2024 Japan Autumn Foliage Forecast

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.

The autumn foliage around the lower station of the Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway. This photo was taken on October 4th, 2023. Source: © WAKASARESORT Co., Ltd.

October 5, 2023Asahidake 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, 2023In Okunikko area of Nikko, peak foliage season will hit in late October.

Red Kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park. Photo Credit: Hitachi Sunrise Park Co.Ltd.

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, 2023Fujikawaguchiko 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

Mount Asahi (Asahidake) in the background. Photo Credit: WAKASARESORT Co., Ltd.
Asahidake ropeway and the fall colors. This photo was taken on September 27, 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.

Visitors can enjoy a view like this from Asahidake ropeway.

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

The autumn foliage are looking very pretty. Photo Credit: WAKASARESORT Co., Ltd.

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

Autumn colors at Hoheikyo Dam in Jozankei, Sapporo.

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.

Fall Foliage at Sounkyo Onsen, Hokkaido.

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

Impressive autumn foliage in Kyoto! Photo Credit: halfrain at Flickr.com.

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.

red_maple_autumn_foliage_japan
Red Maple, Japan. Photo Credit: Marufish at Flickr.

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.

Japan Autumn Foliage Map for 2024. Photo Credit: Kyuhoshi.com

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.

You can order your Japan Rail Pass now.

Pupuru WiFi keeps you connected across Japan, including Hokkaido & Okinawa without the worry of unsecured connections. The pocket-sized mobile hotspot will give you unlimited internet with no speed restriction and can be connected up to 10 devices.

This pocket wifi makes your Japan trip a lot easier. Click here to order your pocket wifi.

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 PlaceEstimated Viewing TimeCurrent State
HokkaidoMid September to early November
TohokuEarly October to Early November
KantoLate October to Early December
ChubuLate 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 ParkEarly September to Early October
SapporoMid October to Early November
HakodateMid October to Early November
AomoriEarly October to Late October
Lake TowadaEarly October to Late October
IwateEarly October to Late October
Yamagata Early October to Late October
MiyagiMid October to Early November
Alpine Route Mid October to Mid November
TakayamaMid October to Mid November
Kurobe Gorge Late October to Mid November
Mount KoyaLate October to Mid November
NikkoMid October to Mid November
SakurayamaEarly November to Late November
AichiEarly November to Late November
HakoneEarly November to Late November
KanazawaEarly November to Late November
FukushimaMid October to Early November
Mount YoshinoMid October to Early November
Shirakawa-goLate October to Mid November
NagoyaMid November to Early December
TokyoEarly November to Mid Decmeber
KyotoEarly November to Mid December
KamakuraMid November to Early December
NaraEarly November to Mid December
OsakaEarly November to Mid December
Mount Fuji AreaEarly November to Early December
MiyajimaEarly 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.

Discover Japan in Autumn

7-Day in Tokyo Autumn Itinerary (Nov-Dec)

Visiting Tokyo in autumn can be very rewarding, not only because of its beautiful parks and gardens but also for ...

11-Day in Hokkaido Itinerary – October

Hokkaido is one of the best destinations to visit in Japan in October. If you are visiting Japan in October ...

10 Best Places to Visit in Japan in November

November is a perfect time of the year to see the gorgeous fall foliage in Japan, especially on Honshu, the ...

8 Most Amazing Waterfalls in Japan

Japan is a land rich with many natural wonders. While many people think of Japan in terms of its busy ...

Where to See Autumn Leaves in Shikoku

Shikoku is the smallest of Japan’s islands, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in wonderful sights ...

Autumn Leaves in Takayama | Visit Gifu

Autumn is a great time to explore Takayama. It is a small city located in the heart of Hida Mountains ...

What to do in Tokyo in Autumn

Planning to visit Tokyo this autumn? Wondering what to do there during the autumn months? In Japan, Tokyo is considered ...

Fuji Five Lakes (Fujigoko) | Best Places to Visit

The Fuji Five Lakes are found at the northern base of Mount Fuji and are a region of amazing beauty ...

10 Best Autumn Leaves Spots in Arashiyama

Packed with a number of famous temples, Arashiyama is a district and popular tourist area of Kyoto. The area is ...

8 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Yamagata

Autumn leaf viewing is a traditional practice throughout Japan. The beautiful natural landscapes of the country and its incredible historical ...

10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage around Tokyo

As the seasons turn, the leaves in many parts of the world change color. Nowhere is this more celebrated in ...

8 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Nagano

Fall foliage viewing has a long tradition in Japan. In Nagano, one of the prefectures located in central Honshu, the ...

6 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Hiroshima

Autumn in Japan is something truly special. The autumn leaves are unlike any you’ll see in the world. There is ...

10 Famous Places to View Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is one of the best-known symbols of Japan. Its snowy peak rises 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft) above the ...

10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Chubu

Autumn in Japan is the time for momigari, or red leaf hunting. The leaves of maples, gingko, and other species ...

7 Best Places to see Autumn Leaves in Akita

Autumn is a beautiful season to see the fall foliage all across Japan. Looking for autumn leaves in Northern Japan? ...

10 Best Things to Do in Sapporo in Autumn

Autumn has arrived in Hokkaido! The days are getting shorter and the weather cooling off and a lot of things ...

8 Best Places to see Autumn Leaves in Fukushima

Where to see the fall foliage in Fukushima Prefecture? Fall in the Tohoku region at its best in mid-October and ...

12 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Kyushu

Kyushu is the third largest of the Japanese islands that boasts an amazing amount of stunning fall foliage spots. It ...

10-Day in Tokyo and Hokkaido Itinerary – December

In Japan, we always get to experience all four season. If you take a trip to Japan in early December, ...

10 Best Parks and Gardens to Visit in Tokyo

Gardens and nature have a special place in Japanese culture. Almost every castle has a lovely garden, and the plants ...

13-Day Japan Itinerary – November

When it comes to visiting somewhere else in Asia in November, Japan is hard to beat. Honshu, the largest island ...

7-Day Central Japan Autumn Itinerary

Traveling around the Chubu Region (Central Japan) is one of the best things you can do in Japan in autumn ...

12 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Japan

Wondering where to go this fall to see autumn leaves? It's no secret that Japan boasts some of the most ...

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route 2024

Japan is a land of beautiful and mighty mountain peaks. While there are many ways to see these mountains at ...

3-Day Osaka Autumn Itinerary

The Kansai Region showcases some of Japan’s most popular destinations and iconic landmarks scattered throughout the cities like Kyoto, Nara, ...

Autumn in Kamakura 2020

There are many places around the world to view autumn colors, and those in Japan are second to none. In ...

4 Famous Places to See Autumn Leaves in Nara

Nara never disappoints. I am telling this based on my travel experience. Have you ever been to Nara before, especially ...

Autumn leaves in the Fujigoko Area 2024

Fuji Five Lakes or Fujigoko area consists of stunning natural settings, hot spring resorts, traditional old style buildings, museums, and ...

10 Best Things to Do in Hokkaido in Autumn

What are the best things to do and see in Hokkaido in the fall? If this is the question you ...

7 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Osaka

Osaka - one of the coolest places to visit in Japan has so much to offer you year round. Here, ...

One Day in Kamakura Autumn Itinerary

The Kamakura Shogunate (bafuku), Hojo clan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Minamoto, and Ashikaga, are the most common words you would hear about ...

2-Day in Nikko Autumn Itinerary

Are you looking forward to visiting Nikko this autumn? You need at least two full-days to experience its stunning fall ...

4-Day Kyoto Autumn Itinerary

What's so special about Kyoto? Why do people go there? Every attraction in Kyoto deserves a visit, and this suggested ...

1-Day Arashiyama Autumn Itinerary

Arashiyama is that sort of place in the world where you can find the history, nature, peace, love, and happiness ...

5 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Aomori

Hokkaido is a paradise to see earliest fall foliage in Japan, and so is the Tohoku region! Aomori, the northernmost ...

7 Days in Hokkaido Autumn Itinerary (Mid-Late October)

Do you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the fall season? If you want to visit a place ...

6 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Sapporo

Autumn is a great time to plan a trip to Sapporo to explore its fantastic views of cascading colors. Sapporo, ...

Japan Autumn Travel Guide 2024 | Fall Season

Autumn is a wonderful season when the Japanese like to go out for leaf-peeping. To admire the outdoor autumn beauty, ...

10 Famous Japanese Mountains to See in Autumn

Do you want to see stunning fall colors through mountain hiking? Japan is a land of mountains; the communities settled ...

10 Beautiful Waterfalls to See in Japan in Autumn

Waterfall is said to be one of the most charming things on earth, and essential parts of our nature. It ...

Autumn Leaves in Tokyo | Japan Koyo 2024

Every autumn, Tokyo comes alive in a stunning blaze of fall colors. I love visiting Tokyo year-round, especially in spring ...

Autumn Leaves in Osaka | Is it Worth a Visit?

In comparison with the fall colors of Kyoto, Tokyo, Nikko, Nara, Hakone, Kamakura, Hokkaido, and Tohoku, Osaka seems to me ...

Autumn Leaves in Aichi | Koyo 2024

Aichi is one my favorite destinations in the Chubu region. It is a prefecture, comprises of 38 (thirty eight) cities ...

Autumn Leaves in Nara | Travel Guide 2024

Traveling to Nara prefecture in the fall often means sharing loving-kindness (metta). Do you know why? Nara is home to ...

Autumn Leaves in Kamakura 2024

Kamakura is a beautiful and historic place to visit year-round. Though, the best time to visit the city is in ...

Autumn Leaves in Hakone 2024 | Visit Kanagawa

Autumn in Hakone is impressive as it claims to have the best fall color in Japan. It is worth spending ...

10 Best Places to see Autumn Leaves in Tohoku

Leaf peeping trip to Tohoku this autumn would be a great holiday idea for you. In fact Tohoku is considered ...

10 Best Places to see Autumn Leaves in Hokkaido

Hokkaido’s autumn foliage is simply awesome. In the fall, throughout the Hokkaido region, the leaves turn from green to a ...

Autumn Leaves in Hokkaido | Japan Fall 2024

In Hokkaido, when the fall season arrives, many visitors embark on a trip to Hokkaido's best leaf-peeping spots. Are you ...

Autumn Leaves in Nikko | Visit Tochigi

Autumn leaves season brings a lot of joy to every resident of Nikko knowing that its economy fully depends on ...

Autumn Leaves in Tohoku | Koyo Season 2024

Tohoku is blessed with beautiful nature and autumn foliage here is fabulous! The Tohoku region consists of six prefectures, Aomori, ...

10 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Tokyo

Tokyo in autumn is surprisingly mind-boggling. It is just incredible to experience the fall foliage season in this bustling city ...

10 Best Places to See Autumn Leaves in Kyoto

Planning your fall foliage trip to Kyoto? These 10 destinations are famous for their stunning fall colors and come alive ...

Autumn Leaves in Kyoto | Visit Kansai 2024

Kyoto is a heaven of fall foliage in Japan. You will feel it when you take a trip to this ...

Autumn Leaves on Miyajima Island 2024

Planning a trip to Miyajima (Itsukushima) Island this November to see breathtaking fall colors? The iconic Floating Torii Gate is ...

Colorful Autumn Leaves (Koyo) in Japan | Fall Season 2024

Autumn foliage in Japan is beautiful, sometimes much more than the iconic hanami (cherry blossoms viewing season). Autumn and spring, ...

Copyright 2024 @ Kyuhoshi.com