Japan Autumn Leaves: Peak Dates by Region
Autumn leaves — typical peak
All regions ↓North and mountains first. Southern cities last.
2026: a few days late. Kyoto’s Arashiyama about 23 Nov; Mount Takao, Tokyo, about 13 Nov (Weathernews, 29 Oct). Forecast →
Region by region
| Region | Typical peak | Best spots |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Late Sep (mountains) → late Oct (Sapporo) → early Nov (Hakodate) | Daisetsuzan — Asahidake and Kurodake, Japan’s first colour · Jozankei gorge near Sapporo · Onuma Park near Hakodate |
| Tohoku | Mid Oct (mountains) → early Nov (valleys) | Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada · Hakkoda Ropeway · Naruko Gorge · Hachimantai |
| Nikko | Early Oct (high moors) → late Oct (Lake Chuzenji) → early Nov (town) | Irohazaka hairpin road · Kegon Falls · Lake Chuzenji · Ryuzu Falls · Senjogahara |
| Fuji Five Lakes | Late Oct – late Nov | Kawaguchiko’s Momiji Corridor, a maple tunnel on the north shore · Lake Yamanaka · Fuji views on clear mornings |
| Hakone | Early – late Nov | Hakone Tozan mountain railway · Lake Ashi · Gora Park · Hakone Open-Air Museum |
| Tokyo | Mid Nov (Mount Takao) → late Nov – early Dec (city) | Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue · Shinjuku Gyoen · Rikugien · Koishikawa Korakuen · Mount Takao |
| Kyoto | Mid Nov – early Dec (peak around late Nov) | Arashiyama & Sagano · Philosopher’s Path · Kurama & Kibune valley · Tofuku-ji’s Tsutenkyo bridge |
| Nara | Mid Nov – early Dec | Nara Park — deer under the maples · Yoshikien & Isuien gardens |
| Osaka | Mid Nov – early Dec | Minoo Park waterfall trail · Osaka Castle Park ginkgo · Expo ’70 Commemorative Park |
| Miyajima | Mid – late Nov | Momijidani Park, the maple valley behind the waterfront |
| Kanazawa | Mid Nov – early Dec | Kenroku-en garden |
| Kyushu | Late Oct (Kuju, Kirishima) → mid Nov (gorges) → late Nov – early Dec (Fukuoka) | Yabakei Gorge · Kokonoe “Yume” Suspension Bridge · Takachiho Gorge · Mifuneyama Rakuen garden |
Evening light-ups
| Where | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Momiji Corridor, Kawaguchiko (Fuji) | 2026: 7–29 Nov, sunset – 21:00 | Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival. Free. |
| Rikugien garden, Tokyo | 2026: 25 Nov – 6 Dec, 18:00–20:30 | Tickets are capped each night — buy online. |
| Eizan Railway “maple tunnel”, Kyoto | Usually most of November (2025: 7–24 Nov) | Lit maples beside the line between Ichihara and Ninose, on the way to Kurama. |
| Kyoto gardens | Usually mid Nov – early Dec | Several famous temple gardens open after dark. Timed tickets, long queues. |
Beat the crowds
- Go early. Be at the famous spots by 8:00, or come back for an evening light-up.
- Pick weekdays. Avoid Kyoto at weekends and on Japanese holidays — in 2026, 21–23 Nov is a three-day weekend.
- Take trains, not buses. Kyoto’s city buses are packed in November. JR, the subway, and the Randen and Eizan lines reach Arashiyama and Kurama.
- Stay nearby. If Kyoto is full, Osaka is 15–30 minutes away by train.
- Too late? Go south and lower. Too early? Go north and higher.
Plan it
How the season works
Autumn colour (koyo) moves the opposite way to the cherry blossom. It starts in Hokkaido’s mountains in late September and reaches the cities of the south-west in late November and early December. Height matters as much as latitude: a mountain lake can be past its best while the town below is still green. Maples turn red; ginkgo trees turn gold, usually a few days earlier in the cities.
The dates above are typical, not a forecast. Weathernews and the Japan Meteorological Corporation publish forecasts from early September and update them through the season. For the rest of the year, see Best Time to Visit and Where to Go by Month.
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