Japan Autumn Leaves 2026: 10 Places a Family Can Reach from Tokyo

When Do the Autumn Leaves Peak in Japan?

In Japan the autumn colour moves from north to south and from the mountains down to the coast. Hokkaido and the high mountains turn in late September and early October.

Tokyo is one of the last places, with its ginkgo and maple trees usually at their best from late November into early December. Around Tokyo that gives you about ten weeks of colour, if you go to the right height at the right time.

The Japan Meteorological Agency records the day the leaves have turned at each weather station. In central Tokyo the average date is about 23 November for ginkgo and 28 November for maple.

Higher places turn weeks earlier, and a warm autumn pushes everything later, so treat the table below as the usual pattern and check a leaf report a week before you go.

Area	Usual best time	Height	Why go
Oku-Nikko (Senjogahara, Ryuzu Falls)	Late September to mid-October	About 1,300 to 1,400 m	The earliest colour near Tokyo
Lake Chuzenji and Irohazaka, Nikko	October	About 1,270 m	Mountain lake and waterfalls
Lake Kawaguchi (Mt. Fuji)	Early to mid-November	About 830 m	Red maples with Mt. Fuji
Hakone	Early November to early December	Lake first, Yumoto last	The Hakone loop in colour
Mount Takao	Mid to late November	599 m	The closest mountain to Tokyo
Central Tokyo and Kamakura	Late November to early December	Sea level	Ginkgo avenues and temple gardens

With children, the timing decides the plan. A family in Tokyo in October should look to Nikko, in early to mid-November to Kawaguchiko, Hakone and Takao, and in late November and early December to the city itself and Kamakura.

The 10 Best Spots at a Glance

These ten are the places a family based in Tokyo can reach and enjoy in a day, without a Shinkansen to Kyoto or a flight north.

Spot	From central Tokyo	Usual best time	Good for children because
1. Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue	Metro, a few minutes' walk	Late Nov to early Dec	Free, flat, open all day
2. Shinjuku Gyoen	10 min walk from Shinjuku	Mid Nov to early Dec	Big lawns, under-16s free
3. Rikugien Garden	JR Komagome, 7 min walk	Late Nov to early Dec	Evening light-up
4. Koishikawa Korakuen	Iidabashi or Korakuen	Mid Nov to early Dec	Next to Tokyo Dome City
5. Showa Memorial Park	About 30 min by JR	Mid to late Nov	Huge play areas and bikes
6. Mount Takao	About 50 min by Keio	Mid to late Nov	Cable car halfway up
7. Kamakura	About 1 hr by JR	Late Nov to early Dec	Temples plus the sea
8. Hakone	About 80 min to Hakone-Yumoto	Early Nov to early Dec	Ropeway, boat, mountain train
9. Lake Kawaguchi	About 2 hrs	Early to mid Nov	Maples and Mt. Fuji
10. Nikko, Lake Chuzenji and Oku-Nikko	About 2.5 to 3 hrs	Late Sep to Oct	The earliest colour

Autumn Leaves in Central Tokyo

Inside the city, the colour comes last but takes the least effort to see. The four places below are on the subway map, cost ¥500 or less (or nothing), and are usually at their best from late November into early December.

1. Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue

This straight 300 m road in Aoyama, lined with 146 ginkgo trees in four rows that turn bright gold, is Tokyo's most photographed autumn street. It is free and open at all hours, a few minutes from Aoyama-itchome or Gaienmae stations.

Go on a weekday before 9:00, because weekend afternoons at the peak are hard going with a stroller. More in our Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue guide.

2. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

This 58-hectare garden is 10 minutes' walk from Shinjuku Station, with maples in the Japanese garden, plane trees in the French garden and wide lawns for children to run on. Entry is ¥500 for adults and free for children 15 and under, from 9:00 to 16:30 in autumn.

It closes on Mondays except during the Chrysanthemum Exhibition, 1 to 15 November. See our Shinjuku Gyoen guide.

3. Rikugien Garden

Rikugien is an Edo-period strolling garden around a pond in Komagome, 7 minutes' walk from the JR and Namboku Line station. Entry is ¥300, free for primary school children and under.

In 2026 the garden opens in the evening with the maples lit up from 25 November to 6 December, on a separate night ticket. Check the garden's site for times and tickets.

4. Koishikawa Korakuen

Begun in 1629, this is the oldest surviving Edo daimyo garden in Tokyo, with maples around the ponds and a red-lacquered bridge. Entry is ¥300, free for primary school children and under, and it opens in the evening for a maple light-up from 13 to 24 November 2026, 18:00 to 21:00.

Tokyo Dome City's rides are next door if the children need a reward afterwards.

Autumn Leaves on the Edge of Tokyo

Half an hour to an hour out, two places give you far more space than the city gardens and turn a little earlier, usually mid to late November.

5. Showa Memorial Park

This 180-hectare national park in Tachikawa is about 30 minutes west of Shinjuku by JR. Its ginkgo avenues turn gold in mid to late November, along the canal by Tachikawa Gate and in a 300 m tunnel of 98 trees near Nishi-Tachikawa Gate.

Entry is ¥450 for adults and free for children up to junior high. The Autumn Night Walk lights the ginkgo from 29 October to 29 November 2026.

Our Showa Memorial Park guide covers the play areas and bike hire.

6. Mount Takao

Takao is the easiest real mountain near Tokyo, about 50 minutes from Shinjuku on the Keio Line. Ride the cable car or chairlift halfway up (¥490 one way for adults, ¥250 for children), then walk to the summit past Yakuo-in temple.

The leaves peak in mid to late November, which is also when the cable car queues are longest. Go on a weekday and be there before 9:00. Our Mount Takao guide has the details.

Day Trips from Tokyo for Autumn Colour

The four day trips below give you mountains, lakes and Mt. Fuji with the colour, at the cost of a longer day. Pick by date, with Nikko in October, Kawaguchiko and Hakone in early to mid-November and Kamakura at the end of the month.

7. Kamakura

Kamakura's temples turn late with the city, usually from late November into early December. Hasedera, the temple with a view of the sea, lights up its maples in the evening from 21 November to 6 December 2026, from dusk to 19:00, at the normal fee of ¥400 for adults and ¥200 for primary school children.

Pair the temples with the Great Buddha and the beach, which keep children going between gardens. Our Kamakura day trip guide has the route and fares.

8. Hakone

Hakone's leaves start at the higher ground around Lake Ashi and Sengokuhara in early November and work down the valley to Hakone-Yumoto by early December, so there is usually colour somewhere for about a month. The way to see it is the Hakone loop of the mountain railway, the ropeway over Owakudani and the pirate ship across the lake.

It is also the busiest time of year, so start early. See our Hakone day trip guide and our Lake Ashi guide.

9. Lake Kawaguchi and the Momiji Corridor

On the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi, the Momiji Corridor is about 60 old maple trees along a stream that turn red in early to mid-November, with fallen leaves carpeting the path into late November. Entry is free.

The Fujikawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival runs from 7 to 29 November 2026, with stalls and the trees lit up from dusk into the evening. On a clear morning you get red maples and Mt. Fuji in the same view.

Our Mt. Fuji day trip guide covers the bus, the train and the car.

10. Nikko, Lake Chuzenji and Oku-Nikko

For families in Tokyo in October, Nikko is the answer, because its high country turns first, with Ryuzu Falls and the Senjogahara marshland from late September, then Lake Chuzenji and the hairpin road of Irohazaka through October. It is a long day, about two hours by train and then a mountain bus, and the autumn weekend traffic on Irohazaka is heavy.

Our Lake Chuzenji guide covers the lake, the falls and the boardwalks, and our Nikko day trip guide the shrines in town.

Further Afield, Kyoto and Northern Japan

If your trip goes beyond Tokyo, Kyoto peaks at about the same time as Tokyo, from late November into early December, with temple gardens that draw large crowds. Tohoku and Hokkaido turn from late September to October.

Both need a Shinkansen or a flight and a night or two away, so they are a different trip from a day out of Tokyo. This guide stays with the places you can reach and come back from.

Tips for Seeing Autumn Leaves with Children

Autumn is one of the best times to travel in Japan with children, with mild days, clear skies and fewer school holiday crowds than spring. A few things make the leaf days easier.

• Go early. Every well-known spot is busiest from late morning on weekends, so arrive by 9:00 or go on a weekday.
• Dress in layers. Tokyo in November averages a high of about 17°C, but Nikko and the Fuji lakes are much colder, especially after dark at the light-ups.
• Choose places with something to do. Lawns, a cable car, a boat or a play area keep children happy between views. Our guide to Tokyo with kids has more ideas.
• Book the transport. Limited express seats to Nikko and Hakone sell out on autumn weekends.
• Plan around the light-ups. They start at dusk, around 16:30 to 18:00, which is late for small children, so have an early dinner.

Planning an Autumn Day with a Guide

In autumn the hard part is the timing, knowing which place is at its best that week and how to get there before the crowds. We plan family days around that.

In Tokyo, our Tokyo private tour with kids is six hours on foot for US$550 for up to four guests, and can be built around a garden or the ginkgo avenue.

For the rest of the year, see our best time to visit Tokyo month by month.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Japan?

It depends on the place. Hokkaido and the high mountains peak in late September and October, and Tokyo, Kyoto and Kamakura from late November into early December. Near Tokyo, Nikko comes first, then Hakone and Kawaguchiko, then the city.

When do the autumn leaves peak in Tokyo?

Usually from late November into early December. The Japan Meteorological Agency's average dates for central Tokyo are about 23 November for ginkgo and 28 November for maple. A warm autumn pushes them later.

Where can I see autumn leaves in Tokyo for free?

Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is free and open at all hours. Shinjuku Gyoen, Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen charge ¥300 to ¥500 for adults, and all three are free for young children.

What is the best day trip from Tokyo for autumn leaves?

Go to Nikko in October, to Lake Kawaguchi (for maples with Mt. Fuji) or Hakone (for the ropeway and the lake) in early to mid-November, and to Kamakura in late November.

Can I see Mt. Fuji with autumn leaves?

Yes. Lake Kawaguchi's Momiji Corridor, in early to mid-November, is the classic place. Mt. Fuji is clearer in the morning, so go early.

Are the autumn leaf light-ups good for children?

They can work, but they start at dusk and get crowded. With young children, choose an early slot, dress warmly, and pick a garden near your hotel, such as Rikugien or Koishikawa Korakuen.

Sources

https://www.showakinen-koen.jp/autumn-night-walk/
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https://www.data.jma.go.jp/sakura/data/phn_014.html
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/rikugien/index.html
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/park/koishikawakorakuen/index.html
https://www.takaotozan.co.jp/timeprice/
https://www.visitnikko.jp/spots/ryuzu-falls/
https://www.hakonenavi.jp/feature/8118
https://fujisan.ne.jp/news/6065/
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