Kumamoto autumn leaves: when the maples turn red
The Japan Meteorological Agency's (JMA) sample maple at or near the weather observatory in Kumamoto turns red around 2 December in an average year (1991–2020) and has lost most of its leaves by 15 December. In 2025 it turned red on 15 December, 13 days later than average.
Red: early Dec
Maple and ginkgo dates in Kumamoto
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
- 2 Dec
- Leaves fall
- 15 Dec
- Red in 2025
- 15 Dec
- Ginkgo yellow
- 27 Nov
| Average | 2025 | Earliest on record | Latest on record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple turns red | 2 Dec | 15 Dec (13 days later) | 1 Nov 1963 | 2 Jan 1980 |
| Maple leaves fall | 15 Dec | 21 Dec (6 days later) | 26 Nov 1972 | 11 Jan 1978 |
| Ginkgo turns yellow | 27 Nov | 12 Dec (15 days later) | 11 Oct 1955 | 18 Dec 2024 |
| Ginkgo leaves fall | 8 Dec | 15 Dec (7 days later) | 21 Nov 1986 (also 1974) | 28 Dec 1979 |
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 Kumamoto, 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 | 15 Dec | 13 days later | 21 Dec | 12 Dec |
| 2024 | 19 Dec | 17 days later | 28 Dec | 18 Dec |
| 2023 | 6 Dec | 4 days later | 13 Dec | 24 Nov |
| 2022 | 12 Dec | 10 days later | 21 Dec | 12 Dec |
| 2021 | 29 Nov | 3 days earlier | 2 Dec | 25 Nov |
| 2020 | 4 Dec | 2 days later | 23 Dec | 24 Nov |
| 2019 | 4 Dec | 2 days later | 16 Dec | 2 Dec |
| 2017 | 29 Nov | 3 days earlier | 8 Dec | 29 Nov |
| 2016 | 30 Nov | 2 days earlier | 19 Dec | 7 Dec |
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
- Near the observatory (the JMA's rule: under about 5 km away)
- Records since
- 1953
- Earliest red
- 1 Nov 1963
- Latest red
- 2 Jan 1980
This is a city date. The JMA's date is for this one tree in Kumamoto. It is not a date for the mountains, valleys or famous gardens around the city.
Other cities in Kyushu
Average dates for every city in Kyushu with a JMA maple record.
| City | Maple turns red | Maple leaves fall | Red in 2025 | Ginkgo turns yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oita大分 | 28 Nov | 11 Dec | 25 Nov (3 days earlier) | 5 Dec |
| Saga佐賀 | 30 Nov | 12 Dec | 3 Dec (3 days later) | 21 Nov |
| Fukuoka福岡 | 1 Dec | 14 Dec | 1 Dec (average day) | 20 Nov |
| Kumamoto熊本 | 2 Dec | 15 Dec | 15 Dec (13 days later) | 27 Nov |
| Miyazaki宮崎 | 4 Dec | 18 Dec | 26 Nov (8 days earlier) | 29 Nov |
| Nagasaki長崎 | 7 Dec | 21 Dec | 2 Dec (5 days earlier) | 5 Dec |
| Kagoshima鹿児島 | 15 Dec | 24 Dec | 2 Dec (13 days earlier) | 25 Nov |
Frequently asked questions
When do the leaves turn red in Kumamoto?
The JMA's sample maple in Kumamoto turns red around 2 December in an average year (1991–2020) and about 80% of its leaves have fallen by 15 December. In 2025 it turned red on 15 December, 13 days later than average.
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Kumamoto?
By the JMA's records, in an average year the sample maple in Kumamoto turns red around 2 December and has lost about 80% of its leaves by 15 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 Kumamoto?
Around 27 November in an average year, with about 80% of the leaves down by 8 December. In 2025 the sample ginkgo turned yellow on 12 December, 15 days later than average.
What are the earliest and latest dates the maple has turned red in Kumamoto?
The earliest was 1 Nov 1963 and the latest 2 Jan 1980, in records that start in 1953.
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