Kyoto gets most of the attention in autumn, but Tokyo quietly puts on one of Japan's best shows. Golden ginkgo avenues, fiery maples in 300-year-old gardens and a mountain trail less than an hour from Shinjuku all peak within a few weeks of each other, and most of the best spots cost little or nothing to enter.
This guide covers when the leaves are expected to peak in Tokyo in 2026, the spots that are worth your time, what each one costs, and how to avoid the heaviest crowds.
1. When Is Peak Autumn Colour in Tokyo in 2026?
Tokyo is one of the last places in Japan to turn. While Hokkaido peaks in October, central Tokyo normally reaches its best from late November into early December. Autumn leaves are called koyo (紅葉), and going out to see them is momijigari (紅葉狩り), literally "maple hunting".
According to the forecast published by the Japan Meteorological Corporation on September 2, 2026, the best viewing dates for central Tokyo are expected to be:
| Tree | Forecast peak in Tokyo (2026) | Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo (icho / イチョウ) | Around November 26 | Bright yellow |
| Maple (momiji / もみじ) | Around November 29 | Red and orange |
The same forecast says that, because of high temperatures across the country, colours are expected to peak somewhat later than in a typical year. In practice the leaves look good for roughly a week either side of the peak date.
Autumn leaf forecasts are updated several times through the season, and a warm spell or a typhoon can move the peak by a week. Check the latest forecast a few days before you go, and keep your plans flexible if you can.
2. Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue
This is the photo you have probably already seen: a straight avenue lined with tall, cone-shaped ginkgo trees that turn a deep gold. Icho Namiki (いちょう並木) has 146 ginkgo trees along a road of about 300 metres, and it is completely free because it is a public street.
A short walk from Aoyama-itchome Station or Gaienmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.
Free. A seasonal ginkgo festival with food stalls is usually held nearby from mid-November. Check the dates for 2026 before you go.
Weekday mornings. On weekend afternoons at peak, the pavement is shoulder to shoulder.
3. Shinjuku Gyoen
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is the easiest all-round choice, because it has a bit of everything: a Japanese garden with maples around the ponds, a French-style avenue of plane trees, and wide lawns with huge ginkgo trees. It is a ten-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, so it fits into almost any itinerary.
- Admission: ¥500 for adults.
- Hours in autumn and winter (October 1 to March 14): 9:00 to 16:00, with the gates closing at 16:30.
- Closed: Mondays (or the following weekday when Monday is a public holiday) and December 29 to January 3.
4. Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen
For a classic Japanese garden scene with red maples reflected in a pond, head to one of Tokyo's Edo-period strolling gardens. Both of these are run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and both charge only a small entry fee.
A garden built around 1700 for a feudal lord, with a central pond, tea houses and winding paths. Admission is ¥300. It is open 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30, and is near Komagome Station on the JR Yamanote Line.
One of Tokyo's oldest gardens, dating from the early Edo period, tucked beside Tokyo Dome. Admission is ¥300. It is within walking distance of Iidabashi and Korakuen stations.
Rikugien is famous for its evening light-up, when the garden opens after dark and the maples are illuminated. In 2025 this special night opening ran from November 28 to December 9 and required a separate ticket. Dates and ticket details for 2026 are announced by the garden in autumn, so check the official site before planning an evening visit.
5. Mount Takao: Autumn Hiking Near Tokyo
If you want forest rather than city, Mount Takao (高尾山) is the classic day out. The mountain is 599 metres high and sits on the western edge of Tokyo. From Shinjuku, the Keio Line takes you to Takaosanguchi Station at the foot of the mountain in under an hour.
Because of the altitude, Takao turns earlier than the city centre. The mountain is usually at its best from mid to late November, a week or two before the downtown parks. A cable car and a chair lift cover the steepest part of the climb, so it works for families and casual walkers as well as hikers.
Takao is one of the most visited mountains in the world, and autumn weekends bring long queues for the cable car and slow-moving crowds on the main trail. Go on a weekday, start early, and bring a warm layer, because the summit is noticeably colder than central Tokyo.
Looking for more trips out of the city? See our guide to day trips from Tokyo and the Hakone day trip guide.
6. Free Spots Worth Knowing
You do not need a ticket to enjoy autumn in Tokyo. Several of the city's large public parks have excellent colour and no entry fee.
- Yoyogi Park: A big, relaxed park next to Harajuku with a grove of ginkgo trees. Easy to combine with Meiji Jingu shrine and our Harajuku guide.
- Ueno Park: Ginkgo and maples around the museums and the pond, with plenty to do indoors if it rains.
- Hibiya Park: A small park near the Imperial Palace with a pond ringed by maples, popular with office workers at lunchtime.
- Imperial Palace East Gardens: Free to enter, with a Japanese garden area. Check the opening days in advance, as the gardens close on certain weekdays.
7. Tips for Enjoying Tokyo's Autumn Leaves
- Go early on a weekday. Gardens open at 9:00, and the first hour is the quietest and has the softest light.
- Watch the closing times. Most gardens stop admitting visitors at around 16:00 to 16:30, and it gets dark in Tokyo before 17:00 in late November.
- Dress in layers. Late November days are usually mild and sunny, but mornings and evenings are cold.
- Do not pick leaves or break branches. Taking fallen leaves home is fine in most parks, but leave the trees alone and stay on the paths in gardens.
- Mind the ginkgo nuts. Female ginkgo trees drop soft fruit that smells strong when crushed. Watch your step under the trees.
- Check tripod rules. Many gardens restrict tripods and selfie sticks during the busy season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Late November to early December for the city centre. The 2026 forecast from the Japan Meteorological Corporation puts the ginkgo peak around November 26 and the maple peak around November 29. Mountain areas such as Mount Takao peak earlier, usually in mid to late November.
Kyoto has more temples and classic scenery, but it is also far more crowded. Tokyo's gardens are cheaper, easier to reach and much less stressful. If you have time for both, Kyoto's maples are forecast to peak later, around December 11 in 2026. See our Kyoto autumn leaves guide.
Yes. Maples in the city's gardens usually hold their colour into the first week of December, and sometimes a little longer. By mid-December most leaves have fallen.
For daytime visits to the gardens in this guide, you can normally pay at the gate. Special evening openings, such as the Rikugien light-up, may need a separate or advance ticket.
Conclusion
Tokyo's autumn is short but generous: a golden avenue you can walk for free, quiet historic gardens for a few hundred yen, and a mountain hike on a commuter train line. Aim for the last week of November, keep an eye on the forecast, and start your day early. For the rest of the country, see our Japan autumn foliage guide and Japan in November.
Sources
- Nippon.com — Japan's Autumn Foliage Forecast 2026 (Japan Meteorological Corporation forecast): https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02888/
- Ministry of the Environment — Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden: https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/
- Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association — Rikugien and Koishikawa Korakuen: https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/
- Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Construction — Metropolitan gardens: https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/