Kyoto Fall Itinerary with Top Foliage Spots

About this Fall Itinerary

We think this is a balanced itinerary, allowing you to see top foliage spots across several areas in Kyoto without rushing from one crowded spot to another. We try to include both iconic koyo spots and lesser-known places, with routes to reduce backtracking.

While this itinerary is designed around typical foliage timing, it’s important not to get too committed to a fixed schedule. Fall colors in Kyoto don’t change uniformly and progress can vary between different sites and elevations. As I mentioned in this post about the accuracy of fall foliage forecasts, to make the most of your trip, you should allow for flexibility in your plan. Check local foliage updates and photos on Google Maps, and be ready to adjust your route to catch the best colors as they develop.

I will suggest the top 2-3 places to visit for each day, plus some optional places you can add depending on your energy, interests, and time. Days are shorter in the fall and it already starts to get dark quickly after 4pm so it may not be possible to have an ambitious sightseeing schedule.

You will see a lot of temples in the itinerary as many of Kyoto’s most iconic fall foliage views are found inside temple grounds. A lot of temples in Kyoto were built in scenic natural settings and their temple gardens were carefully landscaped to highlight seasonal beauty, especially in autumn. Don’t forget to collect goshuin (temple and shrine stamps) as many places have beautiful seasonal goshuin in the fall. I will also suggest additional activities so you can modify the itinerary to suit your preferences.

For a fall visit, I strongly recommend having 3-4 full days in Kyoto to slowly soak in the beauty. You can somewhat plan your visits to sites to avoid peak crowded times as well as avoid rushing from places to places. While fall foliage is the highlight, don’t miss the seasonal food that makes this time of year even more special, like sweet potatoes, chestnuts, persimmons and mushrooms.

Day 1: Arashiyama

From the observation point, follow the trail signs to Okochi Sanso Garden which is just a short walk away. Okochi Sanso Garden includes a villa, a tea house, and several smaller buildings, all interconnected by a winding path that takes you through beautifully landscaped gardens with vibrant fall colors. You will also find viewpoints over Arashiyama and the surrounding mountains. This garden opens at 9 am, and though it is one of the popular fall foliage spots in Kyoto, its grounds are very spacious for visitors to spread out so we didn’t feel it was crowded. You can find more photos of the fall foliage in Okochi Sanso Garden here.

Okochi Sanso Garden is at the end of the bamboo path, so after exiting the garden, you can directly enter the bamboo forest. Along the bamboo path, you will come across the north entrance to Tenryu-ji. The garden of this temple is also well-known for fall foliage so you can stop by, however, expect large crowds (which is why it is not at the top of my list). Tenryu-ji is always among the most crowded temples in Kyoto.

If you prefer to skip the early riverside walk and start later, you can reverse the route and do something like this:

• Visit Tenryu-ji at opening time via the main entrance
• Walk through the bamboo forest and visit Okochi Sanso Garden
• Follow trail signs from the garden to the Arashiyama Park Observation Point
• Then walk downhill to the riverbank

Day 2: Eastern Higashiyama and Sakyo Ward

After that, walk north toward Eikan-do Temple. As a famous fall foliage spot in Kyoto, you should expect crowds here, but it is not unbearable. You can explore the gardens, indoor halls, and climb up to the Tahoto Pagoda here. A major highlight in the fall of this temple is the Hojo Pond. Every visitor to Eikan-do will try to capture the picturesque scenery with the reflection of the bridge and maple leaves in the water.

We were impressed by the intensity of the maple colors and the variety of view points at Eikan-do. I think it lives up to its reputation as one of the best temples to see fall colors in Kyoto. You can find more photos of Eikan-do fall foliage in this post. The temple also hosts night illumination.

Exit Eikan-do, I suggest stopping by Lake Biwa Canal Museum, which is one of the best free attractions in Kyoto in my opinion. This lesser known museum tells the story of the Lake Biwa Canal, a remarkable infrastructure project in the Meiji period that brought water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto and fueled the city’s modernization. The visit will help you appreciate the aqueduct at Nanzen-ji and Keage Incline more. Read more about Lake Biwa Canal Museum here.

It does not take long to view the indoor exhibits. After that, head to the outdoor terrace connected to the basement. Here you can see a close-up view of the canal and the fountain. From the terrace, you can follow a short walkway leading directly to the Keage Incline. On our visit, the weather was gorgeous and the scenery was very lovely on the incline. From the incline, you can get off across Keage Station.

Day 3: Southern Higashiyama and Gion

For this day, you can consider visiting Tofuku-ji early in the morning. It is also among the most famous fall foliage spots in Kyoto and again, crowds are expected. The view from the bridge at Tofuku-ji looking down into fall foliage is breathtaking. If you have not visited Fushimi Inari Taisha before, you may consider grouping these two spots together as they are in the same travel direction.

The rest of the day can be spent walking around Gion. The streets of Gion are not where you will see fall colors. You will need to go to temple gardens in Gion for that. I highly recommend visiting Kiyomizu-dera in the afternoon. Yes, it will be very crowded and it can be quite intense along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka leading up to the temple. However, I think the view is well worth it.

What makes the fall foliage at Kiyomizu-dera special is the panoramic views of the surrounding hillside which is transformed into a sea of fiery maple leaves. Unlike most locations where you look up to admire the foliage, here, you look down from the terrace of the Main Hall, and it feels as if an ocean of vibrant red and orange leaves stretches out before you. The scenery is stunning especially during golden hours in the afternoon.

The temple grounds have several paths winding through the gardens and trees, and the crowds will thin out a bit as you explore deeper. You can see more photos of Kiyomizu-dera fall foliage in this post. Kiyomizu-dera also holds special night illuminations during the fall foliage season and I’ve heard that it is also amazing.

Another temple with a beautifully composed garden in Gion is Kodai-ji. This temple also has its own bamboo path and often hosts night illuminations in the fall. A temple with a less busy garden at the corner of Gion is Kennin-ji. It is not exactly a great spot for fall foliage but the atmosphere is quieter and its huge twin dragon painting on the ceiling is very impressive.

Day 4: Day Trip

For a change of atmosphere, I recommend taking a day trip if you have more than 3-4 days in Kyoto. The top choice will be Nara as is just 45–60 minutes from Kyoto Station via Kintetsu or JR lines. The city is a great place to explore on foot and soak in the tranquil atmosphere and beauty scenery of the fall. And of course, the Great Buddha at Todai-ji is always a must see in Nara. You can see more photos of fall foliage in Nara City here.

If your schedule allows though, I strongly recommend staying overnight in Nara. It is very quiet early in the morning and evening. Actually, most visitors congregate at just a few spots like Nara Park area near Todai-ji. There are also many good restaurants, such as La Terrasse and akordu. We have stayed at Hotel Setre Naramachi (see my review | Booking | Agoda) and Shisui Nara (see my review | Booking | Agoda) on previous visits and enjoyed both places.

If you didn’t visit Ishiyama-dera in Otsu (Shiga Prefecture) on Day 2, it is a good alternative day trip destination. Shiga Prefecture is much quieter than Kyoto and we saw very few foreign tourists at Ishiyama-dera. Because Ishiyamadera sits on a cliff, be prepared for a lot of steps.