Japan in November — Autumn Leaves, Weather, Night Illuminations and Holidays: What to Know Before You Fly

November is one of the most beautiful months of the year for a trip to Japan: pleasant, dry weather, clear skies and, above all, the autumn leaves (koyo), when the trees around temples and in gardens turn red, orange and yellow. For travellers from Israel it is also a convenient time, after the holidays and outside school breaks.

But there is one thing worth knowing in advance: in early November the autumn colour has not yet reached Tokyo and Kyoto in most years. This guide explains what you will find in each week of the month and how to plan your route. For an overview of all the seasons, see when to go to Japan.

The weather in November

November is one of the most pleasant months in Japan. In Tokyo and Kyoto daytime temperatures are usually 15–18°C, dropping at night to 7–10°C. The month is relatively dry, with many clear days, and typhoon season is over. Towards the end of the month it gets colder, and in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps it is already snowing. The days are short: the sun sets in Tokyo around 16:30, so start your mornings early.

The autumn leaves, week by week

The autumn colour moves from north to south and from the mountains down into the valleys, the opposite of the cherry blossom. In most years:

• Late October–early November: the mountains and higher areas, such as the town of Nikko, Hakone, the Fuji lakes and Kamikochi (which closes in mid-November).
• Mid-November: slightly higher areas around the cities, such as Arashiyama and Ohara in Kyoto, and Mount Takao near Tokyo.
• About 20 November–early December: the peak in the big cities, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara.

In recent years the peak in the cities has come later, and in Kyoto it often only arrives in early December. The autumn leaves forecast is published from early October and updated weekly. All the details and the best spots are in the autumn leaves guide.

If you are flying early in the month

If you land in the first or second week of November you don’t have to give up on the autumn colour, just move it. Build your route around the mountains: a day or a night in Nikko, where the colour in town and at the shrines peaks in late October and early November, or in Hakone and the Fuji lakes, with snow-capped Mount Fuji above the leaves. Do Kyoto and the city gardens anyway: even without the peak colour they are beautiful, and less crowded and cheaper than at the end of the month.

Temple night illuminations

One of the special experiences of November is the night illuminations (light-ups): temples and gardens in Kyoto open in the evening, and the trees are lit from below so the leaves glow in the dark. Among the most famous are Kiyomizu-dera, Eikan-do and Kodai-ji in Kyoto. The illuminations usually run from mid-November to early December, with separate admission from the daytime, and at some places the queue is long, so arrive at opening. In Tokyo, the winter illuminations in the streets and malls also start in mid-November, ahead of Christmas.

Autumn leaves and night illumination tours in Kyoto

Holidays and events in November

November has two public holidays, and both crowd the tourist sights. Culture Day, on 3 November, falls on a Tuesday in 2026. Labour Thanksgiving Day, on 23 November, falls on a Monday in 2026, so the long weekend of 21–23 November will coincide with the peak of the autumn colour in Kyoto and be one of the busiest of the year. Around 15 November Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San, when families bring children aged three, five and seven in kimono to Shinto shrines, and on the weekends of the month you see them at every big shrine.

Prices and crowds

The last two weeks of November are, together with cherry blossom season, the most expensive and crowded time in Kyoto: hotels rise in price and are booked months ahead, and the famous sights are full from the morning. Early and mid-month are cheaper and quieter. If your dates are at the end of the month, book accommodation in Kyoto as early as possible, or stay in Osaka, about half an hour away by train, and travel into Kyoto for the day. See where to stay in Kyoto.

Hotels in Kyoto for November

Shopping and tax refunds

From 1 November 2026 Japan’s tax-free system changes: in shops you pay the full price, including the 10% consumption tax, and you get the tax back when you leave the country, after customs checks the goods. Keep your receipts, and carry what you bought in your hand luggage or at least don’t pack it deep in your suitcase. All the details are in the money in Japan guide.

What to pack

Layers: long-sleeved tops, a sweater or jacket for the day, and a light coat for the evening, when temperatures drop below 10°C. If you are going to the mountains, Nikko, Hakone or Hokkaido, you need a warm coat, a hat and gloves. Comfortable shoes for garden and temple paths, which have plenty of steps, and a power bank for your phone, because you will take a lot of photos.

Suggested route for November

Early in the month: Tokyo, then two days in the mountains, Nikko or Hakone and Fuji, and then Kyoto and Osaka in relative calm. Late in the month: the classic route at the peak of the autumn colour, with at least three days in Kyoto, gardens early in the morning and night illuminations in the evening. A day in Nara or in Minoo (near Osaka) completes the picture with fewer crowds.

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From here: read the autumn leaves guide, choose when to go to Japan or plan your days in Kyoto.