Discover the beauty of autumn in Japan with vibrant foliage and traditional festivals, from Kyoto to Hokkaido!

Quick Jump To:

The Season of Harvest
Autumn Festivals
The Coming Winter
Best Places for 紅葉 Kouyou
Coto School Finder

Autumn in Japan is a beautiful time where the leaves on trees change their colors before shedding them for the winter. This brief period is known locally as kouyou (紅葉) or momiji, with the same kanji. These two words have different meanings, where kouyou is used to describe the trees turning from green to red, and momiji specifically describes the brilliant red maple leaves. Each year the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) releases their forecasted dates for the beginning of this season. This year the forecast is calling for November 6 at the earliest, starting in Sapporo. Tokyo is expected to begin its cycle at the end of the month, on November 26. 

Autumn Leaves Forecast (info from JMC):

First Yellowing Forecast (info from JMC):

The Season of Harvest

Autumn is traditionally a time for harvest in Japan, and the season is associated with abundance and gratitude. Festivals such as Niiname-sai (新嘗祭), a Shinto ritual where offerings of the first harvest are made to the gods, highlight the spiritual connection to the land and its produce. Rice, vegetables, and fruits like persimmons, chestnuts, and mushrooms are commonly enjoyed. In addition to the harvest, culturally it is associated with calm and reflection. The beauty of the foliage is commonly associated with mono no aware (物の哀れ), which is an idiom that represents the “pathos of things” or more literally, “empathy towards things.” Like the hanami celebrations of the spring, kouyou is also associated with impermanence and the transience of things.

Autumn Festivals

Autumn brings many traditional festivals, such as Tsukimi (月見), which celebrates the beauty of the autumn moon. People gather to enjoy seasonal foods like mochi and reflect on the harvest. Other notable festivals include Jidai Matsuri (時代祭) in Kyoto and kurama no hi matsuri (鞍馬の火祭), a fire festival at Kyoto’s Kurama Temple. In addition to this, autumn is also a time for seasonal comfort dishes, called shun (旬). Common foods include matsutake mushrooms and sweet potatoes, which are believed to warm the body as the weather cools for the winter. Sweets like persimmons and chestnut-flavored sweets are also commonly eaten at this time.

The Coming Winter

Autumn also signifies the end of the hot, humid summers that Japan is infamous for. Autumn brings cool, pleasant weather where people begin partaking in more outdoor activities such as hiking and domestic travel. Many people travel around to see the kouyou in places such as Nikko, Kyoto, and Hokkaido. The lush forests of these areas are popular spots to view the changing leaves.

The Best Places for 紅葉 Kouyou

If you want to see the very first changing leaves in Japan, then the northern island of Hokkaido is the place to be. As the earliest place in Japan where leaves begin their transition, you can view the rich, golden colors of Hokkaido’s vast forests. According to this year’s forecast, we can expect the transition to start on or around November 6. Over the course of the month, more and more of Japan’s foliage will change, with Tokyo’s season beginning at the very end of November. Around Japan, Hokkaido, the Fuji Five Lakes region, Nikko, and Kyoto are the best places to see the foliage. If you only have one place to go, Kyoto is your best bet. Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, and the Ruriko-in Temple are incredible spots to see the autumn colors. The historic town of Nikko is famous for its autumn colors, especially at the Toshogu Shrine and along the Daiya River. In Hokkaido, Daisetsuzan National Park and Shiretoko National Park both offer breathtaking views as far as the eye can see. In Tokyo, Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park, and Shinjuku Gyoen also offer rich autumn colors in spades.

Coto School Finder

Now that you’re familiar with the autumn season in Japan, why not come learn Japanese with a reputable Japanese language school here in Japan and see the sights yourself? It doesn’t matter if you’re a brand new beginner or if you’re a seasoned learner, our team will find a place for you, all for FREE! You won’t regret this opportunity of a lifetime, learn more by using our comprehensive school search and sign up here.