Where to Go in Japan in October 2026: 6 Highland Autumn Gems

Autumn · Where it arrives first

By Nobu · Updated June 2026 · Foliage timing checked region by region

In October, autumn reaches Japan’s highlands weeks before the famous Kyoto maples turn in November. The Northern Alps larches, the old Kiso post towns and the primeval forests all colour first — and with a fraction of the crowds. These are six hidden gems at their best in October 2026, when the air is cool, the leaves are turning high up, and the summer rush is over.

I live near Mt. Fuji and spend most of October in Nagano, because that is where the season starts. Everyone photographs the Kyoto temple maples in late November; almost no one is in the mountains in early October, when the colour is already running down the valleys. Here is where I go, and why each one is worth it this month specifically.

Kamikochi, Nagano

A flat, car-free alpine valley where a seven-kilometre riverside trail runs beneath the Hotaka peaks. In autumn the valley larches turn gold and the colour at Karasawa starts as early as late September, well before anywhere in the cities.

Why October: the season is winding toward its November 15 close, the summer crowds are gone, and the larches are at their best. My full Kamikochi guide covers the walk, access and where to stay.

Hakuba, Nagano

A Northern Alps village better known for powder, but its gondolas run in autumn too, lifting you to alpine decks with the Hakuba Sanzan in front of you.

Why October: the maple foliage burns against the still-green lower forest, and village days run a crisp 13–19°C and drop to 4–11°C at night, colder toward month-end — a genuine Tokyo-escape window. The year-round Hakuba guide has the foliage timing and how to get up the mountain.

The Kiso Valley, Nagano

The Edo-era post towns of Narai-juku and Tsumago, linked by old highway and a short train ride, walked the way travellers did 300 years ago.

Why October: the autumn window here runs October through early November, with crisp walking weather and the surrounding forest turning — and far fewer buses than spring or summer. Here is the one-day Narai-to-Tsumago route.

Togakushi, Nagano

A mountain shrine complex reached through an avenue of 400-year-old cedars, deep in the highlands northwest of Nagano City.

Why October: this is when fallen maple turns the shrine gravel red and all the facilities are open for the season. Autumn slots fill a week or two ahead, so plan early. Access and seasonal dates here.

Ashiu Forest, Kyoto

A primeval beech-and-maple research forest in Kyoto’s far north that you can only enter with a guide — moss, giant trees, and an old narrow-gauge railway.

Why October: the beech and maple turn from October into November, and the autumn guided slots fill early because numbers are capped. How the guided trek works.

Yakushima, Kagoshima

The ancient-cedar island off southern Kyushu, where the Jomon Sugi trail and the west-coast drive run through deep evergreen forest.

Why October: this is shoulder season — the summer heat and crowds have eased and the hiking is comfortable, even if the evergreen forest does not change colour the way the mainland does. The west-coast drive guide is the easy way in.

Frequently asked questions

Where does autumn start first in Japan?

In the highlands. The Northern Alps and Nagano’s mountain valleys — Kamikochi, Hakuba, Togakushi — begin colouring from late September into October, weeks before the lowland city maples in Kyoto and Tokyo, which peak in mid-to-late November.

Is October a good time to visit Japan?

Yes. October has cool, stable weather after the summer heat and the worst of typhoon season, early autumn colour in the highlands, and far smaller crowds than the November foliage peak or the spring cherry season. It is one of the best months for the mountains.

When do the Kyoto maples turn?

Kyoto’s famous temple maples usually peak from mid-to-late November, not October. If you want the classic temple-and-maple photograph, plan for November; October is better spent in the highlands, where the season starts.

Is October crowded in Japan?

Less than you might fear. The big domestic foliage rush is in November, and international cherry-season crowds are in spring. In early-to-mid October the mountain spots above are quiet, though guided trips like Ashiu Forest still fill a week or two ahead.

Last updated: June 2026. Regional foliage timing drawn from each destination’s full guide and checked against typical Northern Alps and Kyoto colour windows. Timing shifts year to year — confirm before you travel.