Japan Autumn Leaves 2026: Kōyō Forecast for Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and More
Short answer
The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) forecast of 1 October 2026 puts Tokyo's red maples at about 28 November and Kyoto's at about 11 December, six days later than Kyoto's average. Yellow ginkgo leaves usually come first.
Searches for Japan's autumn colours, called kōyō, peak every October as travellers plan trips. On 1 October 2026, the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) released its second forecast for about 700 viewing spots. It estimates the first day when most of a sample tree's leaves have turned red (maple) or yellow (ginkgo).
Red maple (momiji) forecast, 2026
- Sapporo: 4 November (average 28 October)
- Nagano: 21 November
- Sendai: 24 November
- Tokyo: 28 November (right on average)
- Hiroshima: 28 November
- Nagoya: 2 December
- Osaka: 4 December
- Fukuoka: 7 December
- Kyoto: 11 December (average 5 December)
Yellow ginkgo forecast, 2026
- Sapporo: 3 November
- Kanazawa: 10 November
- Nagoya: 17 November
- Osaka: 24 November
- Tokyo: 26 November
- Kyoto: 27 November
- Fukuoka: 28 November
JMC says its next update comes in early November, so check again before booking.
Trip tips
- Kyoto is late this year. Early December looks better than mid-November for the famous temple maples.
- Book popular temples early. Kyoto's official tourism site says some gardens, such as Rurikō-in and Enkō-ji, need advance reservations during peak weeks.
- Go early in the day. Morning light is soft and crowds are smaller.
- Dress in layers. Late-autumn mornings can be cold. Our Japan winter 2026-27 outlook shows what comes next.
Plan with free tools
Count the days from today to your viewing date with the date difference calculator. Japan is UTC+9, so use our world clock or our guide to converting time zones to plan calls home.
Can't travel? Many city parks have ginkgo or maple trees. Take a family walk, collect a few fallen leaves and press them in a book. It's a free, kid-friendly way to join the season.
Updated 19 October 2026. Forecast dates from the Japan Meteorological Corporation (1 October 2026); reservation note from Kyoto City's official tourism site.
