According to an October 17 report by Marie Claire, Japan's newly released first autumn foliage forecast for 2026 shows that due to summer heat and a warmer-than-usual autumn, leaf-coloring timelines across the country are generally running later than in previous years. The report notes that central Tokyo is expected to reach peak viewing conditions only around late November, while Kyoto may not peak until early December. Hokkaido, by contrast, experienced lower temperatures in the first half of September, causing some mountainous areas to already begin changing color earlier than elsewhere.
The report compiled foliage spots spanning Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu-Hokuriku, Kansai, and Kyushu—from higher-altitude locations like Mount Asahidake in Daisetsuzan and the mountains of Nagano, to urban spots such as Yoyogi Park in Tokyo and Arashiyama in Kyoto, down to Takachiho Gorge in Kyushu, where coloring arrives latest. This range illustrates that this year's foliage season could stretch for more than two months from north to south, with timing differences largely shaped by latitude and elevation.
For travelers planning a foliage trip, what this forecast really signals is a need to recalibrate expectations around timing—departures scheduled for the usual mid-to-late November window may now come too early, particularly for Kansai and Kyushu itineraries, which could benefit from being planned more conservatively with room for adjustment. Ultimately, when leaves turn depends on temperature and terrain, and no one can guarantee an exact date; checking for the latest updates from meteorological agencies right up until departure is more practical than locking in plans too far ahead.
