2026 foliage forecast · Japan travel planning
Japan autumn leaves 2026 are on the calendar. The first national forecast gives travelers a useful starting point: red maples are predicted to reach their best color around November 29 in Tokyo, December 4 in Osaka, and December 11 in Kyoto. Golden ginkgo trees have different dates, so choosing the right week depends on what you want to see.
Last checked: September 26, 2026 · Forecast issued: September 2, 2026 · All dates are local Japan dates.
This guide turns the Japan Meteorological Corporation’s first 2026 forecast into a simple travel plan. You will find city dates, places worth visiting, and advice for adjusting your route when the leaves change. These dates are predictions, not guarantees: the forecaster plans another update in early October, and an individual park or mountain can peak at a different time from its city.
Japan Autumn Leaves 2026 Forecast: City Dates
The dates below are the first forecast’s best-viewing dates for red maple and yellow ginkgo foliage. Both refer to the city locations used in the forecaster’s data; they do not mean every tree in that city turns on one day. Kyoto is a good example: its ginkgo and maple forecasts are two weeks apart.
- SapporoRed maple: November 7Yellow ginkgo: November 6
- NaganoRed maple: November 21Yellow ginkgo: November 14
- HiroshimaRed maple: November 28Yellow ginkgo: November 20
- TokyoRed maple: November 29Yellow ginkgo: November 26
- OsakaRed maple: December 4Yellow ginkgo: November 24
- KyotoRed maple: December 11Yellow ginkgo: November 27
Source: Japan Meteorological Corporation, first forecast released September 2, 2026. These dates may shift with weather and later forecasts. The forecaster covers roughly 700 viewing locations and provides additional mountain forecasts by elevation. Check the latest official forecast before changing a booking.
Why do red and yellow leaves have different dates?
“Autumn leaves” includes several kinds of trees. Momiji are the maples travelers usually picture as red, while ginkgo trees make the striking yellow avenues you see in Tokyo and other cities. JMC publishes separate forecasts for red and yellow foliage. A traveler who wants to photograph Tokyo’s golden ginkgo avenue should therefore look at the yellow-leaf estimate, not just the red-maple date.
Does the 2026 forecast mean everything is late?
No. The first forecast is mixed. Tokyo’s red-leaf estimate is only one day later than its average, while Kyoto’s is six days later and Sapporo’s is ten days later. This is one reason to use the city figures above instead of applying a single “late season” headline to the whole country. Weather and elevation can still change what you see on a particular day.
Where to See Autumn Leaves in Japan
Tokyo: golden ginkgo and garden maples
For yellow foliage, put Meiji Jingu Gaien’s Icho Namiki on your list. For a garden with red maples, consider Rikugien; Shinjuku Gyoen is another spacious option. Tokyo’s official tourism guide lists these and other foliage spots. The current city forecast points to November 26 for yellow leaves and November 29 for red leaves, but your chosen garden may change color on a different schedule. Check the location’s own updates close to your visit.
If you are visiting Tokyo in early autumn, pair leaf hunting with our Japan autumn fireworks 2026 guide. The fireworks dates and late-November foliage dates are separate experiences, so plan them according to your actual travel week.
Kyoto: temple gardens and red maples
Tofuku-ji, Eikando and Arashiyama are among the well-known Kyoto autumn-leaf areas listed by Kyoto City’s official travel guide. Kyoto’s citywide red-leaf estimate is December 11, but the shade, elevation and tree mix differ between sites. If Kyoto is the main reason for your trip, keep a little flexibility in your sightseeing days and check the city’s autumn-leaf updates before you go.
Some temples have special autumn opening hours, reservations or separate admission for evening viewing. Those details change each season: confirm them with the temple or Kyoto City’s official travel information when booking. For more ideas beyond foliage, see our Kyoto destination guide.
Osaka: city color and a nature escape
Osaka’s first forecast puts yellow leaves around November 24 and red leaves around December 4. For a day outside the city center, Minoh Park and Minoh Falls are an established foliage destination. Osaka’s tourism organization highlights the waterfall and late-fall leaves, but it is a separate location from the city forecast point. Look up its current color conditions before making a special trip.
Hokkaido and the mountains: go earlier, check elevation
City forecasts are easy to misread in the north. Sapporo’s red-maple estimate is November 7, yet high mountain areas can turn far earlier. Japan’s national parks guidance describes color beginning in Hokkaido’s mountains in early autumn and progressing south. For a September or October visit, choose a specific mountain or national park, then check that location’s live status and transport access. Do not use Sapporo’s city date as a forecast for every Hokkaido trail.
Which Weeks Should You Choose?
Traveling in late September or October
Focus on northern or higher-elevation areas rather than building a Tokyo-and-Kyoto maple itinerary. This is the period when the foliage season starts in Japan’s mountains. Your exact route should follow local conditions: a valley, lake and summit in the same region can color at different times.
Traveling in late November
Tokyo’s estimated November 26 ginkgo and November 29 maple dates make the end of the month a practical starting point for city walks. Osaka and Kyoto also have late-November ginkgo estimates. A Tokyo-to-Kansai itinerary could include both yellow avenues and emerging red gardens, though no particular week can guarantee peak color at every stop.
Traveling in early or mid-December
Osaka’s red-maple estimate is December 4 and Kyoto’s is December 11. If Kyoto’s temples are your priority, early to mid-December is worth considering based on this first city forecast. Check each garden or temple closer to departure: some sites may color earlier than the city reference, and weather can shorten or extend the display.
How to Plan a Better Autumn Trip
- Compare the right tree: use the ginkgo date for yellow avenues and the maple date for red foliage.
- Check location reports: city forecasts are a planning tool, while a park’s current color report tells you what is happening there.
- Keep one flexible day: move your outdoor visit to a clearer day if your itinerary allows it.
- Expect differences in elevation: mountains and city centers do not reach peak color together.
- Confirm access before departure: opening times, illumination events and transport can change; use official venue pages for final details.
- Travel light on trains: a rechargeable IC card makes local travel simpler; our Suica guide for visitors explains the options.
For day-to-day ideas and photos from Japan, visit @japan.tokyo.official on Instagram.
Japan Autumn Leaves 2026: FAQs
When will autumn leaves peak in Tokyo in 2026?
The September 2 JMC forecast estimates November 26 for yellow ginkgo leaves and November 29 for red maple leaves in Tokyo. An individual garden can differ, so check its own updates closer to your visit.
When should I visit Kyoto for autumn leaves?
JMC estimates November 27 for Kyoto’s yellow leaves and December 11 for red leaves in its first 2026 forecast. If you are visiting a particular temple, look for its latest color report because its timing may differ from the city forecast.
Will there be autumn leaves in Japan in October?
Yes, especially in higher or colder areas. In October, focus on northern regions and mountain locations. The big city maple dates in this first forecast fall later.
Is the forecast final?
No. The first forecast was released on September 2, 2026. Japan Meteorological Corporation says its next release is planned for early October. A forecast is an estimate, and actual conditions depend on the weather.
Are the photos in this article from the 2026 season?
No. The credited photographs show real places and real autumn scenes from other dates. They illustrate destinations; they are not evidence of current leaf color or of a 2026 event.
Sources and update note
This guide was checked on September 26, 2026. Forecast dates come from the forecaster; destination suggestions come from official tourism organizations.
