Advice for November Japan trip between Osaka and Sendai (onsen, food, autumn leaves)?

Hi everyone,

I’ve been to Japan twice before and have already done the classics Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto. This time I’ll be back from November 4th–15th. The first couple of days (4–6th) I’ll be in Osaka, and I’ll finish the trip (12th to 15th) with three nights in Fukuoka (one day in the city, one day trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima, and one day to Yanagawa for the shrine and eel or possibly Beppu instead).

That leaves me with about a week in the middle (Nov 6–12) where I’d like to travel north but very open to other suggestions before flying from Sendai down to Fukuoka. My focus this trip is less on big cities and more on seasonal food, onsen ryokans, nature, and autumn experiences.

What I’d love to include:

• 1–2 special ryokan nights (with open-air onsen and kaiseki dinners, ideally somewhere foresty and atmospheric).
• Sake experiences (brewery tours/tastings. I’m considering Takayama or Fukushima).
• Beautiful gardens, shrines, villages, and nature walks that really shine with autumn leaves in early–mid November.
• Regional food: snow crab, Hida beef, Nikko yuba, oysters, gyūtan in Sendai, etc.

Places I’m currently considering:

• Takayama – old town charm, sake breweries, Hida beef; staying 2 days with possible hiking/day trips.
• Kanazawa – Kenrokuen Garden (though I know peak colors may be later in November might be better do go somewhere else), plus seafood and trying snow crab
• Kamikōchi – for a proper mountain walk if trails are still open in early November.
• Nagano – temples, onsen, and a possible stopover.
• Nikkō – shrines, yuba cuisine, lakeside autumn colors.
• Yamadera (from Sendai) – 1,000 steps up to cliffside temples with foliage views.
• Sendai – Beef tongue, and the fish market.
• Goshikinuma Ponds (Fukushima) – volcanic blue-green ponds framed by autumn forest.

I’d love any advice which or any other amazing spots between Osaka and Sendai/Akita that are especially good in early mid November.

I’m really open to suggestions even if someone says an amazing place in Wakayama or Shikoku for example. My main goal is for this trip to feel seasonal, atmospheric, and different from my previous Japan trip

Thanks so much!