Get closer to nature on a train trip to relish the colours and scents of  Autumn .

Take the JR Tadami Line which  runs deep into the hills, offering glorious views before arriving at Hayato Station.

Take a car to Hayato Onsen, Tsuru-no-Yu which offers hot spring baths and a river cruise that lasts

for about an hour. Apart from autumn leaves there's also a waterfall and different views from different directions on the Tadami River.

Another scenic highland train which departs from Shinjuku to Kobuchizawa in Yamanashi is the Super Azusa.

The Kobuchizawa Station some two hours away is the terminus of the Koumi Line. This is a good place to pick up a lunchbox meal featuring riceballs which the station is famous for.

The Station is also famous for the world's first hybrid train, the Koumi, which began running a few months ago.  It is a very quiet, economical and environmentally friendly train which runs on storage batteries and includes special features for those who are wheelchair-bound or disabled.

The train which offers a comfortable, smooth ride will head to  its second stop - Kaioizumi.

A short walk takes you to Panorama-no-Yu, a panoramic hot spring with views of Autumn leaves in red and yellow and  Mt. Fuji, when visibility is good.

Head back to the station to catch the Koumi Line going north to arrive at Kiyosato, a highland resort which is popular with women. The destination -  Utsukushimori,a famous spot in Kiyosato.

It takes 20 minutes to get to Utsukushimori with a 200m hiking trail leading to an observatory.

A trip to the Kiyosato highlands cannot exclude the Moeginomura Museum with its display of classical automated musical instruments and music boxes from all over the world. There is also an automated organ made for the Paris Expo of 1900 and the chance to make your own music box in about an hour. Stay overnight at a hotel located in a forest which offers a 15200 yen (S$199) deal with an eat-all-you want dinner ranging from Western dishes to the hotel's famous Beef Curry. If it's your birthday month the hotel also throws in fireworks to celebrate the occasion.

Continue on the Koumi Line the next day to Shinshu Yachiho Station some 50 minutes away. Visit a primeval forest of white birch nearby at the Yachiho highlands. Take the trail through the forest for a relaxing walking to a lake.

For something different, head to Gunma to ride a steam locomotive train. The trip on the SL Okutone starts at JR Ueno Station with the Limited Express Minakami. It takes 1 hour 40 minutes to travel from Ueno to Shibukawa the gateway to Mt. Haruna. In order to get to Mt. Haruna, first take a bus to the Ikaho Onsen bus terminal, then change to another bus to Lake Haruna and head for the Ropeway-mae. Enjoying the lakeside's autumn leaves and then visit  "Kohan-no-Yado" Monument Park and stand in front of the monument which has sensors that will detect a person in front of it and plays a song.

Lunch at  a lakeside restaurant where the specialty is deep-fried smelt. The restaurant sell only 10 sets a day of smelt  which comes direct from the lake. Head for Ikaho Onsen a famous hot spring that offers the Kokuya hotel. The Japanese style room has larger windows and with the Otona-no-Kyujitsu package of16800 yen (S$219), you get to choose any Yukata of your choice and acomplimentary sash and clogs to wear to the hot springs. The water is red because it contains iron. There is a famous autumn leaf spot in the hot spring area called Kajika Bridge and is lit up until 25 November this year.The hotel dinner is themed according to the the season and features ingredients sourced mainly from Gunma, from sashimi, to soup and Joshu beef steak with matsutake mushroom.

Next,  go to Minakami by SL Okutone that runs until the end of November from Shibukawa Station. The steam locomotive runs about 60km between Takasaki and Minakami. At Minakami, there are again hot springs but relish instead on soba at a shop established 55 years ago. The family still make the soba in many varieties, tastes and textures.