Tōhoku autumn leaves: 4-day campervan (Oirase→Hachimantai→Dakigaeri→Narukokyō→Zaō→Bandai-Azuma)
4 days, 3 nights ・ ≈563 km ・ 10h 32m driving (estimated)
Mid-October Tōhoku, following the foliage front south: Oirase Gorge, Hachimantai, Dakigaeri Gorge, Naruko Gorge, the Zaō range and the Bandai-Azuma Skyline — six of Japan’s 100 Best Autumn-Leaf Spots, Aomori to Fukushima in four days. Nights only at michi-no-eki / RV parks we checked for 24-hour toilets and no “no overnight parking” signs (rest-and-nap only). One-way trip from Aomori: confirm pick-up/drop-off at another branch with the rental company first. Peak timing is adjusted by this season’s forecast, and each spot on the map shows where the colour is right now.
Itinerary (9 stops)
- 奥入瀬渓流
- 八幡平
- 抱返り渓谷
- 道の駅 なかせん
- 鳴子峡
- 道の駅 あ・ら・伊達な道の駅
- 蔵王 御釜
- 道の駅 七ヶ宿
- 磐梯吾妻スカイライン
Indicative cost
| 🚐 Rental (JP STAR Treasure 1 ・ 4 days ・ weekday rate) | 約 ¥72,000 |
| ⛽ Fuel (9 km/L ・ petrol ¥161/L) | 約 ¥10,071 |
| 🛣 Tolls ・ ⛴ Ferry ・ 🌙 Overnight | — |
Tolls and ferry fares have to be worked out leg by leg from the actual route, and overnight cost depends which stops you choose — all three are calculated live on the map once you pick a vehicle and a departure date. The two figures above assume this vehicle at the weekday rate.