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Last Updated 3rd September 2026
If autumn is your favourite season, I feel like we’d be friends. Long nature walks under shades of gold and crimson reds, cosy jumper season, soaking in steamy waters and cradling cups of tea… Have I just described all of your favourite things? I know exactly where you need to be (and when).
Whilst everyone’s chasing cherry blossom trees, you’re in on the big secret. Here are the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan for 2026, so you can experience the magic of Koyo in full bloom. ๐๐
Key Takeaways:
Another perk of experiencing Japan in autumn: the colours last for several weeks, so you’re more likely to catch it when you visit around this time! We've included Japan's major forecast dates below, or for a region-by-region breakdown, please refer to this Nationwide Autumn Foliage Peak Forecast.
| Location | Forecast | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 7th November | 28th October |
| Aomori | 13th November | 13th November |
| Sendai | 25th November | 21st November |
| Tokyo | 29th November | 28th November |
| Kanazawa | 30th November | 24th November |
| Nagano | 21st November | 12th November |
| Nagoya | 2nd December | 28th November |
| Kyoto | 11th December | 5th December |
| Osaka | 4th December | 1st December |
| Wakayama | 11th December | 6th December |
| Hiroshima | 28th November | 22nd November |
| Kochi | 9th December | 2nd December |
| Fukuoka | 7th December | 1st December |
| Kagoshima | 10th December | 15th December |
| Location | Forecast | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 6th November | 4th November |
| Aomori | 6th November | 2nd November |
| Sendai | 29th November | 23rd November |
| Tokyo | 26th November | 23rd November |
| Kanazawa | 10th November | 10th November |
| Nagano | 14th November | 10th November |
| Nagoya | 17th November | 18th November |
| Kyoto | 27th November | 24th November |
| Osaka | 24th November | 22nd November |
| Wakayama | 26th November | 23rd November |
| Hiroshima | 20th November | 15th November |
| Kochi | 16th November | 15th November |
| Fukuoka | 27th November | 20th November |
| Kagoshima | 27th November | 25th November |
The exact 2027 forecast won't be confirmed until much closer to the season: usually in the first week of September that year. In the meantime, here are our best Koyo predictions for 2027, if you're looking to plan ahead. We update this guide yearly, so stay tuned, leaf-chasers. ๐
| Location | Red Leaves | Yellow Leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 28th October | 4th November |
| Aomori | 13th November | 2nd November |
| Sendai | 21st November | 23rd November |
| Tokyo | 28th November | 23rd November |
| Kanazawa | 24th November | 10th November |
| Nagano | 12th November | 10th November |
| Nagoya | 28th November | 18th November |
| Kyoto | 5th December | 24th November |
| Osaka | 1st December | 22nd November |
| Wakayama | 6th December | 23rd November |
| Hiroshima | 22nd November | 15th November |
| Kochi | 2nd December | 15th November |
| Fukuoka | 1st December | 20th November |
| Kagoshima | 15th December | 25th November |
Autumn leaves, more famously known as Koyo, start to make their arrival from late September onwards in Japan. October is when you can begin to see the colours fully transition, before they peak in November and December with bright red foliage.
Heading to Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island? Autumn arrives a little earlier here. As a rule of thumb: Hokkaido's peak Koyo foliage is usually a couple of weeks ahead of Tokyo.
Now that you have the forecast, let’s get into what the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan actually look like. You’ll want to tick off a few of these!
Kyoto 2026 Forecast: 27th November (Ginkgo Leaf) and 11th December (Maple Leaf).
Kyoto comes out on top. Lantern-lit alleyways, forested trails, wooden pagodas, stone bridges and bamboo groves give it a time capsule vibe. Enchanted at any time of the year, but doubly so when it’s framed by clouds of red maple and yellow gingko leaves.
On a photo mission? Start with Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Early bird catches the worm, so aim to get there around 6am if you’re serious about getting the perfect shot. Or if you’re coming to Kyoto in late November, you may be able to catch one of the special night viewing illumination dates.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and the Philosopher’s Path deserve your attention. But because these are open 24 hours, you have more flexibility. Early morning is still best, but late afternoon (4pm onwards) is another good time to go.
Here are more Kyoto locations to fill your camera roll with:
Japan Travel Tip: Into hiking? Kyoto has stunning nature trails that you can plan a day trip around. Whilst the Fushimi-Inari Taisha Trail is the easiest to access, the Takao to Kiyotaki trail wins for peak autumn vibes.
Hakone 2026 Estimate: Early November (Ginkgo Leaf) and Mid-to-Late November (Maple Leaf).
Name a more iconic viewpoint in Japan than Mount Fuji… I’ll wait. Beep, time’s up.
Now picture it in peak autumn, where blue skies and lakeside shrines meet maple leaves. And, not to get your hopes up, but November is when your Mount Fuji visibility odds go up massively. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Even if you don’t catch a clear view of Mount Fuji (better luck next time ๐), the autumn foliage already steals the show. Make your first activity when you arrive in Hakone heading straight to Lake Ashi. Some views are better out on the water, so hop onto one of the famous pirate ships.
Why pirates, you’re probably asking? So the story goes, a local boat company thought that something fun and quirky would be a bigger success. Well, it definitely worked!
That’s your fun fact of the day. Back on topic, here are more of the best places to see autumn leaves in Hakone:
Japan Travel Tip: You’ve definitely seen the Chureito Pagoda before; it’s the most photographed viewpoint in Japan! But this is actually in Fuji Five Lakes, not Hakone. No stress, as it’s an easy day trip from Tokyo, so just give yourself some extra time there.
Tokyo 2026 Forecast: 26th November (Ginkgo Leaf) and 29th November (Maple Leaf).
Don’t let the skyscrapers fool you. You’ll find pockets of nature everywhere in Tokyo, making it an easy contender as one of the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan.
Tokyo’s traditional gardens need to be your number one, with Rikugien Gardens being the most famous pick. Each time of the day brings a different side to it. Mornings are made for quiet strolls and matcha pick-me-ups with a view. Later in the day, things get livelier. When it’s a clear day, you’ve got ideal photo lighting.
And when night comes? You’ll need a separate ticket (booking in advance is a bit cheaper), but the Autumn Light-Up show transforms the gardens into a magical glow. As the lights and leaves come together, the effect feels torn from the paintings of a Studio Ghibli storyboard.
More popular Tokyo spots for Koyo scenery include:
Japan Travel Tip: Seasonal eating is a big part of Japan’s culture. Take advantage of the changing flavours, with roasted chestnuts, earthy mushrooms, pumpkins, stews and ramen being big menu highlights.
Nikko 2026 Estimate: Late October (Ginkgo Leaf) and Early November (Maple Leaf).
Never heard of Nikko? It’s a two-hour journey from Tokyo by express train, so you can make it work as a day trip (personally, I think this one’s worth the overnight stay, and you can actually buy a two-day pass from Tokyo).
Escape into the mountains, swallowed up by giant cedar trees, huge stretches of forest and hidden waterfalls. In the heart of hiking paradise, you can hop from mossy statues to red pagodas and golden temples. Beautiful in any season, but when autumn arrives, all the colours blend into one, like art imitating nature.
Nikko’s appeal doesn’t end there. What’s unique about it is that even in one city, the autumn colours change at different times. The high mountain spots turn first in early October, slowly working its way down until the lower town area, peaking in early November.
Here is where you can get the best Koyo pictures:
Japan Travel Tip: Nikko day trips are popular, but personally I’d recommend an overnight stay for the full autumnal vibes. You can actually buy a two-day pass for Nikko, but keep in mind you’ll need a separate express train ticket to and from Tokyo.
Osaka 2026 Forecast: 24th November (Ginkgo Leaf) and 4th December (Maple Leaf).
The neon streets of Osaka may not seem like the obvious pick for where to see autumn leaves in Japan. Just trust me on this one.
Go to Osaka Castle first, located right in the city centre. In autumn, the surrounding shrubbery transforms into a sunset orange, giving it a ‘Sky Castle’ effect. And it’s a perfect visual match against the golden ornaments.
Osaka’s Koyo vibe is more about getting lost along leafy boulevards, or Halloween special events at the theme parks. What it lacks in scale, it makes up for in how easy it is to get around. These are the best day trips from Osaka to see autumn leaves:
Japan Travel Tip: It’s slightly too far to include as a day trip, but Koyasan is absolutely stunning. Think peaceful mountain retreat vibes. Lots of our Japan tours include a Buddhist Temple Stay here!
Sapporo 2026 Forecast: 6th November (Ginkgo Leaf) and 7th November (Maple Leaf).
Been to all the Best Places to Visit in Japan for First Timers and planning that inevitable second trip? Add Hokkaido to your never-ending bucket list. As Japan’s northernmost main island, its ski season and the Sapporo Ice Festival in February get all the love. But Hokkaido has a way of making Koyo feel extra special.
Autumn arrives nice and early here, as the leaves change colour often from late September onwards. And if you ask me, this is the dream destination in Japan for nature lovers (biased, but it’s nicknamed the ‘Adventure Island of Japan’, sooo ๐). Anyway, if you’re coming for a few weeks, here’s where to go.
Begin with Hokkaido’s rainbow flower fields before summer’s officially up. Then fill up your itinerary with mountainous hiking trails, ryokan stays and soaking in hot springs. Don’t forget about the food either. Sushi in Hokkaido is super fresh, and I swear, those local ramen specialities don’t disappoint.
You’ll find the best Koyo scenery at the following spots:
Hey, who said festivals had to be a summertime-only gig?
Autumn is hugely celebrated in Japan, with historical roots in rice harvesting. Stunning Koyo scenery, local cultures and close-to-perfect weather… You couldn’t ask for more.
Here are some 2026 festivals worth planning your trip around:
That’s a wrap on all the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan. You’re a Koyo pro now, so let’s get you out there!
Our How to Get Around Japan guide has got all the practical information you need to bring that dream trip to life. Or leave that to us. When you choose our Japan group tours, you’re choosing a new group of friends, all your accommodation and transport included, and seamless travel. So you can focus on the important stuff, like bringing your autumnal vision board to life. ๐ธ
Prefer pink to red? Check out our Cherry Blossoms in Japan guide instead. ๐ธ
Autumn usually starts in late September on Hokkaido, the northernmost island. Peak times vary depending on location, but generally late November to early December is the best time to catch Koyo foliage at Japan’s most popular destinations, like Kyoto and Tokyo.
It depends on where in Japan you want to go! For the Golden Route, aka where most first-timers go, the best time is generally from late October onwards.
Kyoto is more famous for its autumn leaves, but the trade-off is getting to places early for your photos. Tokyo still has beautiful locations for Koyo viewing, but it is more about the vibes than a postcard effect.
Silver Week in Japan for 2026 is from Saturday 19th September to Wednesday 23rd September. This is a national holiday, so you’ll find lots of festivities around this time. Big cities like Tokyo and Osaka are a bit quieter too, as many locals go home for the holidays.
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