In Nara, maple leaves typically turn red around November 21, and ginkgo leaves turn yellow around November 18 (Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 normals).
Japanese maple
Ginkgo
Typical color change
November 21
November 18
Typical leaf fall
December 5
December 4
Earliest color change on record
Oct 9 (1964)
Oct 17 (1964)
Latest color change on record
Dec 7 (2015)
Nov 27 (2019)
The best viewing period is usually between the color change and the leaf fall dates above.
Over the last 10 years, the maple color change has come about 5 days later than the 1961–1990 average.
Color change dates by year
Nara: autumn color dates, 1953–2025
● Maple turned red▲ Ginkgo turned yellow┄ 1991–2020 normal
Recent years
Season
Maple red
Maple fall
Ginkgo yellow
Ginkgo fall
2025
Nov 14
Dec 3
Nov 18
Nov 27
2024
Nov 28
Dec 9
Nov 8
Dec 2
2023
Nov 20
Dec 11
Nov 20
Dec 4
2022
Nov 14
Nov 24
Nov 11
Nov 24
2021
Nov 15
Nov 29
Nov 19
Nov 24
2020
Nov 13
Nov 24
Nov 17
Nov 30
2019
Nov 15
Nov 29
Nov 27
Dec 9
2018
Nov 14
Dec 5
Nov 24
Dec 6
2017
Nov 9
Nov 24
Nov 21
Dec 1
2016
Dec 4
Dec 12
Nov 22
Dec 1
2015
Dec 7
Dec 13
Nov 22
Dec 3
2014
Nov 26
Dec 2
Nov 25
Dec 1
2013
Nov 28
Dec 10
Nov 22
Dec 10
2012
Nov 25
Dec 6
Nov 15
Nov 30
2011
Dec 2
Dec 13
Nov 26
Dec 15
Planning a trip?
Use the trip planner to see where autumn colors were at their best on your travel dates in each of the last 30 years.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency phenological observations (processed by Japan Bloom Calendar). These are historical records and averages, not a forecast. About the data