Japan is famed around the world for many different reasons, from its incredible samurai history to its vaunted place in entertainment. While it has been popular for decades, Japanese art has also hit a new level of popularity in recent years, particularly when it comes to depictions of the country’s landscapes.
So now, people are taking the long trip to Japan to experience the scenery firsthand, with the autumn season being a huge hit. It’s during this season that Momiji comes into play, marking the turn of the leaves to red and gold to transform the landscape across the country. Here’s a look at how to experience Momiji for yourself.
What is Momiji and When Does it Happen?
Momiji is the term given to the changing of the leaf colours on the Japanese maple tree. At this time, in the middle of autumn, the leaves turn a vivid red and are celebrated by the tradition of Momijigari. Now, it’s a highly anticipated time of year, becoming iconic for the scenery and poetry it inspires across Japan.
In 2026, anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Momiji should target a late November or early December visit. In Tokyo, the red maple leaves are estimated to be at their most vivid on 28 November. The date varies between regions, with Sendai starting on 24 November and Kyoto getting it latest on 11 December.
Autumn isn’t just about Momiji and the red maple leaves, though. The yellow foliage of the ginkgo tree is also quite the sight to behold. This season is expected to start around 18 November in Nagoya through to 24 November in Kyoto. The closest window of crossover comes on 23 and 24 November in Sendai for the red and yellow leaves.
Across Japan, you’ll find several festivals and celebrations of Momiji getting underway throughout November and early December. The middle of the month marks the arrival of the famed Wakayama Prefecture autumn festival held at the Kumano Nachi Shrine, while there are also festivities held at the Aso Shrine and Kotohira Shrine elsewhere.
An Iconic Time of Year in Japan
You may not have known the term ‘Momiji’ before reading this, but you will have almost certainly been familiar with the changing colourscape of Japan as the red and yellow leaves emerge. Beyond that, the cherry blossom leaves, array of mountains, and undulating hills are always conjured up when picturing a trip to Japan.
It’s these aspects that continue to be drawn from across media depicting Japan. One of the most impressive was Ghost of Tsushima. Its reflection of the island led to the local tourism authorities creating ways for visitors to find all of the real places that featured in the game.
Here, the landscape is vast and ready to be explored, but creatives don’t have to make a whole open world to immerse players in the setting. The game series Sakura Fortune in online casino slots leans heavily on the foliage of Japan to create its theme. From Book of Sakura to Sakura Fortune Live Slot, the imagery is all about the leaves.
To some, it might seem strange that entertainment products are banking their selling points on the depictions of nature, and yet, the Japanese landscape is so tied to any associated theme or setting that it works. As a result, people find themselves wanting to go to Japan to experience the real thing for themselves.
In 2026, the prime window to go to Japan to see Momiji in full swing is the end of November through to the second week of December.
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
