Best fall foliage spots in Kyoto
Nov 04, 2022
Best fall foliage spots in Kyoto
In addition to its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, fall foliage is another reason for tourists to visit Japan, particularly for enjoying Kōyō (紅葉) and Momiji (紅葉) every year.
Although both are written in the same Chinese characters, Kōyō refers to foliage with red and yellow colors, while Momiji specifically refers to the spectacular view of red maple leaves in fall.
The fall foliage in Kyoto is at its peak from late November, and this feature will introduce some of the best spots in Kyoto where you can enjoy fall foliage.
Index : Best fall foliage spots in Kyoto
1. Arashiyama
Arashiyama is a gorge in the Nishiyama area of Kyoto’s Ukyo Ward, and it is a popular tourist destination that is mainly known for its gorgeous bamboo forest, breathtaking cherry blossoms in spring, and hypnotizing autumn leaves in fall.
Due to its beautiful nature, this area has also become the setting for stories such as ‘The Tale of Genji’ and ‘The Tale of the Heike’.
The name ‘Arashiyama’ is believed to have originated from the ‘storm-like dance’ of the spring cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
From mid-November, the maple trees in Arashiyama are dyed red and yellow, offering a scenic landscape in striking contrast with its turquoise blue river.
2. The Philosopher’s Path
The Philosopher’s Path stretches for about 2 kilometers along a canal flowing from Nyakuoji Bridge, outside Kumano Nyakuoji Shrine to Ginkakuji intersection. The path was built in 1890 along with the 3.3 kilometers canal, which is a part of the Biwa Canal system.
Its name originated from a belief saying that philosophers who lived in the area used to walk along the path in the past.
The path is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms in spring, and in fall, the path is packed with local and foreign tourists looking for beautiful red and yellow leaves.
The best time to visit this path is from mid to late November, and there are a lot of shops selling unique items along this path.
3. Eikando Zenrinji
Eikando Zenrinji is a Buddhist temple located not so far from the Philosopher’s Path, and it is extremely famous among tourists for its mesmerizing fall foliage. Also known as ‘Momiji Eikando’, there are over 3,000 maple trees in the area, offering breathtaking sceneries that have inspired many poets in the past.
The best time to visit this temple is from November to early December, especially at night when the maple trees are lit up with beautiful lights.
4. Bishamondo
Bishamondo is named after Bishamonten, one of the seven gods of good fortune that bring good luck for the New Year and to whom the temple is dedicated.
The area is best known for its amazing autumn leaves, particularly for its fallen maple leaves, transforming the path to its main hall into a hypnotizing deep red carpet.
In addition to the red maple leaves carpet, the area around Bishamondo also has trees that change color in fall, creating an amazing, yet heartwarming atmosphere.
The best time to visit this area is from mid-November to early December.
5. Kiyomizu Temple
Kiyomizu Temple is a spot in Kyoto that overlooks the Higashiyama area of Kyoto. Also known as ‘Kiyomizu Stage’, the spot is famous for both its cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, attracting millions of tourists visiting in spring and fall every year.
The best viewing points for fall foliage are from the Kiyomizu Stage and from the Oku-no-in, which are both superb. You can see the carpet of autumn leaves spreading across the Kin-un-kyo Gorge while enjoying the fresh air from the main halls of Kiyomizu Temple.
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