2025 Japan Autumn Foliage Forecast

Latest Update: If you are planning to visit Japan in 2025 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 2024

September 08, 2024 – 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 18, 2024 – It’s mid-September! The autumn foliage at Mount Asahidake in Hokkaido are typically starting to change now.

September 28, 2024 – October is about to come, which means getting ready for exploring Hokkaido’s amazing fall colors spots. The peak of the autumn colors has been reached at Mount Asahidake.

Mount Asahidake Autumn Foliage — Autumn Foliage at Mount Asahidake in late September, 2024.

September 30, 2024 – From late September to mid-October is when the colors are most vibrant at Mount Kurodake/Sounkyo. Currently, the leaves are turning vibrant colors there, and it signals visitors should plan a trip to Sounkyo soon before they are gone.

October 20, 2024 – A lot of locals and tourists have been seen in the major parks and attractions today in and around Sapporo. Peak autumn season has arrived, no doubt about that! You can enjoy the fall foliage until early November in Sapporo.

October 25, 2024 – Enjoy the peak of fall colors in Hokkaido this coming weekend! Peak foliage hit most of the parks in and around Sapporo.

November 18, 2024 – Many autumn foliage spots in Kyoto are already showcasing the vivid colors of the deciduous trees, though the peak season is yet to come.

November 26, 2024 – The peak of the autumn season is still underway, making this the perfect time for anyone wanting to experience the fall foliage in Kyoto.

December 3, 2024 – The perfect time to enjoy the spectacular autumn colors in Tokyo and Kyoto has arrived! Travelers can visit the renowned autumn foliage spots there until mid-December.

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, 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.

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, 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.

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.

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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 Mid-November
Tohoku	Early October to Mid-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