Sensing that the colors at Ginsendai and Mt. Kurodake had already peaked, we moved on from Mikuni Pass to the Taisetsu Highlands Hot Spring area. My intuition was right—the autumn foliage there was in its full, vibrant glory.
After a light trek, we spent some time wandering through So-unkyo, which was bustling with tourists, before heading back over Mikuni Pass again toward Obihiro. As we climbed the road toward the pass, a breathtaking expanse of golden larch trees rushed into view.