🌸Japan Events Guide

🍁 Japan Autumn Foliage Forecast 2026

Live status of every major koyo region — from Hokkaido (September) to Kyushu (December).

This forecast is auto-updated daily. When the ‘days to peak’ number reaches zero for a region, that's the week to be there.

🔥 Peak right now (book tonight)

🌊 Towada & Oirase (Aomori)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates: 10-20 – 11-05

Book hotel near Aomori →

⛩️ Nikko (Tochigi)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates: 10-20 – 11-05

Book hotel near Nikko →

🌲 Karuizawa (Nagano)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates: 10-25 – 11-10

Book hotel near Karuizawa →

⏰ Coming in the next 30 days

🗻

Hakone & Fuji Five Lakes

11 days to peak

🌋

Aso & Kokonoe (Kyushu)

24 days to peak

🗼

Tokyo

26 days to peak

🍁

Kyoto

26 days to peak

Peak dates — All regions

🌊

Towada & Oirase (Aomori)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates

10-20 – 11-05

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Oirase StreamLake TowadaHakkoda Ropeway
Book hotel near Aomori →
⛩️

Nikko (Tochigi)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates

10-20 – 11-05

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Irohazaka Winding RoadChuzenji LakeKegon Falls
Book hotel near Nikko →
🌲

Karuizawa (Nagano)

PEAK — best now

Peak dates

10-25 – 11-10

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Kumoba PondShiraito FallsKaruizawa Ginza
Book hotel near Karuizawa →
🗻

Hakone & Fuji Five Lakes

Colors starting

Peak dates

11-05 – 11-20

As of today

11 days to peak

Lake Kawaguchiko Momiji KairoHakone MuseumOwakudani
Book hotel near Hakone →
🌋

Aso & Kokonoe (Kyushu)

Colors starting

Peak dates

11-15 – 12-05

As of today

24 days to peak

Kokonoe Yume Suspension BridgeKikuchi GorgeAso Kusasenri
Book hotel near Kurokawa Onsen →
🗼

Tokyo

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-20 – 12-05

As of today

26 days to peak

Rikugien Garden (illumination)Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo AvenueShinjuku Gyoen
Book hotel near Shinjuku Tokyo →
🍁

Kyoto

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-20 – 12-05

As of today

26 days to peak

Tofuku-jiKiyomizu-dera (night illumination)Eikan-do
Book hotel near Kyoto Karasuma →
🦌

Osaka & Nara

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-25 – 12-10

As of today

31 days to peak

Minoo Park & WaterfallNara Park (deer + koyo)Todai-ji surroundings
Book hotel near Namba Osaka →
⛰️

Kamikochi (Nagano)

Fading

Peak dates

10-15 – 10-30

As of today

10 days past peak

Taisho PondKappa BridgeMyojin Pond
Book hotel near Kamikochi →
🏔️

Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido)

Season past

Peak dates

09-20 – 09-30

As of today

37 days past peak

Kurodake RopewayAsahidake RopewayGinsendai
Book hotel near Sounkyo Onsen →

✈️ Find flights to Japan

Kiwi.com →

Frequently asked

Q.When does koyo start in Japan 2026?
The earliest colors appear at Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido) around September 20. Peak spreads south, hitting Kyoto and Tokyo around November 20 – December 5. Kyushu is last, running into mid-December.
Q.Where is best for koyo in mid-October?
Nikko, Kamikochi, and Towada/Oirase are typically at or near peak in mid-to-late October. Skip Kyoto/Tokyo until mid-November.
Q.Is Kyoto the best koyo destination?
Kyoto's temple + maple combination (Tofuku-ji, Eikan-do, Kiyomizu) is unique globally, but crowds are extreme. Nikko or Karuizawa give better nature-only experiences.
Q.How do peak dates shift year to year?
Warm autumns delay peak by 5-10 days. 2026 outlook: near-average based on JMA September temp forecast (slight warm bias for eastern Japan).
Note: Peak dates are estimates based on 5-year averages and JMA temperature trend. Actual peak can shift ±1 week with weather. Check spot-specific webcams the week before.