[2026 Edition] 7 Must-See Autumn Foliage Spots in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture | Breathtaking Natural Beauty

This article introduces seven photogenic autumn foliage spots in Fukuchiyama City , Kyoto Prefecture , ranging from popular destinations to hidden gems, along with the reasons why we recommend them. Try to find a spot where you can enjoy the autumn foliage. (The best time to see them may vary slightly depending on the weather conditions of the year.)

Written by

Visit North Kansai

We are a voluntary tourism group dedicated to promoting the attractions of the northern Kinki region, specifically the areas of Tamba, Tajima, Tango, and Wakasa. The flavors of northern Kinki are not limited to crab, a representative winter seafood delicacy, but also include oysters, yellowtail, and pufferfish, as well as summer delicacies such as surf clams, rock oysters, and white squid. Mountain delicacies include Tamba chestnuts and Tamba black beans, and summer fruits such as sand dune melons, making it an area where you can enjoy gourmet food all year round. I would be happy if I could share information that allows people to visit this vast northern Kinki region many times and enjoy train travel.

more

This service includes sponsored advertisements.

• Table of Contents
• What is Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture ?
• Why I recommend Fukuchiyama City's autumn foliage: It's not just about being photogenic for social media.
• Chōanji Temple | An ancient temple beloved by people as "Tamba's Maple Temple"
• Yakuno Highland Takarayama Park | Ideal for forest bathing, bird watching, and hiking.
• Tennei-ji Temple | A tranquil spot for viewing autumn leaves
• Hinokami Shrine | A hidden gem for autumn foliage, with beautiful autumn leaves adorning the approach to the shrine.
• Futasegawa Gorge (near Shindoji Bridge) | A spot with stunning gorge scenery and beautiful autumn foliage gradients.
• Sandanike Park | Enjoy autumn foliage while strolling along well-maintained walking paths
• Fukuchiyama Castle Park | Photogenic autumn foliage scenery with Fukuchiyama Castle in the background
• summary

What is Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture ?

Fukuchiyama City in Kyoto Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of Kyoto Prefecture and is known as a castle town built by the Sengoku period warlord Akechi Mitsuhide.
With its natural beauty and scenic spots, this town offers a perfect balance of urban and rural charm.
It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from Kyoto Station and approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes from Osaka Station by express train.

Why I recommend Fukuchiyama City's autumn foliage: It's not just about being photogenic for social media.

Enjoying autumn foliage in Kyoto without the crowds

You can enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage while taking a leisurely stroll.

You can enjoy castles, temples, mountains, valleys, and parks all in one day.

The autumn foliage spots I'll introduce offer a compact blend of history and nature.

You can experience Japanese culture along with the autumn foliage.

There are hands-on programs available near the autumn foliage viewing spots.
Please read the article below and apply for your preferred experience program.

It's possible to do this as a day trip from Kyoto.

It offers excellent access to Kyoto, Osaka, and surrounding tourist destinations (such as Amanohashidate and Kinosaki Onsen).

Estimated travel time (from Fukuchiyama Station)
- Approximately 80 minutes to Kyoto Station (using the Limited Express Kinosaki train)
- Approximately 100 minutes to Osaka Station (using the Limited Express Kounotori train)
- Approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes to Kansai Airport Station (using the Limited Express Kounotori and JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service)
- Approximately 45 minutes to Amanohashidate Station (using the Limited Express Hashidate)
- Approximately 65 minutes to Kinosaki Onsen Station (using the Limited Express Kinosaki/Kounotori trains)

Fukuchiyama Station

620-0045 Ekimaecho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture

Fukuchiyama Station is a major transportation hub where the JR San'in Main Line, Fukuchiyama Line, Maizuru, and Kyoto Tango Railway's Miyafuku Line converge. It is a convenient terminal station and hub station that can be accessed by limited express train in about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Kyoto and about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Osaka. It is a familiar landmark, considered the gateway to northern Kinki. If you exit to the north side of the station, you'll find a tourist information center where you can buy souvenirs, rent bicycles and mobile batteries, and temporarily store your luggage. Station premises: Convenience store = ○, Tourist information center = ○, Automatic ticket vending machine = ○

Chōanji Temple | An ancient temple beloved by people as "Tamba's Maple Temple"

This is a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves, affectionately known as the "Maple Temple of Tamba."
Maple leaves falling into a dry landscape garden are the epitome of autumnal beauty.
The garden, entirely covered in maple leaves, and the large ginkgo tree are also well worth seeing.

The ginkgo trees add a touch of yellow to the temple grounds, which are dyed red by the autumn leaves.
The harmonious blend of the historic temple's appearance and the autumn foliage creates a scene that looks like a painting.
The best time to see them is from early to late November.

Choanji Temple

Okunobe 577, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620ｰ0928

This ancient temple is said to have been founded by Prince Maroko, the younger brother of Prince Shōtoku, under Taishi orders. The temple grounds feature scenery that changes with the seasons and a dry landscape garden, and the autumn foliage is particularly magnificent, making it widely known as "Tamba's Maple Temple."

Yakuno Highland Takarayama Park | Ideal for forest bathing, bird watching, and hiking.

As soon as you enter the hiking trail from the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, you're greeted with this view.
When the leaves fall, the whole area looks like a red carpet.
The world is completely red, and it takes your breath away.
It's about a 15-minute climb from here to the observation deck.
The best time to see the autumn leaves is from mid- to late November.

Yakuno Kogen Takarayama Park

Hirano, Hirano Town, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 629ｰ1322

Visitors can enjoy forest bathing, bird watching, autumn foliage, cherry blossoms, and more. Additionally, the 88 stone Buddha statues of Yakuno Kogen are scattered around Mt. Takakarayama, making it ideal for hiking. From the Takarayama Park Observation Deck (a 15-minute walk from the Takarayama Park parking lot), you can enjoy a panoramic view of the vast Yakuno Kogen, and from late September through winter, you can also see a sea of ​​clouds (morning mist).

Tennei-ji Temple | A tranquil spot for viewing autumn leaves

You can enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage in a tranquil setting surrounded by abundant nature.
The contrast between the Yakushido temple standing in front and the autumn leaves is beautiful.
It's a hidden gem with relatively few visitors, perfect for slowly enjoying the autumn scenery.
The best time to see them is from mid- to late November.

Tenneiji Temple

Ōro 1474, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620ｰ0077

A Zen Buddhist temple of the Myoshinji branch of the Rinzai school. Founded in 1365 by the eminent monk Guchu Shukyu. The temple grounds feature various halls, including the Yakushi-do (Medicine Buddha Hall) built during the Edo period, which preserves the tradition of Zen Buddhist temples. It is also noteworthy as a treasure trove of valuable cultural assets, including letters from Akechi Mitsuhide and Hidemitsu, and paintings and crafts designated as important national cultural properties. Surrounded by abundant nature, visitors can enjoy the beauty of each season. It is a famous spot for autumn foliage, enveloped in tranquility amidst nature.

Hinokami Shrine | A hidden gem for autumn foliage, with beautiful autumn leaves adorning the approach to the shrine.

It is one of the subsidiary shrines of Obara Shrine.
If you go a little further from the main shrine of Obara Shrine, you'll encounter a beautiful landscape where the approach to the shrine is interwoven with red, yellow, and green.
It has a mystical atmosphere, and apparently some couples choose to have their wedding photos taken here.
Please enjoy it along with the autumn foliage at the main shrine.
The best time to see them is from mid- to late November.

Tenichii Oobara Shrine

191-1 Oobara , Miwa- Oobara, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620-1...

Oobara Shrine is worshipped as the guardian deity of safe childbirth and bountiful harvests, and many people come to worship at the annual festival on May 3rd. It was founded in 852. The current shrine building was rebuilt in 1796. Nearby there is a building called a birthing house, which was once used for childbirth. Until the Meiji period, there was a custom of women who were close to giving birth staying in a delivery room for seven days.

Futasegawa Gorge (near Shindoji Bridge) | A spot with stunning gorge scenery and beautiful autumn foliage gradients.

From the wooden suspension bridge "Shin-Doji Bridge" spanning the Futasegawa River, you can look down on the colorful autumn foliage of the mountains and the stream.
The best time to see them is from early to late November.

The area is dotted with historical sites related to the Shuten-doji legend, such as the footprints of a ogre, the rock where Minamoto no Yorimitsu sat, and the ogre.

Futasegawa Stream

Oe Town Busshoji, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620-0321

The scenery, with its unique rock formations and clear streams, is among the most beautiful in Kyoto Prefecture, and the autumn foliage is particularly spectacular, attracting many visitors. The surrounding area has walking trails, and you can look down on the gorge from a suspension bridge.

Sandanike Park | Enjoy autumn foliage while strolling along well-maintained walking paths

You can enjoy the beautiful contrast between the rich nature and the vibrant maple leaves in various places throughout the park, such as the walking paths around the pond and the botanical garden.
The best time to see them is from mid- to late November.
Please also make use of the various facilities within the park, such as the zoo, botanical garden, and children's science museum.

Sandanike Park

377-1 Izaki, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620-0017

Sandanike Pond is a tranquil pond with a circumference of 1.3km and surrounded by lush greenery. It's also known as a famous spot for cherry blossoms and azaleas, and the observation deck offers a panoramic view of the city. The vast park surrounding the pond is home to a zoo, botanical gardens, a general gymnasium, a children's science museum, a martial arts hall, a multi-purpose field, tennis courts, hiking trails and more, making it a place to relax throughout the year. It's also used as a training camp site for various sports.

Fukuchiyama Castle Park | Photogenic autumn foliage scenery with Fukuchiyama Castle in the background

As the autumn leaves around the castle deepen in color, the contrast with the castle is simply breathtaking.
The "tunnel of autumn leaves" that forms on the slope leading to the castle tower (numerous maple trees extend their branches along the slope, creating a beautiful tunnel-like landscape) and the view from the hydrophilic plaza in Fukuchiyama Castle Park are highly recommended.
The best time to see them is from mid- to late November.

Fukuchiyama Castle

620-0035 Kyoto Prefecture, Fukuchiyama City, Uchiki 5

Documents and videos relating to Akechi Mitsuhide and the successive castle lords are on display. The unique stone walls remain from the time of construction, and the castle tower is the only one in northern Kinki. The view of the castle from the watchtower is outstanding.

summary

Have you found any autumn foliage spots that interest you?
How about spending your autumn holiday getting some relaxation in the beauty of nature?
For information on sightseeing, dining, accommodation, souvenirs, and events in Fukuchiyama, please see the "Fukuchiyama City-related articles" below, or visit the Fukuchiyama Tourism Association or Fukuchiyama City website.

View the Fukuchiyama Tourism Association website.

Fukuchiyama Tourist Information Center (Fukuchiyama Tourism Assoc...

439 Ekimae-cho, Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, 620-0045

The Fukuchiyama Tourist Information Center is located at the north exit of JR Fukuchiyama Station. In addition to providing tourist information, we sell souvenirs from Fukuchiyama, castle-related goods, and castle stamps, disseminate tourist information, accept reservations for tour guides, rent bicycles and mobile batteries, and offer temporary luggage storage. Please stop by when you visit Fukuchiyama City.

View the official Fukuchiyama City website.

View the Facebook page for Fukuchiyama City(Traditional Chinese characters)

Articles related to Fukuchiyama City