Nara autumn leaves: when the maples turn red
The Japan Meteorological Agency's (JMA) sample maple at or near the weather observatory in Nara turns red around 21 November in an average year (1991–2020) and has lost most of its leaves by 5 December. In 2025 it turned red on 14 November, 7 days earlier than average.
Red: late Nov
Maple and ginkgo dates in Nara
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
- 21 Nov
- Leaves fall
- 5 Dec
- Red in 2025
- 14 Nov
- Ginkgo yellow
- 18 Nov
| Average | 2025 | Earliest on record | Latest on record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maple turns red | 21 Nov | 14 Nov (7 days earlier) | 9 Oct 1964 | 7 Dec 2015 |
| Maple leaves fall | 5 Dec | 3 Dec (2 days earlier) | 13 Nov 1959 (also 1955, 1956) | 18 Dec 1961 |
| Ginkgo turns yellow | 18 Nov | 18 Nov (average day) | 17 Oct 1964 | 27 Nov 2019 |
| Ginkgo leaves fall | 4 Dec | 27 Nov (7 days earlier) | 4 Nov 1964 | 15 Dec 2011 |
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 Nara, 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 | 14 Nov | 7 days earlier | 3 Dec | 18 Nov |
| 2024 | 28 Nov | 7 days later | 9 Dec | 8 Nov |
| 2023 | 20 Nov | 1 day earlier | 11 Dec | 20 Nov |
| 2022 | 14 Nov | 7 days earlier | 24 Nov | 11 Nov |
| 2021 | 15 Nov | 6 days earlier | 29 Nov | 19 Nov |
| 2020 | 13 Nov | 8 days earlier | 24 Nov | 17 Nov |
| 2019 | 15 Nov | 6 days earlier | 29 Nov | 27 Nov |
| 2018 | 14 Nov | 7 days earlier | 5 Dec | 24 Nov |
| 2017 | 9 Nov | 12 days earlier | 24 Nov | 21 Nov |
| 2016 | 4 Dec | 13 days later | 12 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
- Near the observatory (the JMA's rule: under about 5 km away)
- Records since
- 1953
- Earliest red
- 9 Oct 1964
- Latest red
- 7 Dec 2015
This is a city date. The JMA's date is for this one tree in Nara. 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 Nara?
The JMA's sample maple in Nara turns red around 21 November in an average year (1991–2020) and about 80% of its leaves have fallen by 5 December. In 2025 it turned red on 14 November, 7 days earlier than average.
When is the best time to see autumn leaves in Nara?
By the JMA's records, in an average year the sample maple in Nara turns red around 21 November and has lost about 80% of its leaves by 5 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 Nara?
Around 18 November in an average year, with about 80% of the leaves down by 4 December. In 2025 the sample ginkgo turned yellow on 18 November, on the average day.
What are the earliest and latest dates the maple has turned red in Nara?
The earliest was 9 Oct 1964 and the latest 7 Dec 2015, 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