Japan’s autumn leaves forecast for 2023: Plan your fall foliage adventures with these projected dates

Autumn is one of the most popular times of year to visit Japan, thanks to the stunning changing leaves that fill the landscape with shades of red, orange, and yellow. The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) releases projections of when the leaves should be at their best each year, and the first estimates for this were disseminated on September 4th.

If you're planning a visit to coincide with the fall foliage, read on to find out when to book your travel.

Please note that the Japan Meteorological Corporation makes frequent adjustments to these dates as the autumn season gets closer. Our team will endeavor to amend this page when updates are made, but for the most up-to-date information, please confirm with the JMC site.

Red Leaves

Expect to see the fiery red maple leaves later than usual this year – some places have their peaks estimated at over a week later than average. Some Japanese maple leaf destination inspiration can be found via the articles below:

• Autumn at Maruyama Park
• Tofukuji's Blaze of Glory
• Bishamondo Temple in Autumn
• Vivid autumn colors at Korankei Valley

Yellow Leaves

Just like the red leaves, all destinations on the table above are anticipated to have later than usual leaf-changing – with the exception of Nagoya which is right on track with usual years. Some inspiration for vibrant yellow ginkgo destinations across Japan can be found in these articles on our site:

• Tokyo's Top Ginkgo Destinations
• Chiba Park in Autumn
• Ginkgo Trees in Hachioji

Searching for "autumn" on our site also allows you to input the prefecture(s) you're visiting on the left hand side drop-down box – it makes it easy to find stunning fall foliage destinations in close proximity to where you'll be staying. Happy leaf hunting!