Skip to main content

Kansai autumn leaves: when the maples turn red in 7 cities

Maple leaves turn red in Kansai from around 21 November in Nara to around 6 December in Wakayama in an average year (1991–2020), by the Japan Meteorological Agency's records for 7 cities.

Updated

7cities
21 Novfirst: Nara
6 Declast: Wakayama

The 7 cities in Kansai

Sorted from the earliest to the latest average date.

Cities
7
First red
21 Nov
Last red
6 Dec
Average dates in Kansai (1991–2020) and 2025 (Japan Meteorological Agency)
CityMaple turns redMaple leaves fallRed in 2025Ginkgo turns yellow
Nara奈良21 Nov5 Dec14 Nov (7 days earlier)18 Nov
Tsu津25 Nov13 Dec25 Nov (average day)20 Nov
Hikone彦根28 Nov11 Dec1 Dec (3 days later)20 Nov
Kobe神戸1 Dec16 Dec26 Nov (5 days earlier)13 Nov
Osaka大阪1 Dec13 Dec4 Dec (3 days later)22 Nov
Kyoto京都5 Dec18 Dec10 Dec (5 days later)24 Nov
Wakayama和歌山6 Dec17 Dec9 Dec (3 days later)23 Nov

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).

  • Early to mid-December: the Pacific coast of Kanto and Tokai, the Kinki region and southern Kyushu

The map lines are a broad picture. The averages of the 7 cities in Kansai run from 21 November (Nara) to 6 December (Wakayama).

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 Kansai

Against the 1991–2020 average, by the JMA's table.

  • Later than average in 2025: Hikone (3 days later), Osaka (3 days later), Kyoto (5 days later), Wakayama (3 days later).
  • Earlier than average in 2025: Nara (7 days earlier), Kobe (5 days earlier).
  • On the average day in 2025: Tsu.

Sources: Japan Meteorological Agency — Maple leaves turning red: dates in 2025 and 2026 (かえでの紅葉日)

City pages in Kansai

Frequently asked questions

When do the leaves change colour in Kansai?

In an average year (1991–2020) the JMA's sample maples in Kansai turn red from around 21 November in Nara to around 6 December in Wakayama.

Where in Kansai do the leaves turn red first?

Nara, around 21 November on average. Wakayama is the last, around 6 December.

Related items

Sources for this page

Back to Autumn leaves

Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026