In Kyoto itself, the colours can sometimes linger as late as the end of November, though they’ll usually be past their peak. The end of October onward is when the colours typically start to turn, peaking around the middle of November. Brilliant red maple leaves ( photo by Bong Grit CC BY)Įven early to mid-October is usually too early. Unlike England or the East Coast of the United States, September in these parts of Japan is basically still late summer, with nary a hint of dying leaves anywhere. To the surprise of many travelers, September is actually a little too early for fall colours in places like Tokyo and Kyoto. Unlike the cherry blossoms, which occur rather quickly, the koyo zensen has a much more leisurely pace, lasting for a period of around 50 days or so. The leaves follow a wave of colour beginning from the north (Hokkaido) and working its way down south to Kyushu and Okinawa. Much like the sakura zensen, tracking the koyo zensen - the progress of the autumn colours across the country - is an annual routine in Japan. This makes planning around autumn colours a slightly easier process – especially if you’re open to broadening your scope with regard to travel destinations. While the sakura are very unpredictable, there’s a relatively long grace period for autumn in Japan. When to See Fall Colors in JapanĬompared to spring and its ephemeral cherry blossoms, fall is refreshingly forgiving. If you’re not sure when to visit, see our guide on the seasons and best times of year to travel to Japan. On the other hand, it’s also worth considering another month or season altogether, as Japan is worth visiting at any time of year. The good news is that, despite its popularity, the crowds in autumn haven’t quite reached the heights of those during sakura (cherry blossom) season.Īs such, if your dates are totally flexible and you have to choose one or the other, you may want to lean toward fall. Think entire mountains enveloped in swathes of red, orange, and gold an avenue of golden ginkgo trees leading to a shrine starry red and yellow maple leaves blanketing a carpet of moss.īecause of how beautiful Japan is at this time of year - not to mention the relatively pleasant temperatures - fall has become a peak travel season in Japan. Rather, they’re catch-all terms for “leaf peeping,” or viewing the fall colours. In practice, momiji-gari and koyo do not refer exclusively to maple leaves. It derives from momiji (red leaves, or maple tree), and kari (hunting). Momiji-gari literally means “hunting red leaves,” which is the main draw for many visitors to Japan in autumn. Naturally, this means engaging in the ultimate autumn pastime - momiji-gari (also known as koyo). Of course, one of the best parts of fall in Japan is the colours. And after the heat and humidity of summer, a dip in the onsen at a traditional ryokan suddenly becomes a warming respite from the bracing chill of autumn air. ( Hungry? Read more about Japanese cuisine.)Īutumn also brings orange osmanthus, blood-red spider lilies, and chrysanthemums in their delicate pastel glory. Think chestnuts and freshly harvested rice, fragrant pine mushroom broth, oily grilled Pacific mackerel, pumpkin soup, and sweet persimmons. The falling temperatures signal the return of comforting fall flavours. Temperatures are cool but mild, ranging from about 45 Fahrenheit (7 Celsius) in the evening in late autumn, to as high as 75 F (24 C) on warm September days.Īs summer gives way to autumn, the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change, creating breathtaking vistas of vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves in the country’s many forests. As in other temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, the fall season lasts roughly from mid September, through October and November, and into early December. In my book, autumn in Japan outshines spring (and cherry blossom season) for its many delights.Īutumn in Japan is one of the country’s most beautiful seasons, most would agree.
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