Autumn Colors

Autumn in Japan is colorful and vibrant with abundance of deciduous trees and forest. The country is considered one of the most popular fall destinations in the world. Like many others, Japanese people like to go on a hike in this season. 

Japan offers exceptional fall foliage viewing opportunities. Glorious foliage can be spotted across the country. A list of exciting autumn festivals are held, and they are quite enjoyable to participate in. Takayama Autumn Festival, ranked as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan is held in early October every year.

Autumn is the season of the harvest. The Japanese don’t celebrate the season only hunting for momiji (red leaves), but also eating variety of delicious local dishes made of fresh seasonal vegetables and ingredients.

Enkoji temple’s autumn leaves. Photo Credit: Norio NAKAYAMA at Flickr.

Every year in autumn, the most popular autumn leaves spots in Japan attract millions of visitors from all over the world. Kyoto, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Nikko, Aomori, Nara, Hakone, Akita, Kamakura, Osaka, Arashiyama, Aichi, and Miyajima Island are said to be the famous spots for hunting fall foliage.

Hokkaido is known for highlighting the earliest fall foliage in Japan, which occurs in mid-September. Kyoto’s temple & shrines naturally get decorated with thousands of deciduous trees of different kinds. On the main island of Japan, the best time to enjoy autumn leaves is between Late October and Early December.

Here, get some useful autumn travel guides for a trip to Japan.

Things to Do and See in japan During 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 fun things to see and do. Are you interested in ...

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 and would like to stop over in Hokkaido for less ...

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 largest island of Japan. It can be overwhelming to decide ...

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 high-tech metropolises like Tokyo, there is plenty to see in ...

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 to see. This is very true in autumn when many ...

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 in Gifu Prefecture. Takayama (Hida-Takayama) is a popular tourist attraction ...

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 one of the best places to go in Autumn. The ...

10 Best Autumn Festivals in Japan

Autumn in Japan is just as festive as its famous blooming spring. The autumn leaves of Japan change color every year starting in October, ranging from brilliantly gold ginkgo leaves ...

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 and wilderness. Here you can get some of the best ...

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 known for its iconic bamboo forest called The Arashiyama Bamboo ...

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 architecture make it an amazing, magical experience. Yamagata is a ...

5 Best Onsen Towns to Visit near Tokyo

Onsen are very popular experiences, especially if you are a newcomer to Japan. These hot spring baths take advantage of the natural volcanism of Japan to offer visitors the opportunity ...

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 Japan, where autumn leaf viewing occurs every season, often accompanied ...