Red and gold autumn maples over a temple roof in Japan
Koyo tracker

Japan Autumn Foliage Forecast 2026

When and where the leaves will turn this year: typical peak dates for Japan's top koyo spots, updated with every official forecast round and with real color reports through the season.

Last updated: 2026-10-02Sources checked: 2026-10-03

No spot changed status on October 2, but two forecast dates on this page did: Weathernews expects Kamikochi's Kappa Bridge at its best from around October 13 (this page had October 22) and Ryuzu Falls in Oku-Nikko from around October 16 (this page had October 7). In Hokkaido the peak is down in Sounkyo's gorge and the two onsen towns, Kurodake has started to fade, and Asahidake's summit got its first snowcap on October 2. Oirase Gorge and Nikko's high marshland are in their first color. The second official forecast, from October 1, keeps the cities close to normal: Sapporo's maples around November 4, Tokyo's around November 28, Kyoto's benchmark at December 11. JMC's third round is due in early November, and this page flips each spot's status as the Japan Weather Association's color reports come in.

Japan Autumn Foliage 2026Where the koyo front is right now, region by regionHokkaidoMid Sep – early NovAt peakTohokuLate Sep – early NovTurningJapanese Alps & ChubuLate Sep – late NovStill greenKantoMid Oct – early DecTurningKansaiMid Nov – mid DecStill greenChugokuMid – late NovStill greenKyushuLate Oct – early DecStill greenDaisetsuzan (Kogen Onsen & Asahidake): AT PEAK in the valley towns (Sounkyo, Asahidake Onsen); Kurodake fading, alpine tops finishedSapporo (Hokkaido University ginkgo, Nakajima Park): Late: around Nov 3–4Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada (Aomori): On schedule; lake ~Oct 27, gorge ~Oct 31 (Weathernews)Naruko Gorge (Miyagi): On schedule; ~Oct 29 (Weathernews)Kamikochi (Northern Alps, Nagano): On schedule; Kappa Bridge from ~Oct 13 (Weathernews)Oku-Nikko (Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, Irohazaka): On schedule; Ryuzu Falls ~Oct 16, Lake Chuzenji ~Oct 28 (Weathernews)Nikko town (Toshogu area): On schedule; shrines ~Nov 13 (Weathernews)Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko Momiji Corridor): On schedule (JMC)Hakone: On schedule (JMC)Tokyo (Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo, Rikugien): Ginkgo ~Nov 26, maples ~Nov 28Kamakura: On schedule (JMC)Takayama & Shirakawa-go: On schedule; Shirakawa-go ~Nov 3 (Weathernews)Kanazawa (Kenroku-en): On schedule (~Nov 30)Kyoto (Tofuku-ji, Eikando, Arashiyama): On schedule, later endNara (Nara Park): On schedule (JMC)Osaka (Minoo Park): On schedule (JMC)Miyajima (Momijidani Park): On schedule (~Nov 28)Yufuin & the Kuju Highlands (Oita): On schedule (JMC)Still greenTurningAt peakPast peak2026: normal to late nationwide (JMC)timetojapan.comUpdated Oct 2, 2026Sources checked Oct 3timetojapan.com/autumn-foliage-forecast
The koyo front moves north to south and summit to valley; dots are the 18 tracked spots, colored by their live status. Updated with every forecast round and color report.

Kamikochi Is Now Forecast From October 13 (Updated October 2)

No spot on this page changed status on October 2, but two forecast dates on this page did. Weathernews expects Kamikochi's Kappa Bridge at its best from around October 13 (this page had October 22), and Ryuzu Falls in Oku-Nikko from around October 16 (this page had October 7). Lake Towada and Oirase Gorge each moved a day earlier, to October 27 and October 31. Kamikochi and Naruko Gorge are still green in the Japan Weather Association's October 2 report.

In Hokkaido, the top of Daisetsuzan is closing down. The Japan Weather Association has Kurodake starting to fade and the leaves down at Kogen Onsen, and Asahidake's summit got its first snowcap of the season on October 2. The peak is in the valley now: Sounkyo's Momiji-dani, Sounkyo Onsen town and Asahidake Onsen town are at their best, and Weathernews expects the leaves in the two towns to start falling between October 9 and 12. On Honshu, Oirase Gorge in Aomori and Nikko's high marshland are in their first color, and the Tateyama Alpine Route's Murodo plateau and Oze are at peak. Everywhere else on this page is still green, and leaf condition is better than last year, so the color to come should be vivid.

The official forecast has not changed since October 1. JMC's second round keeps 2026 close to a normal year: Sapporo's maples around November 4 (7 days late), Tokyo's maples November 28 and its ginkgo November 26, Kyoto's benchmark December 11, Osaka's December 4, Kanazawa's November 30 and Hiroshima's November 28, with lowland Nagano about 9 days late. Maples across eastern Japan are forecast on schedule; only the ginkgo in the north and east leans late.

The practical read for fixed dates: plan on the usual windows, and in Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima on their later half. One caution for early-October travellers: typhoon season isn't finished, and alpine roads can close on short notice, so check access the day before a mountain trip. JMC's third round lands in early November, and the table below carries the per-spot picture.

How the Koyo Front Moves

Autumn color crosses Japan the opposite way to the cherry blossoms: it starts in the north and in the mountains, then flows south and downhill over roughly ten weeks. The first reds appear on Hokkaido's Daisetsuzan slopes in mid September; the high country around Nikko and the Japanese Alps peaks in mid to late October; and the famous city seasons, Kyoto and Tokyo above all, arrive from mid November into early December.

That long, predictable slide is what makes autumn easier to plan than spring: even if your dates are fixed, somewhere in Japan is peaking. The table below is the season at a glance; the strategy section under it shows how to aim a trip at whichever window you have.

The 2026 Season at a Glance

Still greenStartingPeak nowPast peak

Hokkaido

  • Daisetsuzan (Kogen Onsen & Asahidake)Peak now
    Japan's first autumn color of the year, on alpine slopes reached by ropeway from the Asahikawa side.
    Typical peak
    Mid September to early October
    2026 forecast
    AT PEAK in the valley towns (Sounkyo, Asahidake Onsen); Kurodake fading, alpine tops finished
    Asahikawa guide
  • Sapporo (Hokkaido University ginkgo, Nakajima Park)Still green
    City color weeks before Honshu's lowlands; the university's ginkgo avenue turns solid gold. JMC calls the city's maples about a week behind an average year.
    Typical peak
    Late October to early November
    2026 forecast
    Late: around Nov 3–4
    Sapporo guide

Tohoku

  • Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada (Aomori)Starting
    A stream-side walking trail beneath maples, one of Tohoku's signature koyo walks.
    Typical peak
    Late October
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; lake ~Oct 27, gorge ~Oct 31 (Weathernews)
    Aomori guide
  • Naruko Gorge (Miyagi)Still green
    A 100-meter-deep gorge wall of color, an easy add-on from Sendai (city maples forecast around Nov 24).
    Typical peak
    Late October to early November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; ~Oct 29 (Weathernews)
    Sendai guide

Kanto & the Japanese Alps

  • Kamikochi (Northern Alps, Nagano)Still green
    Golden larches along a glacial valley; the park road closes for winter in mid November, so timing is strict. Lowland Nagano is running about 9 days late.
    Typical peak
    Mid to late October
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; Kappa Bridge from ~Oct 13 (Weathernews)
    Matsumoto guide
  • Oku-Nikko (Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, Irohazaka)Starting
    The classic high-country koyo day trip from Tokyo; the Irohazaka hairpins are wall-to-wall color.
    Typical peak
    Mid to late October
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; Ryuzu Falls ~Oct 16, Lake Chuzenji ~Oct 28 (Weathernews)
    Kegon Falls guide
  • Nikko town (Toshogu area)Still green
    The lower shrine area turns weeks after Oku-Nikko above it, giving Nikko two separate peaks.
    Typical peak
    Late October to mid November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; shrines ~Nov 13 (Weathernews)
    Nikko guide
  • Fuji Five Lakes (Kawaguchiko Momiji Corridor)Still green
    Maple tunnels with Mt Fuji behind them; the corridor's evening light-up runs during peak.
    Typical peak
    Early to mid November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (JMC)
  • HakoneStill green
    Ropeway views over colored slopes, with the best Fuji visibility of the year arriving as the leaves turn.
    Typical peak
    Early to mid November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (JMC)
    Hakone guide
  • Tokyo (Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo, Rikugien)Still green
    The Gaien ginkgo avenue and Rikugien's lit maples close the Kanto season inside the city. JMC has Tokyo on an average schedule.
    Typical peak
    Mid November to early December
    2026 forecast
    Ginkgo ~Nov 26, maples ~Nov 28
    Tokyo guide
  • KamakuraStill green
    One of Japan's latest peaks; temple maples hold color into December while the rest of Kanto fades.
    Typical peak
    Late November to early December
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (JMC)
    Kamakura guide

Central Japan & Kansai

  • Takayama & Shirakawa-goStill green
    Mountain-town color around preserved streets and gassho farmhouses.
    Typical peak
    Late October to early November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule; Shirakawa-go ~Nov 3 (Weathernews)
    Takayama guide
  • Kanazawa (Kenroku-en)Still green
    The garden's yukitsuri ropes go up from November 1, so peak color and the winter silhouette overlap.
    Typical peak
    Mid to late November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (~Nov 30)
    Kenroku-en guide
  • Kyoto (Tofuku-ji, Eikando, Arashiyama)Still green
    The season's main event. Temple gardens, night illuminations, and the scarcest hotel rooms in Japan. JMC's city benchmark reads around Dec 11, which supports planning toward the back half of the window.
    Typical peak
    November 20 to early December
    2026 forecast
    On schedule, later end
    Kyoto guide
  • Nara (Nara Park)Still green
    Deer under maples and giant ginkgo trees; peaks slightly ahead of central Kyoto.
    Typical peak
    Mid to late November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (JMC)
    Nara guide
  • Osaka (Minoo Park)Still green
    A maple gorge 30 minutes from Umeda, with fried maple-leaf tempura sold along the trail. City ginkgo forecast around Nov 24.
    Typical peak
    Mid to late November
    2026 forecast
    On schedule (JMC)
    Osaka guide

Western Japan & Kyushu

Spot-by-Spot Autumn Foliage Forecasts for 2026

Whether you call it koyo, momiji, or just fall colors, here is where every major spot stands for 2026: the current forecast window, what the place actually looks like at peak, and the one planning detail that matters most at each.

Daisetsuzan Autumn Foliage 2026

Peak nowTypical peak: Mid September to early October2026 forecast: AT PEAK in the valley towns (Sounkyo, Asahidake Onsen); Kurodake fading, alpine tops finished

Daisetsuzan is AT PEAK right now, but only low down: as of October 2 Weathernews has Sounkyo Onsen town and Asahidake Onsen town at their best, and the Japan Weather Association still lists peak color in Sounkyo's Momiji-dani valley. Above that the season is closing. Kurodake has started to fade, the leaves are down at Kogen Onsen and on Akadake's Ginsendai slope, they are falling around Asahidake's Sugatami pond, and Asahidake's summit got its first snowcap on October 2, a month after the first reds showed on Kurodake. So aim low, at the gorge walks and the town at Sounkyo, and ride the Kurodake ropeway for the view rather than for peak color. Weathernews expects the leaves to start falling in Asahidake Onsen town around October 9 and in Sounkyo Onsen town around October 12, so go now rather than on the calendar; this is the one spot on this page where waiting costs you the season. Asahikawa guide →

Sounkyo Onsen's riverside ryokan sit right under the gorge color and fill first for late September; Asahikawa city is the practical fallback base.Asahikawa hotels

Sapporo Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Late October to early November2026 forecast: Late: around Nov 3–4

Expect Sapporo's best color in the first week of November 2026: the October 1 forecast calls the city's maples 7 days late, around November 4 (three days earlier than the first forecast said), with the ginkgo right beside them on November 3. The two set pieces are Hokkaido University's ginkgo avenue, solid gold and free to walk, and the maples of Nakajima Park a short subway ride south of the station. Sapporo guide →

Sapporo hotel prices stay sane through foliage season, and a city base covers both the ginkgo avenues and the Jozankei ravine day trip.Sapporo hotels

Oirase Gorge Autumn Foliage 2026

StartingTypical peak: Late October2026 forecast: On schedule; lake ~Oct 27, gorge ~Oct 31 (Weathernews)

Late October into the first days of November is the 2026 target, and the first color is in: the Japan Weather Association has listed Oirase as starting to turn since September 25, with scattered early trees ahead of the main show. The October 1 forecast keeps northern Japan's maples on schedule, and Weathernews expects the Lake Towada shore at its best around October 27 and the gorge around October 31. The stream-side trail between Ishigedo and the Nenokuchi end at Lake Towada is the classic walk, all mossy boulders and waterfalls under the maples, and the lake shore doubles the color on still mornings. Stay at the gorge hotels or day-trip from Aomori city. Aomori guide →

The handful of lakeside hotels at Towada book out months ahead of the late-October peak; Aomori city is the workable fallback.Aomori hotels

Naruko Gorge Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Late October to early November2026 forecast: On schedule; ~Oct 29 (Weathernews)

Aim for the last week of October into early November 2026: the October 1 forecast keeps Naruko on schedule, and Weathernews expects the gorge at its best around October 29. The lookout by the gorge rim gives the postcard view of the arched bridge over a 100 meter wall of color, and the walking path below it gets you inside the scene. It pairs naturally with Sendai, whose own city maples are forecast around November 24. Sendai guide →

Naruko Onsen's ryokan make the overnight worth it and go early for peak week; Sendai works as a day-trip base.Sendai hotels

Kamikochi Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Mid to late October2026 forecast: On schedule; Kappa Bridge from ~Oct 13 (Weathernews)

Plan for mid to late October 2026, and do not push much later: the access road closes for winter in mid November and the golden larches drop fast after peak. Weathernews expects the valley floor around Kappa Bridge at its best from around October 13, with the leaves starting to fall around October 29. The valley was still green on October 2, and the October 1 forecast reads normal for eastern Japan's maples, even though lowland Nagano is running about 9 days behind average. Far above the valley, the Karasawa cirque, a long day's hike in, is already at peak. The Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge stretch at dawn, mist on the water and the Hotaka peaks already dusted white, is why photographers set alarms here. Matsumoto guide →

The few lodges inside the valley sell out famously fast for larch season; most visitors base in Matsumoto and ride the morning bus in.Matsumoto hotels

Oku-Nikko Autumn Foliage 2026 (Lake Chuzenji & Irohazaka)

StartingTypical peak: Mid to late October2026 forecast: On schedule; Ryuzu Falls ~Oct 16, Lake Chuzenji ~Oct 28 (Weathernews)

Mid to late October 2026 is still the window for Nikko's high country, and the first color is in: Nikko City reports the marsh grasses of Odashirogahara at their best and the first color on the trees at Ryuzu Falls, and the Japan Weather Association lists Senjogahara as starting to turn. Weathernews expects Lake Yunoko at its best from around October 13 and Ryuzu Falls from around October 16 (Nikko City's own estimate is early to mid October), then Lake Chuzenji around October 28 and the Irohazaka switchbacks around October 31; the October 1 forecast reads normal for eastern Japan's maples. Go midweek if you possibly can; Irohazaka traffic on peak weekends can add hours to the climb. This is the classic foliage day trip from Tokyo, about two hours each way on the Tobu line plus the bus up the hairpins. Kegon Falls guide →

A Chuzenji lakeside room puts you ahead of the morning Irohazaka traffic, and there are not many of them; mid-October weekends go first.Nikko hotels

Nikko Town Autumn Foliage 2026 (Toshogu Area)

Still greenTypical peak: Late October to mid November2026 forecast: On schedule; shrines ~Nov 13 (Weathernews)

Late October to mid November 2026 for the lower town, forecast on schedule; Weathernews expects the shrines at their best around November 13. The shrine precinct around Toshogu turns two to three weeks after the lake country above it, which is Nikko's quiet superpower: miss one wave and the other is usually waiting. Maples along the Daiya River and the approach to Shinkyo Bridge carry the show at street level. Nikko guide →

Sleeping near the shrines beats day-tripping during peak weeks, and the town's inns fill for late October.Where to stay in Nikko

Fuji Five Lakes Autumn Foliage 2026 (Kawaguchiko)

Still greenTypical peak: Early to mid November2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Early to mid November 2026 around Lake Kawaguchiko, on the usual schedule in the October 1 forecast. The Momiji Corridor on the lake's north shore runs its evening light-up through peak, and the same shore lines up the classic frame of maples in front and Mt Fuji behind. Cold clear mornings, which arrive with the color, are also the best Fuji visibility of the year.

Kawaguchiko's lakefront rooms with Fuji views are the first in the region to sell out for the November Momiji Corridor weeks.

Hakone Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Early to mid November2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Early to mid November 2026, on the usual schedule per the October 1 forecast. Color moves down the mountain over the window, so the standard loop of Hakone Tozan railway, cablecar, ropeway, and Lake Ashi cruise hands you several elevations of foliage in a single day. Autumn also brings Hakone's most reliable Mt Fuji views; hazier months hide it completely. Hakone guide →

Hakone's ryokan hit their busiest weekends of the year in November; book the onsen night well ahead.Hakone hotels

Tokyo Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Mid November to early December2026 forecast: Ginkgo ~Nov 26, maples ~Nov 28

The October 1 forecast keeps Tokyo exactly on schedule: ginkgo around November 26 and maples around November 28. That lands the Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue and Rikugien's night illumination in the last week of November into early December, and bigger gardens like Shinjuku Gyoen hold color into December's first half. No tickets needed for the streetside ginkgo; go on a weekday morning for the avenue without the crowds. Tokyo guide →

Tokyo rooms tighten citywide for the last week of November; our area-by-area guide covers where to book.Where to Stay in Tokyo

Kamakura Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Late November to early December2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Late November into early December 2026, one of the last peaks in Japan, with the October 1 forecast reading on schedule. Engaku-ji and Meigetsu-in in Kita-Kamakura are the headline maples, and color regularly holds past the first week of December here, which makes Kamakura the rescue plan for early-December trips that missed everything else. Kamakura guide →

Kamakura is an easy day trip from Tokyo in foliage season; if you want the temples at dawn, the few inns near them go early for late November.Kamakura hotels

Takayama & Shirakawa-go Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Late October to early November2026 forecast: On schedule; Shirakawa-go ~Nov 3 (Weathernews)

Late October to early November 2026 in both: the October 1 forecast has the region on schedule, and Weathernews expects Shirakawa-go's village at its best around November 3. Shirakawa-go's thatched gassho farmhouses against colored slopes are the signature image, best from the Shiroyama viewpoint above the village; Takayama's old town and the Higashiyama temple walk share the same window. By the first days of November, snow can already dust the peaks above the color. Takayama guide →

Takayama's old-town inns run full from the October festival straight through foliage season, and Shirakawa-go farmstays book out months ahead.Takayama hotels

Kanazawa Autumn Foliage 2026 (Kenroku-en)

Still greenTypical peak: Mid to late November2026 forecast: On schedule (~Nov 30)

Mid to late November 2026, on schedule with the city benchmark near November 30. Kenroku-en is the reason to come: from mid November the garden's conical yukitsuri ropes are already up over the pines, so you get peak maples and the winter silhouette in one frame, and the garden runs an evening light-up in the same window. Kenroku-en guide →

Kanazawa stays bookable even in late November, and a room near Kenroku-en makes the quiet 7 AM garden window easy.Kanazawa hotels

Kyoto Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: November 20 to early December2026 forecast: On schedule, later end

Plan for the last week of November into the first week of December 2026. Both forecasts so far have Kyoto on schedule but at the later end, with the city's benchmark maples read around December 11, so a late trip beats an early one this year. Weathernews reads Arashiyama's tourist peak around November 24, which fits: benchmark-tree dates run later than the temple gardens people actually visit. Tofuku-ji and Arashiyama demand a dawn start at peak, and Eikando's night illumination sells timed tickets. Kyoto guide →

Kyoto's late-November rooms are the scarcest in Japan: book refundable now and adjust dates later, or sleep in Osaka and train in.Where to Stay in Kyoto

Nara Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Mid to late November2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Mid to late November 2026, usually a few days ahead of central Kyoto, and on schedule per the October 1 forecast. Nara Park's maples and its giant ginkgo drop gold over the deer, and because the park is open ground rather than ticketed gardens, an early morning here is far calmer than peak-week Kyoto. It works as a half-day from either Kyoto or Osaka. Nara guide →

Nara empties at dusk, so an overnight near the park is atmospheric but optional; most visitors base in Kyoto or Osaka.Nara hotels

Osaka Autumn Foliage 2026 (Minoo Park)

Still greenTypical peak: Mid to late November2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Mid to late November 2026, on schedule, with Osaka's ginkgo benchmark around November 24. Minoo Park's gorge trail to the waterfall sits 30 minutes from Umeda by train, and the stalls along it sell momiji tempura, actual fried maple leaves. Downtown, the Midosuji ginkgo avenue turns in the same window, so Osaka gets real color without leaving the city at all. Osaka guide →

Osaka is the value base for the whole Kansai foliage circuit, with Minoo a 30-minute train from Umeda.Where to Stay in Osaka

Miyajima Autumn Foliage 2026 (Momijidani Park)

Still greenTypical peak: Mid to late November2026 forecast: On schedule (~Nov 28)

Mid to late November 2026, forecast on schedule near November 28. Momijidani Park behind Itsukushima Shrine is the densest maple stand on the island, the ropeway above it opens views over the Seto Inland Sea, and the floating torii is a ten minute walk away. Weekdays matter here: peak-season weekends on the island are shoulder to shoulder from the ferry onward. Miyajima guide →

An island overnight gives you the maples and the torii after the day-trip crowds leave; Miyajima's few ryokan sell out first for late November.Miyajima hotels

Yufuin & Kuju Autumn Foliage 2026

Still greenTypical peak: Early to mid November2026 forecast: On schedule (JMC)

Early to mid November 2026 in the highlands, on schedule per the October 1 forecast. Color starts on the Kuju range along the Yamanami Highway, then drifts down to Yufuin's valley with Mount Yufu behind it; the Kokonoe Yume suspension bridge, hung high over a maple gorge with waterfalls on both sides, is the region's set piece. Pair any of it with Beppu's onsen, a short bus ride east. Beppu guide →

Yufuin's ryokan are a destination in themselves and book out for November weekends; Beppu next door has the room supply.Beppu hotels

Forecast Updates

  • 2026-10-02 (Color reports: Kurodake starts to fade, two forecasts move): No spot changed status, but the picture shifted. The Japan Weather Association's October 2 report has Kurodake starting to fade and the leaves down at Kogen Onsen, with Sounkyo's Momiji-dani still at peak; Weathernews keeps Sounkyo Onsen town and Asahidake Onsen town at their best, and the Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the season's first snowcap on Asahidake's summit on October 2. Two forecast dates on this page changed by nine days each, read from Weathernews's own spot pages: Kamikochi's Kappa Bridge is expected at its best from around October 13 (this page had October 22), and Ryuzu Falls in Oku-Nikko from around October 16 (this page had October 7). Lake Towada moves to October 27 and Oirase Gorge to October 31, a day earlier each. Kamikochi and Naruko Gorge are still green.
  • 2026-10-01 (JMC round 2 (second official 2026 forecast)): The second official forecast keeps the season close to normal and pulls a few dates earlier. Sapporo's maples are now called 7 days late, around November 4 (the first forecast said November 7), Tokyo's maples November 28 with the ginkgo still November 26, and Sendai's maples November 24. Kyoto (December 11), Osaka (December 4), Kanazawa (November 30) and Hiroshima (November 28) are unchanged. Maples in eastern Japan are now forecast on schedule rather than normal to late; ginkgo there and in the north still reads normal to late. On the ground, Weathernews has Sounkyo Onsen town at peak as of October 1, two days ahead of its last estimate, and its spot forecasts put Ryuzu Falls in Oku-Nikko around October 7, Kamikochi's Kappa Bridge around October 22 and Naruko Gorge around October 29. Next round: early November.
  • 2026-09-30 (Color reports: first color in Nikko): The front has reached Kanto. The Japan Weather Association's September 30 color report lists Senjogahara in Oku-Nikko as starting to turn, and Nikko City reports Odashirogahara's marsh grasses at their best and the first color on the trees at Ryuzu Falls, so Oku-Nikko moves to starting; Lake Chuzenji and Irohazaka still peak mid to late October. In Hokkaido, Kogen Onsen has started to fade while Kurodake and Sounkyo's Momiji-dani stay at peak, and Weathernews now expects Sounkyo Onsen town at its best around October 3.
  • 2026-09-27 (Color reports: the top of Daisetsuzan is past its best): The first fading of the season is in. The Japan Weather Association lists Akadake's Ginsendai slope as starting to fade, and Weathernews reports leaves falling around Asahidake's Sugatami pond, so the alpine tops are past their best. The color is moving downhill, though: Kurodake, Kogen Onsen, and Sounkyo's Momiji-dani are still at peak, and Weathernews expects Asahidake Onsen town around September 30 and Sounkyo Onsen town around October 1. If you are heading up this week, aim for the ropeway mid-stations and the gorge rather than the summits.
  • 2026-09-25 (Color reports: Sounkyo early, first color at Oirase): The Japan Weather Association's September 25 color reports put Kurodake, Kogen Onsen, and Sounkyo Gorge's Momiji-dani valley at peak, and Weathernews now expects Sounkyo Onsen town at its best around September 30, a week earlier than it said on September 22. The front has also crossed to Honshu: Oirase Gorge in Aomori shows its first scattered color, so it moves to starting, with its late-October peak still the plan. Tateyama's Murodo plateau is at peak. Driving to Kogen Onsen? The road is closed to private cars through September 30 and needs advance booking.
  • 2026-09-15 (First peak of the season (Daisetsuzan ground reports)): Daisetsuzan is at peak color, about a week ahead of the September 21 forecast start, and the high Tateyama Alpine Route has started turning; everywhere else remains green. If Hokkaido's alpine color is on your itinerary, this is the window: the show runs at altitude through early October, then drops to Sounkyo Gorge. One more cross-check landed: Weathernews reads Kyoto's Arashiyama tourist peak around November 24, which fits our late-November guidance for the city temples.
  • 2026-09-12 (Season start confirmed + Weathernews cross-check): Japan's first autumn color of 2026 started on Daisetsuzan's Kurodake summit on September 2 (a slightly later start than typical), and the front reaches Sounkyo Gorge in early to mid October. Weathernews' own 2026 forecast agrees with JMC on a later-than-normal season in East Japan, adds that leaf condition is better than last year (so expect vivid color), and notes high-alpine Murodo is already turning. One caution for late September travellers: typhoon season isn't over, and mountain roads can close on short notice.
  • 2026-09-02 (JMC round 1 (first official 2026 forecast)): Autumn temperatures are forecast to run above normal, putting peaks at 'normal or late' across most of Japan. Sapporo's maples are called about 10 days late (around November 7), Tokyo is on schedule (ginkgo around November 26, maples November 29), and Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima are on schedule at the later end of their usual windows. Next round: early October.
  • 2026-08-25 (Pre-season outlook, from JMA summer temperature data): Summer 2026 ran hotter than normal nationwide, the pattern that has pushed recent seasons about a week later than the historical averages in the lowland cities. Until the first official forecast lands, lean toward the later end of each typical window for Kyoto, Tokyo, and Kamakura; the alpine spots are less affected.

If Your Dates Are Fixed

Late September to mid October: go north or go high. Daisetsuzan, Oirase Gorge, Naruko, Kamikochi, and Oku-Nikko are at or near peak while the cities are still green. Tokyo works as a base for Nikko (see our Tokyo day-trips ranking for the logistics); Sendai or Sapporo open up the northern spots, and our Hokkaido guide covers the far-north season.

Late October to mid November: the middle band. Hakone, the Fuji Five Lakes, Takayama, and Kyushu's highlands peak, and Nikko's lower shrine area gets its second wave. This is the sweet spot for a classic route with color at every stop.

Mid November to early December: the famous finale. Kyoto, Nara, Miyajima, Kanazawa, then Tokyo and Kamakura last of all. Book Kyoto rooms far ahead; they are the scarcest in Japan in this window (our Kyoto stay guide explains the timing). Tokyo tightens for its own late-November peak too; the Tokyo stay guide covers which areas to book.

Our 10-Day Autumn Foliage itinerary chains Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka's Minoo gorge into one arc built around the front, and the October and November guides cover everything beyond the leaves. Open any of them in the free trip planner and slide the days as the forecast firms up.

🍁 Turn These Dates Into a Trip

Our 10-Day Autumn Foliage route chains Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, and Osaka's Minoo valley around the front you just read about. Pick a start date and every day is planned in seconds: hotels, trains, timed-entry warnings, the lot. Free, no account needed, and easy to reshuffle when the forecast updates.

Build my autumn tripSee the day-by-day route first

Foliage Forecast FAQ

When will the autumn leaves peak in Kyoto in 2026?

Both official 2026 forecasts so far (September 2 and October 1) have Kyoto on schedule but at the later end of its usual window: plan for the last week of November into the first ten days of December. The city's benchmark maples are forecast to peak around December 11, so late-scheduled trips are safer than early ones this year. This page is updated with every forecast revision and with actual color reports through the season.

When is peak foliage in Tokyo in 2026?

Right on schedule, per the second official forecast (October 1): ginkgo around November 26 and maples around November 28, which puts the Meiji Jingu Gaien avenue and Rikugien at their best in the last week of November into early December. Real color reports start appearing here from late October.

Is the 2026 foliage season expected to be early or late?

Close to normal, officially: the second nationwide forecast (October 1) calls maples on schedule in every region and ginkgo normal to late in the north and east, with a warmer October than usual. Hokkaido's lowlands show the biggest delay (Sapporo's maples about 7 days late, around November 4), Nagano runs about 9 days late, while Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima sit on schedule, the Kansai cities at the later end of their usual windows. The next revision lands in early November.

When will Nikko's autumn leaves peak in 2026?

Nikko peaks in two waves. The high country (Lake Chuzenji, Kegon Falls, and the Irohazaka switchbacks) typically peaks mid to late October, and the lower Toshogu shrine area follows from late October to mid November. The second official 2026 forecast (October 1) reads on schedule for both. The first color is already in on the high marshland, and Weathernews expects Ryuzu Falls around October 16, Lake Chuzenji around October 28, and the shrines around November 13. Go midweek to avoid the worst Irohazaka traffic.

Where are the best places to see autumn leaves in Japan?

It depends on your dates more than on a ranking. Mid October belongs to the high country: Oku-Nikko, Kamikochi, and Naruko Gorge. Early November is Hakone, the Fuji Five Lakes, and Kyushu's highlands. From mid November the cities take over: Kyoto above all, plus Nara, Miyajima, Kanazawa, and finally Tokyo and Kamakura into early December.

How accurate are Japan's foliage forecasts?

The September rounds are good to within one or two weeks; by two to three weeks out they are usually reliable to within a few days. Foliage is more forgiving than cherry blossoms, since peak color holds for one to two weeks at each spot. The practical strategy: book refundable rooms for your best-guess window now, then shift day trips (not hotels) as the forecast firms up.

Do I need tickets or reservations for autumn foliage spots?

For the trees themselves, no. For the experience around them, increasingly yes: Kyoto's famous night illuminations (Kiyomizu-dera, Eikando, Rikugien in Tokyo) sell timed tickets in peak weeks, and hotel rooms are the real bottleneck. Kyoto in the last two weeks of November has the scarcest rooms in Japan, so accommodation, not admission, is what to book months ahead.