An expert guide to help you experience the best autumn leaves in Kyoto, including a list of the best spots, temples, & hidden gems
All images are provided by Ollie Ronin, unless otherwise stated, and are protected under copyright law.
Overview
Out of all the major cities in Japan, Kyoto provides the absolute best experience for Japan's autumn leaves. The city has a strong emphasis on blending nature with the urban landscape, and has thousands of temples, shrines, and gardens that celebrate the expressive seasons of Japan, especially during autumn. For hundreds of years, Kyoto has been built and designed to express the changing seasons, creating a magical experience for sightseeing and exploring the city.
But how do you get the timing right? How do you escape the crowds? And where are the best spots for viewing the autumn leaves in Kyoto? We'll summarise all of this in the following article, providing you with efficient and organised information to experience the best autumn leaves in Kyoto.
Table of Contents
FAQ
The Best Places In Kyoto For Early Autumn Leaves
The Best Popular Places In Kyoto For Autumn
The Best Hidden Gems For Autumn In Kyoto
Frequently Asked Questions
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Kyoto?
The absolute best time to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto, and in Japan, is late November and early December. This is when the autumn colours typically reach their peak. This depends on the weather of course, and the peak period can fluctuate by as much as an entire week.
The autumn period is relatively long, with prominent colours lasting about 3 weeks, you can expect to see beautiful autumn leaves in Kyoto from the second half of November to the first week of December.
What's the best autumn leaf forecast?
The official autumn forecast from the Japan Meteorological Agency has been released and predicts the leaves will reach their peak one week later than usual, in the first week of December.
Kyoto also monitors the progress of the autumn leaves and provides detailed reports for all the temples and attractions here: The Kyoto Autumn Leaf Progress Report
How crowded does it get during autumn?
Autumn and spring are the busiest times of the year for visiting Japan, however, autumn is somewhat less busy because the period for autumn leaves is much longer than the cherry blossoms. But you should still expect most hotels to be booked out, and you'll find large crowds at all the popular attractions. But it's totally worth it, and Kyoto has so many temples and hidden gems so it's easy to escape the crowds if you wish.
How do you escape the crowds during autumn in Kyoto?
If you want to visit the popular temples, aim to arrive as soon as they open. It will be impossible to escape the crowds at many of the most popular attractions, but some places have unique opening hours or reservation systems. Kiyomizudera is a great example as it opens at 6am. Other examples are listed in our best hidden gems section below.
How many days should I spend in Kyoto during autumn?
Kyoto is full of surprises. It's very common for travellers to find out they didn't plan enough days for Kyoto and wish they had stayed longer. This is especially true during autumn, as the changing colours add a whole new element to sightseeing, plus there are numerous temple illumination events which add more variety to the attractions. But it depends on the person, if you're not visually inclined and don't care much about the history, culture, and maple leaves, then 2-3 days is fine. However, most people find that 4-5 days is ideal. Kyoto can also serve as a great base for exploring Osaka and Nara, which are only a 50-minute train ride away.
What's the best area to stay in Kyoto?
Downtown, Gion, and Higashiyama are considered the most convenient areas for staying in Kyoto. But many people like to include Arashiyama to escape the city and feel more relaxed, which is the perfect choice during autumn. We've created a comprehensive guide to help you decide which area is best for your trip over here: Where To Stay In Kyoto
The Best Temples for Early Autumn Leaves in Kyoto
1. Mt. Hiei and Enryakuji Temple
Image Source: Wikipedia CC
Mt. Hiei is an 848m high mountain overlooking Kyoto and is home to the beautiful Enryakuji Temple. The temple has a rich history and offers the earliest autumn leaves in Kyoto, typically reaching their peak at the beginning of November.
Access is via a cable car in Shiga which departs from Sakamoto Station which is only 30 minutes from Kyoto. Enryakuji can also be reached using a hiking trail, you can read more about the history and the hike over here: Mt. Hiei and Enryakuji Temple
🕗 Opening Hours
9am - 4pm
📍 Location
Sakamoto Station, Shiga (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
¥1000
🍁 Peak Autumn
Early to Mid-November
2. Sanzen-in Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Sanzen-in is a 1200-year-old temple in the town of Ohara, located about 1 hour away from Kyoto by bus. The town is quite charming and the walk to the temple is lined with lovely restaurants and shops catering to the visitors who come to see Sanzen-in. The temple is well-known for its moss gardens, jizo statues, and preserved buildings. Sanzen-in also features a tea room framing a zen garden, where visitors can enjoy matcha for a small fee.
🕗 Opening Hours
9:00am - 5:00pm (Last Entry 4:30pm)
📍 Location
Ohara, North-East Kyoto (Google Maps)
A little over 1 hour from Kyoto
💴 Entry Price
¥700 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Mid-November
3. Katsuoji Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Katsuoji is one of the coolest temples in Kansai, and the best temple in Osaka for viewing autumn leaves. It's well worth the journey from Kyoto and can be combined with the popular Minoh Falls. Its location and size make it slightly less busy than other popular temples, with the autumn leaves reaching their peak about 2 weeks earlier than the rest of Kyoto.
You can read a comprehensive guide to Katsuoji here: Katsuoji Temple
🕗 Opening Hours
8am - 5pm (6pm on Sundays & Holidays)
💡 Autumn Illumination
Early to Late-November: 6pm - 8:30pm
📍 Location
Minoh Park, Osaka (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
¥500 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Mid-November
The Best Popular Places in Kyoto for Autumn
1. Arashiyama
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Arashiyama is most well known for the Bamboo Grove, but this mountainous area on the western side of Kyoto is also famous for its stunning autumn leaves. There are numerous ancient temples to explore which all celebrate the changing colours, so it's easy to escape the crowds if you simply walk around for a while. The Katsura River is another famous spot, the emerald waters create a stunning backdrop to the maple leaves, sometimes looking like a scene from a movie.
You can read more about Arashiyama here: A Complete Guide To Visiting Arashiyama
🕗 Opening Hours
Temples: 9am - 5pm
Bamboo Grove: 24/7
📍 Location
Saga-Arashiyama Station, Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Free
🍁 Peak Autumn
Late November
2. Tofukuji Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Tofukuji is a super popular temple near the Fushimi Inari shrine. It's a large temple complex that features moss gardens, hundreds of maple trees, and a 100-meter-long bridge that runs across the garden. It also features one of the oldest Sanmon gates in Japan, which opens for special entry every November.
You can read a complete guide for Tofukuji here: Tofukuji Temple
🕗 Opening Hours
8:30am - 4:00pm
Morning & Evening Autumn Reservations: 7:30 - 8:30 am, and 5:30 - 7:30 pm
For autumn reservations click here
📍 Location
Tofukuji Station, Eastern Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Tsutenkyo Bridge - Autumn Period: ¥1000 per person
Hojo Garden: ¥500 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Late November to Early December
3. Eikando Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Eikando Temple, also known as Zenrin-ji, is a 1200-year-old temple located just south of the philosopher's path. It's one of the most popular temples for autumn Kyoto due to its spectacular garden, beautiful architectural design, and autumn illumination event. The temple grounds are quite expansive, with many buildings and impressive features such as the two-story Tahoto Pagoda and the reflective Hojo Pond.
You can read a complete guide for Eikando here: Eikando Temple
🕗 Opening Hours
9am - 4pm.
💡 Autumn Illuminations
Mid-November to Early December: 5:30pm - 9:00pm
📍 Location
Between the Philosopher's Path & Nanzenji Temple, Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Day time: ¥600 per person
Autumn Illumination: ¥700 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Late November to Early December
The Best Hidden Gems for Autumn in Kyoto
1. Enkoji Temple
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
Enkoji is a stunning Zen temple located off the beaten path in northeastern Kyoto. They've implemented a reservation system to prevent overcrowding during the peak autumn period which helps maintain the peace and tranquillity that the gardens were designed for. It still gets busy, but it won't feel like the other super crowded attractions in Kyoto, so it's perfect for those who wish to get away from the normal tourist destinations. The temple has a unique history and one of the most beautiful Zen gardens in Japan.
You can read a complete guide for Enkoji here: Enkoji Temple
🕗 Opening Hours
8am - 5pm
🗓️ Autumn Leaf Reservations
Reservation window opens on Oct. 15
Reserve directly from their website: Enkouji.jp
📍 Location
Near Ichioji Station, Northeastern Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
Autumn Period: ¥1000 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Late November to Early December
2. The Yusai-Tei Gallery
Image Copyright: Ollie Ronin
The Arashiyama Yusaitei, also known as the Somekobo Yume Yusai, is a unique art gallery located on the banks of the Katsura River in Arashiyama. It's an old Hiein-era inn which has been converted into an art gallery by the famous fabric artist Yusai Okuda. Much like Enkoji, they limit the amount of visitors via online reservations to prevent overcrowding during autumn. Yusai Okuda is an incredible artist and has installed a number of pieces to highlight the stunning natural beauty surrounding found in Arashiyama. It's a small gallery, and the price is high compared to other temples, but it's a rare visual experience unlike anything else in Japan.
You can read a comprehensive guide about the Yusaitei gallery here: Arashiyama Yusai-Tei
🕗 Opening Hours
8am - 5pm (16th - 30th November)
Autumn Reservations: Click here
📍 Location
Arashiyama, Western Kyoto (Google Maps)
💴 Entry Price
November Autumn Period: ¥3000 per person
🍁 Peak Autumn
Late November
