Kyoto autumn leaves: when the maples turn red
The Japan Meteorological Agency's (JMA) sample maple at or near the weather observatory in Kyoto turns red around 5 December in an average year (1991–2020) and has lost most of its leaves by 18 December. In 2025 it turned red on 10 December, 5 days later than average.
Red: early Dec
Maple and ginkgo dates in Kyoto
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
- 18 Dec
- Red in 2025
- 10 Dec
- Ginkgo yellow
- 24 Nov
| Average | 2025 | Earliest on record | Latest on record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple turns red | 5 Dec | 10 Dec (5 days later) | 10 Nov 1976 | 20 Dec 2024 |
| Maple leaves fall | 18 Dec | 22 Dec (4 days later) | 2 Dec 1981 | 4 Jan 1960 |
| Ginkgo turns yellow | 24 Nov | 25 Nov (1 day later) | 7 Nov 1976 | 7 Dec 1982 |
| Ginkgo leaves fall | 4 Dec | 8 Dec (4 days later) | 20 Nov 1968 | 19 Dec 2024 |
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 Kyoto, 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 | 10 Dec | 5 days later | 22 Dec | 25 Nov |
| 2024 | 20 Dec | 15 days later | 1 Jan 2025 | 2 Dec |
| 2023 | 13 Dec | 8 days later | 19 Dec | 4 Dec |
| 2022 | 12 Dec | 7 days later | 22 Dec | 25 Nov |
| 2021 | 20 Dec | 26 Nov | ||
| 2020 | 7 Dec | 2 days later | 21 Dec | 20 Nov |
| 2019 | 10 Dec | 5 days later | 21 Dec | 21 Nov |
| 2018 | 12 Dec | 7 days later | 25 Dec | 27 Nov |
| 2017 | 1 Dec | 4 days earlier | 11 Dec | 22 Nov |
| 2016 | 6 Dec | 1 day later | 15 Dec | 17 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
- Near the observatory (the JMA's rule: under about 5 km away)
- Records since
- 1956
- Earliest red
- 10 Nov 1976
- Latest red
- 20 Dec 2024
This is a city date. The JMA's date is for this one tree in Kyoto. It is not a date for the mountains, valleys or famous gardens around the city.
Other cities in Kansai
Average dates for every city in Kansai with a JMA maple record.
| City | Maple turns red | Maple leaves fall | Red in 2025 | Ginkgo turns yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nara奈良 | 21 Nov | 5 Dec | 14 Nov (7 days earlier) | 18 Nov |
| Tsu津 | 25 Nov | 13 Dec | 25 Nov (average day) | 20 Nov |
| Hikone彦根 | 28 Nov | 11 Dec | 1 Dec (3 days later) | 20 Nov |
| Kobe神戸 | 1 Dec | 16 Dec | 26 Nov (5 days earlier) | 13 Nov |
| Osaka大阪 | 1 Dec | 13 Dec | 4 Dec (3 days later) | 22 Nov |
| Kyoto京都 | 5 Dec | 18 Dec | 10 Dec (5 days later) | 24 Nov |
| Wakayama和歌山 | 6 Dec | 17 Dec | 9 Dec (3 days later) | 23 Nov |
Frequently asked questions
When do the leaves turn red in Kyoto?
The JMA's sample maple in Kyoto turns red around 5 December in an average year (1991–2020) and about 80% of its leaves have fallen by 18 December. In 2025 it turned red on 10 December, 5 days later than average.
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Kyoto?
By the JMA's records, in an average year the sample maple in Kyoto turns red around 5 December and has lost about 80% of its leaves by 18 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 Kyoto?
Around 24 November in an average year, with about 80% of the leaves down by 4 December. In 2025 the sample ginkgo turned yellow on 25 November, 1 day later than average.
What are the earliest and latest dates the maple has turned red in Kyoto?
The earliest was 10 Nov 1976 and the latest 20 Dec 2024, in records that start in 1956.
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