Japan's autumn foliage season, known as koyo for the falling leaves and momiji for the maples specifically, moves south and downhill over roughly two months, starting in Hokkaido's mountains in mid-September and reaching Tokyo and Kyoto by late November. This guide covers where to go and when, using Kyoto as the trip's foliage headline destination.

Book your flights into Kyoto to begin.

Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge spans the Katsura River surrounded by hillsides that turn a genuinely dramatic mix of red and gold by mid-to-late November, making this one of Kyoto's most photographed autumn spots. The nearby bamboo grove pairs well with a foliage walk for a fuller half-day here.

Kegon Falls, framed by vibrant autumn colour, ranks among Japan's most famous waterfalls, and the surrounding Nikko area peaks slightly earlier than Kyoto, typically mid-to-late October.

Lake Ashi pairs autumn colour with Mount Fuji views on clear days, with the surrounding hills turning red, orange, and yellow from late October through early November. It's close enough to Tokyo for a day trip if your base is there rather than Kyoto.

Comparing hotels in Kyoto puts you within reach of Arashiyama and the rest of the city's temple district during peak foliage season.

Nara's free-roaming deer wandering among colourful foliage make this one of the more distinctive autumn stops in the Kansai region, peaking from mid-November through early December, slightly later than Arashiyama.

Mount Yoshino, a longstanding Buddhist and Shinto pilgrimage site, delivers striking colour contrasts against its temple architecture from late October through mid-November.

Japan's largest national park sees the earliest colour of anywhere on this list, with foliage beginning in mid-September, roughly a full six weeks ahead of Kyoto. It's the natural starting point if you want to chase the colour change from north to south across a longer trip.

Booking activities like the Sagano Romantic Train through Arashiyama is one of the best ways to see the region's foliage from a genuinely different vantage point than walking.

Shinjuku Gyoen's diverse garden layouts, mixing Japanese, French, and English styles, showcase ginkgo and maple trees from mid-November through early December, giving Tokyo a genuine foliage destination without leaving the city.

Both cities peak in the same general window, mid-October through early December, though Kyoto's temple settings generally photograph better than Tokyo's more urban parks.

Accommodation during peak foliage season, particularly late November in Kyoto, books up considerably earlier than other times of year, so securing a hotel months in advance is worth doing.

Layered clothing, including a proper sweater or jacket, handles the cooler autumn temperatures, and packing an umbrella or light raincoat covers Japan's occasional autumn rain. A Japan Rail Pass is worth considering if your itinerary spans multiple regions on this list.

Staying in a traditional ryokan during peak foliage season pairs the visual experience with a genuinely different style of hospitality, and many sit in exactly the mountain or lakeside settings where autumn colour looks best.

Since foliage moves from Hokkaido in mid-September down to Kyoto by late November, a longer trip can realistically follow the colour change south, starting in Daisetsuzan and finishing in Arashiyama roughly two months later, without ever missing peak colour anywhere along the route.

A car rental is useful for reaching Hakone or Nikko independently, and an airport transfer booked in advance gets you into Kyoto smoothly from Kansai Airport.

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