Kyoto is one of the best travel destinations in Japan. Both local and international tourists explore Kyoto’s attractions throughout the year, but their number increases in the spring and autumn! Visiting Kyoto during the autumn months is quite rewarding, not only for its autumn foliage, but also for other things, such as seasonal local food and festivals.
If you love the autumn foliage as much as I do, these Kyoto activities will let you experience some of the most beautiful scenery that you can expect in the fall. From mid-November to early December is a perfect time to plan a trip to Kyoto to see the stunning display of autumn leaves.
In this guide, we will highlight the best things to do and see in Kyoto in autumn, including some easy day trips you can make from Kyoto city by train.
Autumn Weather in Kyoto
Kyoto’s autumn typically lasts from mid-October to mid-December. Although the leaves changing color in mid-October, the peak of autumn foliage season in Kyoto usually comes in mid-November.
With cool evenings, the days are sunny and warm in Kyoto in autumn. The air is crisp and clear, and the sky is often blue! It’s a great time to visit Kyoto and explore its popular attractions.
The weather in Kyoto in November is moderately chilly and breezy, with average highs of 17°C and lows of 7°C. On the other hand, in December, the average temperature in Kyoto is between 11°C and 3°C. With the cool, crisp weather around, you would enjoy your days in Kyoto by visiting the temples, shrines, gardens, and parks.
Wear a lightweight jacket, and there is no need for wearing multiple layers as the days are warm. The weather can be quite chilly in the evening and night.
Now, let’s find out some of the best things do in Kyoto in autumn:
1. Autumn Leaves: Enjoy the great outdoors in and around Kyoto
Kyoto has a good reputation for being one of the best destinations to explore in Japan in autumn. Many local tourists from all over Japan come to enjoy the autumn foliage in Kyoto. On the other hand, Kyoto is packed with a lot of international tourists all year round, and the autumn season attracts many, no doubt about that.
In Kyoto, peak foliage season hits between late November and early December. This is very important to know when the peak foliage season takes place in Kyoto, especially if you want to know experience the best autumn foliage views around.
There are many places to go and hunt for stunning fall colors. Among those places Tofukuji Temple, Kiyomizudera, Arashiyama, Eikando, Kodaiji, and Nanzenji Temple are the most recommended fall foliage spots in Kyoto.
While there may other impressive spots to enjoy the fall colors, it’s good to know that not only you would experience the red maple leaves, but also beautiful traditional gardens, temple structures, hiking trails and so on.
One perfect example is Kodaiji Temple, a beautiful Zen Buddhist temple located in the Higashiyama District of Kyoto, has a nice rock garden. This Insta-worthy hot spot is a great place to walk around!
If you are planning a trip to Kyoto, we highly recommend you to check out our 4 days itinerary. This will give you some ideas on what to do and see during your stay in Kyoto in the autumn.
2. Experience Kyoto’s famous Gion Odori
Your trip to Kyoto is not complete until you get to Gion, a renowned geisha district in Kyoto. In autumn, you can experience Kyoto’s Gion Odori. It’s a traditional dance and music performance by the geiko and maiko of the Gion Higashi district.
Gion Odori is a captivating show that allows visitors enjoying the beauty of Kyoto’s traditional arts. Make sure to add this event to your itinerary when you plan on visiting Kyoto in early November. In fact, this offers a great opportunity to see maiko and geiko perform close by.
This annual event takes place from November 1 to 10 ever year at Gion Kaikan. Please note that there are only two performances per day to see, one at 13:30 and the other is at 16:00.
3. Enjoy Day Trips from Kyoto
To enjoy a day trip from Kyoto, you don’t need a tour bus. Train is the best means of transportation, which would make your trip easier and hassle free with giving you plenty of time to discover many places around Kyoto and far beyond.
A one day gateway from Kyoto can be an exciting adventure for first-timers as well as those who have visited Kyoto in the past. There are endless things to do and see throughout the four seasons in and around Kyoto.
These are the best day trips from Kyoto by train which are worth taking. Among those day trips, I would like to discuss about only two here. They are – Nara and Osaka! When you come to Kyoto, you must visit these cities, where there’s no shortage of great places! There you would find some of Japan’s famous autumn foliage spots too.
Nara Park and Osaka Castle Park are equally great places to explore with highlights like freely roaming deer, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara Park, and Osaka Castle, the Nishinomaru Garden in Osaka Castle Park. You will definitely enjoy a walk in these two parks, which showcase stunning display of fall foliage in every autumn.
In addition, with plenty of restaurants, Osaka is a famous place to eat a wide variety of food in Japan. Explore Dotonbori, an entertainment district in Osaka, offers exciting nightlife activities, including shopping and dining. It’s a short walk from JR Namba Station.
4. Mount Kurama – A perfect place to Hike in Kyoto in Autumn
Japan is a hiker paradise! People there like to hike, especially in the autumn. In Kyoto, there are a number of great places to enjoy hiking in autumn. Would you like to experience this adventure?
Mount Kurama is a popular hiking destination in Kyoto. During the autumn season, many hikers hike this mountain to admire amazing views of autumn foliage. You will find the hiking trail near Kuramadera, a renowned Buddhist temple in the rural town of Kurama.
The hiking trail is about 5 km long, and it takes approximately 2 hours to finish. As you hike along the trail, you will witness amazing forest scenery. This trail ends at Kibune, another small rural town in the area, mostly famous for Kifune Shrine.
The best time to hit this hiking trail is from mid-October to late November. Wear a pair of non-slippery hiking shoes, and bring plenty of water. Bear in mind that some parts of the hike have steep staircases, while some parts are paved roads. It could be tiring but still worth your time.
5. Visit the Historic Buddhist Temples
Have you heard of a temple named Sanjusangendo? Maybe it’s your first time hearing this name! In fact, not many have heard of this unique temple, which is one of the famous and historic Buddhist temples in Kyoto. It’s built in 1164, which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy.
One very interesting fact about this temple is that the temple hall you will see there is Japan’s longest wooden structure, measuring about 120 meters. You will be impressed seeing the wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) in the center of the main hall of this temple.
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is an amazing masterpiece that you can visit in Kyoto in autumn. It’s a Zen temple and an iconic landmark whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf. Its golden exterior is stunningly a great sight to behold, especially when it creates beautiful refection on the pond during the day.
Stroll through the lush pathways and find some great angles to take pictures of this beautiful Zen temple. This temple is a must-see attraction in Kyoto. I hope you won’t miss exploring it.
There is another famous temple to be found near Kinkakuji, though it would take about 20 minutes to walk. It’s called Ryoanji Temple, a cultural heritage site in Japan.
This temple is renowned for its rock garden. During the Heian Period, it was used as a villa but later converted into a Zen temple in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto. Fifteen rocks that spread out on white sand create an appealing and unique view.
6. Enjoy a Walk in Kyoto Botanical Gardens
I prefer talking a walk in a park/garden in autumn because the weather is cool and the air is fresh enough to enjoy the outdoors. When you are in Kyoto and looking to enjoy a walk in a garden, consider spending your time at Kyoto Botanical Gardens.
Founded in 1924, this public botanical garden is the oldest in Japan and has the most incredible trees and native plants. The garden is divided into different parts, such as a bamboo garden, rose garden, sunken garden, European-style garden, Bonsai exhibit, and so on.
If you love nature and are fond of discovering a wide variety of plants, Kyoto Botanical Gardens is a place you would not want to miss visiting. It’s very diverse, with tons of plants to see. There are many maple trees that are ablaze with color in autumn.
Experience the nighttime illuminations of the colorful autumn leaves there, which take place every day during peak autumn season. You should go there and experience the autumn foliage at night.
Entrance fee to Kyoto Botanical Garden is 200 Yen. You can easily reach there from Kitayama station on foot. To access the station, take the Kyoto City Subway from Kyoto Station (15 minutes).
7. Visit Nishiki Market and Try Autumn Foods
If you like Japanese cuisine, foods like Tofu, Wagashi, Sushi, and Ramen may already be among your favorites. In Kyoto, there is a list of food including seasonal dishes you can try during your stay.
Nishiki Market is a perfect place to go and explore Kyoto’s unique and delicious dishes. This market is lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants, where you can taste a variety of foods and also find all kinds of food related things.
Tamagoyaki, Senbai, Matcha sweets and Beef sushi are considered must-try street foods at Nishiki Market. A food trip to Nishiki Market deserves a spot to your Kyoto itinerary in autumn.
Be sure to try Chestnuts (kuri), Yudofu (hot tofu), Sanma, Matsutake Mushrooms, Tempura. They are eaten by locals as seasonal treats every autumn. In addition, Kaiseki (Japanese haute cuisine), and Shojin ryori (Japanese Buddhist vegetarian cuisine) are common dishes of Kyoto, which you can try at any time you visit Kyoto.
8. Explore Arashiyama in Autumn
Arashiyama is a charming tourist destination in Western Kyoto. It’s a great place to enjoy walking tracks with views of autumn foliage in autumn, cherry blossoms in spring, and stunning bamboo groves!
Even though this touristic district of Kyoto boasts many beautiful temples and shrines, you have two activities there to enjoy: Sagano Scenic Railway (Sagano Romantic Train), and the Hozu River Boat Tour. Don’t skip these activities; at least try one to admire the stunning scenery!
This one day in Arashiyama itinerary shows you exactly how to spend a day from Kyoto to Arashiyama. Besides, there you will get useful information on the Sagano Scenic Train ride and the Hozu River Boar journey.
Tenryuji Temple is a famous Zen temple in Arashiyama. Built in 1339, this temple is a world heritage site where you can find a beautiful Japanese landscape garden. This garden looks absolutely mind-boggling with its pond and the display of gorgeous fall foliage in autumn.
You can check out the best autumn foliage spots in Arashiyama so you can decide which places to visit before your arrival in the area.
Please note that the last time we went to Arashiyama in autumn, we have visited Jojakko-ji Temple. This historic temple’s two story pagoda is an interesting structure to see with its unique design. And the autumn leaves there are incredibly awe-inspiring as you can find hundreds of maple trees on its ground.
You can reach Arashiyama (Sega-Arashiyama Station) by JR Train from JR Kyoto Station. The one way journey takes about 15 minutes on the JR Sagano Line/JR Sanin Line.
