Yamaguchi Prefecture has autumn leaf (紅葉, koyo) spots in every part of the prefecture, so you can plan trips across several weeks. This guide covers seven places in four cities: Rurikoji Temple’s five-story pagoda, Ryufukuji Temple and Joeiji Temple’s Sesshu Garden in Yamaguchi City, Chomonkyo Gorge, Kintaikyo Bridge and Momijidani Park in Iwakuni City, Kozanji Temple in Shimonoseki City, and Kanyoji Temple in Shunan City. It lists the usual peak time, entry cost, parking and the night events whose 2026 dates are posted. Peak times come from the prefecture’s 2026 guide and are typical ranges. The guide says it will update the 2026 color status as the season approaches.
In short
- Rurikoji’s pagoda comes first, in early to mid November. Iwakuni’s Momijidani Park and Kanyoji follow in mid to late November. Kozanji runs into early December.
- Rurikoji’s pagoda is lit every night from sunset to 22:00, free to visit, with free parking.
- Night events with 2026 dates: Joeiji Sesshu Garden (weekends and holidays, October 10 to November 23), Yamaguchi Yurameki Kairo (October 31 and November 1), and the Iwakuni Castle ropeway night event (October 17 and November 21).
- The prefecture asks visitors to check recent bear sightings before going to mountain sites such as Chomonkyo and Kanyoji.
Checked with official pages on October 5, 2026.
| Spot | Usual peak | Cost | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rurikoji pagoda | Early–mid Nov | Free | Free |
| Ryufukuji | Not stated | Free | Free |
| Joeiji | Late Oct–late Nov | ¥500 by day | Free |
| Chomonkyo | Not stated | Free | 100 cars, free |
| Kintaikyo and Momijidani | Mid–late Nov | ¥500 bridge toll | Paid on peak days |
| Kozanji | Mid Nov–early Dec | ¥300 for the study hall | Free, few spaces |
| Kanyoji | Mid–late Nov | ¥500 | About 20, free |
“Not stated” means the official pages we checked do not give that item.
1. Rurikoji Temple five-story pagoda (瑠璃光寺五重塔), Yamaguchi City
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation
The pagoda is a National Treasure in Kozan Park. The prefecture gives early to mid November as the usual peak, and the pagoda is lit every day from sunset to 22:00 all year. Entry is free, parking is free and needs no reservation, and the grounds take about 1.5 hours to walk. On holidays a prefectural parking lot about 15 minutes’ walk away is also open.
- Yurameki Kairo (山口ゆらめき回廊): candles light the park on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 17:30 to 20:00. It is free, with free concerts at 18:00 and 19:30 on both days. A free shuttle bus runs for guests of Yuda Onsen inns, with 45 seats each day. Register at your inn’s front desk by 16:00 on the day. Event inquiries: Oji Lobby (大路ロビー), 083-920-9220 (in Japanese).
- Special interior viewing: during the Yamaguchi Destination Campaign, October to December 2026, a local guide takes you inside the pagoda. There is a basic course and one that adds a town walk. You book through the ANA website linked from the prefecture’s guide page. We did not find the price or times.
Address: 7-1 Kozancho, Yamaguchi City. The Kozan Park tourist information office (香山公園前観光案内所) is open 9:00–18:00: 083-934-6630 (in Japanese). Google Maps
2. Ryufukuji Temple (龍福寺), Yamaguchi City
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation
In autumn, maples line both sides of the path from the gate into the grounds and form a red tunnel. A large ginkgo tree stands in the grounds. Entry is free, and parking is free, including for large buses. The prefecture’s guide gives no 2026 peak dates for this temple. From JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station it is about 30 minutes by bus to the Kenchomae stop (県庁前) and then about a 10-minute walk. By car it is about 20 minutes from Ogori IC.
Address: 119 Odono-oji (大殿大路), Yamaguchi City. Phone: 083-922-1009 (in Japanese). Google Maps
3. Joeiji Temple Sesshu Garden (常栄寺雪舟庭), Yamaguchi City
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation and Yamaguchi City
The garden is a national historic site and place of scenic beauty, and bamboo grows beside the maples. The prefecture gives late October to late November as the usual peak. Daytime entry is ¥500 for adults, ¥300 for junior and senior high school students, and free for elementary school children and younger. It is open every day, 8:00–17:00 from April to October (last entry 16:30) and 8:00–16:30 from November to March (last entry 16:00). Parking is free.
The garden is also lit at night on weekends and holidays from October 10 to November 23, 2026, 18:00–21:00 with last entry at 20:30. Night tickets are ¥1,300 at the door. Daytime and night hours are separate, so check the night schedule before you go. Temple phone: 083-922-2272. Light-up inquiries: Yamaguchi Convention and Visitors Association (山口観光コンベンション協会), 083-933-0088 (in Japanese). Google Maps
4. Chomonkyo Gorge (長門峡), Yamaguchi City (Ato)
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation
A walking path of about 5.1 km follows the Abu River. It is free. Only the guided walking tours cost money. The Ryugubuchi parking lot has 100 spaces for regular cars and is free. The prefecture’s guide gives no 2026 peak dates.
- By train: a 5-minute walk from Chomonkyo Station on the JR Yamaguchi Line.
- By car: about 40 minutes from Ogori IC or about 50 minutes from Kano IC on the Chugoku Expressway.
- Guided walks: book through the Chomonkyo Tourist Association at 083-955-0115 (in Japanese).
Important
The prefecture asks visitors to check the latest bear sightings before heading out. It points to the prefecture’s open-data map “YP Kumap 2026” (YPくまっぷ2026). This applies to mountain sites such as Chomonkyo and Kanyoji.
Inquiries: NPO Ato (NPOあとう), 083-956-2526 (in Japanese). Google Maps
5. Kintaikyo Bridge and Momijidani Park (錦帯橋・紅葉谷公園), Iwakuni City
Iwakuni City Tourism Promotion Division
Momijidani Park is about a 10-minute walk from Kintaikyo through Kikko Park, according to the prefecture’s guide. The prefecture gives mid to late November as the usual peak. It describes white walls that set off the maples, and the temple Eikoji (永興寺) within the park, with maples near its gate.
- Bridge toll: ¥500 round trip for adults (middle school and up) and ¥250 for elementary school children. The bridge can be crossed 24 hours a day.
- Bridge light-up: from September 19, 2026 to June 1, 2027, from sunset to 22:00. On October 16 it is lit green and on November 25 purple. It may be canceled when the river is high.
- Castle ropeway night event: Saturday, October 17 and Saturday, November 21, 17:00–21:00. Bamboo lanterns are lit around the summit station, and fireworks of about 2 minutes start at 19:30 below the bridge. The ropeway round trip is ¥900 for adults and ¥400 for children. If October 17 is canceled for rain, it moves to November 21. The decision is announced by 15:00 on October 16.
- Autumn boat cruise: a “Momiji-bune” (もみじ舟) runs November 1 to 30, 11:00–14:00. A shared 20-minute mini cruise is ¥1,000 for adults and high school students and ¥500 for children aged 3 to elementary school.
- Parking: the Shimogawara lot charges a ¥300 management fee for cars (¥1,000 for buses) all day on weekends and holidays from September to November, 8:30–17:00. Overnight parking is discouraged. It is about 10 minutes by car from Iwakuni IC, or about 20 minutes by bus from JR Iwakuni Station.
Inquiries: Iwakuni City Tourism Promotion Division, 0827-29-5116 (in Japanese). Cruise inquiries: Iwakuni Tourist Association Cormorant Fishing Office, 0827-28-2877. Google Maps (Kintaikyo)
6. Kozanji Temple (功山寺), Shimonoseki City
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation
The temple’s Buddha hall is a National Treasure. The prefecture gives mid November to early December as the usual peak. It describes the stone path from the main gate to the temple gate as a tunnel of maples. The grounds are free to enter. The study hall (書院) is open 9:00–17:00 for ¥300 for adults and ¥100 for junior and senior high school students, and elementary school children and younger are free.
Free parking exists but has few spaces, so the prefecture recommends paid lots or public transport. From JR Chofu Station take a bus about 10 minutes to Jokamachi Chofu (城下町長府), then walk about 10 minutes. By car it is about 15 minutes from Shimonoseki IC. Address: 1-2-3 Chofu Kawabata, Shimonoseki City. Phone: 083-245-0258 (in Japanese). Google Maps
7. Kanyoji Temple (漢陽寺), Shunan City
Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation
The temple is known for gardens designed by Shigemori Mirei, and it was registered as a national memorial in 2021. The prefecture gives mid to late November as the usual peak. Entry is ¥500, and middle school students and younger are free. It is open 9:00–16:00 with irregular closing days, so phone ahead.
- Zazen and sutra copying: by reservation only. Either one is ¥1,000, or both for ¥1,500.
- Parking: about 20 cars, free. Large buses are also accepted.
- Getting there: about 1 minute by car from Kano IC. By bus, it is about 60 minutes from JR Tokuyama Station to the Kano stop, then a 10-minute walk.
Address: 2872 Kano-kami, Shunan City. Phone: 0834-68-2010 (in Japanese). Google Maps
8. How do I choose?
- Evening visit: Rurikoji’s pagoda is lit every night. Joeiji, Yurameki Kairo and the Iwakuni ropeway night event have set dates.
- Free: Rurikoji, Ryufukuji and Chomonkyo cost nothing to enter. Rurikoji and Ryufukuji are in the same city.
- Latest color: Kozanji in Shimonoseki, with a peak into early December.
- Same weekend: Iwakuni and Shunan both peak in mid to late November, so plan separate days.
9. Common questions
Common questions
Is Rurikoji’s pagoda lit only in autumn?
No. It is lit from sunset to 22:00 all year, according to the prefecture’s tourism site.
Does Joeiji’s night light-up run on weekdays?
The organizer says weekends and holidays only (October 10 to November 23, 2026). The prefecture’s illumination page says Friday as well, so check before a Friday visit.
Is parking at Kintaikyo free?
Not on peak days. The Shimogawara lot charges ¥300 per car on weekends and holidays from September to November.
Do I pay to walk in Chomonkyo?
No. The path is free. Only the guided walking tours cost money.
Sources (checked October 2026)
- Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation (Japanese): Yamaguchi autumn leaves 2026, Rurikoji special viewing, and spot pages for Rurikoji, Ryufukuji, Joeiji, Chomonkyo, Kozanji and Kanyoji
- Yamaguchi City tourism site (Japanese): Joeiji light-up, Joeiji visitor information, Yurameki Kairo
- Iwakuni City (Japanese): Kintaikyo, Kintaikyo light-up, Momijidani Park, ropeway night event, October 17, Momiji-bune and Iwakuni Tourist Association: access and parking
Photos: Yamaguchi Prefecture Tourism Federation. Fees, hours and event dates can change, so check the official page before you go.
