When and Where Can You See the Autumn Leaves at Shiga Kogen?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to see the autumn leaves at Shiga Kogen. It covers when the colors usually peak, which ponds and viewpoints the tourism association names, the October road closures, and how cold it gets.

We used the official website of the Shiga Kogen Tourism Association, in English and Japanese. All pages were read on 2026-10-04. Leaves change with the weather each year, so check the association's foliage report before you go.

When the colors come

Shiga Kogen is high, so autumn arrives early. The association says the colors usually start around Mt. Yokote in late September. They then move down into the lower valleys.

Mid-October is usually the peak. The association says the leaves stay at their best until late October. The first snow can come as early as early November, and by mid-November the area starts to turn to winter.

Because the area spans a wide range of heights, you can see colors for a long period. Ponds such as Hasuike and Maruike are around 1,500 meters. The summit of Mt. Yokote is 2,307 meters.

The association publishes a foliage report with dates. The latest report when we checked was dated 2 October 2026.

Places the association names

• Mt. Yokote and the Shiga-Kusatsu Kogen Route. National Route 292 crosses Shiga Kogen. The association says its highest point, at 2,172 meters, is the highest point on any national road in Japan. It suggests the route for driving and cycling in the autumn.
• Kidoike Pond. A clear pond ringed with birch and bamboo grass. Early in the morning the water is often still, so the leaves are reflected on it.
• Tanohara Marshland. Red grasses in front of the sharp peak of Mt. Kasagatake.
• Onuma-ike Pond. The largest pond in Shiga Kogen, with an emerald color. The loop trail from Shijuhachiike Wetland is the most popular trail from summer to autumn.
• Hasuike, Maruike and Biwaike ponds. The colors move from Hasuike to Maruike and then to Biwaike. The best time here usually starts around mid-October.
• Ichinuma Pond. At about 1,400 meters, near the entrance to Shiga Kogen. Japanese lacquer trees and maples turn red here early.
• Kanmandaki Waterfall. It drops 107 meters, and the association says it ranks seventh in height in Japan. It is a one-minute walk from the viewing area car park, or under ten minutes from the Kanmandaki bus stop. The association suggests visiting in the afternoon, when the sun lights the falls.
• Okushiga Kogen. At the far north end of the area. The association suggests the forest roads here for an autumn drive.

The Tanohara and Kanmandaki bus stops are temporary. The association says they are in service from 1 June to 3 November.

Roads closed in October 2026

Check road news before you drive. The association's traffic page listed these closures:

• Shirakaba Route. Closed to cars from 13:00 on 16 October to 18:00 on 18 October 2026, for a craft fair at Shiga Kogen Yamanoeki. Use National Route 292 to reach the venue.
• Prefectural Road 502, toward Nozawa Onsen. The section from the Kayano-daira junction toward Nozawa Onsen is fully closed for bridge work until 28 November 2026. After that it stays closed for winter until around May 2027. The Japanese page gives the start date as 28 September; the English page says 27 September.

When we checked, the Shiga-Kusatsu Kogen Route was open all the way to Kusatsu Onsen. The association warns that roads can close suddenly because of ice or snow.

How cold it gets

The association gives an average October temperature of around 15°C, and around 7°C in November. Around mid-October, areas near 2,000 meters often see light snow. If you drive up high, be ready for icy roads.

The days are short. The association gives an average October sunset of 17:09. For hikes in the cool season, it suggests finishing by 3 pm, because temperatures can fall quickly late in the afternoon.

Wear layers, and bring a fleece or sweater, rain gear and hiking shoes. The association says not to use an umbrella on the trail, because of the risk of lightning.

Respect the nature

Shiga Kogen is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The association asks visitors to stay on marked trails, take all rubbish home, and not feed or touch wild animals. Carry a bear bell, and avoid hiking alone where you can.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• The color status at each spot in the 2 October 2026 report. It is shown as images, which we did not read.
• Bus times to Kanmandaki and Tanohara.
• When National Route 292 closes for winter in 2026.
• Parking capacity at the ponds during the peak weekends.

Related guides

• How do you get to Shiga Kogen from Tokyo and Nagano?
• How do you stay safe at Shiga Kogen? Bears, cold, roads and emergency numbers

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. Autumn Foliage in Shiga Kogen (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (timing; places; Kanmandaki; report dated 2 October 2026)
2. Traffic Information (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (October closures; sudden closures)
3. Main road opening information (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association, in Japanese) — (closure dates; route open to Kusatsu)
4. Spring to Autumn: General Information for Green Season (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (temperatures; light snow; sunset; finish by 3 pm; wildlife; highest national road point)
5. Spring-Autumn Access Information (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (temporary bus stops)
6. Trekking (Shiga Kogen Tourism Association) — (clothing; no umbrellas; bear safety)