Hokkaido's Taisetsu Mountains Burn with Fall Colors
By wchung | 21 Mar, 2026

Left: Hikers take photos of autumn leaves reflected on Takimi Lake on Taisetsu Mountain Range at Kamikawacho on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Kota Ishikawa); Above: Mt Asahidake is the tallest of the volcanic peaks in the Taisetsu Range.

The foothills of the Taisetsu Range boast some of the world’s most spectacular eruptions of autumn colors. These mountains form the central backbone of Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

The many peaks that stretch along the range’s 32-mile east-west ridgeline rise over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) above sea level and are snow-covered 8 months of the year. The highest peak is Mt. Asahidake on the western edge which is thought to be erupted as recently as 500 years ago.

The indigenous caucasoid people known as the Ainu called the region “God’s Garden”. Today it’s called “The Roof of Hokkaido” and is Japan’s biggest National Park, covering 230,000 hectare in the very center of the island. It attracts large numbers of skiers as well as hikers and tourists.