Kyoto, one of the most popular travel destinations in Japan, welcomed the best time to see Autumn leaves now (2024). This year, the best time arrived late in early Dec due to warmer weather (normally late Nov).
From city and residential district to temples and shrines and from Mt Hieizan (eastern outskirts of Kyoto) to Arashiyama district (western outskirts of Kyoto), Kyoto looks so colourful and so beautiful with vigorous red, bright orange, light brown and sunny yellow leaves and some of the temples and shrines are open late for evening light-up so Kyoto has so many domestic and international visitors. If you have never been to Kyoto why not you plan to visit there?
Even if it is too late for you to plan now and you miss the season, you could get lucky to see beautiful temples and shrines covered by the snow in Jan and Feb.
Best places to see autumn leaves in Kyoto
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮)
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is famous for academic success thus students from hundreds of high schools visit there during university entrance exam period to wish for passing their exam.
The shrine offers some of the best spots for enjoying autumn leaves (JPY1,200/adult) where you can take as many beautiful photos of colourful autumn leaves as you want by hiking in the woods there, It will be around one hour trail and there is mild ups and downs so it will be a good exercise too.
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine also offers evening light up and is open until 8:00pm (last entry 7:40pm) during Autumn Leave period (light-up period changes every year according to the weather so you should check open hours on their website before visiting there).
Kinkakuji Temple (金閣寺)
Kinkakuji Temple is famous for its beautiful shiny golden temple and one of the most well known and popular temples in Kyoto. If you want to take really good photos of beautiful autumn leaves, Kinkakuji Temple may not be the one to go but still you can enjoy autumn leaves in some areas of the temple and why you would not go see the beautiful golden temple itself if you are a tourist from overseas?
Toji Temple (東寺)
Kyoto is a compact city and much smaller than Osaka and Tokyo but welcomes travellers from across the globe therefore you would see extreme of overseas travellers in some parts of Kyoto and may want to visit quiet places with local residences or domestic travellers mainly. Toji Temple is close to Kyoto Station and recommended to enjoy autumn leave with five storeyed pagoda behind the leaves.
Ruriko-in Temple（瑠璃光院）
Rurikou-in Temple is especially popular among overseas travellers since photogenic Instagram posts have attracted people in overseas who plan to travel to Japan. Ruriko-in Temple is located at the foot of Mt Hieizan and easy access to the top of the mountain (800m) is provided by cable car and ropeway (approx 10 minute ride) near Ruriko-in Temple.
Tofukuji Temple (東福寺)
Tofukuji is considered one of the best Autumn Leaves spots in Kyoto among Japanese travellers and local residence. It has the largest temple in Japan and it’s located close to Kyoto Station (one stop from Kyoto Station). You can walk in the woods like Kitano Tenmangu Shrine and take some beautiful autumn leaves photos.
Top of Mt Hieizan
The best period of autumn leaves in Kyoto also means the beginning of snow season at the top of mountain areas in and around Kyoto. Mt Hieizan is close to city of Kyoto and offers easy access to the top of the mountain by cable car and ropeway. If you want to see snow Mt Hieizan is recommended.
Where to stay in Kyoto?
As Kyoto is the most popular travel destination in Japan, there is plenty of options with Japanese hotel operators and as well as international major hotel chains.
If you prefer to plan a budget friendly travel, you might want to stay YMCA or Accor opens some of ibis/Mercure hotels in Kyoto which are budget friendly.
If you are looking at a comfortable accommodation facility and can pay more, there is also Hilton/Hyatt/Marriott hotels as well.
For those who always stay with five star hotels, there is Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Aman, Six Senses, Park Hyatt, Banyan Tree and many more.
Due to its popularity, more and more hotels are scheduled to open. My recommendation is Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo which is scheduled to be opened in late Jan 2025.
The hotel is located in Gojo （五条）district which is just one stop from Kyoto Station by Karasuma subway line and adjacent to Gojo Station. It’s within a stone throwing distance to Shijo (四条）, a shopping district such as Nishiki Ichiba（錦市場）or Nijojo Castle and is close to everywhere as the hotel is centrally located in Kyoto (less than 30 minutes to most popular destinations).
Holiday Inn brand used to be budget friendly hotel and popular with business travellers who just need a place to sleep however they have been marketing family, FIT travellers and offers friendly and comfortable stay. Free kid breakfast is available which is a plus (check conditions with their website). The brand is not luxury or offers full frill service but offers a value-for-money service.
There are plenty of options of accommodation in Kyoto however due to compact size of the city and extreme number of travellers, price can increase sharply easily as many of the accommodation providers adopt dynamic pricing (when demand is high, they increase their price and when demand is low, they offer cheaper price).
Weekends, public holidays and school holiday seasons are considered high demand. If you want to book an accommodation for best price, then book ahead well in advance (3 month/6 month before)!
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