Japan Autumn Leaves 2026: Foliage Forecast Timetable and Best Spots (Hokkaido to Kyushu)

How do you choose dates for autumn leaves in Japan in 2026? Start with one rule: the autumn color front leaves the high mountains of Hokkaido in mid-September and travels south and down to lower ground, reaching the cities of Kyushu and Kansai in early December. This autumn has been warm, and Japan's weather companies all forecast that peak color in lowland places such as Tokyo and Kyoto will come slightly later than usual. This guide combines the latest 2026 forecasts from the Japan Weather Association, Weathernews and the Japan Meteorological Corporation into one nationwide timetable, then picks out the places worth a special trip in each region so you can match them to your flight dates.

Japan's 2026 autumn color front: earlier or later than usual?

In short: mountain areas in Hokkaido and Tohoku are early, and lowlands in eastern and western Japan are late, so overall it is "around normal to later than normal."

The Japan Weather Association (tenki.jp) second forecast, issued October 14, says that cool weather in early September and early October brought color early in the mountains of Hokkaido, Tohoku and Hokuriku, but that warm weather is expected to strengthen from mid-October, so many lowland places in eastern and western Japan will come later than normal^[1]. Weathernews likewise says the autumn heat is slowing the change, and warns that below-average sunshine from Tohoku to Kyushu in September may leave colors less vivid than usual in some places, while sunny Hokkaido has brighter colors^[3].

As of mid-October:

• Autumn leaves at Asahidake in Hokkaido's Daisetsuzan are already over, while Jozankei and Sounkyo are at their peak^[3].
• Kamikochi, Mt. Kurikoma and the Bandai-Azuma Skyline reached their peak around mid-October^[3].
• Lowlands on Honshu and most of western Japan are still green and will turn gradually after the end of October^[5].

Japan autumn leaves timetable: 2026 forecasts by region

The table below lists the Japan Weather Association's forecast "peak start dates" next to Weathernews forecasts for the same places. The two define things differently: tenki.jp gives the day the peak begins, while Weathernews gives the expected peak time, so a difference of a few days is normal.

For city foliage, the Japan Meteorological Corporation's September 2 forecast gives Tokyo maples around November 29 and ginkgo around November 26; Osaka maples around December 4; Nagoya around December 2; Fukuoka around December 7; and Sapporo maples around November 7^[4]. This forecast is based on the weather station's reference trees, so it naturally runs later than the sightseeing spots.

Which month for autumn leaves in Japan? Where to go by departure date

Late September to early October: Hokkaido's high mountains

In this window only the Daisetsuzan range in Hokkaido (Asahidake, Sounkyo) and high mountains in Tohoku and central Japan have color. This year Sounkyo is forecast to reach peak on September 19, and by mid-October Asahidake is already over^[1][3], so you would have needed to leave very early.

Mid to late October: Hokkaido lowlands, Tohoku and Nikko

October is the time for Hokkaido and Tohoku. Jozankei Onsen is about an hour by car from central Sapporo and is worth seeing in early to mid-October. Onuma Park near Hakodate is forecast to peak from October 24 and fits neatly with a Hakodate stay; see our Hakodate guide. In Tohoku, Oirase Stream, Lake Towada and Naruko Gorge cluster in mid-to-late October, and Nikko Irohazaka in Kanto falls around October 23^[1].

Early to mid-November: central Japan, San'in and Kyushu's mountains

Shirakawa-go starts turning at the end of October, Mt. Daisen in Tottori from late October to early November, and Shin-Yabakei, Kirishima and Takachiho Gorge in Kyushu in early to mid-November^[1][2]. Around Tokyo, higher-elevation spots such as Hakone and Kawaguchiko work well in this window; for transport see our Hakone day trip and Mt. Fuji and Kawaguchiko day trip.

Late November to early December: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka city

This is the window most international visitors choose, and it is the one to look forward to this year, because the warm autumn has pushed the lowland peak later. Kyoto's Arashiyama peaks in mid-to-late November and the Higashiyama temples from late November into early December; Mt. Takao near Tokyo starts on November 19, central Tokyo's ginkgo and maples come around the end of November, and Akizuki Castle Ruins in Fukuoka around November 30^[1][2][4].

Best autumn leaf spots in Japan: representative places by region

Hokkaido: Sounkyo, Jozankei and Onuma Park

Hokkaido's autumn leaves are known for vivid color and wide scale, with mountain and lake scenery. Sounkyo is among the first places in Japan to reach peak color; Jozankei Onsen lets you combine hot springs with the foliage; and Onuma Park has lake reflections with Mt. Komagatake behind.

Tohoku: Oirase Stream, Lake Towada and Naruko Gorge

Walking the trail beside Oirase Stream, with red and yellow leaves, waterfalls and mossy rocks, is Tohoku's classic autumn scene. Naruko Gorge is known for its canyon and the view from Ofukazawa Bridge.

Kanto: Nikko and Mt. Takao

Nikko's Irohazaka, Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls are at their best in late October, but weekend traffic in foliage season is very heavy, so go on a weekday and leave early. Mt. Takao is about an hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line, making it the easiest foliage hike to fit in from Tokyo.

Chubu and Tokai: Kamikochi, Shirakawa-go and Korankei

Kamikochi offers mountain-scenery foliage, peaking in mid-October. Shirakawa-go's gassho-zukuri village with autumn color comes at the end of October into early November. Korankei in Aichi is famous for the tunnel of maples around Taigetsukyo Bridge and is busiest in mid-to-late November; it is also the lead image of this article.

Kansai: Kyoto and Nara

Kyoto is the top city for autumn leaves in Japan, with temple gardens, evening illuminations and fallen-leaf scenes all in one place. We cover spots, illumination dates and reservation rules separately in our Kyoto autumn leaves 2026 guide. From Osaka or Kyoto you can also easily add Nara Park; see our Nara day trip.

Chugoku and Kyushu: Miyajima, Takachiho Gorge and Akizuki Castle Ruins

Momijidani Park on Miyajima in Hiroshima can be combined on the same day with the great torii of Itsukushima Shrine. In Kyushu, Takachiho Gorge has a canyon and waterfall, Shin-Yabakei is known for its strange rock formations, and Akizuki Castle Ruins near Fukuoka is one of the later lowland spots in Kyushu. For getting around Kyushu, see our Kyushu transport guide.

Can you chase foliage in two regions on one trip? Transport and budget tips

Yes, but pick the right pairing. The color front varies so much from north to south that it is hard to catch Hokkaido and Kyushu at peak in the same week. More realistic combinations are:

1. Late October: Tokyo plus Nikko, pairing Nikko's peak with Tokyo sightseeing.
2. Mid-November: Nagoya, Korankei and Kyoto, when central Japan and Kansai are both near peak.
3. Late November: Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, the reddest week for Kansai's lowlands, but also the most expensive for hotels.
4. Mid-to-late November: Fukuoka plus Takachiho or northern Kyushu, with smaller crowds than Kansai.

If you will make many long moves, check whether a nationwide or regional JR pass pays off, using the comparison in Is the JR Pass worth it?. For travelers from Taiwan, there are direct flights from Taoyuan to Hokkaido, Tohoku, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and other cities, with flight times of about 2.5 to 4 hours depending on the destination; actual routes depend on each airline's seasonal announcements.

Before you go: practical tips for Japan's foliage season

• Big temperature swings: in late October, mornings and evenings in Hokkaido and Tohoku can be close to 0°C, and in late November Kyoto and Tokyo drop to around 10°C or below, so layers work best.
• Book hotels early: Kyoto, Nikko and Hakone fill up quickly on foliage-season weekends, so reserve at least 2 months ahead.
• Avoid popular spots on weekends and holidays: November 21-23, 2026 is a three-day weekend in Japan, and busy places such as Kyoto and Nikko will be very crowded.
• Check the forecast again a week before: tenki.jp and Weathernews keep updating, and together with live color reports from local tourism associations they make the most accurate reference.
• Watch the weather and transport in the mountains: Weathernews warns that some roads may be closed after heavy summer rain, so check local transport information before heading into the mountains^[3].