With dazzling displays of autumn leaves, pleasant weather conditions and more attractive hotel rates than the peak season of spring, there are many reasons to love autumn travel in Japan. The fact that the Japanese language has a dedicated word – koyo – to describe the autumnal changing colour of leaves indicates just how special this time of year is. Here we bring together some of the best places to visit in Japan during the autumn months, and our top tips for autumn travel in Japan.
WHEN IS AUTUMN IN JAPAN?
Autumn officially begins in September in Japan, but we recommend travelling a little later in the season to experience the driest weather and most colourful displays of autumn leaves. Leaves of deciduous trees begin to turn in Japan’s northernmost provinces from early November onwards, with colours usually in full-swing as the month progresses and often still visible in early December.
WHERE TO GO IN JAPAN IN AUTUMN?
Kyoto
Kyoto is a special place to visit at any time of year, but autumn brings a heady and timeless charm to the city. Kyoto is scattered with gardens and temple grounds where maple and gingko trees come alive with a vivid autumn glow as November progresses. Some temples and shrines even open for special evening illumination visits during koyo. Some of our favourite places to take in the spectacle include the gardens of the Kōdaji temple, Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha and the gardens of the lakeside Kinkakuji temple.
Kanazawa
Kanazawa is always a captivating place to slow the pace during any busy tour around Japan but, once again, autumn bathes the city in an extra-special light. The jewel in Kanazawa’s crown is undoubtedly Kenrokuen, one of Japan's most beautifully landscaped gardens. Such is Kenrokuen’s fame that people travel from far and wide to visit the gardens, but they are large enough to still allow moments of quiet contemplation under a canopy of flaming red and orange maple trees.
Hakone
One of the most accessible destinations in Japan for getting a dose of nature, the mountain town of Hakone is surrounded by an expanse of invigorating forests, rivers, lakes and thermal springs. For those seeking the fullest immersion into Hakone’s autumn colours, we recommend spending a day around Fujikawauchiko, hiking a peaceful section of the Old Tokaido Highway under a canopy of resplendent leaves, and taking a gentle canoe trip along Lake Kawaguchi. Alternatively, simply absorb the bucolic surroundings from the comfort of your private open air onsen bath in a hotel such as Gen Hakone or Hakone Byakudan. The warmth of the waters feels all the more enjoyable in the crisp autumn air.
Kiso Valley
For a memorable autumn experience in Japan with fewer crowds, a visit to the Kiso Valley delivers enchanting natural landscapes, beautifully preserved Edo towns and koyo colours in all their splendour. An unmissable experience here is the opportunity to hike a section of the Nakasendo route – otherwise known as the Samurai Trail. This ancient trade route through Japan’s Central Alps linked Kyoto and Edo and was a vital transportation corridor during the Edo period. A proliferation of ‘post towns’ developed along the route to provide rest stops for weary travellers, and many of these remain beautifully preserved. Hike a section of the Samurai Trail and visit the picturesque post town of Tsumago-juku as part of a stay at the blissfully exclusive Zenagi lodge, which also delivers a range of fabulous outdoor excursions such as paragliding, wild swimming and kayaking through pristine gorges.
Tokyo
Even in Japan’s buzzing capital, pockets of autumn joy can still be found by those who seek them. From the Imperial Palace Gardens to the dense forest surroundings of the Meiji Jingu Shrine, the city is scattered with parks and gardens which come alive in the autumn months. One of our favourite spots is the Shinjuku Gyoen, a delightful green space in the heart of the city. Comprised of three individual landscaped gardens, Shinjuku Gyoen is large enough that quieter corners can still be found to escape the Tokyo bustle and contemplate the autumn colours.
WHAT TO PACK FOR AUTUMN IN JAPAN?
As a general rule, the later in autumn you visit Japan the cooler and drier the weather tends to be. The summer typhoon season can still bring some heavy rain showers in September, but these significantly reduce as autumn progresses. By November you should experience many clear and bright days, with pleasantly mild temperatures in the middle part of the day but cooler mornings and evenings. If you pack carefully you should be covered for all eventualities!
Japan packing list
- Layered clothing to allow for sometimes mild days but cooler mornings and evenings
- Sunglasses
- A waterproof jacket in case of rain showers
- Hat and scarf if travelling later in autumn
- Comfortable and supportive shoes if you plan to walk forest trails in search of autumn leaves
- Shoes that are easy to slip on and off when visiting temples and ryokans
- Swimwear for bathing in private onsen hot springs
- Battery chargers and additional photo storage as you will be taking plenty of pictures
- Day-pack or medium-sized rucksack (particularly useful for travel by train)
Luggage on the bullet train
If you have any bullet train (Shinkansen) journeys on your Japanese itinerary, it is worth bearing in mind that there is not often space to store large suitcases. This should not be a cause for concern if you are travelling with Red Savannah, however. We will discuss the exact guidelines with you in detail so that you know what to expect, and our local team can arrange a luggage service to send on any large suitcases ahead, allowing you to collect them later on in your journey.
