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Seasonal Forecast · Autumn Leaves

Japan Autumn Leaves Forecast
When & Where Koyo Peaks

The foliage front moves north to south and high to low — from Hokkaido in late September to Kyoto and Tokyo in early December. See average peak windows per city, scrub the timeline, and plan it right.

Autumn colour (koyo) runs the opposite way to sakura — north to south, and high mountains down to the lowlands. It opens at Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido in late September, sweeps the Alps and Tohoku through October, reaches Kyoto and Tokyo in late November, and lingers into Kyushu in early December. The table below shows each city's “average” peak window.

Colour beginsPeak 見頃SoonOver
CityRegionColour beginsPeak (mihagoro)Best viewing windowStatus
Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido)Japan's earliest autumn colourHokkaidoSep 15Sep 22Sep 22 – Sep 30
Aomori (Oirase–Towada)Oirase Stream & Lake TowadaTohokuOct 12Oct 25Oct 25 – Nov 5
NikkoLake Chuzenji & Kegon Falls early; town by NovKantoOct 15Oct 28Oct 28 – Nov 15
SapporoNakajima Park & Jozankei OnsenHokkaidoOct 18Oct 28Oct 28 – Nov 5
Takayama–KamikochiKamikochi & the Japan AlpsChubuOct 20Nov 1Nov 1 – Nov 10
HakodateMt Hakodate & GoryokakuHokkaidoOct 20Oct 30Oct 30 – Nov 8
Sendai (Naruko)Naruko GorgeTohokuOct 25Nov 8Nov 8 – Nov 18
Kawaguchiko (Fuji)Maple Corridor framing Mt FujiChubuNov 1Nov 12Nov 12 – Nov 23
KanazawaKenrokuen GardenChubuNov 5Nov 20Nov 20 – Dec 5
HakoneLake Ashi & the Open-Air MuseumKantoNov 5Nov 18Nov 18 – Nov 30
KyotoTofukuji, Arashiyama, EikandoKansaiNov 15Nov 28Nov 28 – Dec 7
NaraNara Park & TodaijiKansaiNov 15Nov 28Nov 28 – Dec 5
Hiroshima (Miyajima)Momijidani Valley, MiyajimaChugokuNov 15Nov 25Nov 25 – Dec 3
TokyoMt Takao, Shinjuku Gyoen, Jingu Gaien ginkgoKantoNov 18Nov 30Nov 30 – Dec 10
FukuokaKomyozenji TempleKyushuNov 18Nov 30Nov 30 – Dec 8
OsakaMinoo Falls & Midosuji ginkgoKansaiNov 20Dec 1Dec 1 – Dec 8
Note: the dates here are historical averages — a solid planning baseline, but any year can shift several days with the weather. Closer to your trip, recheck the official forecasts from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) or Weathernews. We refresh these estimates yearly (last updated Jun 2026).
Keep reading

Plan the rest of your seasonal trip

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When & where sakura blooms — by city
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FAQ

FAQ · Japan Autumn Leaves Forecast

When do autumn leaves change colour in Japan?
It starts on Hokkaido's high mountains in late September, moves down through the Alps and Tohoku in October, reaches Kyoto and Tokyo in late November, and lingers into Kyushu in early December. See each city's peak window in the table above.
Why does autumn colour move north to south, the opposite of sakura?
Cold air arrives from the north and at altitude first, so leaves turn in Hokkaido and the mountains earliest, then roll south and down to the lowlands — unlike sakura, which needs warmth spreading south to north.
What is the peak (mihagoro), and how long does it last?
Mihagoro is the window when the colour looks its best. It tends to last a little longer than sakura — about 1-2 weeks — though it swings with the weather and altitude of each spot. A 2-3 day buffer is wise.
When does Kyoto's autumn colour peak?
On average, mid-to-late November into early December. Famous spots like Tofukuji, Arashiyama and Eikando get very crowded — go early in the morning and book accommodation ahead.
How accurate is this forecast?
These are historical averages — a good baseline, but any year can shift several days with temperature (a warm autumn runs late). Closer to the season, recheck the official forecasts before you travel.
Is autumn or sakura season less crowded?
Autumn's peak runs longer and is more spread out, though famous spots still draw crowds. Overall it's slightly easier to plan than sakura because the viewing window is longer.