Japan Fall Foliage 2026: When and Where to See the Autumn Leaves

Autumn is Japan’s other great season, and many people who know the country prefer it to cherry blossom time. The weather is settled, the maples turn deep red and the ginkgos bright yellow, and the colors last longer than the blossoms do. The leaves turn first in Hokkaido and the mountains in late September and October, and reach Tokyo and Kyoto in late November. In 2026 they’re running a little late in the cities. Here’s when to go, where, and how to plan.

When are the autumn leaves in 2026?

According to Weathernews’s forecast published on 8 October 2026, a warm autumn is slowing the color in the lowlands, so many city spots will peak slightly later than usual. Its forecast peak dates include:

Nikko’s Irohazaka road, in the mountains north of Tokyo, around 23 October. Mount Takao, just outside Tokyo, around 22 November. Arashiyama in Kyoto around 24 November. In central Tokyo, the ginkgo trees are forecast to turn yellow around 26 November, according to the Japan Weather Corporation.

Forecasts are updated through the season, and Weathernews’s third forecast is due in late October, so check again before you travel. As a rule of thumb for future years: the mountains and the north in October, Tokyo and Kyoto from late November into early December.

Where to see the autumn colors

Kyoto

Kyoto is the classic. Tofuku-ji’s Tsutenkyo bridge looks over a valley of maples, Eikan-do and Kiyomizu-dera are lit up for evening viewings during the season, and Arashiyama’s hills turn red behind the river. It’s also very busy in late November, so go early in the morning, or see the quieter temples in the north of the city. Our Kyoto private tour guide explains how to time the day.

Tokyo

In the city, the ginkgo avenue at Meiji Jingu Gaien turns gold in late November, Rikugien garden has maples and evening light-ups, and Koishikawa Korakuen is another lovely garden for the colors. For a day in the hills, Mount Takao is an easy train ride west. See our Tokyo private tour guide.

Nikko and the mountains

Nikko is one of the earliest places near Tokyo to color, and the mountain road up to Lake Chuzenji and the Kegon Falls is famous for it. Because the mountains peak in October, a late-October trip can combine Nikko’s colors with Tokyo before the city has turned.

Hakone and Mount Fuji

Hakone’s hot springs and the lakes around Mount Fuji are good for a night or two in November, with the colors around the water and, on a clear day, Fuji behind them.

A 10-day autumn itinerary

For a mid- to late-November trip: three nights in Tokyo, with a day at Mount Takao or in the gardens; two nights in Hakone with a ryokan stay; then the shinkansen to Kyoto for four nights, with a day in Nara. Finish in Osaka or fly home from Kansai. If you’re traveling in late October instead, start with Nikko and the mountains and keep the cities for the end.

Our luxury Japan itinerary and Japan tour packages guide show how the stops fit together.

Practical tips

Late November is one of the busiest times of year in Kyoto, so book hotels as early as you can. Kyoto’s higher lodging tax has applied since March 2026, so factor it in at luxury hotels. Evening light-ups often need separate tickets. Pack layers: autumn days are mild, but mornings and evenings get cold, especially in the mountains. Our guide to how much a trip to Japan costs covers the budget.

Planning it with Absolute Asia Tours

Absolute Asia Tours has planned private trips in Asia since 1989. For autumn in Japan, that means a private guide in each city, temple visits timed for the light and the crowds, and a route that can shift a few days as the forecast changes. We’re rated 4.8 out of 5 across about 900 traveler reviews. Have a look at our Japan tours or tell us your dates.

Sources (read in Japanese): Weathernews 2026 autumn foliage forecast (8 October 2026) and Travel Voice coverage; Japan Weather Corporation forecast via nippon.com. Last checked October 2026.

Japan fall foliage: FAQ

When is the best time to see fall foliage in Japan in 2026?

October in the mountains and the north, and late November in Tokyo and Kyoto. Weathernews forecasts Nikko’s Irohazaka around 23 October, Mount Takao around 22 November and Kyoto’s Arashiyama around 24 November.

Are the autumn leaves late this year?

In the lowlands, slightly. A warm autumn has slowed the color, so many city spots are expected to peak a little later than usual.

Where is the best place to see autumn leaves in Japan?

Kyoto’s temples, such as Tofuku-ji and Eikan-do, Nikko and Lake Chuzenji, Hakone and the Fuji lakes, and Tokyo’s gardens and ginkgo avenues.

When do the ginkgo trees turn yellow in Tokyo?

Around late November. For 2026, the Japan Weather Corporation forecast them around 26 November.

How long does the autumn foliage season last in Japan?

From late September in Hokkaido and the high mountains to early December in parts of Kyoto and the south, so it’s much longer than cherry blossom season.