15/10/2026
There's something almost unreal about Kyoto in autumn. 🍂
The moment the leaves start to turn - reds, oranges, deep golds layering through temple gardens and along old forest paths - it becomes one of those places that genuinely stops you in your tracks. Japan calls it koyo, and if you've ever seen photos of it, you'll understand why so many people put it on their list.
Kyoto is a lovely place to experience koyo. The city has no shortage of temples, shrines and traditional gardens, and when the maples get going, the whole atmosphere shifts. It's quieter than you might expect in some spots, more meditative. A lovely way to slow down after the pace of somewhere like Tokyo.
A few places that tend to come up again and again when people talk about koyo in Kyoto:
🍁 Arashiyama - The bamboo grove is well known, but in autumn the surrounding hillsides and the banks of the Oi River take on a completely different character. Worth going early in the day.
🍁 Tofuku-ji Temple
🍁 Eikan-do Zenrin-ji - Another favourite. The reflection of autumn colour in the temple pond is the kind of scene you see on postcards, and it's just as lovely in person.
🍁 Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) - The gold of the pavilion against the autumn foliage is hard to beat.
Koyo doesn't follow a fixed calendar - it shifts each year depending on the weather, and in Kyoto it typically falls in the later part of autumn. It's worth keeping an eye on forecasts closer to the time, and planning with a little flexibility if you can.
If a trip to Kyoto for koyo is something you've been thinking about, we'd love to help you put it together. We can look at flights, accommodation and the overall shape of the trip - whether you want Kyoto on its own or as part of a wider Japan itinerary.
Drop us a message or visit us at https://f.mtr.cool/iuddz670gy and let's start planning something you'll genuinely look forward to.
Have you ever seen koyo in Japan? Or is it still on your list? Tell us in the comments - we'd love to know! 👇
