Japan in late-November, early-December?

We�fre raring to return to Japan as it�fs been 11 years since we were there. We had plans to visit in 2020, but were scuttled by the pandemic as with so many of us. What drew us into Japan on our previous trip are the unique culture, history, gardens, temples, food, and transportation.

We thought about visiting this coming May but it is looking unlikely. Our next opportunity will be three weeks in late fall, comprising of the last two weeks of November and the first week of December.

Places of interest include Tokyo, the Japanese Alps, Kanazawa, Takayama, Kyoto, Okayama / Himeji, Miyajima, Hagi, Matsue, and Kyushu. With three weeks, we will not be trying to do it all.

It seems like mid- to late-November is too late for day hikes in the Japanese Alps, at least not without hiking in snow. Are there places in Japan where snow-free day hikes would be possible this time of year?

I understand that it is generally colder and possibly wetter this time of year (although weather is hard to predict), especially along the coast of the Sea of Japan. Would the trees and gardens in Kanazawa and Takayama be bare by late November? And Matsue by early December? Just wondering if it may make more sense to save these areas for a visit at a different time of year.

On the plus side, we are aware of the foliage opportunities. Any favorite places to view koyo that may not be as crowded as Tokyo or Kyoto?

Interested in other suggestions you may have for Japan for this time of year.

I think you will be too late for some of the locations that you mentioned. Here is a link to the Japan Guide website for fall colors:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2014.html

I think southern Kyushu and maybe the Kumano region south of Osaka may be good, and perhaps the Kiso Valley. It may be a good time to see Takachiho, and maybe Yakushima Island. More links:

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8050.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4650.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4952.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6078.html

I do believe that Late November/Early December is a good time to visit, especially for fall colors in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Good Luck, in planning your trip.

Thank you ebaychucky311. I will take a look at your suggestions.

Visiting somewhere the leaves have fallen is fine as long as it�fs still worthwhile. I�fm concerned about it being dreary and barren. It seems it is considerably wetter anywhere on the Sea of Japan side (e.g. Kanazawa, Matsue, Hagi) but I may be wrong. Would visiting Kenroku-en in Kanazawa mean there won�ft be much to enjoy? Would things have closed up by mid-November in Takayama for example as it may be snowing higher up?

I'll try and remember to post from my laptop later with details, but you are visiting at one of the most photogenic times of the year in Japan

Honshu is an island of mountains and cities are normally next to mountains. Kyoto itself has at least 2 weeks of day trip walks in hills which will be spectacular.

Lake Biwa is ripe for the picking, along with Asuka on Nara

Just note that Kyoto can get busy in peak season but some of my best memories and photos come from this time

Just a few observations, as we have been over around then a few times:
1. autumn peak in the alps (Takayama) is the beginning of November, it browns off pretty soon after then. Kamikochi is pretty drab by the beginning of November but there is colour as you get lower toward Takayama;
2. in places like Nara, Uji, and Kyoto, there seems to be a big browning off of the leaves between say 25 November and the beginning of December, and that is when the cold winds hit. It can be bitterly cold then;
3. I found the Kiso valley area a little warmer at that time;
4. I found the eastern side to be pretty dry, but western (Kanazawa) was very rainy in late December, slushy and muddy;
5. gentle hikes around Karuizawa and Kiso valley were snow free on the times we were there, though it might vary year to year.

Really nice time of year to travel, we did several times as it coincided with the start of the kids' holidays. Not too busy.

I should add that even though it was slushy and muddy, with some snow on the ground, Kenrokuen was still really something in late December.

Thank you mfedley. I�fm currently allocating 5 nights to Kyoto over a 2.5- to 3-week period, but it sounds like we could use more.

Lazy Pious, thank you too. Good to know about Kenroku-en. Would you suggest we leave off Takayama on this trip if we won�ft be there until after Nov. 15?

Naah I really love Takayama, it is especially nice when it is cool and misty and when you can work up an appetite for the beef. Hotel Associa is a nice place to stay there with good views over town and great onsens, though some smell pretty chlorinated.

You might still get a bit of colour, but I'd think it would be more reds by then. Takayama park is spectacular at peak, there are some nice trees around the squirrel park as well.

After looking at your list of locations - it took me a while to reply due to the large number of places mentioned.

One thing that should be mentioned is that koyo (autumn colours) dates can change quickly if there is a cold snap in November/December.

On Takayama - it appears as though fall colours tends to happen around early-mid November but people on the ground will know better than I. It's also a nice place - but is definitely on the tourist trail along with Kanazawa. Looking at your dates - I'd probably decide to visit Takayama because it's Takayama with potential fall colours being a bonus.

Hagi and Matsue are difficult to get too - but damn are they impressive.

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3293
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3292
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3291
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1423
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3284

Also note that Izumo Taisha and Iwami Ginzan are also in this general area....

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3287
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3286

Asuka and Sakurai in Nara Prefecture have plenty of nice walks and heaps of great sites with history oozing out of it. Note that my posts are more from a driving perspective - but I see great walking with public transport potential in this area as well....

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3042
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3043

One area near Kyoto which took 4 nights with a car that was one of my highlights of Japan was driving around Lake Shiga. Lots of these sites are also possible to travel as a day trip from Kyoto..

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3382
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3380
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3379
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3378
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3377
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-3376

I also mentioned that Kyoto is mighty pretty - but prices also add up quickly... These posts are from probably my busiest day in Japan period....

https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1375
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1376
https://www.japan-guide.com/community/mfedley/report-1374

Kyushu is also amazing - but I'd probably leave it to another trip as it's easily a 3 week trip by itself....

@fmelody: I liked your post of places to visit. I didn�ft go to Japan last year like I wanted to for fall colors.

I will definitely bookmark this thread, so that I can reference it.

Thank you for your confirmation, Lazy Pious, and for the awesome list of ideas, mfedley.