Matsuyama autumn leaves: when the maples turn red
The Japan Meteorological Agency's (JMA) sample maple at or near the weather observatory in Matsuyama turns red around 5 December in an average year (1991–2020) and has lost most of its leaves by 24 December. In 2025 it turned red on 8 December, 3 days later than average.
Red: early Dec
Maple and ginkgo dates in Matsuyama
Average dates are for 1991–2020. The JMA adds new dates to its online table, which it updates once a day (around 8:35 a.m. Japan time).
- Turns red
- 5 Dec
- Leaves fall
- 24 Dec
- Red in 2025
- 8 Dec
- Ginkgo yellow
- 22 Nov
| Average | 2025 | Earliest on record | Latest on record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple turns red | 5 Dec | 8 Dec (3 days later) | 3 Nov 1966 | 18 Dec 1998 (also 1997) |
| Maple leaves fall | 24 Dec | 26 Dec (2 days later) | 25 Nov 1966 | 8 Jan 2016 |
| Ginkgo turns yellow | 22 Nov | 27 Nov (5 days later) | 5 Nov 1967 | 3 Dec 1994 |
| Ginkgo leaves fall | 2 Dec | 8 Dec (6 days later) | 21 Nov 2002 | 14 Dec 1987 |
When a record date happened in more than one year, the other years are in brackets.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red: dates in 2025 and 2026 (かえでの紅葉日) · Japan Meteorological Agency — Ginkgo leaves turning yellow: dates in 2025 and 2026 (いちょうの黄葉日) · Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red, every year since 1953 (CSV 015)
Every autumn from 2016 to 2025
When the maple turned red, how far that was from the average, and when it lost its leaves.
Day the maple turned red in Matsuyama, 2016–2025
A longer bar means later in the autumn. The bar runs from 1 October.
| Autumn of | Maple turns red | Against the 1991–2020 average | Maple leaves fall | Ginkgo turns yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 Dec | 3 days later | 26 Dec | 27 Nov |
| 2024 | 16 Dec | 11 days later | 7 Jan 2025 | 2 Dec |
| 2023 | 7 Dec | 2 days later | 20 Dec | 24 Nov |
| 2022 | 14 Dec | 9 days later | 23 Dec | 30 Nov |
| 2021 | 6 Dec | 1 day later | 17 Dec | 22 Nov |
| 2020 | 8 Dec | 3 days later | 30 Dec | 19 Nov |
| 2019 | 9 Dec | 4 days later | 31 Dec | 25 Nov |
| 2018 | 7 Dec | 2 days later | 4 Jan 2019 | 22 Nov |
| 2017 | 28 Nov | 7 days earlier | 16 Nov | |
| 2016 | 6 Dec | 1 day later | 23 Dec | 22 Nov |
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red, every year since 1953 (CSV 015) · Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves falling, every year since 1953 (CSV 016) · Japan Meteorological Agency — Ginkgo leaves turning yellow, every year since 1953 (CSV 013)
The tree behind the dates
One tree at or near the weather observatory, checked by eye.
- Tree
- Japanese maple (iroha-kaede)
- Where in 2025
- In the observatory grounds
- Records since
- 1954
- Earliest red
- 3 Nov 1966
- Latest red
- 18 Dec 1998 (also 1997)
This is a city date. The JMA's date is for this one tree in Matsuyama. It is not a date for the mountains, valleys or famous gardens around the city.
Other cities in Shikoku
Average dates for every city in Shikoku with a JMA maple record.
| City | Maple turns red | Maple leaves fall | Red in 2025 | Ginkgo turns yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takamatsu高松 | 23 Nov | 4 Dec | 3 Dec (10 days later) | 26 Nov |
| Tokushima徳島 | 28 Nov | 11 Dec | 28 Nov (average day) | 8 Dec |
| Kochi高知 | 2 Dec | 23 Dec | 10 Dec (8 days later) | 15 Nov |
| Matsuyama松山 | 5 Dec | 24 Dec | 8 Dec (3 days later) | 22 Nov |
Frequently asked questions
When do the leaves turn red in Matsuyama?
The JMA's sample maple in Matsuyama turns red around 5 December in an average year (1991–2020) and about 80% of its leaves have fallen by 24 December. In 2025 it turned red on 8 December, 3 days later than average.
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Matsuyama?
By the JMA's records, in an average year the sample maple in Matsuyama turns red around 5 December and has lost about 80% of its leaves by 24 December. The JMA's date is for this one tree. It is not a date for the mountains, valleys or famous gardens around the city.
When do ginkgo trees turn yellow in Matsuyama?
Around 22 November in an average year, with about 80% of the leaves down by 2 December. In 2025 the sample ginkgo turned yellow on 27 November, 5 days later than average.
What are the earliest and latest dates the maple has turned red in Matsuyama?
The earliest was 3 Nov 1966 and the latest 18 Dec 1998 (also 1997), in records that start in 1954.
Related items
Sources for this page
- Japan Meteorological Agency Maple leaves turning red: dates in 2025 and 2026 (かえでの紅葉日)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Ginkgo leaves turning yellow: dates in 2025 and 2026 (いちょうの黄葉日)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Maple leaves turning red, every year since 1953 (CSV 015)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Maple leaves falling, every year since 1953 (CSV 016)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Ginkgo leaves turning yellow, every year since 1953 (CSV 013)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Ginkgo leaves falling, every year since 1953 (CSV 014)checked October 2, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency Guidelines for biological season observations (生物季節観測指針)checked October 2, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026