Latest Update: If you are planning to visit Japan in 2024 during the autumn foliage season, we strongly recommend you to read this page thoroughly. The table shown below indicates where to visit in Japan to see autumn leaves between late September and early December.
Fall color vibrancy is completely dependent on weather, so before you head towards any autumn leaves spots in Japan, be sure to visit the local tourist information centers to get the up-to-date fall colors info.
If you wish to experience breathtaking autumn landscapes across Japan and don’t know how to plan a trip, we will gladly help you planning your fall foliage trip to Japan, so contact us ASAP.
Japan Autumn Colors Reports 2023
September 25, 2023 – The first place to see autumn colors each year in Japan is Mount Asahidake. The leaves have started to change colors in the area, but gradually, due to this year’s longer summer season. Many tourists are expected to visit Asahidake Ropeway this weekend to see the fall colors!
October 3, 2023 – This is the best week for peak color at Mount Asahidake. Snow has fallen on the mountains, so it is cold and cloudy there.
October 4, 2023 – Peak color is not expected until around mid October at Sounkyo Onsen. However, if you ride on the Kurodake Ropeway and the chairlift to reach the summit of Mount Kurodake, you will see stunning fall foliage along the way. The fall colors around the summit have reached their peak.
October 5, 2023 – Asahidake experienced the first snowfall of the season on October 4. Visit the mountain and see the beautiful autumn foliage as you ride on the ropeway. It is great to see snow-capped Asahidake and autumn colors at the same time.
October 17, 2023 – The vibrant colors of fall have arrived in Sapporo and Jozankei, but it’s delayed by at least a week or two. Peak time is expected during the 4th week of October.
October 18, 2023 – In Okunikko area of Nikko, peak foliage season will hit in late October.
October 23, 2023 – Autumn colors have approached their peak in Central Hokkaido. A self-drive around Furano and Biei would be a great way to experience the fall foliage in the area, especially Mt. Tokachi Observatory, Blue Pond, and Shirahige waterfall.
October 24, 2023 -If you are traveling around Tokyo, one of the best places to visit this late October is Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. The park’s kochia plants have turned vibrant red!
October 29, 2023 – Autumn foliage have reached their peak in Sapporo. This weekend a lot of tourists and locals have seen visiting the major autumn foliage spots in Sapporo, such as Nakajima Park, Hokkaido University Ginkgo Avenue, Maruyama Park, Jozankei, and Makomanai Park.
November 10, 2023 – Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival in Yamanashi Prefecture is underway! Enjoy the autumn leaves corridor and light-up event in the evening. There, autumn color will likely reach its peak next week.
Japan Autumn Colors Reports 2022
September 9, 2022 – The autumn foliage season has arrived in Japan. According to the official website of Asahidake Ropeway, this year autumn leaves season in Mount Asahi has started earlier than usual.
September 27, 2022 – Visitors intend to see the autumn colors in Hokkaido should visit Asahidake ropeway this upcoming weekends.
October 3, 2022 – The above photo was taken on October 3rd, while reaching to Sugatami Station of Asahidake by the ropeway.
October 22, 2022 – Peak color time has arrived in Jozankei Onsen. Now it is worth visiting this weekend for experiencing its gorgeous autumn foliage.
October 28, 2022 – Sapporo’s koyo season has reached its peak in some of the city’s most spectacular autumn color spots.
November 8, 2022 – Autumn leaves around Lake Kawaguchi are looking pretty gorgeous.
November 20, 2022 – The green trees in Tokyo and Kyoto are showing a display of gorgeous fall colors.
Japan Autumn Colors Reports 2021
22 September, 2021, Mt Asahidake: The fall foliage season in Japan has begun!
The colors of autumn in the Mt. Asahidake are now dazzling. This is the the tallest mountain on the Japanese island of Hokkaido and one of the most popular hiking spots in Japan in autumn.
28 September, 2021, Kurodake Ropeway (Sounkyo Onsen): You can expect to see beautiful fall colors along the way to the upper station of the ropeway. They are at their brightest in every corner!
20 October, 2021, Jozankei Onsen: Not far from Sapporo, Jozankei Onsen is one of the best areas in Sapporo to go to stare into the gorgeous leaves. Visit the area this weekend and enjoy a great time.
24 October, 2021, Sapporo: You will find peak colors in Sapporo city. Visit Maruyama Park, Nakajima Park, Hokkaido University, Odori Park, Makomanai Park, Asahiyama Memorial Park and Mount Moiwa.
20 November, 2021, Kyoto: It is peak foliage time in Kyoto! Now is the time of year for leaf-peeping. You can visit Kyoto’s popular fall foliage spots where leaves look vibrant now.
24 November, 2021, Tokyo: The autumn colors in many areas in Tokyo are typically at their peak in the last weekend of November.
Japan Autumn Colors Reports 2020
27 September, 2020, Mt Asahidake: The colors in the upper elevations of Mt. Asahidake have already reached their peak. To see live images of the mountain, click here.
Please note Asahidake Ropeway is currently in service.
The fall colors in the high elevations of Daisetsuzan National Park would remain at their peak into early October. In the national park, there are many interesting hiking routes and viewpoints to enjoy the fall foliage and beautiful snowy mountain ranges.
8 October, 2020, Sounkyo Kurodake Ropeway: Autumn colors have reached their peak in most of lower elevation of Daisetsuzan National Park. Sounkyo is stunning in early October this year!
12 October, 2020, Nikko: If you are currently living in Tokyo and planning for a trip to see fall foliage, we highly recommend you to visit Nikko. The foliage in Okunikko, the highest area in Nikko, is in peak color now.
16 October, 2020, Akita: Many places in the Tohoku region of Japan are now ablaze with colors.
26 October, 2020, Mount Fuji: Fall colors are looking breathtaking beautiful at the Higher elevation of Mount Fuji. You can visit The Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station and enjoy the colors. And it’s anticipated that the Maple Corridor of Lake Kawaguchiko will be at its peak in the mid November.
06 November, 2020, Kakunodate: The best time to see autumn foliage has arrived! Visit Kakunodate Samurai District in Akita Prefecture to see gorgeous fall foliage.
12 November, 2020, Kyoto: It’s mid November in the Kansai region of Japan, the place where travelers can explore many historic gardens, temples & shrines and incredible autumn leaves display. Many fall colors spots in Nara, Kyoto and Osaka are worth a visit now as they are approaching to their peak.
17 November, 2020, Kyoto: Peak color time has arrived in Kyoto! Most of the koyo spots there are now worth a visit.
20 November, 2020, Tokyo: Autumn foliage can be seen by the end of the second week of December in Tokyo. You can spend a day visiting the Shinjuku Gaien National Garden and later take a leisurely walk along the Icho Namiki Avenue.
Autumn Leaves in Japan
Fall in Japan is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. The country’s unique geography, with its grand mountains and pristine wilderness, offers up fall foliage that can’t be beat. Various subspecies of maple trees have various colors of leaves: red (koyo), yellow (oyo), and brown (katsuyo). Together, they form a mosaic of color against the wild lush countryside of Japan.
Autumn is one of the most delightful and admiring seasons to experience in Japan. Taking a trip to some areas where leaves have turned red & yellow, especially in the mountains, public parks, or temple & shrine grounds is called momijigari in Japanese.
The beauty of the changing leaves has been memorialized by the Japanese tradition of momijigari, which originated in the Heianperiod (794-1195 AD). Momijigari means ‘red leaf hunting’ and is the term used to describe autumn leaf viewing.
Among Buddhists, the experience is a reminder that life is fleeting. It has worked its way into Japanese culture. During the fall, you can enjoy maple leaf-shaped cakes and even find maple leaf tempura, time-honored traditions only found around fall when the leaves change.
The map shown below indicates that how the autumn foliage season of Japan goes downward from the top elevations. Typically, Japan’s autumn foliage season starts in mid September in the Hokkaido region.
The average time for appearing autumn foliage in Japan may vary depending on temperatures. Before you embark on a fall trip to Japan, you should always be aware of the fall foliage forecast.
Usually, it is published in different media such as on TV, newspaper, radio, website and regional tourist information centers throughout Japan.
You can feel the autumn atmosphere in different places from Mid October to Early December except Hokkaido region. Though some part of Kanto and Chubu regions provide plenty of incredible fall colors in early October.
Are you planning to visit Japan in future? Do you want to learn how to survive while traveling across Japan? Then read this recommended travel guide that tells you about the rules of Japanese etiquette.
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One statistic shows that it is difficult to communicate with locals in a foreign language in Japan. To overcome this problem you have to use Pocketalk, a Multilingual Interactive Communication Device. This voice translator is a must have travel accessory alongside this simple pocket WiFi device whenever you visit Japan.
Region and Place | Estimated Viewing Time | Current State |
---|---|---|
Hokkaido | Mid September to early November | |
Tohoku | Early October to Early November | |
Kanto | Late October to Early December | |
Chubu | Late October to Early December | |
Kansai | Late October to Mid December | |
Chugoku | Early November to Late November | |
Shikoku | Early November to Early December | |
Kyushu | Early November to Early December | |
Daisetsuzan National Park | Early September to Early October | |
Sapporo | Mid October to Early November | |
Hakodate | Mid October to Early November | |
Aomori | Early October to Late October | |
Lake Towada | Early October to Late October | |
Iwate | Early October to Late October | |
Yamagata | Early October to Late October | |
Miyagi | Mid October to Early November | |
Alpine Route | Mid October to Mid November | |
Takayama | Mid October to Mid November | |
Kurobe Gorge | Late October to Mid November | |
Mount Koya | Late October to Mid November | |
Nikko | Mid October to Mid November | |
Sakurayama | Early November to Late November | |
Aichi | Early November to Late November | |
Hakone | Early November to Late November | |
Kanazawa | Early November to Late November | |
Fukushima | Mid October to Early November | |
Mount Yoshino | Mid October to Early November | |
Shirakawa-go | Late October to Mid November | |
Nagoya | Mid November to Early December | |
Tokyo | Early November to Mid Decmeber | |
Kyoto | Early November to Mid December | |
Kamakura | Mid November to Early December | |
Nara | Early November to Mid December | |
Osaka | Early November to Mid December | |
Mount Fuji Area | Early November to Early December | |
Miyajima | Early November to Late November | |
Arashiyama | Early November to Early December |
Visit this page often to get the latest news on Japan autumn leaves forecast. Thank you very much.
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