Autumn Kanto Travel Guide

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 of Japan.

Today I will feature the best autumn foliage spots located around the city that can overwhelm you! Every time I visit Tokyo in autumn, I feel so great and inspiring. Everything there looks just perfect and pretty amazing to hunt Momiji.

Every year, I try my best to explore koyo season across Japan, at least some part of it (if possible) that are worth returning for. Many people who already have got the taste of autumn colors here in Japan believe that Tokyo is not the best place for it. This is not true!

Tokyo’s public parks and gardens always attract me to explore them in every season. Indeed they are wroth visiting in autumn when leaves turn yellow and red.

Along with maple trees you should experience the beauty of Ginkgo trees. Ginkgo leaves turn golden yellow from green and remain like that until they fall down. It never turns red like maple leaf.

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Red Maple Leaves in Tokyo. Photo Credit: mrhayata at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

To enjoy the fall in Tokyo, you have to be familiar with some popular places that highlight amazing fall colors.

In this article, I am going to feature and review the places that I believe are worth a visit. In fact, my intention here is to present you ONLY the best ones.

If you are thinking of experiencing impressive autumn colors in Tokyo this article help you to decide where to go to see autumn leaves in the capital city of Japan. So, take part of it and enjoy your time visiting Tokyo’s top autumn color spots.

There is an important message for all of you “autumn foliage appears in Tokyo between Mid November and Mid December.”

And most of the deciduous trees there start changing their colors in early November. Keep this info in mind and plan accordingly.

1) Rikugien Garden:

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Illuminated View of Autumn Colors at Rikugien Garden. Photo Credit: mrhayata at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

Rikugien garden refers to be one of the most beautiful traditional Japanese landscape gardens in Tokyo.

Those who want to see autumn foliage while traveling in Tokyo, this fabulous garden is going to be your first choice. More or less, everyone knows that Tokyo is a busy city. And often many people come here to relax their mind.

Millions of tourists visit Tokyo every year. Some people have to visit the city for official meetings, business, visiting friends & relatives, and traveling.

If you are in Tokyo in autumn and want to see something beautiful, I highly recommend you visiting this spot.

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Awesome colors at Rikugien Garden. Photo Credit: Guilhem Vellut at Flickr.

Here you are offered to follow various inspiring garden trails to walk through.

All you have to do is – just take a walk along the trails, and enjoy the utmost beauty of autumn colors from different viewpoints in the garden such as from Tsutsuji no Chaya (teahouse), Site of Ginka-tei, around the Togetsukyo Bridge, Fujishirotoge viewpoint, Yamakage-bashi and Sasakani-no-michi.

Access to Rikugien garden is quite easy. Just get off at Komagome station on JR Yamanote Line and from the station it is only a 7-minute walk.

Visitors here can also enjoy breathtaking autumn colors at night, as the garden is illuminated in the evening gorgeously, creating a scene that can not be forgotten.

You have to pay 300 yen as for admission fee. I think the fee remains the same for this year as well.

Address: 6-16-3 Hon-komagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0021
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Rikugien Garden Office Telephone Number: 03-3941-2222
Time to view Autumn Foliage: Late November to Early December

2) Lake Kawaguchi:

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What a lovely view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchiko. Photo Credit: Guilhem Vellut at Flickr.

Suppose you are standing and viewing the scenic beauty of autumn colors from a spot where there is a lake in front of you and the majestic Mount Fuji in the background. Could you imagine how wonderful it would be if you have never experienced such a moment before?

The time when someone stares across the lake as much as their eyes sight could reach to he/she could feel very peaceful and amusing. This could only happen in the area of Lake Kawaguchi.

It is one of the lakes of Fuji Five Lakes that can be easily accessible by train and bus from Tokyo. There is a perfect spot called “Koyo Tunnel” from where Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji peak can be seen stunningly.

The lake offers you that iconic view of Mount Fuji as well as the autumn foliage seen nearby. There are plenty of things to do for you, I can’t explain them all here. However, if you want to walk, just go ahead!

Take a walk through the appealing pathways. When you get tired of walking down the nature parks, just have some rest sitting on the ground.

I also suggest you to visit the art museum. It is a great way to get to know that you never know before. You can get in there either by car or public transport. I will tell you the other way to reach there, I don’t know if you would do so.

Well, I once got there by my friend’s motorcycle. I think this is the fastest way to get there. If you decide to go there by a car, that will take one and an half hour. On the other hand, it would take two hours by public transport.

3) Shinjuku Gyoen:

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Colorful Autumn Foliage at Shinjuku Gyoen. Photo Credit: mrhayata at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

Shinjuku Gyoen Public Park has got a reputation of being most crowded hanami spots in Tokyo in the spring. I have no idea how you react knowing this though it does not get crowded much in the koyo season.

Bear in mind it is a huge public garden with variety of large trees especially cherry trees. And it is worth visiting at anytime of the year.

Autumn color here is as charming as the sakura viewing season. I would not mind telling this spot as one of the breathtaking spot to enjoy autumn foliage in downtown Tokyo.

There is a unique spot to see autumn foliage called Momijiyama or “Maple Mountain.” The spot gets much prettier as the leaves change their colors.

Early December is the best time to see fall foliage at Shinjuku Gyoen. When you get in the park, you will be surprised to see three different types of gardens with varieties of plants and trees, they are: Traditional Japanese garden, French garden, and English garden. Don’t leave the park without visiting these.

It’s a 10-mintue walk from Shinjuku Station.

4) Mount Takao:

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Red Torii Gate and Maple Leaves on Takaosan. Photo Credit: Yuki Shimazu at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

For nature lovers, Mount Takao (Takaosan) is a popular tourist attraction in Tokyo. It is situated in southeastern part of the Kanto region, Honshu Island, and about 50 Km away from the center of Tokyo city.

It can be accessed either by train or car. There are two lines: Keio (private line) and Chuo, these could take you directly to Takaosanguchi Station from Shinjuku Station.

Mount Takao is considered one of the best hiking destinations in Tokyo and autumn is a perfect time to explore the area! It makes a perfect holiday destination for everyone from child to adults.

In Japan, hiking is seen as one of the best ways of enjoying autumn colors in the mountains. Take note Takaosan’s autumn leaf viewing is usually at its best in mid November.

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Tourists love visiting Mt. Takao in fall. Photo Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson at Flickr.

Indeed, visitors can enjoy an incredible day trip here. You can hike up the entire mountain though I am sure if you are not experienced hikers you should not try this.

There are electric cable cars and ropeway (chairlift) to take you to halfway up the mountain. On the entire way, you would experience a glorious scenery of autumn seeing the mountain’s slopes that are covered with autumn colors. Just imagine, how amazing it would be?!

There are also shrines and a monkey park that are worth visiting. You will be surprised seeing the little Buddha statues and colorful autumn leaves on the grounds of the shrines.

However, I once hiked instead of taking cable cars and chairs. We formed a group with necessary hiking accessories. The trip was successful and yes it was in the autumn season.

5) Icho Namiki (Ginkgo Avenue):

Icho Namiki Dori Fall Colors. Photo Credit: nakashi at Flickr.

This is a beautiful place to enjoy a walk along the street of lined ginkgo trees. Here, Icho means Ginkgo and Namiki means tree line or avenue.

Located on Aoyama Street on the south side of Jingu Gaien Park, it is a straight street about 400 meters long with many ginkgo trees along the both side of the street.

People like to go there, especially during the Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival. It takes place when the ginkgo trees there turn marvelous shades in autumn.

You can take a walk along the street and take lots of photos of the deciduous trees. There are benches and cafes to have some rest and relax. Without doubt, it becomes one of the most famous streets in the world to enjoy a pleasant walk in autumn.

The best time to visit this place is between Mid November and early December. The closest station to this spot is Aoyama-itchome Station requiring you only 5 minutes’ walk while it takes 6 minutes walk from Gaienmae station.

6) Koishikawa Korakuen:

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Traditional Japanese Garden and Autumn Foliage at Koishikawa Korakuen, Tokyo. Photo Credit: Hnakashi at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

As the Tokyo autumn sets in, the various trees leaves that usually change their colors spread throughout the garden. For an autumn afternoon stroll this is an ideal spot, no doubt about that.

Unlike other Japanese gardens this garden is a bit unique with offering cherry & plum blossom in spring, red maple leaves & yellow ginkgo in autumn and wisteria & irises in summer.

Awesome Japanese and Chinese style landscape garden can be seen, consists of plants of different kinds, bridge, ponds and rocks. There are three ponds at this garden where dozens of maple tree are planted around.

They all change their leaves color between late November and early December.  You have to pay 300 yen to enter the garden. If you are serious getting there then you get off at Iidabashi Station and then walk for 10 minutes to reach there.

7) Yoyogi Koen:

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Yoyogi Park Autumn Leaves View! Photo Credit: mrhayata at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

Yoyogi Koen (Park) is well known for its gingko tree grove, and one of the largest city parks in Tokyo.

It is located in Shibuya-ku, and next to this park there is a famous shrine called Meiji Shrine. Autumn foliage in Japan is a wonder of nature, and Yoyogi Park does make you think so!

Even though this spot is famous for sakura viewing, I strongly suggest you to get there to see autumn foliage. You will be overwhelmed and speechless, my own experience says this! There are lawns, forested areas and ponds that surly make taking photos of them.

The best time for viewing autumn foliage is from late November to early December. I think you must visit this park since it is located in Shibuya ward.

Everyone knows that this ward is popular for having many shopping centers and malls and being renowned as an entertainment area. Who knows, you might get some unique souvenirs from there.

If you take the JR Yamanote Line to Harajuku Station and from there it takes 5 minutes walk to get to the park. There is no admission fee to pay for visitors!

8) Showa Kinen Park (Memorial Park):

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Showa Kinen Park Ginkgo Leaves During Autumn. Photo Credit: mrhayata at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

Whether you believe it or not that there are so many beautiful parks in Tokyo and Showa Kinen Park is one of them.

Sometimes it is hard to decide which one to visit because we have limited time for traveling one place to other places. You can’t leave Japan just by visiting Tokyo, instead you will have to discover the places like Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, Nara, Nikko, Tohoku, and Hokkaido.

Your travel time in Japan can be very short. Within this time frame, you will have to visit some very popular attractions.

For example, Showa Kinen Park is considered a popular autumn foliage viewing spot in Tokyo. As you find many spots to view autumn leaf, I myself decided to feature this one for you. This one is very special!

This park comprises some wonderful gardens where people can walk under lined Ginkgo trees and ride bicycle to enjoy real autumn beauty. Here, Ginkgo trees’ green leaves turn yellow to golden color as the days pass by in the fall.

Needless to say, many people come here to enjoy autumn season as well as to take photographs of golden colored Ginkgo tree leaves. It is a pride of Tachikawa city residence. They show their kind respect to this park by visiting it when leaves start changing color.

You can also expect to see red maple leaves there. One can enjoy his/her time rowing in the lakes (there are two lakes) as well. This is a huge park with multiple entrances. It’s a 20-minute walk from the Tachikawa station.

9) Mount Mitake (Mitakesan):

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This is How it looks like during Autumn on Mount Mitake. Photo Credit: marufish at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

If you are living in Tokyo and want to have a day trip from the city then Mount Mitake will be a perfect spot to visit, especially in autumn though. The landscape of Mitakesan gets much prettier during the fall when the deciduous trees leaves change color.

The area is a part of Chichibu Tama Kai National Park. Besides, there is a beautiful red color torii gate that even looks very gorgeous when the nearest trees leaves turn red.

Being one of the best hiking destinations in Tokyo, it attracts many nature lovers and hikers throughout the year. It stands 929 meters high, and quite a lovely place to enjoy autumn foliage.

At the foot of Mitakesan a train station called Takimoto station is situated. From here either you can take a walk or take one of the cable cars to go up the mountain.

Up in the mountain there is a beautiful Shinto shrine that you can discover, known as Musashi Mitake Shrine. Near to this landmark, there is a rock garden.

I know it will be a tough walk to get to the top of the mountain though it is quite enjoyable seeing scenic beauty of autumn foliage out there.

To make it more enjoyable, I suggest you to take some rest so that you don’t feel uncomfortable while hiking. When you go top of the mountain by the cable cars, make sure you look at mountains slopes covered with red and yellow foliage.

Come here from early November to late November and you will experience the autumn beauty. It is easy to access from central Tokyo.

You can take trains from Shinjuku or Tokyo stations and get off at Ome station. From Ome station a few trains depart, they would take you to Mitake Station.

10) Inokashira Park:

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Red Maple Leaves at Inokashira Park. Photo Credit: Wei-Te Wong at Flickr through Creative Commons Licensing.

Inokashira Park is a popular place to see cherry blossom in Tokyo in spring. People gather here with friends and beloved ones to have amazing time together by seeing beautiful sakura.

That is the real scenario of spring in this park, but people also recognize it as one of the top autumn leaf viewing spots in Tokyo. This park has a big central pond where visitors can rent paddleboats and rowboats.

There are walking paths around the Inokashira’s pond. So, why don’t you take a pleasant walk and explore the foliage? That sounds too good to be true! You can also visit a mini zoo here. For your little ones, this place is a top-notch!

Inokashira Benzaiten is a lovely shrine, dedicated to god Benzaiten (Goddess of water & music). Don’t you forget to pay a visit to this beautiful landmark!

Have you got any idea how to get to this park? Inoshira-Koen Station and Kichijoji Stations are the two stations that are located close to this park. Here, autumn foliage begins from Mid November and can be enjoyed till Mid December.

This is only a virtual tour to make you familiar with the most popular autumn leaves viewing spots in Tokyo. If you ever think of visiting at least some of these spots, it will be more than a great idea to spend your autumn holidays in Tokyo.

However, millions of visitors come to Japan in the fall because it is a colorful season that appears once in a year, so don’t miss this! I wish you have a wonderful trip to Japan this autumn. Good luck and thanks for reading.

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