Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
November is the best month for Japan if you want autumn leaves and dry weather, and the cost is crowds in Kyoto. Tokyo's highs are about 17°C (62°F) and Kyoto's about 17°C (63°F) with far less rain than October: roughly 96 mm in Tokyo and 74 mm in Kyoto. Leaves in the big cities usually peak from mid to late November into early December, so the second half of the month is the busiest. Our Japan route ran in March and April 2023, not November, so the weather below is Japan Meteorological Agency 1991 to 2020 normals and not what we had.
• Best weather: November is dry and clear, with cool mornings and sunny afternoons.
• Best for leaves: Japan Guide's 2026 table listed Kyoto for mid November to early December, Kanazawa for mid to late November and Tokyo for late November to early December.
• Fewest crowds: the first week of November, and weekdays outside Kyoto.
• Cheapest: the first week. Hotels rise through the month and peak in the last ten days.
• Avoid: weekends in Kyoto's Arashiyama, Higashiyama and Eikando in the last two weeks. See our Kyoto autumn leaves guide.
Typical November figures from the Japan Meteorological Agency 1991 to 2020 normals:
• Tokyo: about 9 to 17°C (48 to 62°F), around 96 mm of rain over 8 rain days and 150 hours of sun.
• Kyoto: about 8 to 17°C (47 to 63°F), around 74 mm of rain over 7 rain days.
• Sapporo: about 2 to 9°C (35 to 48°F) and around 114 mm. Expect the first snow in the city.
• Naha, Okinawa: about 20 to 25°C (69 to 77°F), around 119 mm of rain. Pleasant for a beach week.
Mornings are cold, so layers matter more than a heavy coat. Our what to wear in Japan and packing list cover layering for autumn.
Colour moves from north to south and from the mountains to the cities. Japan Guide's 2026 forecast table listed Sapporo and Nikko from late October, Kanazawa from mid November, Kyoto from mid November to early December and Tokyo from late November. The Japan Meteorological Corporation's 2026 forecasts, reported by Tokyo Cheapo and Time Out, put Tokyo around 28 November and Kyoto around 11 December, which is later than many visitors expect.
The dates move by days each year and the forecast updates through October, so book flexible hotels and check the forecast closer to the date. Ginkgo avenues in Tokyo turn a few days before the maples.
• Culture Day, Wednesday 3 November: a national holiday, so museums and gardens can be busier.
• Labour Thanksgiving Day, Tuesday 23 November: another national holiday, falling on a Tuesday, which can extend into a four-day weekend for some.
• Winter illuminations begin to switch on from mid to late November in Tokyo and Osaka. See our winter illuminations guide for the current season's dates; 2027's will be announced later.
Public holiday dates come from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan calendar.
Kyoto and Nara are the obvious pair. We spent 2 to 6 April 2023 in Kyoto and 6 to 8 April in Nara, so these stops fit a November trip too; see how many days in Kyoto, 3 days in Kyoto, the Kyoto to Nara day trip and Nara deer park etiquette.
Kanazawa is a good choice for leaves with fewer people than Kyoto. We were there from 29 March to 2 April 2023. See our Kanazawa guide and what to eat in Kanazawa. Hakone is also on our route; see the Hakone Freepass guide.
Kyoto hotel prices in the second half of November are among the highest of the year, and many places book out months ahead. Use where to stay in Kyoto and check the Kyoto accommodation tax to avoid surprises. Day trips to Nara or Osaka are a cheaper way to see the city if Kyoto rooms are expensive.
Go early to the famous gardens, aim for weekdays, and have a plan B for rainy afternoons. In Tokyo, crowds are lower than Kyoto, and autumn leaves in parks and ginkgo avenues are free.
If you are on a tight budget, early December before Christmas is cheaper, though leaves are thinner by then. See Japan in December.
If you want blossom or warm beaches, go in spring or choose Okinawa; see Japan in April.
If your dates are fixed to the last week, accept crowds and book early. For the year view, see best time to visit Tokyo.
Yes, it is one of the two best months, for autumn leaves and dry weather. The cost is higher hotel prices and heavy crowds in Kyoto in the second half.
Japan Guide's 2026 table listed Kyoto for mid November to early December and Tokyo for late November to early December. Dates move a few days each year.
Tokyo is about 9 to 17°C and Kyoto about 8 to 17°C. Sapporo is about 2 to 9°C and has first snow.
Yes: Culture Day on Wednesday 3 November and Labour Thanksgiving Day on Tuesday 23 November.
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