Dewa Sanzan - end of October?

Hello!
I plan to spend a few days in Yamagata at the end of October for Koyo. Is it possible to visit Yudono-san, Dainichi-bo and Churen-ji as a day trip from Yamagata? I assume it is best to move to Tsuruoka in order to visit Haguro-san. Is that a good time to visit Dewa Sanzan or will the Autumn colours have passed?
Is it best to take the bus from Yamagata to Tsuruoka?

Many thanks for any help or suggestions.

Is it best to take the bus from Yamagata to Tsuruoka?

No, for such a day trip, a rental car would make things easiest. I am not even sure whether it would be possible by public transportation, as the area is not partiuclarly well served by buses, especially around Dainichi-bo and Churen-ji.

I don't think the Dewa Sanzan area is a particularly good spot for autumn colors, but the colors seem to be best from late October to early November in the usual year.

I can't help much with logistics because I was there on motorbike, but there are some pictures of what it looks like in late Sept here and the posts either side of it.
Public transport is patchy　any time but should be doable in Sept.

See the timetable here：
http://www.shonaikotsu.jp/local_bus/time_table/t10_haguro.html

http://ponkanchan.blogspot.jp/2009/09/yamagata-ga-san.html


Sakata is a lovely little city - see their tourist page - everytime I've been there I haven't had time to do it justice.
http://www.sakata-kankou.gr.jp/cgi/kf/kfinfo.cgi?lang=1

Oh, October, no not doable by PT.

Thank you so much for all of that information....much appreciated!! It is obviously more difficult at that time of year than I thought. I need to rethink my plans.
I have read on this site that Yamagata is fine for Autumn leaves at the end of Oct, so perhaps I could add Akita and include day trips from there as well.
Thanks again for your time.