The Kigo 季語 Autumn foliage · 紅葉 · Watch the front move south

Now

Coming up

Places

PlanPick your weeksFind your reasonsCheck your dates

    Arrow keys to move · Enter to open · Esc to close

     EN 日本語

    Autumn foliage 紅葉

    Typical season

    OCT – DEC

    From 08 SEP at Asahidake, Sugatami Pond

    山暮れて紅葉の朱を奪ひけり

    Kigo · 紅葉 · momiji · autumn

    The mountain darkens — and takes the red from the maple leaves.

    Yosa Buson · 18th century

    Where and when

    Created by Geolonia (https://geolonia.com/). Hokkaido21 OCT – 07 NOVHokuriku &Koshinetsu05 NOV – 04 DECTohoku06 NOV – 01 DECChugoku15 NOV – 02 DECShikoku16 NOV – 03 DECKanto21 NOV – 08 DECTokai21 NOV – 08 DECKansai24 NOV – 15 DECKyushu24 NOV – 25 DEC
    Earlier to later
    1. Hokkaido21 OCT – 07 NOVSapporo
    2. Hokuriku & Koshinetsu05 NOV – 04 DECNiigata · Nagano · Kanazawa
    3. Tohoku06 NOV – 01 DECAomori · Sendai
    4. Chugoku15 NOV – 02 DECHiroshima
    5. Shikoku16 NOV – 03 DECTakamatsu
    6. Kanto21 NOV – 08 DECTokyo
    7. Tokai21 NOV – 08 DECNagoya
    8. Kansai24 NOV – 15 DECOsaka · Kyoto
    9. Kyushu24 NOV – 25 DECFukuoka · Kagoshima

    A week before to ten days after the average day the maples turn, in the cities; mountains turn two to four weeks earlier · averages 1991–2020, Japan Meteorological Agency · a given year runs up to ten days either way

    How to time it

    Autumn colour is watched the way blossom is: the Japan Meteorological Agency records the day when most leaves on a city's sample maple have turned red. The normal date is 28 October in Sapporo and 5 December in Kyoto. It is the date of one tree, not the start or the end of a garden's season.

    How long it lastsA warm autumn delays the colour, so the best days are only known close to the time. Over 2016–2025 Sapporo's sample maple turned later than its normal date every year, and Kyoto's in eight years of nine.

    If you are earlyGo north or uphill: Sapporo's normal date is 28 October, a month before Tokyo's 28 November, and the forecaster publishes separate predictions for mountain sites.

    If you are lateLowland gardens turn last: the normal date is 1 December in Fukuoka and 5 December in Kyoto, and in 2024 Kyoto's tree did not turn until 20 December. Shinjuku Gyoen's calendar lists maple colour in December.

    Sources · checked 21 Sep 2026
    1. Maple colour dates by year and normals (table 015)
    2. JMA definition of the maple colour date
    3. JMA definition of the ginkgo colour date
    4. Forecast page: how autumn temperatures move the colour
    5. Dates of the forecaster's first releases
    6. Rikugien night opening 2026: dates, hours, tickets
    7. Rikugien rules
    8. Shinjuku Gyoen flower calendar
    1. SEP

      08–28 SEP · Ending

      旭岳 姿見の池

      The first autumn colour in Japan, a month before Honshu

      Hokkaido Google Maps

      Autumn colour on the Susoaidaira plateau below Asahidake, with the first snow on the ridgeAsahidake and its steam vents reflected in Sugatami Pond in early October

      Photos · pakku · CC BY 3.0 · lumoplank · CC0

      08–28 SEP · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Asahidake, Sugatami Pond 旭岳 姿見の池

      Hokkaido

      Autumn colour on the Susoaidaira plateau below Asahidake, with the first snow on the ridge
      Asahidake and its steam vents reflected in Sugatami Pond in early October

      The first autumn colour in Japan, in mid-September, a month before the hills of Honshu turn. At 1,600 m on the flank of Hokkaido’s highest peak the red is not maple but mountain ash, with alpine bearberry and Aleutian avens colouring the ground, under the steaming vents of the volcano. A 1.7 km loop of about an hour from the upper ropeway station passes Sugatami Pond.

      Dates
      08–28 SEP
      Where
      HokkaidoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      It can snow here before the end of September: bring a windproof layer and proper shoes, the loop is rocky. On peak weekends the ropeway queue builds through the morning, so take the first cars.
      Holidays
      Respect for the Aged Day, Citizens' Holiday, Autumnal Equinox Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      Ropeway from Asahidake Onsen, 10 min, every 15 min in season. The base station is about 1 h 50 from Asahikawa Stn by the Ideyu-go bus (¥1,800, four a day), which also calls at Asahikawa Airport.
      Heritage
      Special Natural Monument · Daisetsuzan, 1977 大雪山 特別天然記念物
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. pakku · CC BY 3.0
      2. lumoplank · CC0
    2. OCT

      25 OCT – 10 NOV

      高遠城址公園

      1,500 pink Takato-kohigan cherries that grow nowhere else

      Nagano Google Maps

      A wooden bridge over the dry moat at Takato Castle Park, framed by red maplesRed maples covering a slope of Takato Castle Park, with the valley and distant mountains beyond

      Photos · Ina City Tourism Association · ⓒ伊那市観光協会

      25 OCT – 10 NOV · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Takato Castle Park 高遠城址公園

      Nagano

      A wooden bridge over the dry moat at Takato Castle Park, framed by red maples
      Red maples covering a slope of Takato Castle Park, with the valley and distant mountains beyond
      Takato Castle Park in full cherry blossom, seen from the Hakusan Kannon hill
      The wooden bridge at Takato Castle Park under the cherry trees

      1,500 Takato-kohigan cherry trees — a variety that grows only here, with smaller and markedly pinker flowers than the usual Somei-yoshino. The park sits on the ruins of the castle of the Takato clan, vassals of the Takeda.

      Dates
      25 OCT – 10 NOV
      Where
      NaganoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Opens at 06:00 specifically because of the crowds. After 10:00 there are queues for both the entrance and the car park. Admission is charged only in season.
      Holidays
      Culture Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      JR Ina-shi Stn, then 25 min by bus. Direct buses run from Shinjuku during the blossom season.
      Heritage
      Historic Site · Takato Castle ruins, 1973 高遠城跡 史跡
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-22
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. Ina City Tourism Association · ⓒ伊那市観光協会
      2. Ina City Tourism Association · ⓒ伊那市観光協会
      3. MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
      4. 江戸村のとくぞう · CC BY-SA 4.0
    3. NOV

      05–25 NOV

      国営昭和記念公園

      Four million cosmos, then two ginkgo avenues, in a former air base

      Tokyo Google Maps

      The Canal at Showa Kinen Park between two avenues of yellow ginkgoGinkgo trees reflected in the pond at Showa Kinen Park

      Photos · Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0

      05–25 NOV · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Showa Kinen Park 国営昭和記念公園

      Tokyo

      The Canal at Showa Kinen Park between two avenues of yellow ginkgo
      Ginkgo trees reflected in the pond at Showa Kinen Park
      Pink cosmos on the Flower Hill at Showa Kinen Park in late October
      Cosmos against the sky on the Flower Hill, late in the season

      Two windows back to back in a former air base in Tachikawa. Four million yellow cosmos cover the Flower Hill from mid-September, followed by 200,000 Sensation cosmos in October. Then the ginkgo avenues turn: 106 trees along the Canal in early to mid-November, 98 more on the 300 m Katarai avenue in mid to late November.

      Dates
      05–25 NOV
      Where
      TokyoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      The park covers about 170 hectares and the Flower Hill is at the far end from the Tachikawa gate: enter from Nishi-Tachikawa or hire a bicycle inside.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      JR Ome Line to Nishi-Tachikawa, 2 min on foot to the gate; or 10–18 min on foot from Tachikawa Stn, about 40 min from Tokyo Stn.
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0
      2. Kakidai · CC BY-SA 4.0
      3. Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0
      4. Guilhem Vellut · CC BY 2.0

    4. 08–25 NOV

      雷山千如寺大悲王院

      One maple more than 400 years old, which turns a single deep red

      Fukuoka Google Maps

      The great maple of Sennyo-ji spreading in front of the temple hall in late October, its crown just beginning to turn

      Photo · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 4.0

      08–25 NOV · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Raizan Sennyo-ji 雷山千如寺大悲王院

      Fukuoka

      The great maple of Sennyo-ji spreading in front of the temple hall in late October, its crown just beginning to turn

      A mountain temple on the slope of Mount Raizan above Itoshima, said to have been founded by a monk from India, which keeps a standing Thousand-Armed Kannon that is an Important Cultural Property. In its courtyard stands one maple more than 400 years old, about eight metres tall, a natural monument of the prefecture, which turns a single deep red in mid-November. People come for this one tree.

      Dates
      08–25 NOV
      Where
      FukuokaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. In November a ¥200 mountain fee for the grounds and the maple is added to the ¥500 admission. On peak weekends the mountain road backs up below the temple: take the weekday bus or arrive at opening.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      Community bus from JR Chikuzen-Maebaru to Raizan Kannon-mae, then about 7 min on foot. In the 2025 season a direct extra bus ran from the south exit on weekdays, 17–28 November, three departures, ¥500 one way. By car about 15 min from Maebaru IC.
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      Photo credit
      1. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    5. 10 NOV – 06 DEC

      北野天満宮

      The head shrine of Tenjin: 1,500 plums in late winter, 350 maples on Hideyoshi’s rampart

      Kyoto Google Maps

      Maples in autumn colour above the Kamiya river in the maple garden of Kitano TenmanguRed maple covering a slope in the maple garden of Kitano Tenmangu

      Photos · くろふね · CC BY-SA 4.0 · pcs34560 · Public domain

      10 NOV – 06 DEC · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Kitano Tenmangu 北野天満宮

      Kyoto

      Maples in autumn colour above the Kamiya river in the maple garden of Kitano Tenmangu
      Red maple covering a slope in the maple garden of Kitano Tenmangu
      Pink plum blossom against the gabled roof of the main hall of Kitano Tenmangu
      Deep pink plum blossom in front of a lantern-hung hall at Kitano Tenmangu

      The head shrine of Tenjin, the deified scholar Sugawara no Michizane, whose flower is the plum: about 1,500 trees of 50 varieties flower here from January to late March. On 25 February, the day of his death, geiko and maiko of the neighbouring Kamishichiken district serve tea in the open air at the Baikasai. In autumn the shrine opens its maple garden on the Odoi, the earth rampart Hideyoshi raised round the city in 1591: about 350 maples above the Kamiya river.

      Dates
      10 NOV – 06 DEC
      Where
      KyotoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      On the 25th of every month the Tenjin-san flea market fills the approaches: come for it or avoid it. In 2026 the plum garden cost ¥3,000 and was lit every evening; the maple garden is ¥1,500 with tea and a sweet.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      City bus to Kitano Tenmangu-mae, about 30 min from Kyoto Stn; or the Randen tram to Kitano-Hakubaicho, then 5 min on foot.
      Heritage
      National Treasure · main halls 北野天満宮 本殿・石の間・拝殿・楽の間 国宝Historic Site · the Odoi earthwork of the maple garden, 1930 御土居 史跡
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. くろふね · CC BY-SA 4.0
      2. pcs34560 · Public domain
      3. Hyppolyte de Saint-Rambert · CC BY-SA 4.0
      4. Tmv · CC BY-SA 4.0

    6. 15 NOV – 05 DEC

      香嵐渓

      4,000 maples of eleven varieties, turning in layers

      Aichi Google Maps

      Red maples over the Taigetsukyo bridge at KorankeiThe illuminated maple hillside of Korankei reflected in the Tomoe river

      Photos · Bariston · CC BY-SA 4.0 · T.Takida · CC BY 3.0

      15 NOV – 05 DEC · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Korankei Gorge 香嵐渓

      Aichi

      Red maples over the Taigetsukyo bridge at Korankei
      The illuminated maple hillside of Korankei reflected in the Tomoe river
      Autumn colour seen through the gate of Kojaku-ji temple at Korankei

      4,000 maples planted by the monk San'ei around 1634 as an offering along the path to the temple. Eleven different varieties, so the slope turns colour in layers rather than all at once.

      Dates
      15 NOV – 05 DEC
      Where
      AichiGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Lit until 21:00 throughout November. The approach road gridlocks at weekends — come by bus or on a weekday.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      45 min by bus from Meitetsu Toyota-shi Stn.
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-22
      Photos
      3 photos · credits
      1. Bariston · CC BY-SA 4.0
      2. T.Takida · CC BY 3.0
      3. Bariston · CC BY-SA 4.0

    7. 15 NOV – 05 DEC

      箕面公園

      A car-free gorge path to a 33 m waterfall, maples and momiji tempura

      Osaka Google Maps

      Visitors on a moss-covered arched bridge under yellow and orange maples in Minoo ParkMinoo waterfall framed by red maples

      Photos · lumoplank · CC0

      15 NOV – 05 DEC · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Minoo Park 箕面公園

      Osaka

      Visitors on a moss-covered arched bridge under yellow and orange maples in Minoo Park
      Minoo waterfall framed by red maples

      A 2.8 km paved path up a wooded gorge, from the Hankyu station to a 33 m waterfall, about 40 minutes each way and closed to all vehicles. The maples along the river colour from mid-November to early December, and the shops on the path sell momiji tempura, maple leaves fried in sweet batter.

      Dates
      15 NOV – 05 DEC
      Where
      OsakaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. No parking, and no cars, motorbikes or bicycles on the path. Weekends in late November are shoulder to shoulder by late morning: start before 9:00. Do not feed the wild monkeys.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      Hankyu Minoo Stn, about 30 min from Osaka-Umeda with a change at Ishibashi; the park gate is 5 min on foot from the station.
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      2 photos · credits
      1. lumoplank · CC0
      2. lumoplank · CC0

    8. 15 NOV – 05 DEC

      高尾山

      Maples along the cable car in November, then the sun setting on Fuji’s summit

      Tokyo Google Maps

      Red and orange maples against a hall of Yakuo-in temple on Mount TakaoCrowds under the maples at the foot of the Mount Takao cable car in late November

      Photos · Hotate Chan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Edomura no Tokuzo · CC BY-SA 3.0

      15 NOV – 05 DEC · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Mount Takao 高尾山

      Tokyo

      Red and orange maples against a hall of Yakuo-in temple on Mount Takao
      Crowds under the maples at the foot of the Mount Takao cable car in late November
      Snow-capped Mount Fuji above the Tanzawa ridges, seen from near the summit of Mount Takao in January

      A 599 m mountain 50 minutes from Shinjuku with two windows. From mid-November to early December the maples colour along the cable car, around Yakuo-in temple and on the summit. Around the winter solstice the sun sets exactly on the summit of Mount Fuji as seen from the top and from Momijidai, five minutes beyond it: Diamond Fuji, at about 16:15.

      Dates
      15 NOV – 05 DEC
      Where
      TokyoGoogle Maps
      Survive
      Heavy. For Diamond Fuji bring a torch and warm clothes: the descent is in the dark, by trail 1 to the cable car, which runs late on those days only in good weather. November weekends mean long queues for the cable car: come on a weekday.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      Keio Line from Shinjuku to Takaosanguchi, about 50 min; the cable car is 5 min on foot from the station, and the summit 40 min on foot from its upper station.
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-19
      Photos
      3 photos · credits
      1. Hotate Chan · CC BY-SA 3.0
      2. Edomura no Tokuzo · CC BY-SA 3.0
      3. Tobihino1977 · CC0

    9. 20 NOV – 07 DEC

      秋月

      A Kuroda castle town: a cherry tunnel in spring, maples at the black gate in autumn

      Fukuoka Google Maps

      Maples in autumn colour over the Notori river in Akizuki, beside an old houseThe Nagayamon gate of Akizuki Castle on its stone steps in late November

      Photos · STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

      20 NOV – 07 DEC · Nature · Autumn foliage

      Autumn foliage — Akizuki castle town 秋月

      Fukuoka

      Maples in autumn colour over the Notori river in Akizuki, beside an old house
      The Nagayamon gate of Akizuki Castle on its stone steps in late November
      The cherry avenue of Sugi-no-baba in Akizuki closing over the road in early April
      Cherry trees meeting over Sugi-no-baba street in Akizuki, with a car passing under them

      A small castle town in a side valley of Asakura, once the seat of a branch of the Kuroda. Sugi-no-baba, the 500-metre avenue to the castle, was a cedar-lined riding ground until it was replanted with cherries to mark the victory over Russia: about 200 Somei Yoshino now close over it as a tunnel. In late November about 20 maples redden around Kuromon, the black gate that was the main entrance of the castle.

      Dates
      20 NOV – 07 DEC
      Where
      FukuokaGoogle Maps
      Survive
      The avenue is not closed to traffic, so watch for cars under the trees, and on blossom weekends the road in jams: come early or by bus. The spring festival is usually on the first Sunday of April. Nothing is lit in autumn, so come in daylight. Akizuki car park, ¥400.
      Holidays
      Labour Thanksgiving Day · long weekend: expect full trains and hotels
      Access
      From JR Kiyama on the Kagoshima Main Line, the Amagi Railway to its terminus, Amagi, then the Amagi Kanko bus, Akizuki line, about 20 min. By car about 20 min from Amagi IC on the Oita Expressway.
      Heritage
      Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings · 1998 朝倉市秋月 重要伝統的建造物群保存地区
      Source
      Official siteAutumn foliage page · checked 2026-09-20
      Photos
      4 photos · credits
      1. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      2. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      3. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0
      4. STA3816 · CC BY-SA 3.0

    10. —

      40 prefectures awaiting field notes

      Field research continues across the country. Updates published as verified.

    Add to which trip?