Momiji in Tohoku 2026: Autumn Colours Before Kyoto

Two windows that barely overlap

According to the first forecast from Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC), published on 2 September 2026, the red is due in Aomori on 13 November (in line with the average), in Sendai on 25 November (4 days late), in Tokyo on 29 November and in Kyoto on 11 December (6 days late). Those dates mark when most of the leaves on a reference tree in each city are red. They are city indicators, not dates for mountain sites or temples, so they don’t tell you when Kyoto’s temples look their best: in the warm, dry autumn of 2025, japan-guide reported colours at their peak on 29 November and 2 December.

For Tohoku, Weathernews (forecast of 3 September) puts the peak between early October and late November depending on altitude, « later than normal or slightly later », and Kyoto and the Kansai region from late October to mid-December. The warmth delays the red, but the colours are expected to be vivid over large areas.

Between the shores of Lake Towada and Kyoto, the gap is roughly three to four weeks. From Hachimantai it’s closer to six weeks, and it shrinks to barely two weeks for Hiraizumi (Pixidia’s own calculation from the windows above). A one-week trip can’t hit the peak in both regions. Our guide to autumn maples in Kyoto covers what to do once the city reaches its best.

What to remember

• No date is fixed before mid-October: the red starts when overnight lows drop below 8 to 10 °C, and a warm October pushes that threshold back.
• Mountain spots (Hachimantai, Hakkoda, Zao) are over by early November; lowland spots (Hiraizumi, Matsushima) are then at their best.
• JMC and Weathernews publish a second round in early October: that’s the moment to lock in your dates.

The Oirase Stream and northern Aomori

The Oirase Stream flows out of Lake Towada for 14 km, of which about 9 km is a walking trail between Nenokuchi and Ishigedo. According to japan-guide, the first colours appear from mid-October near the lake, and later downstream towards Yakeyama. Walker Plus forecasts the peak on the Lake Towada shores around 29 October. According to Japan Web Magazine, this is also where visitors most often leave disappointed: bad timing, crowds or a trail that’s too short.

What’s changing at Oirase in 2026

For years, the gorge road was closed to private cars in late October (27 October to 2 November in 2025). According to the Towada Oirase tourism organisation, that restriction has been brought forward to 7 to 13 September 2026: none is planned for October. Last year’s guides are therefore out of date on this point, and the road can be busy at the peak. Set off early, on a weekday.

From Tokyo, the Hayabusa reaches Hachinohe in about 3 hours, then the JR Oirase-go bus takes 2 hours 15 minutes to Towadako (¥3,050); from Aomori, the Mizuumi-go bus takes 2 hours 45 minutes (¥3,480, about £16.50). These buses only run from April to mid-November, and the stated frequency varies between sources: check the timetable on the JR Bus Tohoku site before you book a night. The lake boat crossing costs ¥1,400 to ¥1,650 depending on the operator and route. Aomori works as a base for Oirase and Hakkoda (our guide to the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri shows the city in summer).

Highlights

• Tsuta Numa: from 23 October to 3 November 2026, early-morning entry (5am to 7.30am) is by reservation only, open since 1 August, with groups limited to 8 people and one vehicle. During the day there’s no reservation but a contribution is payable on site (Towada City).
• Hakkoda: colours from early to late October; the ropeway costs ¥2,200 return (9am to 4.20pm), then Jigokunuma is a 10-minute walk from Sukayu Onsen (Amazing AOMORI).
• Hachimantai: summits in late September, and the Aspite Line road (27 km) around 10 October according to Watabi, closed from early November. You almost need a car.
• Zao (Yamagata): peak around 17 October; the ropeway costs ¥4,400 return. The Okama crater lake is often shrouded in fog: treat it as a bonus, not a plan.
• Fukushima: Bandai-Azuma Skyline around 13 October, Urabandai from mid-October to early November; the Goshikinuma car parks are often full by the morning at weekends.

Old-fashioned autumn, between hot springs and wooden villages

Nyuto Onsen (Akita) is made up of seven independent inns, each with its own spring. The peak is expected from mid to late October, with colours lasting into early November at Tsuru-no-yu. You get there from Tazawako (about 3 hours from Tokyo on the Akita Shinkansen) by the Nyuto line bus, 50 to 55 minutes for ¥800 to ¥950 depending on the stop. According to Japan Activity, Tsuru-no-yu has no direct bus (you need to book the inn’s shuttle), opens bookings on the 1st of each month at 7am for a stay six months later, takes cash only, and sells out within days. For October 2026, nights there are most likely gone: day baths (closed on Mondays at Tsuru-no-yu) or another inn, such as Ogama (around ¥11,000 to ¥13,000 per person with two meals, or £52 to £62), are the realistic options.

Kakunodate (Akita) is nicknamed the « little Kyoto of Tohoku ». Its samurai residences and weeping cherry trees, some of them planted from Kyoto stock in the 17th century, sit alongside maples from late October to early or mid-November, with an illumination from 4.30pm to 10pm (JNTO). Allow about 3 hours from Tokyo on the Akita Shinkansen, then a 15-minute walk from the station. The nearby Dakigaeri Gorge also peaks from late October to early November.

Ginzan Onsen (Yamagata) is a village of Taisho-era ryokan, with colours from late October to early November. The Yamagata Shinkansen links Tokyo to Oishida in about 200 minutes, then a 35-minute bus (¥1,000) serves the village roughly every two hours. According to japan-guide, the village is at its best in the evening, under the gas lamps: staying overnight makes all the difference, from around ¥18,700 per person including meals.

Yamadera means climbing 1,015 steps, 25 minutes from Yamagata on the Senzan line. Sources differ on the peak, between late October and mid-November. In 2025, japan-guide still noted « Starting to Change » on 29 October, which points more towards November. There’s an entrance fee: check the price with the temple, as the amounts quoted vary from one source to another.

Highlights

• An outdoor bath under beeches and maples matters more than any photo: Nyuto and Ginzan are made for it.
• Kakunodate is the best cultural bridge to Kyoto: samurai houses and maples, without the crowds of an imperial capital.
• These stops work by train and bus, no car needed, as long as you can live with infrequent timetables.

Where Tohoku catches up with Kyoto’s calendar

Hiraizumi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the last Tohoku spot to peak and the one that feels most like a former capital: it was the centre of the Northern Fujiwara in the 12th century. According to japan-guide, admission to Chuson-ji (Konjikido and treasure hall) costs ¥1,000 and the site closes at 5pm, or 4.30pm from 4 November. The Fujiwara Autumn Festival runs on 1, 2 and 3 November 2026 at Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji. You get there by Shinkansen to Ichinoseki, then the JR Ofunato line.

Matsushima and Entsu-in colour from early to mid-November, with an evening illumination from late October to mid-November. The temple is a 5-minute walk from Matsushimakaigan station, itself 25 minutes from Sendai (Discover Sendai). Sendai as a city is expected on 25 November by JMC.

Hirosaki (Aomori) hosts its castle’s chrysanthemum and autumn leaves festival from 30 October to 8 November 2026: about 1,100 maples, lit from 4pm to 9pm (Japan Travel).