Hi there!

 

So autumn in Kyoto can mean…

CROWDS!

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. peak season for fall foliage colors. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. peak season for fall foliage colors. tofukuji temple. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

But that’s okay. (Just like when you’re going to see cherry blossoms in Kyoto.)

Because there are a ton of tourists who visit Kyoto during this time for a reason.

There is TONS of color to be seen around all around Kyoto!

 

fall colors in kyoto. fall colors in japan. Autumn in Kyoto Japan. peak season for fall foliage colors. tofukuji temple. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

There are a lot of places to see red, orange, and yellow if you are in Kyoto during autumn season.

And,Β Kyoto can be a perfect place to see fall foliage in Japan because there are lots of temples which can make for a perfect backdrop to those fall colors!

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. best temples for fall foliage colors. kiyomizu-dera temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

What months can you see fall foliage in Kyoto?

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. best photos spots walk for fall foliage colors. kiyomizu-dera temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

Since it’s nature, the exact dates of the changing of colors will vary based on when it starts getting cold.

But generally speaking, it’s said that you might be able to some form of colorful leaves from mid-October to mid-December. (Yes, December!) So if you have a trip to Japan planned for October, November, or December, you might be able to see some fall colors!

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. peak season for fall foliage colors. mountains. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

It can also depend on the elevation.

For example, Kyoto is surrounded by mountains which means that even around Kyoto there are some places that are a little higher up, and these see the color change of leaves a bit earlier than around most areas of the city.

 

 

Now…

15 best places to visit in Kyoto in autumn for fall foliage colors in 3 days!

…when you are in Kyoto around peak fall foliage time!

In 2019, this was around the end of November and the beginning of December. All the pictures you see on this page are from this time.

I did this Kyoto fall colors walk on back-to-back(-to-back) days.

This means that you can also use this to judge the places that might have peak fall foliage time earlier (if you see some pictures that have shots of leafless tress) and places that might have fall foliage time later (if you see some pictures that have a mix of green and yellow in them too).

While I did this autumn photo walk when it was generally considered to be peak around the city, I did miss out on seeing fall colors in places like Kurama and Kibune, as well as Mount Hiei. (aka places that get fall colors earlier!)

 

 

Now…

Perfect fall foliage photo spots in Kyoto!

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. best places to visit for photo spots. peak season for fall foliage colors. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

1. Tofukuji Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Tofukuji Temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

2. Chishaku-In Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Chishaku-in Temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

3. Myoho-In Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Myoho-in Temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

4. Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Kiyomizu-dera Temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

5. Daimonji-yama hike

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Daimonji-yama hike. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

6. Ginkakuji Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Ginkakuji Temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

7. Philosopher’s Path walk

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Philosophers path, tetsugaku no michi. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

8. Honen-In Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Honen-in Temple, philosopher's path walk. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

9. Eikando Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Eikando Temple, philosopher's path walk. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

10. Nanzenji Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Nanzenji Temple, philosopher's path walk. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

11. Hokyo-in Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. Hokyo-in temple, arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

12. Nison-In Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. nison-in temple, arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

13. Jojakkoji Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. jojakkoji temple, arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

14. Okochi Sanso Garden

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. okochi sanso villa garden, arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

15. Arashiyama bamboo forest

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. arashiyama bamboo forest. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

16. Tenryuji Temple

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Best places to visit in Kyoto for fall foliage colors. tenryuji temple. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

πŸ—Ύ



More info/pictures below, but... SIDE NOTE!
Where to go from Kyoto?! You can go to to Nachi Falls to see one of Japan's most famous views! You can make it a part of your Kumano Kodo itinerary to go to several UNESCO world heritage sites, also making a stop at the small Yunomine Onsen hot springs town!

Here are more ideas for your Japan trip planning!

 

 

So then…

How to put these places into a 3 day Kyoto fall foliage itinerary?!

This is how I did the autumn Kyoto photo walk!

This can be perfect if it’s your first trip to Japan because it can give allow you to see some fall colors while also taking in some of what Kyoto (and Japan!) is known for – the history and culture!

 

DAY 1: Walk from Tofukuji to Kiyomizu-dera

 

DAY 2: Around the Philosopher’s Path

 

DAY 3: Around Arashiyama

 

 

Bamboo trees in autumn

Places with bamboo trees (like the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest) may not be so much of a fall photo spot, but with the right surroundings of the bamboo trees, it can make for a nice colorful picture with bamboo trees!

For pictures of bamboo trees with colorful leaves in the background, try Arashiyama Bamboo forest, Jojakkoji Temple, and Tenryuji Temple, all in Arashiyama!

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Kyoto bamboo forest for fall foliage colors. jojakkoji temple. arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Kyoto bamboo forest for fall foliage colors. jojakkoji temple. arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Kyoto bamboo forest for fall foliage colors. tenryuji temple. arashiyama. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. Kyoto bamboo forest for fall foliage colors. arashiyama sagano bamboo forest. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

Cup of tea in autumn

At many temples, there will also be an outdoor seating area so you can enjoy a cup of tea or another sort of small snack, and even possibly a meal.

This can be a way to try matcha green tea (that Kyoto is famous for) surrounded by colorful trees!

In Arashiyama, you can also stop by a udon noodle shop for outdoor seating surrounded by colorful trees as you’re walking from temple to temple, specifically between Nison-in Temple and Jojakkoji Temple.

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. tea garden for fall foliage colors. ginkakuji temple, philosophers path, tetsugaku no michi. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. tea garden for fall foliage colors. eikando temple, philosophers path, tetsugaku no michi. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. tea garden for fall foliage colors. arashiyama places to eat, restaurants, udon noodle shop. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

HAPPY SEEING FALL COLORS IN KYOTO!

 

Autumn in Kyoto Japan. best places to visit for photo spots. peak season for fall foliage colors. what months is season. crowds. October, November, December. koyo momiji photos spots. red orange yellow. Kyoto Japan travel blog

 

 

For more fall colors, be sure to see the 3-day Kyoto itinerary for a fall foliage photo walk!

DAY 1: Walk from Tofukuji to Kiyomizu-dera

DAY 2: Around the Philosopher's Path

DAY 3: Around Arashiyama


Traveling around Japan and can't read Japanese? No problem! Just use the camera on the google translate app!









Is a JR pass worth it?!

  • Google maps can make it easy to figure out whether or not you should get a JR pass!
  • In google maps, type in your departure and arrival city, and choose the transit icon. The route will come up, and so will the estimated cost at the bottom!
  • Here is an example of a train route with cost on google maps.
  • So do that for all of your long distance routes to figure out how much it might cost.
  • Next, go here to see how much a JR pass costs from an official JR pass vendor (and partner of this website).
  • And compare!
  • Not all forms of public transportation are JR, but long distance shinkansen bullet trains are, and that's where the most cost savings will come.




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