Occurring each year from late September through to mid-December, depending on which region of the country you are referring to, the autumn leaves of Japan rival the legendary cherry blossoms of spring in their fragile beauty and cultural importance.
AUTUMN LEAVES 'KOYO' FORECAST 2024
Released on September 3rd, the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) has published its forecast for 2024. As we move into autumn, you can expect the forecast to be refined with more exact dates. We will update that information as it becomes available.
The map above is regarded as the main autumn leaves forecast however it specifically refers to when you can expect red and amber trees, such as 'momiji' (Japanese maples) to turn.
As you can see from the map above, our home region of Nagano (located in the orange/red zone in the middle of Japan) is expected to turn at the end of October in areas of higher elevation - such as Shiga Kogen, Tateyama-Kurobe, Kamikochi and Togakushi- followed by lower areas from mid-November onward - such as Nagano City, Matsumoto, Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen and the Jigokudani Monkey Park.
Overall, temperatures are higher than usual this year and the leaves will turn a little later in the areas of lower elevation. Of course, the highest mountain peaks will have colors from early October onwards, and with the large variation in elevation across the cities and towns of Nagano Prefecture, you can expect a wide variance in the specific dates of peak color.
For other regions of Japan, the leaves are looking to be at peak around the usual time period, or a little later. Tokyo is forecasted for December 1st, Kyoto at December 12th, Sapporo at November 8th, and Fukuoka at December 10th. Of course, different areas within a city will have slightly different dates of peak color, and as the forecast is subject to change with a couple months to go until the peak season, it pays to keep a close eye on each new update.
The dates that yellow-leafed trees such as 'icho' (gingko) and 'karamatsu' (Japanese larch) are expected to turn, varies a little as shown on the map below.
When planning your autumn visit and seeking-out the best spots to enjoy the leaves, our advice is to allow flexibility in your schedule so that you can move to the best areas as the condition of the leaves becomes more certain.
