Every autumn, the colour moves across Japan like a slow weather front: down from the mountains of Hokkaido in late September, across Honshu through October, and into Kyoto and Tokyo by late November. The Japanese have a word for going out to look at it, momijigari, literally "maple hunting", and in November it feels like the whole country is doing it.
Here is when it usually peaks, where to go, and how to see it without standing in a queue of tripods.
When the leaves usually peak#
Peak in any one place lasts about a week, and it moves a little every year with the weather. These are the usual windows:
| Where | Usual peak |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido mountains (Daisetsuzan) | Late September – early October |
| Sapporo city | Late October – early November |
| Nikko | Through October, from the high lakes down to the town |
| Hakone, Mt Fuji lakes | Late October – mid November |
| Kyoto | Mid November – early December |
| Osaka (Minoo Park) | Mid – late November |
| Hiroshima (Miyajima) | Mid – late November |
| Tokyo | Late November – early December |
Japanese weather companies publish autumn-leaf forecasts from around September and update them through the season. Check one a week or two before you go, and plan Kyoto or Tokyo for the second half of November if you want the best odds.
Where to go#
Kyoto
The city that people picture. Eikando is famous for its maples and its night light-up; Tofukuji has a valley of maples under a wooden bridge; Kiyomizudera looks out over a hillside of red; Arashiyama has the river and the mountains behind it. Kurama and Ohara, in the hills north of the city, turn a little earlier and are quieter.
Tokyo
Tokyo turns late, which makes it the place to catch the season if you arrive at the very end of November. The ginkgo avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien goes bright gold, Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen are classic gardens for maples, and Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa has wide ginkgo rows. Mt Takao, an hour from the centre, usually peaks a week or two before the city. More on the city: things to do in Tokyo.
Nikko and Hakone
Both are day trips or one-night stays from Tokyo. Nikko starts high, at Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka road, and works down to the shrines in town. Hakone pairs the leaves with hot springs and, on a clear day, Mt Fuji.
Hokkaido
The earliest colour in Japan, in the mountains of Daisetsuzan from late September. If your trip is in early October, this is where to look.
How to beat the crowds#
- Go when the gates open. At the famous Kyoto temples the difference between 8:30 and 11:00 is enormous.
- Go on a weekday. November weekends are the busiest days of the year at the best-known spots.
- Go at night. Many Kyoto temples hold autumn evening light-ups, usually with a separate ticket, and they feel completely different after dark.
- Pick the smaller temple. For every famous maple garden there are quieter ones a few streets away that peak the same week.
- Ask someone who lives there. People in Kyoto and Tokyo know which park near them is at its best this week, which no list written in advance can tell you.
Practical things#
- Book early. Kyoto hotels in the second half of November fill and rise in price, much like cherry blossom season. More on budgeting: how much a trip to Japan costs in 2026.
- Layers. Kyoto mornings in late November can be cold; afternoons are mild.
- Temple manners. Stay on paths, don't climb for photos, and follow any no-tripod signs. The basics: Japan etiquette that actually matters.
If spring suits you better, the other season everyone plans around is cherry blossom season in 2027. For the whole year at a glance, see the best time to visit Japan, and for every festival and season worldwide, the events calendar.
Live in Kyoto or Tokyo?#
Every November, visitors arrive wanting someone who knows which temple is quiet and which garden is at peak this week. If that's you, you can show visitors your city as a Local Friend in Japan (日本語).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Japan in 2026?
It depends on where. Hokkaido's mountains turn from late September, Nikko through October, and Kyoto and Tokyo usually peak from mid-November to early December. Each spot is at its best for about a week, so check a current forecast before you book.When do the autumn leaves peak in Kyoto?
Kyoto usually peaks from mid-November into early December. Higher spots like Kurama and Ohara turn a little earlier than the temples in the city.When do the autumn leaves peak in Tokyo?
Tokyo is one of the last places to turn, usually late November to early December. The ginkgo avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien goes gold around the same time. Mt Takao, just outside the city, is usually a week or two earlier.Where can I see autumn leaves at night in Japan?
Many Kyoto temples, including Eikando, Kiyomizudera and Kodaiji, hold evening light-ups in the autumn season, usually for a separate fee. Gardens in Tokyo such as Rikugien have held them too. Dates are announced each year.How do I avoid the crowds?
Arrive when a temple opens, go on a weekday, pick a lesser-known spot over the famous one, or go to an evening light-up. A local who lives there will know which smaller temple or park is at peak that week.
