Kōyō: 19 Places To See Autumn Leaves

Summer is officially over. The third (and most likely final) 2024 autumn forecast for Tokyo has been announced — December 5 for red leaves and November 29 for yellow. Kōyō (紅葉), meaning the changing of the leaves, is an important seasonal marker in the land of FOUR (count ‘em!) seasons. Here’s where to see autumn leaves in Tokyo.

While perhaps not quite as widely celebrated as cherry blossom season, the arrival of fall leaves in Tokyo is still an excuse to get out into the great outdoors. There’s nothing quite like marveling at the stuff that Mother Nature does with her pigment palette. And the 19 Tokyo kōyō spots on our list are some of the best places to do just that.

Autumn leaves in Tokyo: 1. Start with Rikugien

Rikugien Gardens is trying to have it all, and is succeeding, with their combination of autumn foliage and illumination evenings.

The Edo-era landscape garden, a beautiful place to stroll while you mentally compose the next cryptic scroll message to your kimono-clad lover, is resplendent in this season and is artfully arranged for you to be able to snap that perfect picture.

2. Ichō Namiki Avenue in Meiji Jingū Gaien

A pretty regular street the rest of the year, this avenue transforms into an autumnal dreamland from late November to early December. Towering above the walkers beneath, the ginkgo trees are a fabulous golden color and provide the perfect setting for the annual autumn illuminations.

The 300m stretch is located on the south side of Jingū Gaien Park and is part of the larger area known as the Meiji Outer Garden. The distinctively-shaped leaves are found on many a Japanese school and family crest, notably Tokyo University (Tōdai) and Osaka University (Handai).

3. Yoyogi Park

Once you’ve explored Meiji Jingū Shrine, head into nearby Yoyogi Park to see another vast collection of fiery maples and ginkgo trees doing their autumn thing.

Pro tip: Head for the south part of the park for maximum fall foliage!

4. Imperial Palace East Gardens

If you want a really regal experience, head down to the palace. The Ninomiya Garden, a sub-garden of the East Gardens, is full of Japanese maples (momiji) and a few ginkgos, bending gracefully over ponds and meticulously manicured topiary. Read more about the Imperial Palace.

5. Mount Takao

Get out into REAL nature and leave all those manufactured parks behind. Well, sort of. Mount Takao is only somewhat manufactured, and by that we mean it’s well tended and carefully managed, but it’s still at least 35% wilder than any of the parks within spitting distance of downtown Tokyo.

Also, if you’re impatient to get your kōyō on and Tokyo is just still too stinking warm, the mountains are sure to be a couple of degrees chillier and the leaves don their autumn robes earlier. During November there’s an autumn leaves festival — be careful you don’t miss it!

6. Mount Mitake

For more out-of-the-city kōyō reveling, Mount Mitake is another great option.

Its popular hiking trail is peppered with shrines, a temple, a village, waterfalls, and a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape.

7. Koishikawa Kōrakuen Garden

This Japanese garden in the heart of Tokyo is a picturesque winner — so much so that on any given day you might find an artist perched on a flat stone by the pond finding their muse under a weeping cherry tree (whose leaves are certainly bright and pretty in their fall incarnation, though not as come-hither-y as the neighboring maples and ginkgos) or brilliant scarlet maple.

The whole scene is reflected in the glassy surface of the pond, and the skyscrapers in the near distance remind you that this kind of beauty exists side by side with the urban jungle that is Tokyo. Ah. Now to Instagram it all.

8. Mizumoto Park

Hidden in plain sight, Mizumoto Park is one of Tokyo’s autumn treasures. Head to one of the biggest parks in the metropolitan area to take in the transformation of nearly 2,000 dawn redwoods (living fossils) reflected in the surface of the surrounding water.

The park, which is in Katsushika Ward, covers more than 68 hectares, so crowding is not usually a concern.

9. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

Take a stroll through the ever-lovely Shinjuku Gyoen this fall to see exquisite maple trees and other autumn highlights.

Seek out the Japanese garden and Momijiyama (“Maple Mountain”) in particular — and pack a picnic (or grab takeout from one of the cafés) to enjoy on the sweeping lawns when you’ve had your fill of the foliage.

10. Shōwa Memorial Park

If you’re on the western side of Tokyo, set aside a day to explore Shōwa Kinen Kōen — it’s well worth a ramble any time of year but is especially beautiful during fall. The huge park welcomes you with a display of ginkgos, and once inside you’ll see heaps of Japanese maples too.

Pro tip: Rent a bicycle and take a slow meander along the extensive network of paths through the park.

11. Ueno Park

One of Tokyo’s very first public parks, Ueno is home to 8,800 trees and although it’s more famous for cherry blossoms, it’s pretty stunning in fall too. Head to the gates of the Tokyo National Museum to see ginkgo and Zelkova trees, or spot some maple leaves at Kiyomizu Kannon Temple.

You can boat on the lake amidst the leaves or stroll through the park grounds — both are pretty cute date ideas.

12. Inokashira Park

Inokashira is the Tokyo park that has it all, and that includes autumn leaves. Whether you paddle past them on the boats or enjoy some street food beneath them, you can be sure to get all your fall feels in an afternoon spent here.

The park has a small zoo, performers at the weekend, a shrine, and plenty of picnic spots. There are plenty of momiji trees and golden-leaved cherry trees to admire scattered throughout the grounds.

13. Hamarikyu Gardens

Not as jam-packed with autumn leaves as other parks on the list, but that also means it isn’t quite as jam-packed with people either.

Beautiful on a good day and even better in fall, the Hamarikyu Gardens have some maple trees — especially around the tea house and lake. The reflections help with the impact, and you can sip on matcha while you enjoy the view.

14. Todoroki Valley

A beautiful escape from the city, Todoroki is the only valley in Tokyo — forged by the Yazawa River and pleasingly untamed. Come autumn, the lush greenery is replaced with golden browns and deep reds — especially around the Todoroki Fudōson Temple. As well as strolling along the waterside, you can enjoy some tea at the Setsuga Teahouse and forget you’re in Tokyo.

Important note: Parts of Todoroki Valley are currently closed due to the upkeep of trees (scheduled to reopen in 2025), however Setsuga Teahouse and Todoroki Fudōson Temple are still open, as well as some walking paths.

15. Hikarigaoka Park

At the end of the Ōedo Line in Nerima, you’ll find the expansive Hikarigaoka Park, boasting more than 600,000 square meters and famed for its diverse autumnal trees (zelkova, cedar, elm, ginkgo, and more).

Head over with a checkered blanket and layers for a movie-moment fall picnic, and stroll down the ginkgo-lined streets.

16. Tokyo University

Another spot well known for its bright yellow ginkgo trees is the prestigious Tokyo University. The tree-lined avenue is special for being, according to the university, one of the first of its kind.

Before its inception in 1906, ginkgo trees were rarely used for street landscaping. It was the brainchild of landscape gardener Seiroku Honda, who is also known for designing Hibiya Park (also on this list). See the buttercup-colored ground via the university’s main gate.

17. Kinuta Park

Kinuta Park is expansive and when its many varieties of trees shed their leaves, the ground is blanketed with red, yellow, and orange.

Situated in Setagaya, the park used to be a golf course and so has plenty of open space to lie down and relax on a refreshing fall afternoon. It also has a bird sanctuary, so take time to spot the jays, woodpeckers, and bulbuls.

18. Hibiya Park

Hibiya Park is more than just a place with pretty fall trees — its roots go deep. Heralded as Japan’s first Western park, it also possesses an estimated 500-year-old ginkgo that was beloved by the park’s designer.

There is a mix of architecture and monuments — from pelicans spitting out water to a Bell of Liberty from the United States — making perfect backdrops for your autumn photo shoots.

19. Ōtaguro Park

Once the estate of famous music critic Moto’o Ōtaguro — hence the name — Ōtaguro Park brims with crunchy leaves and quintessential Japanese garden motifs (see the teahouse, koi pond, and stone lanterns).

Its row of ginkgo trees more than 100 years old, maple, zelkova, and red pine provide a panorama of autumn colors. Fall also brings special nighttime illuminations where you can see the leaves lit up.

Also read:

• 8 Fall Day Trips From Tokyo
• Top 12 Spots for Autumn Leaves in Japan

While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in November 2015. Last updated in November 2024, by Alexandra Ziminski.