2026 fall foliage outlook, with Hokkaido starting to turn in late September
The foliage front takes about two months to move from north to south. Book “Kyoto in October” and you will be looking at green maple leaves.
Fall colour is a front, not a date
The colour takes about two months to travel from north to south. The Daisetsuzan range in Hokkaido turns in late September, Tohoku in October, the Japan Alps and Nikko in late October, and Kyoto in the second half of November. Book “Kyoto in October” and you will be looking at green maple leaves.
What to expect in 2026
| Place | Typical peak | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daisetsuzan / Mount Asahidake | Late September | The first fall colour in Japan. High altitude, so dress warmly |
| Oirase Gorge / Lake Towada | Mid to late October | Walking paths along the stream. The buses fill up early |
| Nikko / Lake Chuzenji | Late October | The Irohazaka road is gridlocked on weekends |
| Kyoto | Mid to late November | The busiest two weeks of the year in Japanese tourism |
| Kyushu | Late November to early December | The end of the season. Far quieter than Kansai |
How to plan around it
Build the itinerary so that it moves south, and you travel along with the front. Start in Tohoku or the Alps in late October, work through Kanazawa and the Kiso valley, and reach Kyoto in mid-November. Run the same trip in reverse and you are either too early or too late everywhere you go.
The other honest option is to give up on Kyoto in November altogether. An hour away in Ohara, Kurama or Miyama the crowds vanish, and Tohoku in mid-October gives you better colour with no lineups at all.