Koyo

Koyo (紅葉) is the Japanese word for autumn leaves, and for the season when forests, gardens and temple grounds turn red, orange and gold. It is the autumn counterpart to hanami, the cherry blossom season.

The colour does not arrive everywhere at once. It starts in the north and in the mountains, then moves south and down to lower ground. A garden in Hokkaido can peak while Kyoto is still green.

Why does koyo timing move?

Three things shift it from year to year:

• Elevation, with higher ground changing first.
• Latitude, with the north changing before the south.
• Weather, since a hot late summer or heavy rain can delay or dull the colour.

That is why we do not promise a date. Our seasonal timing ranges page shows how to read the pattern.

How do you plan around it?

Choose a region and a window of a week or more, then keep one flexible day or a nearby alternative. Our guide to a flexible autumn foliage itinerary shows how, and choosing a region instead of chasing a date explains the idea behind it.