Autumn in Japan: Best Places to See Fall Colours (2025 Guide)

Autumn in Japan is one of the most magical seasons to visit. Our guide to the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan will take you from the glowing temples of Kyoto to Mt Fuji framed by fiery maples, the golden ginkgo avenues of Tokyo, and even the early colours of Hokkaido. If you’re planning your trip, the sweet spot is usually late November into early December, when Japan’s autumn foliage bursts into its full glory.

Best Places to See Japan’s Fall Colours

Kyoto – Japan’s Autumn Capital

If you can only choose one place to experience autumn in Japan, make it Kyoto. With its hundreds of temples and shrines framed by surrounding mountains, the city transforms every November into a masterpiece of red, gold, and orange.

A woman in a red sweater and white skirt stands by a clear blue river in kyoto, framed by a large tree with vivid orange autumn leaves, capturing the serene beauty of autumn in Japan.

A man stands on a metal railing balcony overlooking colorful autumn trees during Autumn in Japan, with a snow-capped mount Fuji and the picturesque Shiraito Falls in the background.

When we wandered through the city in late November, we couldn’t stop gasping at how every temple seemed framed by a perfect backdrop of autumn colours in Japan. Each stop had its own unique charm.

The large wooden Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Japan, with its tiered roofs, overlooks vibrant autumn foliage under a partly cloudy sky. Several people are visible on the terrace.

Highlights in Kyoto:

Kiyomizu-dera Temple – The famous wooden terrace juts out over a hillside blanketed in fiery colors. Arrive early for a quiet view or visit at night when special light-ups make the leaves glow.
Nanzen-ji Temple – Known for its brick aqueduct, photogenic gardens, and dramatic bursts of autumn leaves.
Daigo-ji Temple – Our personal favourite in Kyoto. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with bridges, pagodas, and mirror-like ponds that seem designed for autumn.

No time to read now?

No worries! Save on Pinterest to read it later.

Save to Pinterest

Autumn in Japan: Best Places to See Fall Colours & Foliage

A woman in a white dress stands on a red wooden bridge, facing a traditional Japanese pavilion at Daigo-ji Temple, surrounded by colorful autumn trees during autumn in Japan.

Tofuku-ji Temple – Famous for its “sea of red” seen from wooden bridges crossing the gardens.
Eikando Temple – At night, lanterns reflect in the pond, and walking under glowing maples feels like stepping into a painting.
Arashiyama – Another favorite of ours. The district’s riverside paths, viewpoints, and hidden shrines glow with color, especially around the Katsura River and the Yusai-Tei Gallery.

Best timing for Kyoto autumn leaves: mid-November to early December, with the last week of November usually at its brightest.

Our favorite hotels in Kyoto 😴

See available hotels in Kyoto

Check available hotels

Check available hostels

A wooden boat with tourists sails on a calm river in Arashiyama, Japan, surrounded by vibrant red autumn foliage.

A wooden footbridge crosses a calm pond at Nanzen-ji Temple, surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in shades of red, orange, and yellow—capturing the serene beauty of autumn in Japan.

A woman in a red sweater and white skirt sits on a terrace at Yusai-Tei Gallery in Kyoto, Japan, overlooking a river with autumn foliage and a passing boat in the background.

Mt Fuji Area – Japan’s Iconic Autumn Backdrop

Few views capture autumn in Japan better than Mt Fuji framed by red maples. Around Lake Kawaguchi, the season creates some of the country’s most iconic photographs. When we visited, the reflection of trees on the still water with Fuji towering in the distance felt surreal.

Our Japan tips in your Google Maps? We made it easier for you! All our tips: favourite to do's, restaurants, hikes, secret spots & more in Google Maps!

Shop our maps

Chureito Pagoda – The five-story pagoda with Fuji in the background is one of Japan’s most photographed autumn views.
Momiji Tunnel, Lake Kawaguchi – A tunnel of red maples perfectly framing the mountain.

Chureito Pagoda stands among red autumn foliage, with Mount Fuji visible in the background under a clear sky, capturing the serene beauty of autumn in Japan.

A tree-lined pathway covered in vibrant autumn leaves at the Momiji Corridor near Lake Kawaguch, with people standing on a bridge in the background, captures the breathtaking beauty of Japani fall.

Momiji Corridor, Lake Kawaguchi – A riverside walkway lined with glowing trees that feels like walking through a fiery tunnel.
Shiraito Falls – Our favorite in this area. Wide, curtain-like waterfalls surrounded by golden and crimson forest.

Best time for Mt Fuji area autumn colours: Late November

Our favorite hotels in Fuji 😴

View all

La Vista Fujikawaguchiko

Fuji

Fuji Onsenji Yumedono

Fuji

Dot Hostel&Bar

Fuji

See available hotels in Fuji

Check available hotels

Check available hostels

Shiraito Falls cascades gracefully in the foreground, with vibrant autumn foliage and a forested landscape leading up to Mount Fuji

Tokyo – Urban Autumn Magic

Tokyo may be a buzzing metropolis, but it hides countless autumn escapes. We loved how every park seemed to peak at slightly different times, giving us more chances to catch the colors.

Rikugien Garden – The most famous autumn garden in Tokyo. Don’t miss the evening light-ups when glowing leaves reflect on the pond.
Shinjuku Gyoen – Our favorite in Tokyo. A vast park where the variety of trees means autumn stretches across weeks. We loved wandering between crimson maples and golden ginkgo groves.

Rows of tall trees with autumn leaves line a path in Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo, where people are sitting on benches and walking in the sunlight.

A traditional Japanese pagoda stands among autumn trees at a temple in Tokyo, with a decorative lantern hanging in the foreground under the temple roof—one of the best places to see autumn colors in Japan.

Meiji Jingu Gaien (Icho Namiki Avenue) – A golden tunnel of ginkgo trees that peaks in late November.
Koishikawa Korakuen – One of Tokyo’s oldest gardens, where bridges and ponds create perfect autumn reflections.

Good to know: Autumn colours in Tokyo usually arrive a little later than Kyoto, expect late November to mid December.

A Japanese garden in Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo, features a pond, trees in autumn colors, a curved bridge, and modern skyscrapers in the background beneath a clear blue sky—perfect for experiencing autumn in Japan.

Kamakura – Coastal Autumn Escape

Just an hour south of Tokyo, Kamakura makes an easy day trip with temples, gardens, and ocean views all glowing in autumn colors. We loved how the mix of culture and coastal scenery gave it a very different feel from Kyoto or Tokyo.

Hokokuji Temple – A peaceful bamboo grove with glowing maples surrounding the grounds.
Kotoku-in – The Great Buddha of Kamakura becomes even more dramatic when framed by autumn trees.
Hasedera Temple – Built on a hillside, this temple gave us sweeping views over the town and ocean, with its ponds glowing in brilliant reds and oranges.

A traditional Japanese building at Hasedera Temple Kamakura stands behind a small pond with koi fish, surrounded by autumn trees. Sunlight filters through the foliage, capturing the beauty of autumn in Japan.

A large bronze Buddha statue sits outdoors at Kotoku-in, Kamakura, Japan, surrounded by trees and autumn foliage

Osaka – Food, Nightlife, and Autumn Colors

Osaka is best known for its food scene, but we found some lovely places to enjoy autumn colours too.

Osaka Castle (Nishinomaru Garden) – Golden ginkgo trees frame the castle beautifully, especially at sunset.
Minoo Park – Just outside the city, this easy hiking trail ends at a waterfall framed by vibrant red maples.

A woman in a red kimono stands by a pond with a red umbrella in Osaka Castle Nishinomaru Garden, surrounded by autumn trees and gardens.

Nara – Fairytale Autumn with Deer

We’ll always remember Nara in autumn as something out of a fairytale. Golden ginkgo trees lit up the open lawns, while the city’s famous free-roaming deer wandered beneath them.

Nara Park – A classic autumn spot, especially photogenic when you’re hand-feeding deer under the leaves.
Mount Yoshino – Famous for cherry blossoms in spring, but equally dramatic in autumn when the hillsides blaze with red and orange.

A young deer stands on a dirt path in a wooded area of Nara Park, looking directly at the camera with trees and buildings in the background, capturing the serene beauty of autumn in Japan.

A wooden pavilion stands over a reflective pond in Nara Park, Japan, surrounded by trees and mountains, with people gathered on the platform.

A man in an orange sweater crouches to feed a deer on a red bridge in sunlit Nara Park, Japan, surrounded by yellow trees and hints of autumn. — Nara Park

Nikko – Early Colors in the Mountains

North of Tokyo, Nikko is one of the first places to show autumn colors. Surrounded by mountains, it feels more wild and rugged compared to Kyoto.

Lake Chuzenji & Kegon Falls – Waterfalls crashing among colorful forests make for a breathtaking combination.
Toshogu Shrine – A richly decorated shrine framed by towering trees glowing in autumn.

Best time for Nikko autumn leaves: Late October to early November.

Our Japan tips in your Google Maps? We made it easier for you! All our tips: favourite to do's, restaurants, hikes, secret spots & more in Google Maps!

Shop our maps

Three traditional hanging lanterns beneath a wooden roof, with vibrant red and green foliage capturing the essence of autumn in Japan in the background.

Wakayama – A Dramatic Autumn Waterfall

In Wakayama, Nachi Waterfall is one of Japan’s most stunning autumn views: a tall waterfall plunging next to a bright red pagoda, framed by autumn forest. It looks like a painting, but standing there in person is even more powerful.

A red pagoda stands among lush greenery with Nachi Waterfall, Japan’s tallest waterfall, cascading down a rocky cliff in the background. — Nachi Waterfall

Our Experience of Fall in Japan

When we visited Japan in mid-November, we noticed how the season unfolded differently across regions. In places like Nara, the colours hadn’t fully turned, while Kyoto was already glowing. It showed us how the season is gradually shifting later. For us, the sweet spot was late November to mid-December, when the maples were at their brightest reds and the ginkgo trees glowed gold.

A couple sits on a bench under vibrant red autumn trees—one of the best places in Japan to see autumn foliage—with mount fuji in the background and a lit lantern nearby.

What we loved most was the variety. Walking from temple to temple, we’d see blazing reds, glowing oranges, and sunny yellows all in the same view. Every day felt different, and every walk felt new.

A traditional Japanese pavilion with red accents stands by a pond amid colorful autumn foliage at Daigo-ji Temple, as a person crosses an arched red bridge—a serene scene of autumn in Japan.

Best Time to See Autumn Leaves in Japan

General season: October – early December
Kyoto & Kansai: Mid-November peak
Tokyo & Nagano: Late November – early December peak
Higher altitudes (Nagano): Earlier due to cooler weather
Compared to Europe: Japan’s autumn is about a month later

A view of vibrant red and green autumn foliage in Japan is seen through a rectangular window framed by a traditional shoji screen.

Traditional Japanese building in Kyoto, Japan, surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage, with red and green leaves framing the scene under a bright sky.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji rises above a tranquil Japanese town and lake, with vibrant autumn trees in the foreground under a clear sky.

Weather in Japan During Fall

Autumn is one of the most comfortable seasons to travel in Japan. During the day it’s between 10–18°C (50–64°F) and in the evenings 5–8°C (41–46°F). But if you’re in the mountains, it will be quite a bit cooler.

A woman in a red kimono stands by a pond, facing Osaka Castle surrounded by trees and gardens, capturing the serene beauty of autumn in Japan.

If you’re unsure what to wear during autumn in Japan, remember that evenings can be chilly, especially in the mountains! We recommend packing layers, a warm jacket, a scarf, and gloves for evenings, and sturdy walking shoes.

Best

Good

Mixed

Poor

🌤

8°C

Jan

🌤

9°C

Feb

🌦️

13°C

Mar

🌦️

17°C

Apr

🌤

21°C

May

🌦️

24°C

Jun

🌦️

28°C

Jul

🌦️

30°C

Aug

🌦️

25°C

Sep

🌦️

20°C

Oct

🌤

15°C

Nov

🌤

10°C

Dec

°C °F

A couple stands by a lakeshore facing snow-capped Mount Fuji in Japan, with tall grasses in the foreground and autumn trees in the background.

A woman stands in front of a large red lantern at the entrance of Sensō-ji, Tokyo, Japan, surrounded by red columns and visitors in the background.

Tip: Don’t miss dipping in onsen during autumn. After long days exploring in crisp air, soaking in steaming hot springs under the night sky felt unforgettable.

Outdoor Japanese onsen bath with steam rising, adjacent to a wooden building glowing with warm interior lighting at night— perfect after a day exploring Japan in autumn.

Fall Festivals & Illuminations in Japan

Kyoto Arashiyama Momiji Festival (2nd Sunday in November) – Traditional boat processions on the Oi River
Takao Momiji Festival, Kyoto (all November) – Food stalls, music, and mountain temples
Kiyomizu-dera & Eikando Illuminations (mid-Nov–early Dec) – Magical night temple light-ups
Tokyo Rikugien Garden Light-Up (Nov–Dec) – The capital’s most famous autumn illumination
Nikko Autumn Festival (late Oct–early Nov) – Parades and cultural shows in the mountains