๐ŸŒธJapan Events Guide

๐Ÿ Japan Autumn Foliage Forecast 2026

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

This forecast is auto-updated daily. When the โ€˜days to peakโ€™ number reaches zero for a region, that's the week to be there.

๐Ÿ”ฅ Peak right now (book tonight)

๐ŸŒŠ Towada & Oirase (Aomori)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates: 10-20 โ€“ 11-05

Book hotel near Aomori โ†’

โ›ฉ๏ธ Nikko (Tochigi)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates: 10-20 โ€“ 11-05

Book hotel near Nikko โ†’

๐ŸŒฒ Karuizawa (Nagano)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates: 10-25 โ€“ 11-10

Book hotel near Karuizawa โ†’

โฐ Coming in the next 30 days

๐Ÿ—ป

Hakone & Fuji Five Lakes

11 days to peak

๐ŸŒ‹

Aso & Kokonoe (Kyushu)

23 days to peak

๐Ÿ—ผ

Tokyo

26 days to peak

๐Ÿ

Kyoto

26 days to peak

Peak dates โ€” All regions

๐ŸŒŠ

Towada & Oirase (Aomori)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates

10-20 โ€“ 11-05

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Oirase StreamLake TowadaHakkoda Ropeway
Book hotel near Aomori โ†’
โ›ฉ๏ธ

Nikko (Tochigi)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates

10-20 โ€“ 11-05

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Irohazaka Winding RoadChuzenji LakeKegon Falls
Book hotel near Nikko โ†’
๐ŸŒฒ

Karuizawa (Nagano)

PEAK โ€” best now

Peak dates

10-25 โ€“ 11-10

As of today

Peak right now (book tonight)

Kumoba PondShiraito FallsKaruizawa Ginza
Book hotel near Karuizawa โ†’
๐Ÿ—ป

Hakone & Fuji Five Lakes

Colors starting

Peak dates

11-05 โ€“ 11-20

As of today

11 days to peak

Lake Kawaguchiko Momiji KairoHakone MuseumOwakudani
Book hotel near Hakone โ†’
๐ŸŒ‹

Aso & Kokonoe (Kyushu)

Colors starting

Peak dates

11-15 โ€“ 12-05

As of today

23 days to peak

Kokonoe Yume Suspension BridgeKikuchi GorgeAso Kusasenri
Book hotel near Kurokawa Onsen โ†’
๐Ÿ—ผ

Tokyo

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-20 โ€“ 12-05

As of today

26 days to peak

Rikugien Garden (illumination)Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo AvenueShinjuku Gyoen
Book hotel near Shinjuku Tokyo โ†’
๐Ÿ

Kyoto

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-20 โ€“ 12-05

As of today

26 days to peak

Tofuku-jiKiyomizu-dera (night illumination)Eikan-do
Book hotel near Kyoto Karasuma โ†’
๐ŸฆŒ

Osaka & Nara

Green (before turn)

Peak dates

11-25 โ€“ 12-10

As of today

31 days to peak

Minoo Park & WaterfallNara Park (deer + koyo)Todai-ji surroundings
Book hotel near Namba Osaka โ†’
โ›ฐ๏ธ

Kamikochi (Nagano)

Fading

Peak dates

10-15 โ€“ 10-30

As of today

10 days past peak

Taisho PondKappa BridgeMyojin Pond
Book hotel near Kamikochi โ†’
๐Ÿ”๏ธ

Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido)

Season past

Peak dates

09-20 โ€“ 09-30

As of today

38 days past peak

Kurodake RopewayAsahidake RopewayGinsendai
Book hotel near Sounkyo Onsen โ†’

โœˆ๏ธ Find flights to Japan

Kiwi.com โ†’

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 โ€“ 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 ยฑ1 week with weather. Check spot-specific webcams the week before.