Tokyo’s autumn leaves in 2026 are forecast to peak around November 26 for ginkgo and November 29 for maples, according to the first forecast from Japan Meteorological Corporation, published on September 2, 2026. Lingering summer heat means colours are running “normal or late” across most of Japan, so the best window for central Tokyo is roughly the last week of November and the first week of December. This Tokyo autumn leaves forecast 2026 guide covers peak dates, the spots first-timers should prioritise, evening light-ups, and how to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Updated October 2026 — reviewed by Sunny Pham Sensei (Lệ Nhật Sensei), Japan National Acupuncture License No. 196186 (鍼師) / 195591 (灸師). Written by the Fuji Wellness team, based locally in Edogawa City, east Tokyo.
When will the autumn leaves peak in Tokyo in 2026?
Koyo (紅葉, autumn leaves) moves downhill: the mountains west of Tokyo turn first in early November, and the city’s parks follow two to three weeks later. Here is the current picture.
| Area | 2026 forecast peak | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central Tokyo, ginkgo (icho) | Around November 26 | Japan Meteorological Corp., 1st forecast |
| Central Tokyo, maple (momiji) | Around November 29 | Japan Meteorological Corp., 1st forecast |
| Mt. Takao (599 m) | Around November 6–20 | Japan Meteorological Corp., 1st forecast |
| Tokyo in a typical year | Mid-November to early December | GO TOKYO |
The forecast is updated through the season — the second Japan Meteorological Corp. forecast is due in early October — so check tenki.jp’s koyo page or Weathernews a week before you go. A warm November can push everything back by several days; a sudden cold snap can bring it forward. For background, see the nippon.com summary of the 2026 forecast and GO TOKYO’s autumn leaves guide.
Practical rule of thumb: ginkgo trees turn bright yellow a few days before maples turn red. If your trip falls in the third week of November, prioritise ginkgo avenues; if it falls in early December, prioritise Japanese gardens with maples.
The best autumn leaves spots in Tokyo for first-timers
You do not need to see everything. These are the spots that give first-time visitors the most colour for the least effort, with typical peak periods (individual years vary).
| Spot | Main trees | Typical peak | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jingu Gaien Icho Namiki (ginkgo avenue) | Ginkgo | Mid-Nov to early Dec | Free |
| Shinjuku Gyoen | Maple, plane trees, metasequoia | Mid-Nov to early Dec | ¥500 adults |
| Rikugien | Maple, ginkgo | Late Nov to mid-Dec | Paid (separate night ticket) |
| Ueno Park | Ginkgo, cherry, zelkova, maple | Late Nov to early Dec | Free |
| Kiyosumi Teien | Wax tree (haze), maple, ginkgo | Mid-Nov to early Dec | ¥150 adults |
| Showa Kinen Park (Tachikawa) | Ginkgo, Japanese garden maples | Late Oct to late Nov | ¥450 adults |
| Mt. Takao (day trip) | Mountain maples | Early to late Nov | Free (cable car extra) |
Jingu Gaien Icho Namiki
The ginkgo avenue in Meiji Jingu Gaien is Tokyo’s most photographed autumn scene: a roughly 300-metre double row of tall, cone-shaped ginkgo trees that turn a uniform gold. The Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival, with food stalls from around Japan, is listed for mid-November to early December 2026, but exact dates had not been confirmed when we checked — see meijijingugaien.jp and Japan Travel’s event page. The surrounding area is under long-term redevelopment; the developers have said the ginkgo row itself will be kept, but expect some construction fencing nearby. Nearest stations: Aoyama-itchome or Gaienmae.
Shinjuku Gyoen
A huge national garden mixing a Japanese garden, a French formal garden with plane-tree avenues and wide English-style lawns. It is the easiest “big park” for families and slower walkers, with benches everywhere. Adult admission is ¥500, and it is closed on Mondays (or the next weekday after a Monday holiday). Check the official Shinjuku Gyoen site for seasonal hours — in autumn the gates close mid-afternoon.
Rikugien
A classic Edo-period strolling garden in Bunkyo, near Komagome Station, with around 560 maples and other trees around a central pond. Its evening light-up is one of Tokyo’s best autumn events: in 2025 the “Niwa Momiji no Rikugien” night opening ran from November 28 to December 9, 18:00–20:30. The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing, so check the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association site and book online if tickets are offered — queues at the gate can be long on weekends.
Ueno Park
Free, central and easy to combine with museums. The ginkgo trees along the path from the fountain plaza to the Tokyo National Museum form a yellow tunnel in late November, and there are maples around Kiyomizu Kannon-do and Ueno Toshogu. If you are staying near Ueno, our Ueno visitor guide has more on the area.
Kiyosumi Teien
A compact Meiji-era landscape garden in Koto with a large pond, stepping stones and stone lanterns. The wax trees (haze) turn crimson first, around mid-to-late November, followed by maples and ginkgo from late November. Adult entry is ¥150 and it is open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). It is two stops from Kinshicho on the Hanzomon Line, which makes it a natural link to our guide to quieter autumn leaves spots in east Tokyo.
Showa Kinen Park and Mt. Takao
If you have a spare day, head west. Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa has two golden ginkgo avenues and a large Japanese garden; in 2025 its autumn festival ran from October 30 to November 30 with evening illuminations, and adult admission was ¥450 (Jorudan, 2025 details). Mt. Takao, about an hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line, peaks earlier than the city — around November 6–20 in this year’s forecast. Its Momiji Matsuri ran from October 25 to December 14 in 2025. Weekend cable car queues can be long, so go on a weekday morning if you can.
Evening light-ups: what to expect in 2026
Seeing illuminated maples after dark is one of the highlights of a Tokyo autumn. Most 2026 dates are announced in October, so treat the dates below as a guide only.
- Rikugien: in 2025, November 28 – December 9, 18:00–20:30, with projection mapping on the garden’s storehouse wall.
- Jingu Gaien: evening illumination of the ginkgo avenue has typically been held during the festival period; 2026 times are not yet confirmed.
- Showa Kinen Park: in 2025, illuminations ran 16:30–20:30 during the festival, with a separate ticket for the Japanese garden at night.
- Kyu-Yasuda Garden (Ryogoku): a small, free Edo-period garden that is lit after dark; its maples usually peak in late November to early December.
- Shibamata (east Tokyo): in 2024, Yamamoto-tei and Shibamata Park were lit up on November 23–24, 17:00–21:00. See our Shibamata day trip guide.
How to avoid the crowds
Peak koyo weekends in Tokyo are busy. A few habits make a big difference:
- Go early. Gardens open at 9:00. The first hour is the calmest and has the softest light for photos.
- Choose weekdays. Saturday afternoons at Jingu Gaien and Rikugien are the busiest times of the season.
- Avoid the Labour Thanksgiving holiday weekend. November 23 is a public holiday, and in 2026 it falls on a Monday, creating a three-day weekend right before the forecast peak.
- Mix famous and local. Pair one headline spot with a quieter garden. East Tokyo’s Kiyosumi Teien, Sarue Onshi Park and Gyosen Park’s Heisei Garden in Edogawa have good colour and far fewer tour groups.
- Pack for cool evenings. Late-November evenings in Tokyo are chilly, especially if you are standing in a light-up queue.
- Bring an IC card and some cash. Suica or PASMO cover trains and buses; a few smaller gardens and stalls still prefer cash.
A recovery stop after a long day of leaf-peeping
Koyo days involve a lot of standing, walking on gravel paths and looking up at trees — and by the end of a two-garden day many people feel it in their feet, lower back and neck. Fuji Wellness is a small English-, Vietnamese- and Japanese-speaking acupuncture clinic at 1-21-14 Matsushima, Edogawa City, about 20 minutes from Kinshicho and 35 minutes from Tokyo Station.
Many visitors who combine Kiyosumi Teien or the east Tokyo gardens with a session book an afternoon slot Monday to Thursday (14:00–17:00), or a weekend morning (Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 8:00–12:00) before heading out to see the leaves. The clinic is closed on Fridays and works by appointment only. Our guide to getting to Fuji Wellness explains the Toei bus routes from Kinshicho and Kameido, and you can book through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Tokyo in 2026?
The first 2026 forecast from Japan Meteorological Corporation puts the peak around November 26 for ginkgo and November 29 for maples in central Tokyo. In practice, the last week of November and the first few days of December should be the best window, while Mt. Takao peaks earlier, around November 6–20.
Where can I see autumn leaves in Tokyo for free?
Jingu Gaien’s ginkgo avenue, Ueno Park, Sarue Onshi Park, Kyu-Yasuda Garden and Gyosen Park’s Heisei Garden are all free. Shinjuku Gyoen (¥500), Kiyosumi Teien (¥150) and Rikugien charge a small admission fee.
When is the Rikugien autumn light-up in 2026?
The 2026 dates had not been announced at the time of writing. In 2025 the night opening ran from November 28 to December 9, 18:00–20:30. Check the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association website in October or November and book online if advance tickets are available.
Is it worth taking a day trip to Mt. Takao for autumn leaves?
Yes, if your trip falls in the first half of November, before the city’s trees have turned. Mt. Takao is about an hour from Shinjuku on the Keio Line and is forecast to peak around November 6–20 in 2026. Go on a weekday morning to avoid long cable car queues.
What should I wear for autumn leaves viewing in Tokyo?
Comfortable walking shoes and layers. Late-November days are mild but evenings are cold, especially at light-up events where you may queue outdoors. Gravel paths in Japanese gardens are easier in shoes with some cushioning.
Related reading
- Autumn leaves in east Tokyo 2026: quiet koyo spots near Kinshicho and Kameido
- Gyosen Park and Heisei Garden: Edogawa’s free Japanese garden
- Shibamata day trip: Taishakuten, Yamamoto-tei and old Tokyo
- How to get to Fuji Wellness from Kinshicho, Kameido and Shinkoiwa
- English-speaking acupuncture clinic in Tokyo
Reviewed by Sunny Pham Sensei, Japan National Acupuncture License (鍼師 / 灸師). Travel information is approximate and may change; please check official sources before your visit. Health content on this site is educational and not medical advice.