Fall in Kyoto 2024: Enjoy Autumn Colors and Fall Foliage

Fall in Kyoto, or truly anywhere in Japan, is one of the most beautiful times to visit the country. Ancient temples, traditional architecture and Kyoto’s must-see attractions are set against a breathtaking backdrop of autumn leaves.

Just like in our recommendations for the best places to see fall leaves in Japan, your memories of Kyoto will be splashed in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows as the leaves change. If the fiery views aren’t enough to fend off the growing chill in the air, warm up with Japan’s best fall foods.

So, fall foliage hunters — get your hiking boots on, charge your phone and camera, and let’s chase the autumn leaves across Kyoto.

Fall in Japan begins in the northeast and slowly sweeps across Japan’s landscapes towards the southwest, beginning at the end of September and stretching into December.  

With Kyoto being in the Kansai region of southern Honshu, the leaves begin changing towards the end of October, but don’t burst into vivid color until around mid-November and last until mid-December.

Thankfully, unlike the frantic cherry blossom season of spring, which often only gives you about a week of picturesque pink petals — which can be easily reduced by an especially rainy or windy day — autumn in Japan lasts over a month, giving you plenty of time to visit, or even revisit, different areas for the best fall foliage viewing.

Along with the fall season comes a gradual cooling of the weather, much welcomed by tourists and residents alike after the humid Japanese summer. Below are the average temperatures in Kyoto across the autumn months.

While September may not need much of a wardrobe change from summer, October and November may see you reaching for longer sleeves and a thin jacket or sweater in the evenings. Autumnal bliss, some might say.

The fall foliage won’t have reached Kyoto by September, so you can use this time to tick off a few more things to do in Kyoto that aren’t focused on fall leaves.

Find out more: 3-Day Kyoto Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

For a guided tour through one of Kyoto’s go-to spots for local specialties and must-try snacks and ingredients, join one of our Nishiki Market tours. 

Not only will you get to try yuba (tofu skin), hamo (pike conger) tempura, minced beef cutlet and a probiotic drink, but you’ll also get to enjoy a walking tour of Gion, Kyoto’s geisha district — the most famous remaining geisha district in all of Japan.

More Kyoto markets: 5 Must-Visit Markets in Kyoto if You Love Food, Crafts & Good Vibes

When you hear “Fushimi,” you might immediately think of Fushimi Inari Shrine, the iconic Kyoto landmark that sees thousands of people hiking Mt. Inari through endless torii gates for sweeping views of Kyoto below.

But, there’s another reason to visit Fushimi: sake. Learn how sake is made and what differentiates one bottle from the next with a Kyoto sake brewery tour.

Get an idea of the experience waiting for you in this sake brewery tour video.

Head to Michelin-starred restaurant Funaokayama Shimizu, a stylish spot that serves traditional Japanese cuisine. Pure Kyoto groundwater from a well near Daitokuji Temple is used to cook its rice, setting the scene for an unforgettable meal.

Or the Michelin-starred Tozentei, offering four distinct kaiseki course menus and an intriguing tale of fiction informing reality.

Trying to save a few extra yen for souvenirs? Check out these affordable Michelin-star restaurants in Kyoto.

In this Kyoto night food and culture tour, wander the streets of Gion, keeping an eye out for geiko (geisha in training) as you head in the direction of your first foodie venue. 

Experience authentic Kyoto cuisine alongside local craft beer, shochu or sake. 

Stroll beside the Kamogawa River towards the vibrant downtown areas of Pontocho, Kiyamachi and the Kawaramachi main street. Here, you’ll visit a small local venue for a few more culinary delights with another drink. You’ve never seen Kyoto like this before.

Even throughout October, Kyoto tends to retain a lot of its green foliage, only giving way to reds, oranges and yellows from late October to early November. 

Even so, there are a few spots where vivid autumn leaves start to appear — plus a festival and another food tour to keep your entertained until they do!

Eikando Temple is around a 30-minute walk away from the must-see Kiyomizudera Temple, the famous gold-plated temple that you’ll likely have seen countless times across your favorite travel accounts. 

Unlike many spots in Kyoto, certain trees at this temple have been known to start changing color by the end of the October, especially around the picturesque pond and teahouse area.

For the full experience, however, it’s still worth coming back again in November when the temple grounds are illuminated in the evenings to truly show off the beauty of Japan’s fall leaves. 

During this time, entrance in the daytime costs ¥1,000 and the temple grounds are illuminated from 5:30-9 pm. If you only want to see the illuminated leaves at night, evening admission costs ¥600.

While you’re still waiting for the fall foliage to really take hold in Kyoto, it’d be crazy to come all the way here — the geisha capital of Japan — without a true geisha experience, don’t you think?

If you want to experience a one-on-one afternoon with a geisha, try this lunch and show with a Kyoto geisha, promising an up-close-and-personal occasion with one of Japan’s most memorable cultural aspects.

While exploring Gion, you’ll learn about geisha customs and visit a real-life geisha to enjoy a Japanese-style lunch and show, with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chat with the geisha afterwards.

Held in the village of Kurama, a charming spot that’s only 30 minutes from Kyoto by train, is the Kurama Fire Festival. Carried out on the same date every year, this festival features men carrying huge flaming torches through the mountain village while shouting. 

After this fiery parade, people gather around the fireside to drink and chat. Dating back to the Heian Period, this event lasts until around midnight and is a lively reenactment of the ceremony that the local villagers used to welcome the gods to the village.

November is peak fall foliage viewing season in Kyoto — watch in awe as the city and surrounding areas burst into a vision of color.

Start off the month with Kyoto’s anticipated Fall Festival (Aki Festival), held at the Tanukidani-san Fudo-in Temple every November. This season-welcoming festival marks the true changing point of Kyoto’s fall foliage and invites visitors to write wishes on wooden tablets. 

These tablets are then thrown onto the sacred bonfire by monks in a custom known as shugendo (mountain asceticism). Then, with your wishes blessed, you’re free to enjoy the rest of the festivities and prepare to hit Kyoto’s best fall foliage spots!

Tofukuji Temple boasts some of Kyoto’s best autumn foliage, with many visitors finding the views especially impressive from the Tsutenkyo Bridge. 

With a grand total of four gardens, each facing a different direction out into Kyoto’s fall views, you’ll have 360-degree scenes that will have friends and family back home feeling ironically green with envy.

As you might expect, this spot gets very crowded, so it’s recommended to go as early or late as you can for a bit more breathing room.

If you’re in Kyoto, you’re likely running to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest quicker than a geisha about to miss an important performance in Gion, but be patient — the best time to see autumnal views in Arashiyama is late November to early December. 

Here, you’ll find backdrops of reds, oranges and yellows at each of Arashiyama’s best temples, from Tenryuji and Jojakkoji to Nisonin and Gioji.

Suddenly find yourself craving lush greens? Of course, the bamboo forest is still waiting for you, towering above its visitors with year-long lush greens.

Each November, the Ikenobo school of ikebana — Japanese flower arrangement — puts together the Autumn Tanabata Exhibition. For just ¥1,000, explore a sensational selection of traditional and contemporary Japanese flower arrangements from experts.

For an intriguing look into another cultural art of Japan with an autumnal twist, this is the place to be.

For a slightly quieter temple away from Kyoto’s most famous sightseeing spots, head to Bishamon-do Temple. Watch as fall in Japan lays out a red carpet for you, leading you up to the Chokushimon Gate of the temple on a path of fiery red maple leaves — just be sure to arrive earlier in the day before the groundskeepers have the chance to sweep the leaves aside. 

Only a 20-minute walk from Yamashina Station, one stop away from Kyoto Station, there’s no excuse for missing this fall foliage.

Technically, December is the start of winter in Japan, but many of Japan’s most glorious fall foliage retains its beauty into early or even mid-December. For any spots you missed during November, simply catch up before winter truly takes hold.

ByFood host Shizuka Anderson explains the dos and don'ts of visiting Kyoto.

Now that you know how to act and where to go for Kyoto’s best fall foliage, take a look at the best autumn leaves in all Japan and the best fall foods for keeping things cozy all season long.

Let’s be honest — as the former capital of Japan and a beacon of Japan’s traditional culture and architecture, Kyoto is nice at any time of year. However, Kyoto is especially beautiful during the fall when all of the things that make it so special gain a backdrop of vibrant fall leaves.

Much like cherry blossom season in Kyoto, fall is another peak season for Kyoto as tourists and residents from all over Japan come to see the area’s bountiful autumn-leaf-viewing spots.

To catch the fall foliage with slightly fewer crowds, you could visit in early to mid-December; you’ll have to brave slightly colder weather, but you’ll get to see some of Kyoto’s remaining autumn leaves with a few less people.

Kyoto is especially crowded during spring (March, April and May) and fall (September, October, November) for a reason. In the spring, cherry blossoms bring the beauty of pink petals and transience, while in the fall every sight is framed by bursts of vivid color.

So, while these may be the best months to visit Kyoto in terms of seasonality, you can also expect crowds and high prices. Prefer the quiet? Visit outside of these months!