Fall Colors in Japan: When the Country Comes Back to Life
Autumn is my favorite season in Japan (maybe along with winter). So much so that I would gladly give up the Sakura season for an extended fall colors one. The weather is delightfully reliable with a low chance of rain, no typhoons, and, more importantly, the summer humidity (and mosquitoes) is long gone.
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is the first region to greet autumn with cool temperatures (followed by Aomori in Tohoku), which usually begins as early as September. Daisetsuzan National Park is the best place to see Japan’s earliest fall foliage. Its unique landscape brings together an active volcano and, in my view, the country’s most picturesque valley.
While temperatures and humidity in Tokyo start to drop to a breathable level toward the end of September, it takes another two months for the fall colors to arrive in town. As for fall foliage, the ever-lovable Kyoto follows a similar timeline to Tokyo. For both cities, the period from late November to early December is usually the best time to view the autumn colors.
For those planning a fall foliage trip to Japan, I’m following up with some logistics-related info (for more Japan Travel FAQ) and a list of some of my favorite places to experience the fall colors. The list includes some relatively lesser-known spots as well as popular ones.
The best month to experience the fall colors in Japan
The autumn colors season in Japan starts as early as mid-September in the northern part of the country, in Hokkaido, and runs well into early December when the colors appear in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. So, if you are in Japan sometime between mid-September and mid-December, you will always find a region experiencing the peak fall colors season.
Given the season’s popularity in Japan, various websites track the progress of the colors in the entire country. For example, Japan Guide offers periodic field reports covering the country’s most famous fall foliage spots and is my go-to source for tracking fall colors.
Kishou’s website, on the other hand, provides fall color forecasts and covers the entire country. The first reports usually arrive in mid to late September. So the 2026 forecast should be available in a week or so. As the season progresses, you can search by prefecture and/or known foliage spots to track the coloring status of the leaves. The Weather News Japan website is also often recommended for forecasting purposes. I usually check all three websites to plan my fall outings. Tenki, the Japanese weather forecast site, also has a special koyo section.
Oku-Nikko: one of the earliest places to see the fall colors near Tokyo
Every year, come mid-October, I take the train to Nikko (and more specifically, Okunikko) for my first fall colors-hunting outing of the season. While the fall colors don’t arrive in Nikko town until early November, the higher elevations, starting at Ryuzu Waterfalls, greet the season as early as October, with peak viewing usually in mid-October.
While a day trip from Tokyo is possible, I usually prefer to stay a night or two in Nikko to have more time to enjoy the colors and increase my chances of sunny days (I usually end up with one rainy and one sunny day).
As soon as I arrive at Nikko Station, I take the bus to Ryuzu Falls, which offers some of the most memorable fall colors scenery in Japan. I then hike up to Lake Yunako, stopping at Senjogahara Marshland and Yutaki Falls on the way.
I walk the same parkour two to three times during the same trip each year. There is always a new tree to notice and different lighting to inspire alternative photographic compositions. The trail follows flat ground with no ups and downs, and it feels more like a stroll than a hike.
For those departing from Tokyo, I highly recommend the Nikko Pass offered by Tobu Railways. The pass covers a round-trip train ticket between Asakusa in Tokyo and Nikko, plus all bus fares within Nikko for four days. However, please note that the pass covers only an ordinary train, and you must purchase an express ticket separately if you want to take the train from Asakusa to Nikko, which takes about two hours. Early morning and evening trains sell out fast, so booking in advance is advisable.
For more, you can read my fall colors in Nikko post.
Tateyama-Murodo: mountains of fall colors
The weather had finally cooperated last year, and I could visit the Tateyama-Murodo area in Toyama Prefecture during the mid-October long weekend. While it takes some effort to get to—as in one Shinkansen ride (2.5 hours), one local train ride (1 hour), one cable car ride (7-minutes), and one local bus ride (50 minutes)- the Tateyama Mountain Range is one of the best, most rewarding fall colors viewing destinations that I have been to in Japan.
The best time to view the fall colors in Murodo is the first half of October. Even if you do not have time to explore the numerous hiking trails that the region is home to—including a climb up to the Tateyama range, one of the three holy mountains of Japan—the valley is still worth a visit. But if you have the chance, staying at one of the mountain huts would enhance the experience, letting you witness the fall colors in all their glory in the late afternoon and early morning light.
Tohoku: Japan`s best-kept secret and a wonderful autumn colors destination
Do not get me wrong; Tohoku is already very popular among the locals, but this fairly large region of Japan is somehow still not well known to international visitors.
The region, home to six prefectures, is impossibly rich in cultural (especially traditional crafts) and nature sites. A few years ago, I benefited from JR East`s highly advantageous Tohoku pass (available to anyone with a foreign passport, including foreign residents of Japan) for a week-long trip to Tohoku in late October.
I started with the Lake Towada and Oirase Stream region, a wonderful destination for easy hikes by a picturesque stream and lake, and a vibrant fall colors experience. An 8-kilometer trail accompanying the Oirase Stream features several waterfalls. It is a very popular spot for photographers who are into long-exposure waterfall shots. For more, this is an itinerary suggestion post where I wrote about my annual fall colors viewing trip to Aomori. A more recent post is about a five-day onsen hopping trip through Tohoku, where we stayed in four different hot springs over five days during the fall colors season.
My second stop was Aoni Onsen located near the onsen town of Kuroishi. Aoni Onsen, enjoying a secluded location deep in the forests of Aomori, remains my favorite onsen stay in Japan to this day. There are four different baths in the facility (open 24 hours), each featuring large windows overlooking the surrounding forest. Experiencing the colors through the steamy windows of Aoni Onsen was both visually and physically memorable. The facility, which has no electricity, is lit with oil lamps, creating a novel-like setting reminiscent of the Edo Period. For more, you can read my Aoni Onsen post.
From the paid archive: My four-night Tohoku onsen-hopping diary follows an autumn trip through four different hot springs, including Nyuto Onsen – Onsen Hopping Through Tohoku – four nights, four hot springs.
From the paid archive: A diary of a four-day trip using the Japan East Rail Pass exploring foliage spots in Aomori Prefecture of Tohoku – Blue Forests of Japan: Autumn Trip to Aomori.
Kamikochi and Karasawa Cirque: best fall colors hike in Japan
Karasawa Cirque, a hiking region located in Japan`s one of the most photogenic nature destinations, Kamikochi in Nagano, is easily one of the most popular fall color hikes in the country. When the colors show up in late September, many hikers flock to the region, creating almost a line along the hiking route. So, I would be lying if I said Karasawa offers a secluded fall color viewing experience, but the scenery may be worth the trouble.
I hiked the trail in early September, a little early for peak colors, but for logistics and trail info, you can read my hiking Karasawa Cirque post.
Kuju Mountains: fall colors hike followed by a mountaintop onsen stay
I have yet to visit the Kuju Mountains during the fall colors season, but I have been to the area several times in the spring to experience the Kyushu azalea. However, the Kuju Mountains, located in Oita Prefecture in Kyushu, are for many on the list of one of the best fall colors hiking destinations in Japan.
The best time to visit Kuju for fall colors is the second half of October. If you visit Kuju in autumn, I also recommend that you check out the Hokkein Sanso Onsen—a mountaintop hot spring offering full board to hikers. For more: Kuju Mountains Hikes.
Tokyo: very underrated autumn foliage viewing destination
Believe it or not, Tokyo is one of the most rewarding fall colors viewing destinations in Japan. There are more than 100 parks in the city, each offering a different autumn atmosphere. For some of my favorites, here is the One Fine Autumn Day in Tokyo post, which offers a one-day walking itinerary through some of the city’s most beloved foliage spots.
For the ginkgo trees, Showa Memorial Park (Showa Kinen Koen), located in the western part of the city, is the place to go. If you are an eager autumn color hunter like me, the added benefit is that the park greets the autumn color season (late October) much earlier than most places in Tokyo.
During the normal fall colors season, I love to visit Shinjuku Gyoen Park at least several times, always early in the morning, right after the park opens at 9 a.m. The park has many different sections, each hosting giant trees and picturesque ponds.
Mizumoto Park, Tokyo’s largest public park, will particularly please those looking to enjoy the fall colors with fewer crowds (probably everyone) and without surrounding urban scenery. I live very close to Mizumoto Park and bike to the park at least a few times during the autumn colors season. The park is home to a network of bike and running paths overlooked by giant cedar trees. It is also one of the best-kept secrets of Tokyo for nature lovers.
From the paid archive: In this post, I wrote about a one-day walking diary covering some of Tokyo’s best parks for the fall colors viewing – One Fine Autumn Day in Tokyo.
Kyoto: autumn in the most lovable city in the world
I cannot guarantee no crowds, but just like Tokyo, Kyoto is another well (or overly?) known but still a must-visit fall colors destination in Japan.
I try to visit the city for a week at least once every few years during the autumn season. I usually start my days with a walk to the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, where thousands of trees offer the most secluded fall colors viewing experience in Kyoto. A few years ago, during my morning visits to the park, I ended up becoming friends with the locals after running to each other under the same tree every single morning.
For a more shocking and jaw-dropping fall foliage viewing experience, Ruriko-in Temple, located in northern Kyoto, is the place to go. The large lacquered table carefully positioned on the second floor of the temple building serves as a mirror that reflects the autumn colors flushing out of the surrounding forest in all their glory. The temple is, as expected, one of the most popular autumn color viewing spots near Kyoto, and advanced bookings are therefore required to visit the temple during the fall colors season.
From the paid archive: In this post, I wrote about how I spend my day during my annual autumn colors viewing trip to Kyoto: One Fine Autumn Day in Kyoto.
Kanazawa: lively town and vibrant colors
Kanazawa, rightfully gaining popularity, is another wonderful urban destination in Japan that offers a memorable experience of fall colors. Home to one of the most cherished gardens in Japan, Kenroku-en, two impressive museums that include a contemporary art museum with a surprisingly large and striking collection of artwork, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and D. T. Suzuki Museum honoring the life and works of the Buddhist philosopher, and well preserved old quarters similar to those in Kyoto (but with less crowds), Kanazawa is a rewarding destination in every season.
I once had the great fortune of spending ten days in Kanazawa during the peak fall colors season (end of November). My favorite fall colors viewing spots were the small pond in front of Kanazawa Castle and the rarely visited back garden of the D. T. Suzuki Museum, where I often found myself all alone.
From the paid archive: a diary-style post from the website covering a day of sightseeing in Kanazawa: One Fine Day in Kanazawa.
These are some of my favorite fall foliage viewing spots in Japan, but there are, of course, many more. And a final note: if it was not already obvious above, if you asked me to pick one season to visit Japan, my answer would definitely be autumn.
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Where else to visit in Japan?
For more destination ideas in Japan, the “Where to Visit in Japan” post focuses on destinations that you can easily add to a trip focused on Tokyo and/or Kyoto. Another good post to start is the Japan Travel Frequently Asked Questions.
Getting off the mainland to visit the smaller islands is another wonderful option to experience the “extremely” rural life centered around the ocean. These are some of my favorite islands in Japan. Another island-related post covers my favorite Okinawa Island, Tokashiki.
Summer may not be the best time to visit Japan, of course, unless you are planning to head up to the mountains or islands. These are some of my favorite summer destinations in Japan.
If you like hiking, you are in luck. Mountains cover 70% of Japan’s land and host thousands of trails suitable for both beginner and advanced hikers; many of these hikes are easily accessible by public transportation. There is also a separate post about the multi-day pilgrimage routes of Japan.
If you have time to visit Japan’s northern frontier, Hokkaido, here are some winter suggestions: a week in Biei, and summer suggestions: Rebun Island.
To experience Japan’s famous onsen (hot springs) culture, check out my post listing some of my favorite onsen.
If you visit Japan during the summer season, which may honestly not be the best idea, here are some summer destination suggestions, which will, to some extent, help you avoid the mainland`s unbearable summer humidity.
