In Niigata, maple leaves typically turn red around November 15, and ginkgo leaves turn yellow around November 13 (Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 normals).
Japanese maple
Ginkgo
Typical color change
November 15
November 13
Typical leaf fall
November 30
November 26
Earliest color change on record
Oct 25 (1993)
Oct 15 (1966)
Latest color change on record
Nov 27 (2021)
Nov 24 (1998)
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 13 days later than the 1961–1990 average.
Color change dates by year
Niigata: autumn color dates, 1956–2025
● Maple turned red▲ Ginkgo turned yellow┄ 1991–2020 normal
Recent years
Season
Maple red
Maple fall
Ginkgo yellow
Ginkgo fall
2025
Nov 18
Dec 4
Nov 14
Nov 25
2024
Nov 26
Dec 6
Nov 14
Nov 27
2023
Nov 23
Dec 8
Nov 17
Nov 26
2022
Nov 20
Dec 4
Nov 14
Nov 22
2021
Nov 27
Dec 3
Nov 21
Nov 27
2020
Nov 27
Dec 8
Nov 18
Nov 24
2019
Nov 22
Dec 6
Nov 18
Dec 2
2018
Nov 24
Dec 10
Nov 19
Nov 29
2017
Nov 13
Dec 8
Nov 10
Nov 29
2016
Nov 10
Nov 26
Nov 8
Nov 17
2015
Nov 6
Nov 24
Nov 2
Nov 16
2014
Nov 16
Nov 30
Nov 14
Nov 26
2013
Nov 17
Dec 1
Nov 20
Nov 27
2012
Nov 14
Nov 25
Nov 18
Nov 24
2011
Nov 17
Dec 13
Nov 19
Dec 4
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