Autumn is one of the four seasons of Japan which in Japanese is called aki [秋]. The season begins on September 23 and goes until December 21. In this article, we will see a bit of Autumn in Japan.
Table of Contents
What is Autumn like in Japan?
In Japanese autumn, the leaves of the trees turn yellow and red, making the streets, gardens, and Japanese landscapes more beautiful. In my opinion, it is one of the best times to visit Japan; I always plan my trips around October.
The autumn weather is comfortable and cool for most of Japan. The leaves start to turn red early in Hokkaido around September, making it a good time to visit the north of the country. Some holidays occur during this time, such as Halloween.
The rice is golden, and colorful fruits like chestnuts, pears, and grapes decorate the display. During Autumn, we have many fruits such as tangerines, yuzu, persimmons, apples, pears, and strawberries. Small typhoons and rains may persist at the beginning of Autumn.
The nights get longer, and you can clearly see the moon and the stars. As the morning chill and the evening cold gradually increase, the temperature difference between day and night becomes significant.
Curiosities about Autumn in Japan
Autumn Flowers in Japan – The famous autumn flowers are called the seven herbs of autumn or Aki no nanakusa [秋の七草]. They consist of grasses and wild vegetables such as Chrysanthemum, Higanbana, Cosmos, and Miscanthus.
Moon Festival in Autumn – In Japan, there is the word Tsukimi [月見] which literally means “moon viewing”; these are Japanese festivals in honor of the autumn moon. During Autumn, we can still see remnants of Tanabata, Obon, and Nakamoto.
During autumn, we have many athletic events such as the National Sports Day holiday, and athletic festivals and meetings are held in many schools like undokai; festivals like gakugeikai and bunkasai are also usually held in autumn.
Cities to Enjoy Autumn in Japan
Autumn in Kyoto occurs around November to December. Many temples, castles, and gardens usually represent the largest collection of colorful flowers in Japan. Kyoto is filled with places to enjoy the fall of autumn leaves, becoming one of the most popular places to visit, in addition to its great culture, beauty, and traditionalism.
The city of Tokyo offers large urban parks and gardens from the Edo era to enjoy the autumn leaves. Even the streets of Tokyo can provide a good view, such as Icho Namiki Avenue and also the fields of the University of Tokyo.
The city of Nara is also a great place, as it was the first capital of Japan. Like any ancient capital of Japan, it is full of good places such as temples, shrines, parks, and gardens.
The city of Osaka is also a major tourist spot to appreciate the beauty of autumn. There is Osaka Castle, Minoo Park, and various other attractions, not to mention some streets that are a delight to enjoy in autumn.
Nikko, a city 2 hours from Tokyo in the mountains, provides a beautiful setting to spend autumn, not to mention the onsens, lakes, temples, and the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa, a major tourist attraction.
One of the best gardens to see the autumn leaves is Kanazawa, which took over 200 years to build and is filled with lakes. The five lakes around Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture is another great place to enjoy the landscapes during autumn.
A small island near Hiroshima called Miyajima has beautiful forests and trees that are up to 700 years old, known as Momijidani. There are numerous hiking trails and some temples.
We will leave below some wonderful photos, and then some of the cities and the times when you can enjoy the autumn leaves.
Autumn Leaf Season Table
The list below shows the best time to visit certain regions in order to see the red of autumn and the falling leaves in Japan. We have a list with the city, start of autumn, and end of autumn. Each region starts on a different date.
| City/Province | Start | End |
| Hokkaido | Mid-September | End of October |
| Tohoku | Beginning of October | Early November |
| Nikko | Beginning of October | Mid-November |
| Kyushu | Mid-October | End of November |
| Koyasan | End of October | Mid-November |
| Fuji Five Lakes | End of October | Mid-November |
| Hakone | Early November | End of November |
| Tokyo | Early November | Mid-December |
| Yoshino | Early November | End of November |
| Kanazawa | Mid-November | Early December |
| Izu Peninsula | Mid-November | Early December |
| Nara | Mid-November | Early December |
| Kyoto | Mid-November | Early December |
| Osaka | Mid-November | Early December |
| Miyajima | Mid-November | End of November |
| Shikoku | Mid-November | End of November |
| Himeji | Mid-November | Early December |
| Kamakura | End of November | Early December |
Autumn Words in Japanese
Below are some words and vocabulary related to Autumn in the Japanese language:
| romaji | japonês | português |
| aki | 秋 | Autumn |
| ame no | 雨の | Rainy |
| gakkō ni iku | 学校に行く | Back to school |
| ha | 葉 | Leaf |
| Harowīn | ハロウィーン | Halloween |
| kanshasai | 感謝祭 | Thanksgiving |
| kaze | 風邪 | Cold |
| kaze no tsuyoi | 風の強い | Windy |
| kisetsu no kawarime | 季節の変わり目 | Change of season |
| kōyō | 紅葉 | Autumn foliage |
| kuri | 栗 | Chestnut |
| nagasode no shatsu | 長袖のシャツ | Long-sleeved shirt |
| panpukin pai | パンプキンパイ | Pumpkin pie |
| rakuyō | 落葉 | Fallen leaves |
| sētā | セーター | Sweater |
| shūbun | 秋分 | Autumn equinox |
| suzushii | 涼しい | Cool |
Leave a Reply