Continue discovering Japan in autumn with a trip to Mt. Komagatake, three hours from Tokyo by bullet train which has have made travelling to Akita much easier which is just right for a trip with the family. At Kakunodate take time to explore the town where the Edo era atmosphere still welcomes you to this day with old Samurai houses and rickshaws.  The town is also famous for its hanging cherry blossoms and a buckwheat noodle shop, Chosuke, well known for its excellent flavours, partly because they grow their own buckwheat for the flour.  Order the mixed noodle set to enjoy two types of buckwheat noodles, or noodles with Akita’s famous product, water shields, a popular combination locally. Also popular in the town is a Japanese sweets shop which is reputed for its Morokoshikomachi sweet. The Morokoshi is a fluffy red bean paste.

You can also stay over an established hotel in Kakunodake about 45 minutes away from the city centre. The “Taenoyu” is an isolated hotel situated by a river not too far from Lake Tazawa and the autumn leaves around the area. The hotel’s signature hot spring bath is is the Golden Bath which is a mixed outdoor tub placed in the best spot overlooking the stream with deep brown spring water. There is also the “Silver” hot spring with its clear water. Dinner at the hotel consists of a 12 dish set using seasonal ingredients, mainly vegetables and mushrooms including the hotel’s signature mushroom soup which has nine types of mushrooms. Akita is also famous for the “Kiritanpo” hotpot. Breakfast consists of 10 dishes in a healthy menu served with a view of the autumn leaves.
 
The next destination is Okuhida in Gifu Prefecture. Visiting the Northern Alps includes a two hour bus trip from Natsumoto Station in Nagano to a place called Shinhotaka, a mountain hot spring sited 1000 metres above sea level.

Yarimikan, which sits by a stream,is an 80 year old inn popular with hikers.It's a traditional Japanese house that's 200 years old.
At the entrance, where you’ll see drinks chilled by cold spring water and hot spring water, guests receive a welcome snack of green tea and mochi before being brought to their rooms with antique door fittings, thick beams and high ceilings. There are 10 guest rooms with rates that can go up to 21000 yen (S$ 270) per night including two meals.. Alternatively you can enjoy views to the alps from the hotel where you can enjoy one of seven baths built along the river with spectacular views. Meals are served by a hearth and range from sashimi to tempura of wild plants from the nearby forest and grilled Hida beef. Don't miss the Mushroom porridge which is a Okuhida specialty made from four different types of fresh local mushrooms.

Apart from country cuisine you'll be able to try your hand at country traditions such as making rice cakes which the hotel makes each morning in front of guests, and is served with sweet soybean flour as part of the breakfasts here which are known to give you energy. Stop at the Nabehira Plateau near the hotel which is part of the National Park. You can picnic there and look at the distant alps.
 
From Okuhida, to Okunasu that is 1 hour and 20 minutes out of Tokyo. Nasushiobara in Tochigi Prefecture of the Kanto area offer a wonderful hotel and hot springs. The entrance to the hot spring town is called Nasu. It is also the departure point to the hotel. Take a one hour bus ride to Nasu where there is  a free foot bath at the centre of the hot spring town. 15 more minutes out of Nasuyumoto on the bus brings you to Omaru hot spring inn which is a 5 minute walk from the bus stop. It is an isolated building located in the depths of Nasu Hot Springs oozing with character and history from the early Showa era. It costs 19000 yen (S$ 243) per night with two meals to stay at the hotel. At an elevation of 1300 metres, you can enjoy the natural hot spring“Kawagoyu” in a rustic setting. The hotel also offers the highest women’s outdoor bath called the Yamayuri. The Omaru Hot Spring Inn sits in the forest with natural hot spring water from Okunasu flowing into the inn. You can enjoy bathing in a rustic setting. Dinner is a Japanese based fusion cuisine with cod tofu hotpot,  Nasu Wagyu Shabu-shabu using hot spring water and dessert of crepes made from buckwheat flour. Activities include a walk across a suspension bridge or a walk to the nearby cable car station for a 4 minute ride from Sanroku Station to the summit for a walk in the sky looking out over the plateau. Walk for 30 minutes from the cable car and you can take the Ubagadaira trail down which is one of the best viewpoints around.