Ginkgo and maple peak on different schedules. Timing and crowd strategy matter more than location.
June 21, 2025
8 mins read
Tokyo fall foliage looks straightforward: trees turn colors in November, find the famous ginkgo avenue, take photos. The reality is messier. Ginkgo peaks November 25-27, maple peaks November 28-December 2, Meiji Jingu Gaien is mobbed by 1 PM on Saturdays, and the lighting that makes worthwhile photos only happens at 7:30 AM or late afternoon. Most first-time visitors discover this after wasting their first day.
Why "Visit Tokyo in November" Isn't Enough
Foliage guides say to visit Tokyo "mid-November to early December" for peak colors. This flattens three weeks into one recommendation and misses how Tokyo's fall foliage works.
The Two Waves Most Guides Don't Explain
Tokyo has two separate fall foliage peaks on different schedules:
Tree Type | Peak Dates | Color |
|---|---|---|
Ginkgo | November 25-27 | Yellow |
Maple | November 28 - December 2 | Red |
Both near peak | November 27-29 | 3-day window |
These are different trees. Visit November 15-20 and you're seeing pre-peak colors—mostly green with hints of yellow. Visit December 5 and you've missed ginkgo entirely, catching only the tail end of maple.
Why Timing Varies More Than Cherry Blossoms
Fall foliage timing shifts 1-2 weeks year-to-year based on autumn temperatures. Cherry blossoms shift about a week.
The difference: cherry blossom forecasts become accurate 4-6 weeks before bloom when green buds appear. Fall foliage timing stays uncertain until mid-October when temperature patterns become clear.
Warmer autumns push peak later. Colder autumns bring it earlier. The Japan Meteorological Corporation releases weekly foliage forecasts starting in October, shifting by several days as new data comes in.
When "Mid-November" Actually Means
Mt. Takao, in western Tokyo, peaks 2-4 weeks earlier than central Tokyo—early to mid-November. Visit Tokyo November 10-15 and Mt. Takao will be 80-100% peak while Meiji Jingu Gaien is still mostly green.
Central Tokyo locations (Meiji Jingu Gaien, Rikugien Garden, Shinjuku Gyoen) hit peak late November to early December.
Dates locked in for early November? You're seeing foliage at different elevations and stages, not missing it entirely. For broader seasonal context, see our guide to fall in Tokyo.
What Makes Foliage Tours Different From DIY
The complexity isn't knowing where the trees are. You can Google "Meiji Jingu Gaien" and find the ginkgo avenue. The complexity is knowing when to visit each spot, how to sequence locations efficiently, and what timing makes the difference between mediocre photos and worthwhile ones.
The Four Things That Aren't Obvious Until You Miss Them
Location scatter creates navigation problems. Meiji Jingu Gaien (ginkgo) is in one part of Tokyo. Rikugien Garden (maple) is in another. Shinjuku Gyoen has both but only certain gates give you efficient access. Mt. Takao is an hour from central Tokyo.
First-time visitors lose 2-3 hours per day to navigation: wrong station exits, transfer confusion, figuring out which entrance to use. By the time you navigate to three locations, you've spent more time on trains than looking at leaves.
Crowd timing changes everything. Meiji Jingu Gaien at 7:30 AM on a weekday is peaceful. The same spot at 1 PM on Saturday is wall-to-wall tourists.
Rikugien Garden on a weekend during peak season requires lining up just to enter. The same garden on a weekday afternoon has space to enjoy. For more on avoiding crowds in Tokyo, timing strategies apply across seasons.
Photography timing matters as much as location. Ginkgo trees need backlit golden hour light—early morning or late afternoon. Harsh midday sun washes out the yellow tones. Photos taken at noon look flat compared to early morning shots.
Maple trees are different. They photograph better in soft overcast light, avoiding harsh shadows on the red leaves. Cloudy days actually improve maple photography while making ginkgo look dull.
Real-time adaptation requires monitoring forecasts. Following last year's peak dates misses by a week. Guides check weekly foliage reports from the Japan Meteorological Corporation and adjust based on current conditions.
Ginkgo peaked early that year? Shift focus to maple and secondary locations. Rain forecasted? Prioritize indoor-outdoor combinations or evening illumination.
Why 7:30 AM Matters More Than Which Spot You Visit
The difference between arriving at Meiji Jingu Gaien at 7:30 AM versus 1 PM on a Saturday:
7:30 AM | 1 PM Saturday | |
|---|---|---|
Crowds | Peaceful | Wall-to-wall; some give up after 20 minutes |
Light | Golden hour, backlit | Harsh midday, washed out |
Photos | Clean shots, full tunnel effect | Nearly impossible unobstructed |
Street | Open to traffic, empty | Closed, pedestrian mall |
This pattern holds at every major foliage location. Early morning or late afternoon beats midday. Weekdays beat weekends. Our guide to best time of day for tours explains this dynamic across different activities.
What Evening Illumination Changes
Rikugien Garden holds evening illumination during foliage season, November 28 - December 9. The garden stays open until 8:30 PM (last entry 7:30 PM) instead of its normal 5:00 PM closing.
The trees are lit from below, maple leaves reflecting on the pond surface, projection mapping on the storehouse walls. A completely different experience from daytime viewing—and most tourists don't know about it.
Tickets cost ¥1,200 day-of (cash only at counter, expect 10-20 minute waits on weekends) or ¥1,000 advance purchase online. Advance purchase recommended for weekends, which sell out.
When a Guide Actually Makes Sense
Fall foliage tours aren't for everyone. The decision isn't "guided or wrong"—it's "guided or DIY," and both work depending on your situation. Are private tours worth it covers the general trade-offs.
The Time vs. Experience Trade-off
DIY saves money but costs time—2-3 hours per day on navigation, wrong exits, transfer confusion.
A guide costs money but saves time. The guide handles navigation, knows optimal timing for each spot, and adjusts the day based on lighting and crowds.
The question: Is your Tokyo time limited enough that navigation time feels expensive? Or do you have 5+ days and enjoy figuring things out?
When DIY Makes Perfect Sense
DIY works if you... | Guide makes sense if you... |
|---|---|
Have 5+ days in Tokyo | Have 2-3 days |
Are comfortable with trial-and-error | Care about photography timing |
Just want to see pretty leaves | Want both ginkgo and maple in one day |
Plan to visit one location | Are visiting during peak window (Nov 25 - Dec 2) |
Enjoy figuring things out | Can't afford to guess wrong |
Fall foliage doesn't blow away in rain like cherry blossoms. Once peak arrives, leaves stay colorful for several days. Time to adjust and try again tomorrow? DIY works.
The guide isn't showing you where the trees are. The guide is optimizing timing, lighting, sequencing, and real-time adaptation based on that day's conditions. What it's like touring with a private guide covers how this works in practice. If photography is central to your trip, photography-focused tours structure the day around golden hour timing and evening illumination.
What a Foliage Tour Actually Solves
A foliage tour isn't about location knowledge. You can Google "best fall foliage Tokyo" and get 10 listicles. The tour solves the optimization problem: when to visit which spot, in what order, at what time of day, based on current conditions.
Crowd avoidance. Aoyama Cemetery (adjacent to Meiji Jingu Gaien, equally beautiful ginkgo scattered among stone lanterns and historic tombs, one-tenth the crowd). When even Aoyama feels busy, Gyoko-dori Avenue near Tokyo Station offers ginkgo against Marunouchi skyscrapers—different atmosphere, rarely crowded.
Efficient sequencing. Meiji Jingu Gaien → Aoyama Cemetery (5-minute walk, peaceful alternative) → travel to Rikugien (maple) → Shinjuku Gyoen (both types). Minimizes train time, maximizes foliage time. Meiji Jingu Gaien is walkable from Harajuku, making it easy to combine with other sightseeing.
Timing Your Visit (If You're Doing It Yourself)
Timing your visit correctly matters more than which spots you choose. For overall planning, our best time to visit Tokyo guide covers all seasons.
When to Check Forecasts
Start checking forecasts 4-6 weeks before your trip. Initial forecasts are preliminary but give you a rough window. Two to three weeks out, they become more accurate.
The Ideal Window for Both Types
Want to see both ginkgo (yellow) and maple (red) near peak?
Your Dates | What You'll See | Best Strategy |
|---|---|---|
November 15-25 | Ginkgo ramping up, maple mostly green | Head to Mt. Takao for early color |
November 27-29 | Both near peak (crossover window) | Prioritize this window |
November 30 - December 7 | Ginkgo past peak, maple at full color | Focus on maple locations; fallen ginkgo creates golden carpet effect |
What to Do If Your Dates Are Off
Arriving too early (early November)? Focus on Mt. Takao (peaks 2-4 weeks before central Tokyo) or accept pre-peak colors.
Arriving too late (mid-December)? Focus on maple locations (Rikugien, Koishikawa Korakuen) where some color may remain.
Build flexibility if possible. Having 2-3 days of flexibility in your schedule helps you adjust to actual conditions.
What to Know About Foliage Tours
Here's what to expect in terms of format, booking windows, and how guides handle variability.
Tour Format Options
Format | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|
Full-day | 6-8 hours | Ginkgo or maple focus depending on timing |
Multi-day | 2 separate tours | Both types, 3-5 days apart |
Photography-focused | Starts 7:00-7:30 AM | Golden hour timing + evening illumination |
Tour duration options covers how to choose based on your schedule. All tours are fully customizable. Specific locations you want to prioritize or photography goals? The guide adjusts the itinerary accordingly. Infinite Tokyo works for combining foliage with other interests, while Tokyo Essentials works well for a foliage-focused full day.
Booking Windows for Peak Season
Fall foliage season (mid-November) is peak demand, equal to cherry blossom season.
8-12 weeks advance booking recommended for November dates. Prime dates (Thanksgiving week, November 27-29 crossover window) book up 6 months in advance. How far in advance to book breaks down timing by season.
Last-minute bookings work but with limited guide availability. Booking within 2-3 weeks of your dates? Availability becomes hit-or-miss.
Booking earlier also allows more time for pre-tour consultation—you discuss interests, the guide begins planning the customized itinerary. The booking process explains how consultation and guide assignment work.
What Happens If Colors Are Off
Foliage timing varies 1-2 weeks year-to-year. Guides monitor weekly reports and adapt: shifting to maple-heavy locations if ginkgo peaked early, or adjusting to Mt. Takao if maple is late. The tour happens regardless—the itinerary just flexes to current conditions.
Tours proceed in all weather unless you cancel. Rain doesn't ruin foliage (leaves don't blow away like cherry petals). What happens if it rains explains how guides adapt routes.
Where Hinomaru One Fits
Our guides monitor weekly foliage forecasts and adjust your itinerary to current conditions—not last year's peak dates. Early starts at 7:30 AM get you to Meiji Jingu Gaien before crowds. Real-time pivots to secondary locations like Aoyama Cemetery or Gyoko-dori when primary spots are mobbed. Evening illumination at Rikugien built into photography-focused tours.
At Hinomaru One, we design culturally rich, stress-free private Tokyo tours for first-time and seasoned travelers. Unrushed. Insightful. Always customized.
