Written by: Amanda
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When I told my co-worker I was going to Japan for two weeks over Thanksgiving break (late November) specifically to see the fall foliage, she responded that she had never thought of Japan as an autumn destination.
Is there fall foliage in Japan?
Oh yes, and it is stunning.
When it comes to seasonal travel to Japan, spring is when most tourists flock to the country to see the cherry blossoms.
However, I have to make the case for visiting Japan in autumn as the plethora of Japanese red maple and yellow ginkgo trees are not to be missed!
Where to Find Fall Foliage
When I was planning my two-week trip to Japan in late November, I struggled to find information online about where exactly were the best spots to see the red maple and yellow gingko trees.
Would they just be randomly on the side of the street? How could I find the more scenic locations?
While the autumn trees are scattered almost everywhere, it does help to have a few scenic “wow spots” on your itinerary.
Where Are the Top Spots for Fall Foliage?
I found that Japanese gardens and temples were some of the best places to find truly extraordinary fall foliage.
It definitely added to the experience of my first time in Japan to see such iconic, traditional places made even more beautiful by the autumn leaves.
I’ll get into my exact spots below plus share photos so you can see what it looks like for yourself.
Overview of Route
This two-week Japan itinerary sticks closely to the “golden route” of Japan, visiting the top three cities — Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka — while venturing out to some smaller, traditional towns as well.
Rest assured, you don’t have to go completely out of your way to see autumn displays in Japan.
- Tokyo — 3 days in Tokyo (2 days in Tokyo and 1 day trip to Mt Fuji)
- Kyoto — 7 days in Kyoto (3 days in Kyoto and 4 day trips to Arashiyama, Nara, Himeji, and Osaka)
- Nagoya — 1-2 days in Nagoya (to visit Ghibli Park and Magome)
- Takayama — 2-3 days in Takayama (including a stay in a ryokan and Shirakawago)
Some Tips for Your Itinerary
Adjust accordingly. This itinerary can definitely be adjusted based on your interests! If you’re not interested in Ghibli, then feel free to skip Nagoya. I really recommend seeing the mountain villages, such as Magome, Takayama, and Shirakawago, but if you don’t want to visit all of them, just go to one.
Structure based on forecast. Fall reaches the higher altitudes first, so in hindsight, I should have gone to Takayama and Magome before spending a week in Kyoto. By the time I arrived in the mountainous Hida region, the leaves were almost gone and winter was closing in quick. Snow was even on the ground in Shirakawago! It was honestly beautiful, so I don’t regret it, but if the fall foliage is your utmost priority, then feel free to rearrange the structure of your itinerary.
Pick a base. I’d highly suggest choosing either Kyoto or Osaka as a base rather than splitting your time between these cities. They are so close together, it makes more sense to stay in one and visit the other as well as nearby cities on day trips.
When to Go to See Fall Foliage
Autumn is generally experienced in late November and early December in Japan.
However, the exact peak time varies depending on the area of Japan you’re visiting and the tree type (red maple or yellow ginkgo).
Check the Autumn Forecast
Every year, Japan releases its fall foliage forecast in early September. It breaks down the predicted peak viewing according to region and tree type.
- Northern vs. southern Japan. Autumn comes earlier in northern Japan and later in southern Japan.
- Red vs yellow leaves. The red maple and yellow ginkgo trees in Japan change color at different times. In the forecast, you’ll see two charts for each tree type.
| City | Average Peak for Red Maple Leaves | Average Peak for Yellow Gingko Leaves |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | November 28 | November 23 |
| Kyoto | December 5 | November 24 |
| Nagoya | November 28 | November 18 |
| Osaka | December 1 | November 22 |
| Nara | November 21 | November 18 |
| Himeji | November 26 | November 18 |
| Takayama | November 9 | October 27 |
Map of Top Autumn Spots on Golden Route
Japan Travel Essential
Before you land in Japan, be sure you have a:
- Japan e-sim card to use data to navigate your way around!
Tokyo
Dates I Visited: November 19-21, 23
Fall Foliage Highlights:
- Gotokuji Temple
- Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
- Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
- Rikugien Gardens
You may think there’s not much fall foliage to be seen in a modern, mega city like Tokyo, but you’d be surprised.
Even though I visited Tokyo a bit too early to see peak autumn colors, there was still plenty of autumn trees to be seen.
My absolute favorite place for fall colors was at Gotokuji Temple, proving that the temples in Japan really do have some of the best autumn displays!
The Ginkgo Avenue gets crowded, but it’s a lovely street. It’s lit up at night during peak times to illuminate the yellow leaves. I, unfortunately, visited before the illumination started but was still impressed by all the ginkgo trees.
I visited Rikugien Gardens during its illuminated nighttime event. The illuminations weren’t as spectacular as I expected and, when viewing at night, it’s much harder to see the trees. Perhaps we visited too early and most of the trees hadn’t turned yet.
Mt Fuji
Date I Visited: November 22
Fall Foliage Highlights:
- Chureito Pagoda
- Lake Kawaguchi + Maple Corridor
- Oshino Hakkai
Autumn is one of the best times to see Mt Fuji because, well, you can actually see it! Visibility wise, there are less clouds covering Mt Fuji in autumn.
My No. 1 favorite spot for viewing Mt Fuji on my day trip was at the Chureito Pagoda.
Yes, it’s very touristy and crowded but the views are so worth it!
There are lovely red maple trees at the top that frame the view of Mt Fuji just perfectly.
Lake Kawaguchi was also beautiful with various maple trees surrounding it. I just didn’t spend as much time there on my tour as I would have liked.
For more information on the best photo spots and best tours of Mt Fuji, see my post:
How to Plan a Mt Fuji Day Trip from Tokyo
Kyoto
Dates I Visited: November 24-25, 28
Fall Foliage Highlights:
- Kodaiji Temple
- Kenninji Temple
- Sanmen Daikokuten Temple
- Kiyomizu-dera
- Fushimi Inari Taisha
- Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony
When I visited Kyoto, it was pretty much peak autumn as the trees all around were stunning.
While the crowded Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari Taisha had lots of fall trees, I much preferred the quieter temples.
Kodaiji Temple, in particular, was brimming with bright red Japanese maple trees. I took some of my best kimono photos there and would highly recommend a visit!
Additionally, the Maikoya Kimono Tea Ceremony took place in a traditional Japanese townhouse with a Japanese garden outside. The garden featured some maple trees, but what really made it special is the autumn-inspired treats they served with the tea.
During autumn, when I did this ceremony, the treat was yatsuhashi nama, which is a cinnamon-flavored triangular fold of chewy mochi filled with sweet red bean paste. (It’s SO good that we actually bought several boxes of it while in Kyoto.)
Arashiyama
Date I Visited: November 26
Fall Foliage Highlights:
- Arashiyama Monkey Park
- Togetsukyo Bridge
- Tenryu-ji Temple
- Adashino Nenbutsuji
I enjoyed my day trip to Arashiyama perhaps even more than the three days I spent in Kyoto.
It was a place surrounded by mountains, forests, and ancient temples. Wandering around just felt so serene.
Every single place I visited in Arashiyama had incredible displays of fall foliage.
From the mountaintop of the Arashiyama Monkey Park to the rain-soaked bamboo forest on the outskirts at Adashino Nenbutsuji.
I have no favorites as it was all a favorite. Arashiyama is a must-see in autumn!
Nara
Date I Visited: November 27
Fall Foliage Highlights:
- Yoshikien Garden
- Kasuga Taisha
- Yoshino Hon Kudzu Tengyokudo (udon restaurant)
Many people visit Nara for the bowing deer, which, if I’m being honest, was my main reason for visiting, too.
However, as I explored more of Nara, I was equally impressed by its displays of fall foliage.
The best spots were, unsurprisingly, in the temples and gardens.
Yoshikien Garden and Kasuga Taisha, to be exact.
Head to these places on your visit to Nara in autumn and you won’t be disappointed!
Himeji Castle is known for two things: its cherry blossoms and its fall foliage. So spring and fall are some of the best times to visit.
I was lucky enough to visit in late November to see its fall foliage on full display. The stunningly vibrant red trees were a sight to behold.
Koko-en Garden is right next to Himeji Castle, but it’s on the other side of the moat, so you’ll have to completely exit Himeji Castle, cross the bridge over the moat, and then walk down the street to get to the entrance of Koko-en Garden.
The extra journey is worth it, as Koko-en Garden is also stunning and full of Japanese maple trees!
I’m telling you, the Japanese gardens are the place to be in autumn.
I know not every visitor to Japan will be a Studio Ghibli fan, but if you happen to be one AND you’re visiting in autumn, well then you simply must go to Ghibli Park.
Ghibli Park is located inside the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park and is about 17.5 acres.
There are only five areas, but they are spread out.
I appreciated that Ghibli Park was set in the midst of nature, which felt true to one of the core messages of Studio Ghibli (environmentalism).
I visited on the last day of November, and the fall foliage in the park was just about peaking.
Most people walk through Magome on their way to hiking the Nakasendo Trail, an old samurai route from the Edo period in Japan.
This was my plan, as well, until the day arrived near the end of my two-week trip to Japan, and I realized my legs were way too tired and sore to hike miles through a mountainside.
So, instead, I spent the day just exploring the town of Magome, slowly meandering through its old shops, on its stone paths and past its water mills.
I loved Magome so much and was so glad I made the effort to visit, particularly during autumn!
The red maple trees in this region were such a beautiful contrast to the brown traditional architecture.
By the time I arrived in the mountainous Hida region, the leaves were almost gone and winter was closing in quick.
Snow was even on the ground in Shirakawago!
It was honestly beautiful, so I don’t regret it, but in hindsight, I should have rearranged my itinerary to visit Takayama earlier to see more of autumn.
Even so, there were some trees still hanging onto their maple and ginkgo leaves.
Shirakawago and Hida Folk Village as well as the trees surrounding Takayama were autumn highlights.
Where to Stay in Japan
Over my two weeks in Japan, I stayed in four cities and did day trips to other places.
Here are the hotels I stayed at, which I very much recommend:
- Tokyo — JR-East Hotel Mets Akihabara (read my full review)
- Kyoto — ANA Crowne Plaza Kyoto
- Nagoya — Lamp Light Books Hotel
- Takayama — Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama (read my full review)
Getting Around Japan Via Bullet Train
Some Tips for Booking a Shinkansen Ticket:
- Get an oversized luggage seat: If you’re bringing a lot of luggage, definitely book an oversized luggage seat (otherwise you’ll have to lift your suitcase to the overhead rack). The oversized-luggage seats are assigned a luggage area for your use only. Unfortunately, other passengers sometimes place their luggage in this area despite the signs that say the luggage area is reserved. If this happens to you, you can move the luggage or ask an attendant to move it for you.
- Book a reserved seat: It costs a little more to book a reserved seat, but I recommend it, especially if you’re bringing luggage. Having an assigned seat takes away all the anxiety over where you’ll sit and if you’ll find seats together with your travel buddies.
- Bring a snack! It’s okay to eat on the bullet trains (not so on the subways) so feel free to bring a snack from 7-Eleven or Family Mart, like those yummy syrup-filled pancakes.
- Don’t wait to book your tickets: The queues to purchase tickets in the train stations were always very long. Don’t make yourself wait in line when you can plan ahead and get your tickets beforehand!
Two Ways to Book a Shinkansen Ticket in Advance:
Option 1: SmartEx + SUICA
I opted to book all my Shinkansen tickets on SmartEx and link them to my virtual SUICA card in Apple Wallet.
Why? Doing this, you do NOT have to pick up any tickets at the station.
- Step 1: Reserve your tickets online in advance: Get your bullet train tickets up to 30 days in advance by booking on SmartEx. Why? It’s so much easier than having to wait in the super long lines at the train stations.
- Step 2: Register and designate an IC card: After booking your Shinkansen tickets on SmartEx, you can designate each ticket to a specific IC card (SUICA/ICOCA) number. Doing this will allow you to board the Shinkansen by simply tapping your IC card (or virtual IC card in Apple Wallet). No need to print or pick up tickets. So easy!
- If you have an iPhone, I recommend adding your IC card in Apple Wallet.
- To get your IC number, you’ll have to also download the SUICA app (only a partial number is displayed in Apple Wallet). You will only need this app to get the full number.
- You can add more than one IC card in SmartEx if you’re booking several tickets for several people (but multiple people can’t be on the same one IC card).
Option 2: Klook + Ticket Machine at Station
You can also purchase your shinkansen tickets via Klook. This involves an extra step of picking up your physical tickets at a ticket machine in the train station.
I didn’t want to have to do this, but if you like collecting physical tickets (and maybe getting them stamped), this could be a good option for you.
- Step 1: Follow the instructions on Klook to book your bullet train tickets and select your seat.
- Step 2: At the station, on the day of travel, use your given QR code to print out physical tickets.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Japan
Comfortable and convenient footwear
You’ll likely walk a lot while visiting Japan, so a good pair of walking shoes is a must. However, one additional recommendation is make sure your sneakers are slip-in.
Why wear slip-in sneakers?
Many traditional places in Japan require guests to remove shoes before entering. Shoes with a lot of laces are hard to get off. But slip-ins? A breeze.
- Slip-in sneakers — I wore this pair of slip-in sneakers from Skechers my entire trip to Japan, and it was so convenient! I didn’t even have to sit down to take off my shoes, like everyone else did. My shoes just slipped right off. I also felt comfortable in these shoes despite walking 20,000 steps every single day.
- Ankle socks — Be sure to wear ankle-covering socks with your shoes so you don’t get blisters with all that walking. I wore these Hanes ankle socks every day of my trip to Japan and didn’t get a single blister.
Favorite travel essentials
- I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
- I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized.
- I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
- I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from, such as this cat pattern or this flower pattern. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.
Other Posts to Help You Plan Your Trip to Japan
Tokyo
- 3 Day Tokyo Itinerary: How to Decide What to Do Amid Endless Options
- How to Plan a Day Trip to Mt Fuji from Tokyo
- Complete Guide to Visiting Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo Japan
Kyoto
- 3 Day Kyoto Itinerary: Ideal vs Reality
- Best Kimono Tea Ceremony in Kyoto (Review + Best Photo Spots)
- How to Get Your Manga Portrait at the Kyoto Manga Museum
Day Trips from Kyoto
- Inside Himeji Castle: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting
- Day Trip to Nara Japan: Less Crowded Alternatives
- Complete Guide to Visiting Arashiyama Monkey Park in Kyoto Japan
- Best Alternatives to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto
Nagoya and Magome
Takayama