2025 Tokyo Autumn Foliage: Best 5 Spots & Peak Season Guide

🍂 Planning a romantic autumn trip to Tokyo?
Discover the best spots for fall foliage,
peak viewing dates, and stunning night illuminations—
your complete guide to Tokyo's autumn colors!

Curious about 2025 Tokyo autumn foliage season? If you're looking for the best autumn viewing spots in Tokyo for a romantic fall trip, you've come to the right place. From local expert predictions on peak foliage dates to the characteristics of the BEST 5 must-visit spots and complete illumination information—we've got everything covered.

🍂 2025 Tokyo Autumn Foliage: When is Peak Season?

Tokyo's autumn colors typically last from mid-November to early December. The peak timing varies slightly depending on the type of tree:

• Ginkgo trees (yellow foliage): Mid-November to late November
• Maple trees (red foliage): Late November to early December

✅ The 2025 Tokyo autumn foliage peak is expected around the last week of November. Keep this in mind when planning your trip!

🍁 Top 5 Tokyo Autumn Foliage Spots (Must-Visit!)

Tokyo has countless autumn foliage spots, but we've carefully selected the top 5 based on visitor accessibility and satisfaction.

1. Meiji Jingu Gaien (Ginkgo Avenue)

The iconic "golden tunnel" that symbolizes Tokyo's autumn. Approximately 146 towering ginkgo trees line a 300-meter stretch, creating an overwhelming landscape.

In 2025, the 'Tokyo Christmas Market' and 'Night Illumination' will be held simultaneously during the ginkgo peak season, offering unprecedented attractions.

• 🍁 Expected peak date: November 29, 2025
• 🚇 Access: Ginza Line 'Gaienmae Station' / Oedo & Hanzomon Lines 'Aoyama-itchome Station'
• 🕒 Hours: Open 24 hours
• 💰 Admission: Free

➡️ Meiji Jingu Gaien Tokyo Ginkgo Avenue: November Foliage #1 Spot, Light-up & 2025 Christmas Market

📍 Nearby attractions: Aoyama & Omotesando

After strolling through the ginkgo avenue, explore the sophisticated boutiques, galleries, and stylish cafes along Aoyama and Omotesando streets.

➡️ Omotesando Complete Guide: Coffee, Shopping, Restaurants & Architecture

2. Shinjuku Gyoen

A vast urban oasis in the heart of the city. With Japanese, French, and English-style gardens all in one place, you can enjoy diverse autumn landscapes. The red maples reflected in the pond are truly spectacular.

• 🍁 Expected peak date: December 7, 2025
• 🚇 Access: Marunouchi Line 'Shinjuku-gyoenmae Station' / Shinjuku & Fukutoshin Lines 'Shinjuku-sanchome Station' / JR & Oedo Line 'Shinjuku Station'
• 🕒 Hours: 9:00 - 16:30 (Closed Mondays)
• 💰 Admission: 500 yen (adults)

➡️ Tokyo Shinjuku Gyoen Complete Guide: Admission, Hours, Starbucks, Picnic & Running (2025)

📍 Nearby attractions: Shinjuku

Enjoy a leisurely morning viewing autumn colors at Shinjuku Gyoen, then spend the afternoon shopping and dining at Shinjuku's department stores—a perfect day course.

➡️ Shinjuku Attractions Complete Guide (Restaurants, Shopping, Recommended Course)

3. Yoyogi Park

A spacious park near Harajuku and Shibuya. The wide lawns and lush forests make it perfect for enjoying autumn colors alongside locals in a relaxed atmosphere.

• 🍁 Expected peak date: November 30, 2025
• 🚇 Access: JR Yamanote Line 'Harajuku Station' / Chiyoda & Fukutoshin Lines 'Meiji-jingumae Station'
• 🕒 Hours: Open 24 hours
• 💰 Admission: Free

📍 Nearby attractions: Harajuku & Shibuya

After a picnic at Yoyogi Park, explore the latest trends on Takeshita Street in Harajuku, then head to Shibuya for an energetic evening—a perfect course for an active day.

➡️ Shibuya Attractions: From Shibuya Sky Reservations to Shopping & Restaurants

➡️ Harajuku Attractions: Harry Potter Store to Takeshita Street & Cat Street

4. Rikugien Garden

A representative Edo-period Japanese garden where you can enjoy tranquil autumn colors while strolling along intricately designed ponds and hills. The highlight here is the spectacular 'Autumn Foliage Night Illumination' held every fall.

• 🍁 Expected peak date: December 7, 2025
• 🚇 Access: JR Yamanote & Namboku Lines 'Komagome Station' / Mita Line 'Sengoku Station'
• 🕒 Hours: 9:00 - 17:00 (Extended hours during illumination period)
• 💰 Admission: 300 yen (adults)

📍 Nearby attractions: Yanaka & Nezu

After enjoying the autumn colors at Rikugien, head to 'Yanesen' (Yanaka-Nezu-Sendagi area) to explore Tokyo's old-town atmosphere with its charming cats and vintage shopping streets.

5. Inokashira Park

A beautiful park located in Kichijoji. Riding swan boats on the lake while enjoying the colorful autumn foliage is a unique experience.

• 🍁 Expected peak date: December 6, 2025
• 🚇 Access: JR Chuo Line & Keio Inokashira Line 'Kichijoji Station'
• 🕒 Hours: Open 24 hours
• 💰 Admission: Free (Some facilities have fees)

📍 Nearby attractions: Kichijoji & Ghibli Museum

Inokashira Park connects Kichijoji's shopping streets and the Ghibli Museum. We recommend exploring the charming boutiques and restaurants before or after your park stroll, or combining it with a Ghibli Museum visit.

➡️ Tokyo Kichijoji Must-Visit Places: Perfect Course (with Ghibli Museum)

➡️ Mitaka Ghibli Museum Reservation Guide

✨ More Autumn Foliage Spots by Interest

If you want to explore beyond the BEST 5, these spots are also excellent choices:

🍁 Ueno Park (Free admission / Expected peak: December 3)

A cultural complex where you can enjoy autumn colors alongside museums, art galleries, and the zoo. The giant ginkgo tree in front of Tokyo National Museum is a hidden photo spot.

🍁 Koishikawa Korakuen (300 yen admission / Expected peak: December 3)

A traditional garden near Tokyo Dome, known for especially beautiful red maple trees.

🍁 Hibiya Park (Free admission / Expected peak: December 1)

An urban park in the heart of Tokyo's office district. Enjoy autumn colors alongside office workers on their lunch break, with particularly beautiful foliage around the cloud-shaped 'Kumokataikei Pond.'

🍁 Kitanomaru Park & Ninomaru Garden (Free admission / Expected peak: December 3)

Beautiful Japanese gardens east of the Imperial Palace. Unlike crowded tourist spots, you can enjoy relatively peaceful and relaxed autumn viewing here.

🍁 Hamarikyu Gardens (300 yen admission / Expected peak: December 4)

Features unique scenery where you can enjoy autumn colors with skyscrapers and Tokyo Bay as your backdrop.

🍁 Mount Takao (Expected peak: November 23)

About an hour by train from Shinjuku, experience the spectacular view of an entire mountain draped in red foliage.

🍁 Hakone (Expected peak: November 13)

Hakone, Tokyo's premier hot spring destination, also offers stunning autumn colors. Take the Hakone Tozan Railway through a tunnel of foliage, or view the crimson mountains from Lake Ashi's pleasure boats for unforgettable memories.

➡️ Hakone Travel Perfect Course (Hakone Free Pass & Romancecar Reservation)

💡 Tokyo Autumn Foliage Travel Tips (Best Time & What to Wear)

• Avoid crowds: Weekends and holidays are extremely crowded, so if possible, visit on weekday mornings for the most relaxed experience.
• What to wear: November in Tokyo is similar to mid-to-late October in Korea. A light down jacket or thick cardigan is appropriate during the day, while mornings and evenings can be chilly, so we recommend bringing a scarf or light gloves.

Tokyo's autumn, painted in vibrant reds and yellows, offers a romance and beauty quite different from cherry blossom season. We hope this guide helps you capture unforgettable photos and memories on your 2025 Tokyo autumn foliage trip!

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