Japan by month
Japan in November
Peak autumn colour for most of the country, moving from Tohoku in mid-November to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto by the end of the month. Days are clear and dry (Tokyo around 17°C).
What November is like
November is dry, sunny and cool on the Pacific side: Tokyo averages 16.7°C by day and 8.8°C at night, Osaka 17.8°C and 10.2°C. Rainfall drops sharply after October.
Winter begins in the north. Sapporo averages 8.7°C with its first snow usually in November, while the Sea of Japan coast turns grey and wet.
Where to go in November
Maples turn red in the cities around 12–13 November in Akita, Aomori and Nagano, 21 November in Sendai and 22 November in Hiroshima (Miyajima's Momijidani peaks then), and 28 November in Tokyo. Kyoto's famous temples, such as Eikando and Tofukuji, are best from the last week of November into early December.
Kanazawa's Kenrokuen ties its pines with yukitsuri ropes from 1 November, a sign that winter is coming.
Planning tips for November
Kyoto in the last two weeks of November is one of the busiest times of the year. Book hotels three to four months ahead, or stay in Osaka and take the 30-minute train in.
Night illuminations of autumn leaves at temples in Kyoto and gardens in Tokyo are worth an evening, but bring a warm layer: evenings drop below 10°C.
Festivals and events
Typical weather in November
Average daily high and low and total rainfall for the month (1991–2020). Tap a city for its 7-day forecast.
| City | High | Low | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 9°C | 2°C | 114 |
| Asahikawa | 6°C | -1°C | 115 |
| Kushiro | 9°C | 0°C | 65 |
| Aomori | 11°C | 3°C | 137 |
| Akita | 12°C | 5°C | 189 |
| Sendai | 14°C | 6°C | 59 |
| Niigata | 14°C | 7°C | 204 |
| Kanazawa | 16°C | 8°C | 251 |
| Tokyo | 17°C | 9°C | 96 |
| Utsunomiya | 16°C | 6°C | 71 |
| Nagano | 13°C | 3°C | 44 |
| Nagoya | 17°C | 9°C | 79 |
| Osaka | 18°C | 10°C | 73 |
| Takamatsu | 18°C | 9°C | 55 |
| Matsue | 17°C | 8°C | 122 |
| Hiroshima | 18°C | 9°C | 69 |
| Kochi | 20°C | 10°C | 130 |
| Fukuoka | 18°C | 11°C | 91 |
| Kagoshima | 21°C | 12°C | 103 |
| Amami | 24°C | 18°C | 174 |
| Naha | 25°C | 20°C | 119 |
| Ishigaki | 26°C | 22°C | 138 |
Tips
- Pack a warm jacket, a scarf and a sweater; mornings and evenings are cold even when afternoons are sunny.
- Leaf colour varies by a week or more each year. Check autumn colour reports before fixing dates.
- Visit popular Kyoto temples at opening time; by 10 am the queues are long.
Questions travellers ask
When are autumn leaves best in Kyoto?
From about the last week of November to early December. The city's average date for maples turning red is around 5 December.
When are autumn leaves best in Tokyo?
Late November to early December. The average maple date is around 28 November, and ginkgo avenues peak at about the same time.
Is November a good time to visit Japan?
Yes, one of the best: dry, sunny weather and autumn colour across much of the country.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
All 12 months7-day forecasts for 22 cities
Facts checked 23 October 2026