Fall foliage at Saimyo-Ji Temple in Mount Takao on the northern fringes of Kyoto.
Image courtesy Kyoto City Tourism Association
Japan’s ancient cultural capital Kyoto may be best known for its temples and the mesmerizing displays of cherry blossoms that envelop the city’s historic sites in the springtime, but there is another Kyoto season that is equally deserving of your attention. Every year in the late fall, the city’s trees blaze in a symphony of rich and luminous crimsons, coppers and golds as the tourists descend for Kyoto fall foliage season.
In recent years, Kyoto, famous for its 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Imperial Palace, Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, geishas, and narrow cobblestoned streets, has experienced major challenges due to overtourism. So much so that Kyoto City Tourism Association has rolled out a website outlining the ways for tourists to visit Kyoto sustainably and respectfully, including a handy guide appropriately entitled ‘Mind Your Manners’.
Fall colors at Daigo-ji Temple in Kyoto, Daigo-ji is a Shingon Buddhist Temple in the Fushimi-ku ward of Kyoto and was founded in the 9th century.
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Kyoto Fall Foliage
In Japanese, the fall foliage is called Koyō (紅葉), while the tradition of leaf-viewing also has its own name. Momijigari (紅葉狩り), and people pilgrimage to Kyoto from all over Japan and further afield to practice it.
But unlike Sakura season, which draws visitors to the overcrowded central sites, Koyō enthusiasts are encouraged to pursue a more sustainable form of tourism, exploring the quieter, less-visited countryside on the city’s outskirts.
Kyoto’s fall foliage can usually be seen from mid-November until early December. However, due to the warmer weather this year, the most vibrant red and orange leaves are expected between the end of November and mid-December. Unlike Sakura, which only peaks for a couple of days each year, the Koyō season lasts for a couple of weeks, so you are less likely to miss it.
Three Spots To View The Kyoto Fall Foliage
Mount Takao, Jingo-ji Temple and Saimyo-Ji temple
Jingo-ji Temple in the fall.
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Jingo-ji and Saimyō-ji Temples in Mount Takao north of Kyoto are renowned for their fall foliage. The original temple at Jingo-ji was built in 824 and has been destroyed many times over the years by fire and war. This Temple is not for the faint of heart as you have to climb around 400 stone steps to reach it. Once there, the rewards are considerable, especially in the fall when the beautiful temple grounds are colored vibrant red and orange from the maple leaves. At Jingo-ji, you can take part in a Japanese tradition known as kawarake nage, which involves tossing small clay plates into the valley to shake off bad luck.
Saimyō-ji is set across a postcard-perfect vermilion bridge.
Image courtesy Kyoto City Tourism Association
For a less challenging and (almost) equally picturesque experience, Saimyō-ji is set across a postcard-perfect vermilion bridge that crosses a mountain stream surrounded by maple trees. A short climb leads visitors to the entrance of the temple with its impressive temple bell. You can pay 100 yen ($0.70) to ring it .
Ohara
In Ohara, a rural village north of Kyoto, the trees and mountainside are full of Japanese maple and ginkgo trees. Go leaf peeping at Sanzen-in Temple, known for its marvelous red, amber, and yellow fall displays, or at Hosen-in Temple, which is is best known for its spectacular ceiling boards and the surrounding foliage, of course.
Kurama, Kyoto Prefecture, Kansai, Japan – November 21, 2019 – Autumn scene of Kurama-dera, a temple situated at the base of Mount Kurama in the far north of Kyoto
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Kurama
Kurama is a small town situated about an hour north of Kyoto that is famous for its Kuramadera temple, cablecar, and the Kurama Onsen hot springs. It is an ideal spot for those who prefer not to drive, as it can be accessed via the Eizan Railway, which allows you to gaze at the foliage as you go (you can hop on board the Eizan Kurama Line from Demachi-Yanagi Station in Kyoto). Special trains with panoramic windows depart more or less hourly for travelers looking to make the most of the spectacular scenery.
Roku Kyoto is impossible picturesque in the day and at night.
Image courtesy Roku Kyoto
Where To Stay For Kyoto Fall Foliage
Whereas Sakura season calls for a city center stay, the fall foliage is most impressive in the countryside on the outskirts of Kyoto. Roku Kyoto is a tranquil, design-driven hotel set in the quiet foothills of Takagamine Mountain on the city’s northern fringes. Forming part of Hilton’s newest luxury hotel brand, LXR Hotels & Resorts, intended for travelers seeking an upscale mix of adventure, luxury and local flavor, Roku Kyoto offers just that.
Roku Kyoto is set in an area famed for its medicinal plant gardens that has also been an artisanal hub for more than 400 years. In 1615, shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu granted approximately 74 acres of land in the Takagamine area to renowned calligrapher and multi-disciplinary artist Hon’ami Koetsu, who set up an artists’ community here.
The main dining room at Roku Kyoto overlooking the fall foliage.
Image courtesy Roku Kyoto
A serene countryside retreat Roku offers travelers a different perspective on Kyoto. Unlike the typical itinerary that sees frazzled tourists trying to tick off as many UNESCO sites as possible, guests here are invited to slow down and join soulful activities like a washi paper-making workshop held along the Tenjin River, which runs through the hotel grounds, or craft their own chopsticks using Kitayama cedar. The 114-room hotel also has its own outdoor onsen (Japanese hot spring) swimming pool, a contemporary tea house and a French-inspired fine-dining restaurant.
Better still, Roku Kyoto is conveniently located for driving to top Kyoto fall foliage viewing locations like Mount Takao and Mount Kurama.
AloJapan.com