The area around Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture is rich in nature and offers many beautiful spots to enjoy autumn foliage.

The area around Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture is rich in nature and offers many beautiful spots to enjoy autumn foliage.

In this article, we introduce 9 recommended autumn leaves spots near Hamamatsu.

You’ll also find information on the best viewing times and crowd conditions, making it a helpful guide for your autumn sightseeing.

*The condition of the autumn foliage can change from day to day. Please check the latest foliage information before you visit.

Okuni Shrine | Mori-machi, Shuchi-gun

Okuni Shrine, located in Mori-machi, Shuchi-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture, is about a 40-minute drive from Hamamatsu Station.

During the autumn foliage season, it’s a popular spot attracting many visitors not only from within the prefecture but also from other regions.

Okuni Shrine enshrines Ōnamuchi-no-Mikoto and is the most prominent shrine in the Enshū region, with a history spanning over 1,460 years.

Known as a “famous shrine for matchmaking”, it is beloved for bringing people together and is bustling with visitors throughout the year, not just during the autumn foliage season.

Within the shrine grounds, there are around 1,000 maple trees of various sizes.

When they reach their peak colors, the entire area is transformed into a stunning tapestry of autumn hues.

A recommended spot at Okuni Shrine is the walking path along the Miyagawa River, which flows north to south through the shrine grounds.

The path is about 1 km long, and as you stroll, you can enjoy the soothing sound of the river while taking in the beautifully colored autumn scenery.

At Oguni Shrine, you can enjoy autumn foliage not only along the Miyagawa walking path but throughout the entire shrine grounds.

The maple trees over Kotomachi Pond are particularly stunning.

The deep blue-green water of Kotomachi Pond contrasts beautifully with the red maple leaves, offering a scenic view that makes you want to linger.

It’s the kind of view that makes you lose track of time as you admire it.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Oguni Shrine

Usually from late November to early December.

Crowd Information

During the season, the parking lot can get crowded even on weekdays.

After noon, you may have to wait for a parking spot, so if you want to enjoy the autumn foliage with fewer people around, visiting in the morning is recommended.

Oguni Shrine – Facility Information

Address: 3956-1 Ichinomiya, Mori-machi, Shuchi-gun

Phone: 0538-89-7302

Official Website: https://okunijinja.or.jp/

Hamamatsu Castle Park | Motoshiro-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu Castle Park is about a 20-minute walk from Hamamatsu Station, and it’s also easily accessible by train or bus, making it a convenient spot to enjoy autumn foliage.

Centered around Hamamatsu Castle, where Tokugawa Ieyasu lived for 17 years, the park offers a rich natural landscape despite being located in the city center.

Around Seseragi Pond, located next to the parking lot, the red and yellow autumn leaves are reflected on the water, creating a seasonal view that can only be seen at this time of year.

The park features well-maintained walking paths, and many people—locals walking their dogs or enjoying a stroll, as well as tourists visiting Hamamatsu Castle—pause to admire the beautiful autumn foliage.

In the park, you can enjoy not only red maple trees but also large ginkgo trees with bright yellow leaves.

Near the Tenshu Gate, in front of the statue of Tokugawa Ieyasu, stands a towering ginkgo tree, with all its leaves turned a brilliant yellow.

Against the backdrop of a stone wall built in the traditional “nozura-zumi” style, using natural, unshaped stones, you can fully appreciate the grandeur of this ginkgo tree.

The park also features a Japanese garden, offering a scenic autumn view that is another highlight of the area.

In spring, cherry blossoms bloom around the Tenshu of Hamamatsu Castle, making it a recommended spot for hanami as well.

Image credit: Hamamatsu City, Park Management Office

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Hamamatsu Castle Park

Usually from late November to early December.

Crowd Information

On holidays during the season, the parking lot can get crowded.

To enjoy the autumn foliage with fewer people, visiting on a holiday morning or on a weekday is recommended.

Hamamatsu Castle Park – Facility Information

Address: 100-2 Motoshiro-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-473-1829 (Park Management Office)

Official Website: https://www.entetsuassist-dms.com/hamamatsu-jyo/

Ryotan-ji Temple | Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Ryotan-ji Temple is located north of Lake Hamana, an area known as Oku-Hamanako, and is also famous as a site connected to Naotora Ii.

The temple is home to a Enshu-style garden designed by Enshū Kobori, a feudal lord who served Tokugawa Ieyasu, making Ryotan-ji a popular spot for autumn foliage as well.

The garden on the north side of the main hall is said to have been designed by Enshu Kobori.

During the autumn foliage season, doudan tsutsuji and maple trees turn bright red, creating a striking contrast with the moss-covered garden.

In front of the main hall, there is also a karesansui garden, offering visitors a peaceful garden view.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Ryotan-ji Temple

Usually from mid-November to mid-December.

Autumn Foliage Festival (Special Night Garden Opening)

Dates: November 28 (Fri), 29 (Sat), 30 (Sun), 2025

Hours: 5:30PM–8:30PM

Admission (Night Special Fee):
Adults: 700 yen / Elementary & Junior High Students: 300 yen

Ryotan-ji Temple – Facility Information

Address: 1989 Iinoya, Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-542-0480

Official Website: https://www.ryotanji.com/

Hoko-ji Temple | Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Hoko-ji Temple, located in the Okuyama area of Oku-Hamanako, is one of the most prominent temples in the Tokai region, with a vast precinct that includes buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties and Registered Cultural Properties.

During the autumn foliage season, the maple trees on the temple grounds turn bright red, creating a stunning display of autumn colors.

A recommended spot is the Kihai Bridge, a red bridge that offers a scenic view of Hoko-ji Temple surrounded by autumn foliage.

There are also many other spots where you can enjoy the autumn foliage.

Be sure to check out the autumn-only lace amulets as well.

The delicate lace, designed to represent autumn leaves, is beautifully crafted and available in a limited quantity of 100.

There is also a walking course where you can stroll with your dog, making Hoko-ji Temple a recommended spot for those who want to enjoy autumn foliage with their pets.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Hoko-ji Temple

Usually from mid-November to mid-December.

Autumn Evening Special Viewing

The temple holds a special night viewing in autumn, featuring illuminated autumn leaves and the Important Cultural Property, the Shaka Triad Statue.

Dates: November 22 (Sat), 23 (Sun/holiday), 24 (Mon), 29 (Sat), 30 (Sun), 2025
December 6 (Sat), 7 (Sun), 2025
Hours: 4:00PM–8:30PM

Hoko-ji Temple – Facility Information

Address: 1577-1 Okuyama, Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-543-0003

Official Website: https://houkouji.or.jp/

⇊ Check Along with the Autumn Leaves ⇊

Day Trip Zen Meditation & Sutra Copying Experience at Hoko-ji Temple to Refresh Your Mind

Shirakura Gorge | Tatsuyama-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

Shirakura Gorge, located upstream on the Shirakura River, a tributary of the Tenryū River, is known as one of the top autumn foliage spots in the Enshu region.

Along the gorge, the Shirakura Gorge Hiking Course allows visitors to enjoy a stroll while taking in the colorful autumn leaves, accompanied by the soothing sounds of waterfalls and the flowing river.

The gorge is also recommended during the fresh green season, when you can enjoy a forest bath full of negative ions, providing a refreshing experience for both body and mind.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Shirakura Gorge

Usually from mid-November to mid-December.

Shirakura Gorge – Facility Information

Address: 1577-1 Okuyama, Inasa-cho, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Shizuoka Prefectural Forest Park | Ono, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Shizuoka Prefectural Forest Park, located in Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu, is a vast park where visitors can enjoy nature observation and hiking.

It is about a 50-minute drive from Hamamatsu Station and approximately 15 minutes from the Shin-Tomei Expressway Hamamatsu-Hamakita IC.

The park is filled with rich natural forests, mainly red pines, and features walking trails, wooden playground equipment, and bird-watching huts.

During the autumn foliage season, the trees in the park change color, making it a peaceful spot to enjoy the seasonal beauty of the forest.

At Birdpia Hamakita within the park, visitors can enjoy displays of plants and animals, as well as participate in nature-themed events.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Shizuoka Prefectural Forest Park

Usually from late October to early December.

Shizuoka Prefectural Forest Park – Facility Information

Address: 2597-7 Ono, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-583-0443

Official Website: https://kenritsu-shinrinkouen.jp/

Futamata Castle Ruins (Shiroyama Park) | Futamata-chō, Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu

The Futamata Castle Ruins, located in Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu, are the remains of a mountain castle known for the battles between the Tokugawa and Takeda clans during the Sengoku period.

Today, the site has been developed as Shiroyama Park, and it is about a 20-minute walk from Futamata-Hommachi Station on the Tenryu Hamanako Railroad.

Earthwork embankments, stone walls, and the remains of the castle keep platform can still be seen, allowing visitors to enjoy a walk while taking in the site’s historical atmosphere.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at the Futamata Castle Ruins

Usually from late November to early December.

Futamata Castle Ruins – Facility Information

Address: Futamata, Futamata-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

Tobayama Park | Futamata-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

Tobayama Park, located in Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu, is about a 10-minute walk from Futamata-Hommachi Station on the Tenryū Hamanako Railroad and roughly a 40-minute drive from Hamamatsu Station.

Situated on a hilltop, the park was developed on the former site of Tobayama Castle.

It offers beautiful seasonal scenery, with cherry blossoms in spring and colorful foliage in autumn.

The park features an observation area, a large roller slide, and an open lawn space, making it a popular spot for families.

From the observation deck, visitors can enjoy a wide view of the Tenryu River and the Enshu Plain, creating a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by nature.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves at Tobayama Park

Usually from late November to early December.

Tobayama Park – Facility Information

Address: 2364 Futamata, Futamata-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

Phone: 053-473-1829 (Park Management Office)

[Hidden Spot] Urakawa | Sakuma-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

In the Urakawa area of Sakuma-cho, Tenryu-ku, visitors can also enjoy beautiful autumn foliage.

This location is a lesser-known spot, appreciated by those who are familiar with the area.

It takes about an hour and a half by car from central Hamamatsu, and the area around the local restaurant Aikawa is considered one of the best viewing spots.

Nearby, you can also find Ryuo Gongen Falls, a hidden natural attraction in Hamamatsu.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves Around Urakawa

Usually from mid-October to mid-November.

Areas to View Autumn Leaves Around Urakawa

Address: Around Urakawa, Sakuma-cho, Tenryu-ku, Hamamatsu

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This article has introduced nine recommended autumn foliage spots near Hamamatsu.

If any of these locations catch your interest, be sure to visit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.