Hokkaido autumn leaves: when the maples turn red in 6 cities
Maple leaves turn red in Hokkaido from around 20 October in Obihiro to around 7 November in Muroran in an average year (1991–2020), by the Japan Meteorological Agency's records for 6 cities. The JMA's date for Kushiro is earlier (16 October), but the sample tree there is an itaya-kaede maple, which turns yellow rather than red.
The 6 cities in Hokkaido
Sorted from the earliest to the latest average date.
- Cities
- 6
- First red
- 20 Oct
- Last red
- 7 Nov
| City | Maple turns red | Maple leaves fall | Red in 2025 | Ginkgo turns yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kushiro釧路 | 16 Oct (turns yellow) | 24 Oct | ||
| Obihiro帯広 | 20 Oct | 29 Oct | 29 Oct (9 days later) | 28 Oct |
| Asahikawa旭川 | 23 Oct | 2 Nov | 22 Oct (1 day earlier) | |
| Sapporo札幌 | 28 Oct | 5 Nov | 6 Nov (9 days later) | 4 Nov |
| Hakodate函館 | 2 Nov | 13 Nov | 6 Nov (4 days later) | 2 Nov |
| Muroran室蘭 | 7 Nov | 14 Nov | 14 Nov (7 days later) |
Kushiro: the sample tree is an itaya-kaede maple, which turns yellow. The JMA still records the date as maple colouring.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red: dates in 2025 and 2026 (かえでの紅葉日) · 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)
How the red moves through the region
From the JMA's map of average dates (1991–2020).
- Mid-October: eastern Hokkaido on the Pacific side
- 10 November: southern Hokkaido on the Pacific side
The map lines are a broad picture. The averages of the 6 cities in Hokkaido run from 16 October (Kushiro) to 7 November (Muroran).
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red: map of normal dates, 1991–2020 (かえでの紅葉日)
The 2025 season in Hokkaido
Against the 1991–2020 average, by the JMA's table.
- Later than average in 2025: Obihiro (9 days later), Sapporo (9 days later), Hakodate (4 days later), Muroran (7 days later).
- Earlier than average in 2025: Asahikawa (1 day earlier).
- No 2025 date in the JMA's table: Kushiro.
Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red: dates in 2025 and 2026 (かえでの紅葉日)
City pages in Hokkaido
Frequently asked questions
When do the leaves change colour in Hokkaido?
In an average year (1991–2020) the JMA's sample maples in Hokkaido turn red from around 20 October in Obihiro to around 7 November in Muroran. The JMA's date for Kushiro is earlier (16 October), but the sample tree there is an itaya-kaede maple, which turns yellow rather than red.
Where in Hokkaido do the leaves turn red first?
Obihiro, around 20 October on average. Muroran is the last, around 7 November. The JMA's date for Kushiro is earlier (16 October), but the sample tree there is an itaya-kaede maple, which turns yellow rather than red.
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 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 Maple leaves turning red: map of normal dates, 1991–2020 (かえでの紅葉日)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