time to visit: Oct – Valley foliage sequence · Nov – Final larch colour

Recorded capture month: Oct · Historical photo, not a live view
AUTUMN · Oct
Weather for your date
Today shows live hourly weather. Future dates show the best available report.
11°C
Partly cloudy
💧 9% rain chance · wind 3 km/h
Hourly forecast
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Packing checklist
Parking
Parking has not been verified for this place.
Search nearby parking ↗Leave the start blank to choose your current location in Google Maps. The pin is an approximate landmark; check the entrance and live services in Maps.
A DIFFERENT JAPAN, EVERY MONTH
Typical viewing windows. Weather and bloom dates vary each year; these are not live forecasts.
JNTO describes mountain colour in early October, broadleaf colour along the valley in mid-October and larch colour from late October. Plan around the seasonal bus timetable.
Tourism source ↗Suitability
Stroller: Not verified
Nursing room: Not verified
Noise level: quiet
Kids: Select a short riverside section for young children; mountain weather changes quickly.
Rules
Fire: no fire
Water access: river
Drones: banned
Within 30 km, closest first.
Kamikochi Konashidaira Camping Ground in Nagano, prepared with map position, photo, accessibility notes and a month-based planning window.
A two-stage mountain ropeway in Okuhida whose double-decker cabin climbs to a 2,156-metre observation area facing the Northern Japan Alps. Weather or maintenance can suspend service, and the high station remains much colder than the valley.
The spear-shaped 3,180-metre peak of the Northern Japan Alps rises on the Nagano–Gifu border. The reference Yarisawa route from Kamikochi is a demanding multi-day alpine journey with mountain-hut stays and a steep final summit section.
A secluded hot-spring village west of Matsumoto near Norikura and Kamikochi. Its mineral-rich water emerges clear and turns a distinctive milky white to pale blue after contact with air. The Alpico bus from Shin-Shimashima takes roughly 55–60 minutes, with seasonal timetables.
Five mountain hot-spring districts—Hirayu, Fukuji, Shin-Hirayu, Tochio and Shinhotaka—form Okuhida Onsen-go. More than 100 baths combine open-air bathing with alpine scenery, autumn colour and deep winter snow; access and bathing rules vary by facility.
Norikura Kogen Camping Ground in Nagano, prepared with map position, photo, accessibility notes and a month-based planning window.
A 3,026-metre volcanic massif spanning Gifu and Nagano, with shuttle access toward Tatamidaira, alpine flower walks and summit hiking. Private cars are restricted on the high roads and winter closes the mountain approach; confirm buses, road status and weather.
Matsumoto Alpine Auto Campsite in Nagano, prepared with map position, photo, accessibility notes and a month-based planning window.
Place information: Official tourism source · Reviewed 2026-09-24