September is here, and the much-anticipated Japanese foliage season is just around the corner! Have you mapped out your route to enjoy the stunning autumn scenery yet? I heard the Japanese government is gearing up for another round of the Go to Travel campaign, so why not make the most of it and bask in the breathtaking autumn foliage? After all, autumn in Japan is not to be missed!
If you’re unsure when and where to catch the most vibrant autumn leaves, we’ve gathered a guide to Japan’s top spots and the best times to visit for maple viewing. Keep in mind that the peak leaf season can shift slightly each year depending on regional temperatures, so it’s always a good idea to check local weather conditions before you travel.
Now, let’s dive in!
You may also want to read: 2024 Japan Autumn Leaves Forecast
Table of Contents
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Best Time for Foliage Viewing
The prime time to catch autumn leaves is typically between mid-October and November.
During this season, the morning temperatures drop to around 6-7°C, causing the deciduous trees to start turning red. Unlike the cherry blossom front that spreads from south to north, Japan’s “red leaf front” begins in the north, starting in Hokkaido, and moves southward, from the mountains down to the plains.
Best Month to Visit Tokyo: Weather and Outfit Guide
Representative Places and Peak Periods for Maple Viewing in Japan
| Area | Recommended Cities & Locations | Maple Viewing Period (Past Years) |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hakodate, Shiretoko Peninsula | Mid-September to October |
| Northeast Japan | Sendai, Akita | Early October to Early November |
| Kanto | Tokyo, Hakone, Nikko, Kamakura | Early November to Early December |
| Kansai | Osaka, Kyoto | Late November to Early December |
| Chubu and Hokuriku | Nagoya, Kanazawa, Niigata | Early October to Early November |
| China & Shikoku | Hiroshima, Kagawa | Mid-November to Early December |
| Kyushu | Fukuoka, Takachiho Gorge, Kagoshima | Late November to Early December |
Best places to see maple in Japan
【Hokkaido】Sounkyo
🗾 Sounkyo, Kamikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido
🍁 Mid-September to mid-October
This year, in Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan National Park, the trees have been colored as early as the end of August, and Asahidake can already see the mountain colored in a bright red. The “奇跡のイルミネート(Miracle Illumination Exhibition)”, a foliage viewing event on Sounkyo, is also starting its fifth year in the fall of 2022. You can enjoy the beautiful autumn leaves in the light while soaking in the hot spring.
*The “Miracle Illumination Exhibition” will be held from September 16, 2022 to October 17, 2022.
[Aomori] Hakkoda Mountain
🗾 Aomori City and Towada City, Aomori Prefecture
🍁 Late September to late October
[Nagano] Kamikochi
Official Website：上高地公式ウェブサイト
🗾 Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture
🍁 Early October to late October
Kamikochi is known as the “Japanese Alps”. When the weather gets colder, you can even see the snow, yellow leaves and red leaves together if you have a good chance. Matsumoto Castle in Kamikochi is one of the oldest surviving castles in Japan and is a designated national treasure of Japan.
[Nagano]Karuizawa Unba Pond
🗾 Kitasakyu-gun, Nagano Prefecture
🍁 Early October to early November
[Gunma/Niigata]Mt. Tanigawa
🗾 Tone-gun, Gunma Prefecture / Minamiuonuma-gun, Niigata Prefecture
🍁 Early October to late October
[Tokyo]Takao Mountain
🗾 Hachioji City, Tokyo
🍁 Mid-November to early December
[Tokyo] Rikugi-en Garden
🗾 Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
🍁 Mid-November to early December
[Tochigi]Chuzenji Lake&Kegon Falls
🗾 Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture
🍁 Mid-October to early November
[Saitama]Nagatoro
🗾 Nagatoro-cho, Saitama
🍁 Early November to late November
There are three major foliage spots that are recommended here.
- Iwatami (Nagatoro Kei Valley): Here, you can enjoy the foliage on both sides of the river by boat.
- Kaneseki Hose Bridge: Standing on the bridge, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the foliage.
- Hodosan: There is a cable car that takes you up to the top of the mountain, where you can see the mountains of Nagatoro and Chichibu.
There are also the Tsukinoishi Autumn Leaves Park, Hodosan Shrine and the Autumn Leaves Museum.
[Yamanashi]Mt.Fuji kawaguchiko
🗾 Fujikawaguchiko-cho, Minamituru-gun, Yamanashi
🍁 Early November to late November
Lake Fujikawaguchiko has a 1.5-kilometer-long leafy street and a leafy corridor with more than 60 giant maple trees, and during the Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival in November, the corridor will be illuminated, offering a view of Mount Fuji emerging from the colored leaves. November 23 (national holiday). This year, a new area, Okuno Hosomichi (200m), will be added to the foliage corridor, where you can enjoy the beauty of the foliage even more.
[Aichi]Korankei Valley
🗾 Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture
🍁 Early November to late November
[Kyoto]Kiyomizu Temple
🗾 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
🍁 Late November to early December
[Kyoto]Kifune Shrine
🗾 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
🍁 Early November to late November
[Kyoto]Sagano Kanko Tetsudo: Torocco Train
🗾 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
🍁 Early November to early December
[Kyoto]Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
🗾 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
🍁 Late October to mid-December
[Osaka]Expo Memorial Park
🗾 Suita City, Osaka
🍁 Early November to early December
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