[2025 Edition] 6 Famous Spots for Viewing Autumn Leaves in Yabu City , Hyogo Hyogo Prefecture ! Introducing Popular and Hidden Gems

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• Mt. Hyonosen and Mt. Hachibuse (Best time to see: early October to late October)
• Yokoiki Valley(Best time to see: late October to early November)
• Tendaki Falls (Best time to see: late October to mid-November)
• Yabu Shrine (Best time to see: early November to mid-November)
• Nagusa Shrine (Best time to see: early November to mid-November)
• Nikkoin Temple (Best time to see from early November to mid-November)
• Besides the autumn leaves, there are plenty of other autumn plants to see!
• There are plenty of other recommended spots in Yabu City!

Mt. Hyonosen and Mt. Hachibuse (Best time to see: early October to late October)

Mt. Hyonosen and Mt. Hachibuse are designated as "Mt. Hyonosen, Mt. Ushiroyama, Mt. Nagi Quasi-National Park." The surrounding area is blessed with an excellent natural environment, with the only remaining subarctic wetland plants in western Japan, and the golden eagle, a national natural monument, living in this area, making it one of the best natural environments in the Kinki region! In the autumn foliage season, the entire mountain is colored, and you can enjoy hiking while looking at the beautiful scenery.
In addition, Mt. Hyonosen holds the "Mt. Hyonosen Autumn Leaves Climbing Festival" in mid-October, and many people come to see the autumn leaves! 🏔

Autumn leaves of Mt. Hyonosen

Autumn leaves on Mt. Hachibuse

Mount Hyonosen

667-0324 Yokoiki, Oyacho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Mt. Hyonosen (1,510m), the highest mountain in Hyogo Prefecture, is a treasure trove of nature that is among the best in the Kinki region! The surrounding area is blessed with an excellent natural environment, and the only remaining subarctic wetland plants in western Japan are in this area, and the golden eagle, a national natural monument, lives here, making this an area that maintains one of the best natural environments in the Kinki region. During the green season, many people visit the area to enjoy the views and plants, as well as mountain climbing, hiking, valley walks, and camping. Many photographers also come to capture Mt. Hyonosen, which shows different faces depending on the season. One of the most popular photos is the "upside-down Mt. Hyonose" reflected in the rice paddies, taken from the terraced rice fields of Bekku before rice planting in early May, and is visited by many photographers every year.

Mount Hachibuse

〒667-1344 Hyogo Prefecture, Mikata District, Kami Town, Muraoka Ward...

Mount Hachibuse is a mountain on the border between Yabu City and Kami Town in Mikata County, with an altitude of 1,221 meters. It is a high mountain that stretches from Mt. Hyonosen to the south to Mt. Torokawa to the north. It stretches from Mt. Hachibuse through Mt. Takamaru and Mt. Akakura to Mt. Hyonosen, and is part of the Mt. Hyonosen Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park. The summit of Mt. Hachibuse is slightly concave, like a large bowl turned upside down, and it is said that the name comes from this shape. A large, gently sloping grassland stretches out above the ground, making it a great place to enjoy a plateau hike. In autumn, the vast grassland that spreads across the foot of Mt. Hachibuse is particularly spectacular! Additionally, there are colonies of rare plants that grow in high altitude marshes, such as colonies of Menyanthes tsunderen and Yamadorizenmai, which are a delight to the eyes and souls of hikers.

Yokoiki Valley(Best time to see: late October to early November)

Yokoiki Valley is a valley located on the way to Odan-ke-daira, which is a climbing route for Mt. Hyonosen from the Oyacho side of Yabu City.
The source of the Oya River flows along the Yokoiki Valley all the way to Mt. Hyonosen.
This is a course where you can enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons, and is recommended in summer, but the autumn leaves are also stunning, making it the perfect hiking course!

©Atsushi Fukumoto

Yokoiki Valley

667-0324 Yokoiki, Oyacho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Yokoiki Valley is a valley on the way to Odan-ga-naru, a climbing route to Mt. Mt. Hyonosen from the Oyacho side of Yabu City. The source of the Oya River continues along Yokoiki Valley to Mt. Hyonosen. This course allows you to enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons, and the fresh greenery and autumn leaves are particularly spectacular. The valley is also a romantic place, as it is home to the downfall of the Heike clan, and along the valley there are rock formations and pools related to the Heike legend, such as the ruins of Heike Castle and Himegabuchi.

Tendaki Falls (Best time to see: late October to mid-November)

From the parking lot at the entrance to Tendaki Valley, climb the mountain path along the mountain stream for about 1.2km, and suddenly a white column of water will appear before your eyes. This waterfall, which flows down as if it is falling from the sky, is Tentaki, the prefecture's largest waterfall with a drop of 98 meters. Due to its majestic and powerful appearance and the legends surrounding the waterfall, Tendaki has been selected as one of the "100 Best Waterfalls in Japan." Many tourists from all over the country visit to see the spectacular waterfall with the autumn leaves behind! 🍂

Tendaki Falls

667-0322 Hyogo Prefecture Yabu City Oyacho Ikada

From the parking lot at the entrance to Tendaki Valley, walk 1.2km up the mountain path alongside the stream and suddenly a column of white water will appear before you. This waterfall, which flows down as if it is falling from the sky, is Tendaki, the prefecture's largest waterfall with a drop of 98m. Tendaki was selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Waterfalls because of its majestic and powerful appearance and the legends surrounding it. In the valley leading to Tendaki, there are also waterfalls such as Meotodaki, Tsutsumigataki, and Itodaki. The waterfalls change color with the seasons, from the fresh greenery of spring to the autumn leaves of autumn, and frozen in the bitter cold.

Yabu Shrine (Best time to see: early November to mid-November)

Since ancient times, he has been known as "Yabu no Myojin-san" and has been loved by locals as the god of agriculture.
This shrine is one of the five Tajima shrines.
As one of the most famous spots for viewing autumn leaves in Hyogo Prefecture, it becomes crowded with many tourists and photographers around early November.
The Yabu Autumn Leaves Festival is held from early to late November, during which the area is lit up at night.

Yabu Shrine

667-0112 840 Yabu Ichiba, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

This shrine is one of the five major shrines in Tajima. It has long been known as "Yabu no Myojin-san"(a title for Shinto gods) and has been loved by locals as the god of agriculture. In addition, since the buying and selling of cattle, which are necessary for farming, was under the control of Yabu Shrine, the god of cattle is also enshrined there. As one of the most famous spots for viewing autumn leaves in Hyogo Prefecture, it is crowded with many tourists and photographers in early November.

Nagusa Shrine (Best time to see: early November to mid-November)

The three-story pagoda at Izumo Taisha Shrine was given as a gift in return for providing thick, impressive Myoken cedar trees for the major renovation of the shrine.
Within the grounds there is a giant Myoken cedar tree that is thought to be 250 to 400 years old.
You can enjoy the combination of the vermilion color of the three-story pagoda and the vivid autumn leaves.

Ⓒ Arisa Tomita

Nagusa Shrine

667-0051 1755-6 Ishihara, Yoka-cho, Hyogo Prefecture

Nagusa Shrine is located in Yoka-cho, Yabu City, and is situated halfway up Mt. Myoken. Formerly known as "Myokensha," it flourished as a base for Myoken faith in the Tajima region in the early modern period. In 2010, Nagusa Shrine was designated a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. The large main hall and worship hall, built during the Edo period, are truly magnificent, and feature intricate carvings of dragons, lions, and phoenixes, and making it a valuable structure representing Hyogo Prefecture. Nagusa Shrine also has a three-story pagoda, which was a gift in return for the donation of thick, impressive Myoken cedar wood for the extensive renovation of Izumo Taisha Shrine. The tower is about 23m tall, was built during the Muromachi period, and is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. Within the shrine grounds still stands a giant Myoken cedar tree that is thought to be 250 to 400 years old.

Nikkoin Temple (Best time to see from early November to mid-November)

An ancient and prestigious Shingon Buddhist temple said to have been founded by Nikko Keichou.
The temple grounds are a scenic spot overlooking the Ishihara village, and there is a large 600-year-old ginkgo tree within the grounds.
In the autumn, when the leaves change color, the scenery looks like a carpet of yellow leaves.

Nikkoin Temple

667-0051 450 Ishihara, Yoka-cho, Yabu-shi, Hyogo Prefecture

This is an old and venerable Shingon Buddhist temple said to have been founded by Nikko Keicho. The temple grounds are a scenic spot overlooking the Ishihara village, and within the temple grounds there is a large 600-year-old ginkgo tree. In the autumn foliage season, the view looks like a carpet of yellow leaves, making it a delight to visit.

Besides the autumn leaves, there are plenty of other autumn plants to see!

You can see Japanese silver grass at Hachi Plateau and Sugigasawa Plateau, and bush clover at Koshoji Temple!
The best time to see silver grass is from early September to early November, while the best time to see bush clover is mid-September.

Japanese silver grass of Hachi Plateau

Japanese silver grass of Sugigasawa Plateau

Bush clover at Koshoji Temple

Hachi Highlands Ski Resort

667-1124 909-1 Nishiyokokado, Tando, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Hachi Highlands Ski Resort located at an altitude of 800 to 900 meters on the middle slopes of Mt. Hachibuse, is one of the leading outdoor areas in Western Japan. You can enjoy a variety of sports throughout the year, including mountain climbing, hiking, and paragliding, and in winter, skiing and snowboarding.

Sugigasawa Plateau

667-1117 Todoroki, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Located at an altitude of 720m to 850m, it covers an area of approximately 300ha. There is a wetland in the center. Some wetland plants grow here. There is a log rest area, and you can feel the refreshing breeze that will soothe your tired body after a long day of hiking. In autumn, a grassland of silver grass spreads all around.

Koshoji Temple

667-0043 1156 Takayanagi, Yoka-cho, Yabu-shi, Hyogo Prefecture

Many people come to see the magnolia trees in spring and the white bush clover in early autumn. The magnolia trees in the temple grounds come in eight varieties of six colors, including white, pink, red, brocade, purple, and yellow, which bloom in turn from early April to early May. In autumn, from early September, about 500 white bush clover flowers bloom in abundance, filling the temple grounds and the approach to the temple. As a temple of flowers, the "flower sermons" are a popular tourist attraction at Koshoji Temple from spring to autumn. (Reservation required) There is also a statue of Kobo Daishi called "Nade Kobo," which is said to bring good luck if you rub the area you want to heal. [Admission fee] 300 yen

There are plenty of other recommended spots in Yabu City!

There are many things to see in Yabu city, such as Tentaki Falls and Yabu Shrine. For an area guide and recommended spots in Yabu city, please see this article.