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Japan Autumn

A Japan Autumn is a truly spectacular sight to see whether you're on staying in the areas surrounding Tokyo or traveling further afield to other parts of Japan.

Autumn In Japan - Koyo Season

The koyo season, the turning of the leaves, is the Autumn equivalent of the hanami season in Spring.

Instead of Japanese cherry blossom parties, people make their way to see the beautiful rich colors of the red maple and more as they turn the countryside into a vibrant carpet of reds, golds, and oranges.

In true contrast to Spring where the cherry blossom spreads up the country from the south in Okinawa, the turning of the leaves sweeps back down the country in the opposite direction. It starts in Hokkaido usually around late September and works its way downwards through to about late November.

In Tokyo the leaves usually take on their best colors from around the end of October to the end of November. It's all a matter of timing!

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When Should You Visit For The Best Japan Autumn Foliage?

If you've ever experienced any of the major festivals in Japan then you already know that seasonal events like Japan Autumn leaves are great crowd pullers.

This is a wonderful thing but at times it means that you're traveling for hours through traffic jams or on crowded trains to get to your final destination. It kind of takes the pleasure out of the whole experience!

So when is best to visit?

Avoiding weekends and national holidays is priority one as this is when the whole of Japan will be gearing up to bask in the glow of the fall foliage. If you're here on vacation then you have the advantage as you can choose a more leisurely weekday viewing.

We'd also recommend setting off as early as possible if you want to experience any sense of solitude and capture the peace of the countryside. The Tokyo climate means that the views are clearer at this time of year so you can catch some pretty awesome sunrises if you're an early bird.

Just remember that even on weekdays you are unlikely to be alone for long. Get there early and leave a little early is our recommendation for the best Japan Autumn fall foliage tours!

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Where Is Best Around Tokyo?

There are a number of options around Tokyo to view the Japan Autumn leaves in all their glory. Some are one day visits, some are 1 or 2 nights stays. Our recommendations are listed below:

• Mount Takao - a day trip worth taking at any time of year, Mount Takao is a great place to see the Japan Autumn colors if you don't want to do an overnight stay.
• Kamakura - the old capital of Japan, famous for its Daibutsu (big buddha), is also a day trip away although we'd recommend staying a night if you can. To do this in just one day is a pretty full on schedule!
• Hakone and Mount Fuji - this is one of our favorite escapes from the city. Stay overnight in a traditional ryokan, soak in an onsen, and enjoy the views of Fuji. Gorgeous.
• Fuji Five Lakes - the whole area around Mount Fuji is known as Fuji Five Lakes. Besides Hakone there are areas such as Kawaguchiko with similar onsen and ryokan settings.
• Nikko - to the north of Tokyo and the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu is another perfect setting to catch your reds, golds, and oranges of fall. You will need to stay overnight.
• Karuizawa - another overnight stay. Karuizawa has a very traditional feel to it with Japanese maples and countryside views all around.