Autumn colors in Nara

Nara is a great place to see Japan’s famous autumn foliage. The city is full of parks, temples, and gardens where you can enjoy the beautifully colored leaves. Here is a list of the best spots and information on when to visit.

When is the fall season in Nara?

The leaves in Nara start changing colors somewhere in October. The peak of autumn foliage usually occurs in mid-November, and you can enjoy the colors until mid-December. The autumn foliage season could be said to last from October 15 to December 15, with a peak around November 15.

The best places to visit the Autumn season in Nara.

Here is our list of the best places to visit during the autumn season in Nara. For more information on these places, please visit the “What to do in Nara?” page.

• Isui-en and Yoshiki-en Gardens: These two adjacent gardens are our favorite places in the city to enjoy the autumn colors. The gardens offer some exceptionally beautiful photo opportunities.
• Nara Park: The vast Nara Park is the perfect place to enjoy the autumn colors and the deer are a beautiful addition to your photos.
• Todai-ji Temple: While there aren’t many trees in the Daibutsu-den (Great Buddha Hall), the area surrounding the temple, including the walk to Sangatsu-do and Nigatsu-do, is covered in colorful trees during the fall season.
• Kasuga-taisha Temple: The paths in and around Kasuga-taisha temple are lined with trees, including several species that change color in the fall. The walk from Nigatsu-do to Kasuga-taisha is a great way to enjoy all those colors.

Outside of Nara

If you have more time, consider taking a trip around Nara to visit some of the other great autumn foliage areas in Nara Prefecture. Our favorites are:

• Muro-ji Temple and Hase-dera Temple: These temples in the southeast of the prefecture can easily be linked together to form a great half-day trip from Nara. Both look beautiful during the autumn season..
• Tanzan-jinja Temple: This temple in the southern Nara Prefecture is one of the most famous places to view autumn leaves. The red of the temple against a backdrop of fiery maples is stunningly beautiful.

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Learn more about Hotels in Nara:

• Hotels in Nara
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