Hokkaido and Tohoku The northern parts of Hokkaido see the change in color first. Oirase Gorge in Aomori and Lake Tazawa in Akita are popular spots. Since the temperature change during the day and night is extreme, you see a larger variation in color. Best time for Hokkaido: Mid to late October Best time for Tohoku: early to mid November
Tokai and Hokuriku On the west coast of Japan, Kanazawa's Kenrokuen (garden) enjoys popularity in autumn. Best time for Hokuriku: mid to late November Best time for Tokai: Late November
Kanto Coastal areas in the Kanto region see the change in color earlier than those inland. If you're looking for some easy day trips from Tokyo, Yokohama's Sankeien and Kamakura's Hasedera offer some spectacular views! Check out our feature on Irohazaka in Nikko. Best time: Mid November to early December
Kinki, Chugoku and Shikoku Since Kyoto gets very crowded in autumn, avoid having a tight schedule. The Aya valley in Tokushima and Zuiganzan Enkoji in Kyoto are popular spots. Best time: Mid to late November
Kyushu and Okinawa If you plan to visit Japan in late November or early December, then your best bet to get some autumn foliage is down South. Best time: Early December to mid December
Check out our features on autumn spots as well as the forecast for gingko and the best train + autumn photo spots!
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