Journal | 2026.09.16
This journal maps out a day of autumn colour within an hour of New Chitose Airport, with the official peak dates so you can time your visit.
Three places have published peak dates: Lake Shikotsu, Eniwa Gorge and Aoba Park. The Chitose Tourism Federation puts all three at their best from the middle to the end of October.
Mori no Auberge Mitsu sits about 30 minutes by car from the airport, in the town of Atsuma. You can stop for the colour before or after you check in.
The colour peaks from mid to late October
According to the Chitose Tourism Federation, Lake Shikotsu, Eniwa Gorge and Aoba Park all reach their best from the middle to the end of October. Because the three peak at the same time, you can see them on a single day.
Autumn colour shifts a little each year. Before you set out, it is worth checking the latest reports and the Around page.
Lake Shikotsu is 40 minutes from the airport
Lake Shikotsu, in Chitose, is a clear caldera lake. In autumn the hills around it turn colour, and the reflection on the water is the thing to see.
The trees that colour here are painted maple, Japanese maple, rowan and ginkgo. The lake is about 40 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 60 minutes from Mitsu.
We write about the lake's autumn colour itself in Autumn colour at Lake Shikotsu.
Three waterfalls run through Eniwa Gorge
Eniwa Gorge lies about 18 kilometres from the centre of Eniwa, along Prefectural Road 117 towards Lake Shikotsu. On the Rarumanai, a tributary of the Izari River, three waterfalls run one after another.
The falls are named Hakusen, Rarumanai and Sandan. Hakusen drops about 15 metres.
The autumn colour is usually at its best from the middle to the end of October. In season you can take in the three falls and the coloured gorge together.
Aoba Park is five minutes from central Chitose
Aoba Park is a general park about five minutes by car from the centre of Chitose. It is easy to drop into at the start or the end of a trip.
The Chitose River and mixed woodland lie around the park. A 3.6-kilometre loop for walking and running goes right round it.
The autumn colour is usually at its best from the middle to the end of October. In season you can walk the loop among the coloured trees.
Plan the day with Mitsu as your base
Mitsu is about 30 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, about 20 minutes from Tomakomai, and about an hour from Lake Shikotsu. There is no shuttle, so you will need a car from the airport; you can check the route on the Access and 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport pages.
There is free parking for 10 cars, with no reservation needed. Check-in is from 15:00, so on your arrival day it is easy to see the colour in the afternoon and then settle in.
| Route | Approx. time |
|---|---|
| New Chitose Airport to Mitsu | about 30 min |
| New Chitose Airport to Lake Shikotsu | about 40 min |
| Mitsu to Lake Shikotsu | about 60 min |
Spend the evening at Mitsu
Mitsu is a small auberge that takes three groups a night, in three rooms named Ki, Mi and Tsuki. There is no television in the rooms, and Wi-Fi is available in every one.
Every room has its own goemon-style soaking tub in Shigaraki ceramic ware. It is not a natural hot spring but heated water, and there is no shared bathhouse.
Dinner is an omakase kaiseki course that follows the Hokkaido season. After a day among the autumn colour, you can rest in a 120-year-old farmhouse; see the Stay page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the autumn colour near New Chitose Airport at its best?
Lake Shikotsu, Eniwa Gorge and Aoba Park are all usually at their best from the middle to the end of October, according to the Chitose Tourism Federation. Because the three peak together, they are easy to see on one day. The timing shifts a little each year, so check the latest reports before you go.
How far is Lake Shikotsu from New Chitose Airport?
The lake is about 40 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport. From Mitsu it is about 60 minutes.
Does Mitsu make a good base for seeing the autumn colour?
Mitsu is about 30 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 15 minutes from the Atsuma interchange on the Hidaka Expressway. Check-in is from 15:00, so it is easy to see the colour in the afternoon and then arrive. There is free parking for 10 cars, with no reservation needed.
Is the bath at Mitsu a hot spring?
Every room has its own goemon-style soaking tub in Shigaraki ceramic ware. It is not a natural hot spring but heated water, and there is no shared bathhouse.
Related: Around / Access / 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport / Stay | Back to the journal