Japan’s first autumn-colour forecast: Kyoto peaks 11 December, Tokyo 29 November
The Japan Meteorological Corporation issued its first 2026 kōyō forecast on 2 September. Maples in Tokyo peak around 29 November and in Kyoto around 11 December; Sapporo runs 11 days late.
The first forecast of the season
The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) released its first 2026 autumn-foliage forecast on 2 September. Time Out Tokyo, which published the city figures on 4 September, lists the predicted peak for red maples (momiji) as: Sapporo 7 November, about 11 days later than the seasonal average; Nagano 21 November; Hiroshima 28 November; Tokyo 29 November, in line with the average; Kanazawa 30 November; Nagoya 2 December; Osaka 4 December; Fukuoka 7 December; Kagoshima 10 December; and Kyoto 11 December.
Yellow ginkgo, which turns earlier, is forecast to peak in Sapporo on 6 November, Kanazawa 10 November, Nagano 13 November, Nagoya 17 November, Hiroshima 20 November, Osaka 24 November, Tokyo 26 November (three days later than average), and Kyoto, Fukuoka and Kagoshima on 27 November. JMC’s next update is due in early October.
How to time a Japan trip around it
The dates matter because the popular Diwali-week departures in mid-October will arrive before the colour reaches the main cities. On this forecast, the second half of November is the window for Tokyo and the Kantō gardens, and the first fortnight of December for Kyoto and Osaka. Travellers who want colour earlier should look north: Sapporo and Hokkaido peak in the first week of November.
A forecast is a forecast; peaks shift by a week or more with a warm or cold spell, and the temple gardens in Kyoto turn at slightly different times from the street trees. Our Japan guide and November month page cover the practicalities, and our Japan packages can be moved to the dates the October update confirms.
Sources
This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.
- Here’s the first official 2026 forecast for autumn leaves in Japan — Time Out Tokyo, 04 September 2026
- 2026年紅葉・黄葉見頃予想（第1回）を発表 — first 2026 autumn-foliage forecast — Japan Meteorological Corporation, 02 September 2026
More travel news
A closer look at your journey — the detail that turns information into a journey genuinely worth taking.
Travel AlertsVolcanic ash from Anak Krakatau shut Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport for much of Sunday 6 September, affecting 301 flights. Bali’s airport stayed open but its Jakarta services were hit.
Visa & EntryFrom 6 September 2026 Schengen border posts can no longer suspend fingerprint and facial-image capture to clear queues. Expect longer waits on arrival in Europe and avoid tight connections.
Flights & AviationAhmedabad became India’s third hub-and-spoke airport on 1 September. Two Air India flights to Delhi now connect to 26 international destinations with immigration done before you leave Gujarat.