Tofuku-ji Temple, Kyoto
Top of our fall colors list (and probably top of most people’s lists) is Kyoto: a city steeped in culture and history. It’s not for nothing that Kyoto is known as the “City of Ten Thousand Temples”, and it is at these temples, shrines, and gardens that you’ll see some of Japan’s finest autumn leaves. The colours begin to come out in around mid-November, and can last until early December. Evening is often the best time to visit, as the trees are lit up to their best advantage.
Some of the best places temples at which to see the fall colors are Tofuku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Yoshimine-dera, and Eikando. We also highly recommend heading out into the Arashiyama district on the outskirts of Kyoto, where the forested mountains are particularly impressive.
Do it: Our Spirit of Honshu Small Group Tour stops off in Kyoto for the fall colors (November departure). And if our group tours are sold out, then take a look at the ‘Autumn Splendour’ trip for a taste of Japan and the best of the fall colours.