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Tokyo's Best Autumn Foliage: Late-November Temple and Shrine Walks
Tokyo's autumn foliage peaks in late November. This guide covers five temple and shrine spots — Takao-san Yakuoin, Nezu Shrine, Yushima Tenmangu, Kaneiji, and Zojoji — with peak timing and access details.
暦
Author
Koyomi
| Seasons & Customs
Contents
MOKUJI
一
Tokyo Autumn Foliage: What to Expect
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二
Spot Comparison
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三
Takao-san Yakuoin — A Mountain of Color
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四
Nezu Shrine and Yushima Tenmangu — A Walking Pair
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五
Kaneiji and Zojoji — Tokugawa Legacy Temples
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六
One-Day Route
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七
FAQ
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Tokyo Autumn Foliage: What to Expect
Tokyo may not have Kyoto’s fame for fall colors, but its temples and shrines offer surprisingly beautiful autumn scenes — ancient precincts where ginkgo trees turn gold and maple leaves blaze against vermilion gates. Peak timing is late November, roughly the 20th to the 30th, with mountain spots like Takao peaking slightly earlier.
Spot Comparison
Spot
Peak Timing
Highlight
Takao-san Yakuoin
Mid–late November
Entire mountain in autumn color
Nezu Shrine
Late November–early December
Keyaki and ginkgo against the vermilion tunnel
Yushima Tenmangu
Late November
Golden ginkgo arch on the stone steps
Kaneiji
Late November–early December
Ginkgo avenue in Ueno Park
Zojoji
Late November
Ginkgo with Tokyo Tower backdrop
Takao-san Yakuoin — A Mountain of Color
Takao-san Yakuoin sits on Mt. Takao (599m), a Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 744. The approach road and hiking trails become foliage tunnels in mid-to-late November. The combination of the vermilion Nio-mon gate and the surrounding forest in full autumn color is spectacular. Take the cable car from Takaosanguchi Station to the mid-station, then walk 15 minutes through the precinct to the main hall.
Nezu Shrine and Yushima Tenmangu — A Walking Pair
Nezu Shrine is best known for spring azaleas, but late November brings golden ginkgo and zelkova trees to its historic precinct. The famous vermilion tunnel of torii gates takes on a warm amber glow when surrounded by autumn leaves. From Nezu, Yushima Tenmangu is a 10-minute walk — the stone steps flanked by ginkgo trees create a golden archway effect in late November.
Kaneiji and Zojoji — Tokugawa Legacy Temples
Kaneiji in Ueno was the Tokugawa clan’s family temple; Ueno Park’s famous ginkgo avenue was once part of its vast precinct. Zojoji in Shiba is the other Tokugawa temple, where the ginkgo trees along the approach to the main hall turn gold in late November — with Tokyo Tower framed perfectly in the background. The late-afternoon light illuminating both the golden trees and the tower makes for a uniquely Tokyo autumn scene.
One-Day Route
1.
9:00 — Nezu Shrine (40 min)
2.
10:00 — Walk to Yushima Tenmangu (30 min)
3.
11:00 — Walk to Kaneiji through Ueno Park (40 min)
4.
12:30 — Lunch in Ueno
5.
14:00 — Train to Hamamatsucho → Zojoji (60 min; stay for sunset and Tokyo Tower lighting)
Save Takao-san Yakuoin for a separate day trip.
FAQ
When exactly do Tokyo’s autumn leaves peak?
Late November, roughly November 20–30, is the general peak for central Tokyo temples and shrines. Takao-san is about a week earlier. Check the Tokyo Metropolitan Tourism website for current-season forecasts.
Can I see good foliage at Takao-san without hiking?
Yes — the cable car reaches the mid-station where the foliage is already impressive. From there, a 15-minute walk brings you to Yakuoin’s main hall through a foliage-lined path without significant climbing.
Is the Zojoji and Tokyo Tower composition as photogenic as it looks online?
Absolutely, especially around sunset (4:00–4:30 p.m. in late November) when the golden ginkgo, the vermilion gate, and an illuminated Tokyo Tower all align. Arrive by 3:30 p.m. to secure a good position.
Last updated: May 2026
根津神社, related to 東京の紅葉名所
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
湯島天満宮, related to 東京の紅葉名所
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
東叡山 寛永寺, related to 東京の紅葉名所
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
増上寺, related to 東京の紅葉名所
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
熱田神宮, related to 東京の紅葉名所
Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
── 了 ──
暦
Author
Koyomi（こよみ）
Seasons & Customs
Toku editorial team — seasons and customs. Former travel-magazine editor delivering bloom timings, annual rituals and visit etiquette in sense-laden prose accessible to first-timers.
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Visit Related Places
History truly comes alive when you visit in person. Choose your next destination from the related sites and pilgrimage courses below.
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1. Takao-san Yakuoin Temple
Founded by Gyoki in 744, this Shingon head temple on Michelin three-star Mt. Takao blends Shugendo and Tengu worship
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2. Nezu Shrine
One of Tokyo's Ten Shrines built by Shogun Tsunayoshi in 1706 — the complete Gongen-zukuri hall complex is a National Important Cultural Property, and 3,000 azaleas blaze through April–May
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Tokyo's top exam-passing shrine — famed for 300 plum trees and ema prayers
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Tenkai's temple guarding Edo's demon gate — burial site of six Tokugawa shoguns on Ueno hill
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5. Zojoji
Jodo-shu's head temple founded in 1393, designated by Ieyasu as his Edo castle's southwestern guardian — six shoguns are buried here and the 1622 Sangedatsumon triple gate survives as the largest wooden tower gate in eastern Japan
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