Fall Foliage Forecast for Japan 2025
- Published on : 08/09/2025
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
Autumn in Japan (momiji)
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Momiji will come late this year! On September 2nd, the Japan Meteorological Corporation unveiled its first autumn foliage forecast for 2025. From Hokkaido to Kagoshima, see the best time to admire momiji maple leaves and their ginkgo friends.
Late autumn colors
Autumn lovers, get ready: the window for admiring the koyo (autumn leaves) will be slim this season. As in recent years, global warming is delaying the arrival of autumn on the archipelago. Last year, Tokyo was still at 30°C in October, putting off the reddening of the leaves until early December, for barely two weeks of magic. This year, the weather forecast isn't any more optimistic. In other words, you'll need to plan your trip carefully to make sure you don't miss out on the show!
Ginkgo, the golden leaves
Take advantage of our regional passes to visit Japan this autumn!
Ginkgo trees are the first to take on autumn colors as soon as temperatures drop. In Sapporo, their foliage is expected to turn gold around November 6th. In Kanazawa and Nagano, the color change is expected around November 11th and 15th, respectively.
Tokyo and Kyoto will have to wait until the end of November to see their ginkgo alleys adorned in gold. Osaka will enjoy the phenomenon a little earlier, around November 24th, while Fukuoka and Kagoshima will see their trees turn yellow around November 28th.
Momiji, blushing maple leaves
Hokkaido's momiji will be the first to don their autumn garb, around November 7th. In Nagano, their blush is expected around November 23rd, while in Kanazawa, it should take place at the end of the month, as in Tokyo.
Osaka, meanwhile, won't turn red until early December. In Kyoto, the leaves are due to turn red on the weekend of the 12th. Further south, in Fukuoka, the colors should change around December 9th, while in Kagoshima, the momiji should turn red in the middle of the month.
Further information
- Autumn specialities in Japan
- 5 autumn leaf hikes near Tokyo
- Where to admire autumn leaves?
- Travelling to Japan in autumn
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