After meeting your tour conductor in the morning, you’ll board the Joetsu Shinkansen “Tanigawa” or "Toki" with reserved seating. The train will depart from Tokyo station between 7:48 and 8:03 AM, and take you on a scenic ride through the countryside toward Echigo-Yuzawa Station. Upon arrival in Echigo-Yuzawa, you’ll transfer to a 42-seat coach and begin your journey into the heart of Niigata’s autumn wonderland. Important: Final train details, including exact meeting time and train details, will be confirmed 1 week prior to your tour date and sent via Viator chat. Please check your messages for updates.

Your first destination is the Hakkaisan Ropeway, one of Niigata’s most celebrated spots for autumn foliage. The ropeway ascends into the mountains for 7 minutes, offering sweeping views of the surrounding forests, which are painted in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold from mid-October to early November. At the summit, you’ll be surrounded by crisp mountain air and panoramic vistas of the Echigo Sanzan mountain range.

Minamiuonuma

Next, you’ll head to Minamiuonuma, a region famous for its rice. Here, you’ll enjoy a hearty lunch featuring the local specialty: “Honki-don”, a rice bowl made with freshly harvested Uonuma Koshihikari rice, known as one of the best in Japan. The dish is prepared with care and served with seasonal ingredients, offering a delicious and authentic taste of Niigata’s culinary culture.

After, you’ll continue to Okutadami Lake, a remote and mystical reservoir surrounded by steep mountains and dense forests. Often described as a place that doesn’t feel like Japan, this hidden gem becomes even more magical in autumn. You’ll board a sightseeing boat and glide across the calm, emerald waters, surrounded by fiery foliage reflected on the lake’s surface. The autumn colors here typically peak from mid-October to early November, and the scenery is especially breathtaking when the mist rolls in, adding a dreamlike quality to the landscape.

After your tranquil sightseeing cruise across Okutadami Lake, the boat will arrive at Ginzandaira, a secluded mountain village surrounded by dramatic peaks and dense forests. As you step off the boat, you’ll rejoin your tour bus and continue your journey deeper into the mountains, heading toward your overnight stay at Naeba Onsen.

Next, you’ll arrive at your accommodation, a large resort nestled in the mountains of Naeba Onsen located right next to the famous Naeba Dragondola. You’ll stay in a Western-style room equipped with a private bath and toilet. For guests booking as a group of 3, the room will include either an extra bed or a sofa bed. Please note that room assignments are handled by the tour operator, and requests for specific locations (such as proximity to the public bath) cannot be accepted. As this is a large-scale hotel, some rooms may be located farther from the shared bath facilities. Twin rooms are typically around 19 sq. m. and triple rooms are 25 sq. m., offering a comfortable space to relax. Each room has satellite TV, refrigerator, tea set, hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, toothbrush, razor, and towels. Yukata robes and slippers are also provided. For dinner and breakfast, you’ll enjoy a Japanese-Western buffet served in a cafeteria-style setting.

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll walk a short distance to the Naeba Dragondola base station, located near the Naeba Prince Hotel. As a hotel guest, you’ll enjoy priority access for early morning boarding, avoiding the long lines that form during peak foliage season. This gondola is one of Japan’s longest, stretching 5,481 meters across valleys and forests. The ride offers a peaceful 25-minute aerial journey through a sea of autumn colors, typically at their peak from early October to early November. The silence, the height, and the vivid landscape below make this one of the most unforgettable parts of the tour.

After arriving at the summit station, you’ll take a scenic walk of about 1 kilometer to reach the Tashiro Ropeway summit station. The path takes approximately 20–25 minutes and winds through forested terrain rich with autumn colors. Please note that parts of the trail are unpaved, so comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.

At the summit station of the Tashiro Ropeway, you’ll board your second gondola of the day. This ropeway spans 2,175 meters, descending slowly toward the base station while offering panoramic views of Mt. Naeba, Futai Lake, and the emerald-green waters of Tashiro Lake. The foliage here typically peaks from mid-October to early November, and the combination of lake, forest, and mountain creates a serene and unforgettable scene.

After descending via the Tashiro Ropeway, you’ll arrive at the base station and rejoin your tour bus. If any guests chose not to ride the gondolas, they will have waited at the bus comfortably.

Minamiuonuma

Next, you’ll head to either Minamiuonuma or Tokamachi, where you’ll enjoy a traditional lunch featuring Niigata’s famous “hegi soba”. This dish is made with buckwheat noodles served on wooden trays, known for their smooth texture and subtle flavor. It’s a regional specialty that reflects the culinary traditions of the area.

Kiyotsu Gorge

After lunch, you’ll visit Kiyotsu Gorge, one of Japan’s most dramatic river valleys. Known for its towering cliffs and tunnel walkways, the gorge becomes especially beautiful in autumn. The highlight is the “water mirror” viewing platform, where the reflection of the colorful foliage on the water creates a surreal and artistic scene. The foliage here typically peaks from mid-October to early November, and the contrast between the rugged rock formations and the soft colors of the leaves makes this a truly unique experience.

After your visit to Kiyotsu Gorge, you’ll return to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, where you’ll board the Joetsu Shinkansen “Tanigawa” or "Toki" for your journey back to Tokyo. You’ll arrive between 17:20 and 18:40, with optional stops at Omiya or Ueno Station if more convenient.