Many tourists say that autumn is the best time to travel to Japan. It's usually considered gray and rainy, but Japanese autumn is an unusual combination of beautiful red maple trees and mild weather. Autumn in Japan sparkles with hundreds of colors, and millions of Japanese strive to make their way to the other side of the country to enjoy the beautiful views.
Yellow, orange, red, brown... In fact, saffron, gold, cinnamon, copper, brown tea, orange, honey and dozens of shades of these colors are present in Japanese autumn colors.
Autumn in Japan
Japan, which is usually associated with a giant metropolis and modernity, is also a country of unique nature. More than 70% of Japan's surface is mountainous and forested. The island of Hokkaido and the central hills of Honshu are dominated by conifers, pines, firs and cypresses. But even their dark green color mixes with all the purple colors of Japanese red maples in the fall, as well as beeches, oaks and birches. Nature has rewarded Japan very generously. Red maples in autumn and its other treasures are worthy of admiration: high mountains, glacial valleys, fast-flowing clear rivers with numerous waterfalls and caves, hot springs and beautiful beaches.
Hokkaido National Parks
| magnificent scenery of Daisetsuzan National Park |
Japan's northernmost island is not very popular among tourists, although it offers some of the best autumn scenery in the country. Home to miles of wildlife, mountains, volcanoes, plains, lakes and hot springs, Hokkaido is a stunning destination, perfect for enjoying autumn nature. Some of our favorite spots include Daisetsuzan National Park (where Japan sees its first fall colors in mid-September) and the Shiretoko Peninsula.
Depending on where you go during your trip to Hokkaido, you can expect leaf fall from mid-September to late October.
Weather in Japan in autumn
Hot summer gives way to autumn (September - November) with fresh winds and pleasant air temperatures (18°C). The forests are covered with colorful leaves, and chrysanthemums bloom in parks and gardens. Early autumn (September) is the main typhoon season, which usually lasts more than one day.
The sun is almost always shining at this time, encouraging long hikes through the colorful hills. To see a real “autumn explosion”, it is best to visit the Land of the Rising Sun in November.
Autumn in Japan is a very good time to visit historical sites, national holidays and natural landscapes.
TOP 10 PLACES TO ADVISE MOMIJI
1. Mount Asahi, Hokkaido
Mount Asahi (or Asahi-Dak) is the highest mountain in Hokkaido, located in Daisetsuzan National Park. The first coming of autumn occurs on Asahi: the leaves begin to turn red at the end of August.
Best time to see red leaves: mid-September.
2. Oirase Stream, Aomori
Oirase Creek originates in Lake Towada, which is located on the border of Aomori and Akita prefectures and runs through the picturesque gorge of the same name. These fantastically beautiful places have always been loved by artists and poets, and in the fall the 14-kilometer route along the banks of the stream becomes one of the most popular places for walking.
Best time to admire the fall colors: mid to late October.
3. Yamadera, Yamagata
Yamadera is Japan's most picturesque temple, located in the mountains northeast of the city of Yamagata. The famous poet Basho visited Yamadera, who left inscriptions at its foot about the unshakable silence of these places. From the top of the temple there is a stunning view of the valley.
Best time for momiji: early November.
4. Nikko, Tochigi
Nikko, at the foot of Mount Nyoho in Tochigi Prefecture, is one of the most visited historical sites in Japan and a popular tourist destination all year round. However, traveling to Nikko in the fall is exceptional. First, the trees around Lake Chuzenji are painted in bright colors, then the foliage of historical sites, including the World Heritage site Toshogu Temple, built in the early 17th century, is covered in crimson. It is in Toshogu that the world-famous images of three monkeys and a sleeping cat are located.
Best time to admire momiji: mid to late October.
5. Rikugien Garden, Tokyo
Rikugien is one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens and the most visited place in Tokyo in the fall. There are so many visitors that during the peak autumn season the garden is open at night.
Best time for momiji: late November to early December.
6. Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi
Lake Kawaguchi is the largest of the Five Fuji Lakes. The lake is located within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kawaguchi, like the other four lakes, was formed as a result of a volcanic eruption about 60 thousand years ago. In autumn, the annual Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaf Festival is held on the northern shore of the lake. An excellent reason to enjoy the autumn landscapes and attend an atmospheric festival.
Best time to visit: mid-November.
7. Kurobe Gorge, Toyama
A scenic railway runs through the Kurobe Gorge. Traveling by train, you can see panoramas of the Japanese Alps and take spectacular photographs.
Best time to visit: late October to early November.
8. Seiryu-ji Tokugen-in Temple, Shiga
This tranquil temple is located in Shiga Prefecture near Osaka. The temple is surrounded by a magnificent Zen-style garden. A great place to immerse yourself in Japanese culture and admire the autumn colors.
Best time to visit: end of November.
9. Tofukuji Temple, Kyoto
Kyoto is the No. 1 destination for momiji hunting, and this old city has plenty of places to do it. Experts recommend visiting the Tofukuji Temple, where there is a garden with an area of more than 20 thousand square meters. m and offers panoramic views of the Tsutenkyo Bridge.
Best time to visit: end of November.
10. Kenroku-en Park , Ishikawa
Kenroku-en Park is considered one of the three most famous landscape gardens in Japan, and it is one of the best tourist attractions in the city of Kanazawa. The garden recreates 4 different landscapes for each season. It's worth coming to Kenroku-en in the fall to see the seasonal landscape.
Best time: end of November.
Mount Fuji in a sea of autumn leaves
Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi Prefecture is one of the famous Five Great Lakes surrounding Mount Fuji. During November, the shores of the lake are covered with red and gold leaves. At this time, the Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Folk Festival is held here. A place worth visiting is the 150 meter long “tunnel” that runs along the northern shore of the lake.
Mount Fuji, glowing with purple colors at this time of year, is considered one of the most beautiful autumn views in Japan. Photos in autumn with a landscape against a mountain background will be unforgettable.
Best Places to View Autumn Leaves in Kyoto
It’s not for nothing that Kyoto is considered one of the best places for koyo in Japan. The abundance of traditional Buddhist and Shinto shrines and forested areas make Kyoto a very popular autumn travel destination. So what are the best places to visit in Kyoto?
Arashiyama is a lush bamboo forest on the outskirts of Kyoto.
Daigo-ji Gardens is a vast forest area that is very popular among photographers in the fall.
Daitoku-ji is a temple with a beautiful maple alley leading to the entrance.
Eikando Temple – The trees on the grounds of this temple are beautifully illuminated in the fall.
Kinkaku-ji - The gilded covering of the famous temple is perfectly complemented by the colorful leaves of the surrounding trees.
Nanzen-ji - became famous thanks to the film “Lost in Translation”, scenes from which were filmed in this temple just in the fall.
Tenryu-ji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features a beautiful landscaped garden.
Tofuku-ji Temple and the Tsutenkyo within the temple grounds are one of the most popular places in Kyoto to admire the golden leaves.
Jidai Matsuri - historical Japan in a nutshell
Jidai Matsuri is one of the most famous and popular Japanese autumn festivals, held annually in Kyoto on October 22nd. This is a parade of people in Japanese historical costumes, from early times to the Meiji era.
About 2 thousand people take part in it, which takes about five hours, and the column extends about 2 km. Participants often carry historical weapons and other items from the ancient era.
"Bridge to the Moon"
Kyoto is the most visited city; tourists especially try to get there in the fall. After all, it is famous for its beautiful views. The Arashiyama area attracts many visitors who want to enjoy close contact with nature.
The famous Togetsu-kyo Bridge (155 meters) connects the banks of the Oikawa River. Its name means "bridge that goes past the moon." It was given by Emperor Kameyama. He noticed that at night the moon moving across the sky seemed to pass through a bridge. The view of the calm flowing river and the yellow and red leaves in the background create a breathtaking view.
Autumn scenery and the soothing hot springs of Yokoya Valley
Yokoya Valley is located in Nagano Prefecture. Here you can take a walk while admiring the beautiful scenery. By the end of October, the valley is dominated by bright red leaves on the trees, giving it the status of one of the most popular autumn walks in eastern Japan.
Along the route you can see four waterfalls, and then continue your journey towards the mountains. After your walk, you should take a swim in the hot springs.
The Best Places to View Autumn Leaves in Tokyo
Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is a famous street lined with ginkgo trees that turn bright yellow in the fall.
Koishikawa Korakuen is a popular garden near Tokyo Palace that contains a large number of maple trees.
Mount Takao – Located on the outskirts of the city, this lively weekend destination is perfect for an autumn walk in the fresh air.
Odze National Park is another popular hiking destination, located about 100 km north of the city.
Rikugien Garden is an impressive landscaped garden popular with red leaf lovers and cherry blossom lovers alike.
Shinjuku Gyoen is a large city park and a popular place for autumn picnics.
Ueno Park is a large green area with more than 9,000 trees, painted in vibrant shades of gold and crimson.
Yoyogi Park – located near the trendy Harajuku district, offers a combination of golden ginkgo and maple trees with spectacular fall flowers.
Castle in the Clouds Echizen Ono
The castle is located in the center of Ono City, Fukui Prefecture. According to legend, it was built by order of Kanamori Nagachaika from 30,000 stones donated by Oda Nobunaga. Construction lasted 5 years. In 1775, the castle was burned, and now you can admire it in its restored form in 1968. Surrounded by mountains and located at an altitude of over 249 meters above sea level, Echizen Castle commands attention and has become known as the "castle among the clouds" in recent years. The best views open in October and November.
Five Great Lakes Fuji
| View of Mount Fuji from the shores of Lake Kawaguchi |
Another location with good transport links to the capital is the Fuji Five Great Lakes region, which offers visitors, for example, incredible views of Mount Fuji from the shores of Lake Kawaguchi. Of course, Hakone has plenty of other interesting offerings and opportunities to have a good time, but once it comes to the autumn leaves, the Five Lakes are truly worth it. We recommend heading to Hakone from late October to mid-November to capture the best colors of the season in your photos and memories.
Japanese seasonal delicacies
The Japanese are known for their love of seasonal foods, and therefore many fruits, vegetables or fish have become symbols of a certain season. In autumn these are primarily persimmon fruits (Shonai haki). In addition, during this period, when traveling around Japan, it is worth trying apples, Japanese nihonnashi pears and tangerines.
Japanese autumn is primarily associated with “new rice”—fresh rice. Rice grown this year is considered whiter, more tender and softer than last year's "old" rice.
In the fall, it is worth trying grilled saury (Cololabis saira) with soy sauce, a species of carnivorous marine fish of the family Scomberesocidae, called the Japanese samma. This is one of the dishes without which there is no autumn in Japan.
Carpet of red lilies in Kinchakud
In the western part of Hidaka City (Saitama Prefecture), surrounded by the Koma River, is Kinchakuda Park. Every year from September to October, the riverbank is covered with a carpet of more than 5 million red spider lilies (lycoris). During the blooming season, the park hosts a lily festival, which attracts many tourists who come here to admire the plants.
Watching the lilies under the soothing flows of water is one of the reasons to visit Japan in autumn.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
One of the rapidly gaining popularity opportunities to spend an autumn holiday in Japan as exciting as possible is a trip through the alpine beauty of the Tateyama Kurobe mountain route, which connects the cities of Toyama and Omachi using a variety of trains, buses, funiculars and cable cars. Since autumn colors love the highlands, you are sure to see splashes of different colors during your trip along this alpine route. To fully enjoy the autumn scenery and picturesque koyo, we recommend planning your trip any time between late September and early November.
City-go-san
The festival is celebrated on November 15, during which parents ask the deity to take care of their children. It involves girls from three to seven years old, as well as three- and five-year-old boys. Children dress in beautiful kimonos.
The age of children is associated with ancient rituals:
- children walked around with shaved heads until they were three years old - only then were they allowed to grow their hair;
- five-year-old boys wore hakama for the first time;
- Seven-year-old girls were allowed to exchange the narrow strap with which they tied the kimono for an adult traditional obi.
If you think of Japan only as the “land of cherry blossoms”, and there is no opportunity to visit it in the spring, you should reconsider your vacation plans. Japan is also beautiful in autumn - from September to November. This season is especially recommended for visiting the country, not only because of the pleasant temperatures and generally good weather, but also for contemplating the wonderful atmosphere of the colorful autumn maple leaves.
