Nara Autumn Leaves 2026: Peak Forecast, Best Spots & Light-Ups

Nara's autumn leaves are forecast to peak from mid to late November 2026, with the main spots reaching their best between about November 19 and 28. Weathernews' spot forecasts (read October 2) put Tanzan Shrine first, then Hasedera, Nara Park and Shoryakuji, and Murouji last. On October 2, tenki.jp (Japan Weather Association) still listed every Nara spot as "green", so the colour had not started then.

When is the peak in 2026?

• Weathernews (forecast published September 3): peaks across Japan are expected to be later than normal or slightly later. Its Nara spot pages give the start of the best viewing as about November 19 for Tanzan Shrine, November 21 for Hasedera, November 23 for Nara Park and Shoryakuji, and November 28 for Murouji.
• Japan Meteorological Corporation (2nd forecast, October 1): Nara is not one of the 14 main cities in the release. For western Japan it expects maple colour at about the normal time, with peaks from late November to mid-December in the lowlands and from late October to early December in the mountains. The next update is planned for early November.
• tenki.jp: its "this year's forecast" for Nara Park is late October to early December.

For a baseline, the Japan Meteorological Agency's phenology records for Nara show that in 2025 the maple-colouring date was November 14 (7 days earlier than normal) and the ginkgo-yellowing date was November 18 (normal).

Spots at a glance

Forecasts are Weathernews' (read October 2). Prices, hours and access are from each operator's own site (checked October 2, 2026).

Nara Park, Isuien, Yoshikien and Mt. Wakakusa

Nara Park is free and has no opening hours; it is about a 5-minute walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station. Weathernews says cherry, ginkgo and maple trees turn one after another, and lists the Yoshikigawa stream south of Kasugano-enchi, Ukigumo-enchi, the area around Mizuya Shrine and Mizuya Bridge, Ukimido and Asajigahara among the best views. About 1,300 deer live in the park (Nara Prefecture). For how to treat them, see Japan-Event's Nara Park deer guide.

• Isuien Garden: a national Place of Scenic Beauty that borrows Todaiji's Nandaimon gate and Mt. Wakakusa as its backdrop. Open 9:30–16:30 (last entry 16:00), closed Tuesdays (if a Tuesday is a holiday, it opens and closes the next weekday). Adults ¥1,200, including the Neiraku Museum. There is no parking, and the paths are not wheelchair-accessible.
• Yoshikien Garden: a prefecture-run garden with a pond garden, a moss garden and a garden of flowers grown for the tea room. Free; 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30).
• Mt. Wakakusa: a 342 m grassy hill above the park, open from the third Saturday of March to the second Sunday of December, 9:00–17:00; adults ¥150.

Shoryakuji: the "village of brocade"

This temple in the hills south-east of Nara City has more than 3,000 maple trees and has long been called the "village of brocade", according to the temple. Its 2026 autumn special viewing runs November 3 to December 6: until November 12 only the Fukujuin guest hall is open, and the main hall opens from November 13. During the special viewing, adult entry is ¥800 (¥500 normally) and the gate closes at 17:00. Parking costs ¥500 from November 3 to early December only. Photography is not allowed inside the buildings, and tripods are not allowed anywhere on the grounds.

Public transport is limited, so the temple suggests a taxi (about 25 minutes from JR or Kintetsu Nara Station). It says a temporary bus runs from the Nara stations in the foliage season, but on October 2 Nara Kotsu had not posted a 2026 timetable. Weathernews' spot page says the bus runs daily from November 14 to 29, 2026.

Hasedera

Hasedera is about 15 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Hasedera Station. Entry is ¥500 for adults; hours are 9:00–17:00 in October and November and 9:00–16:30 in December. As part of its 1,300th-anniversary events, the temple holds a special viewing of its National Treasure main hall and other events from October 10 to December 6, 2026 (the fee for the autumn viewing is not yet listed). Weathernews recommends the view of the five-storey pagoda from the main hall's wooden stage and lists no light-up.

Murouji: nine nights of light-up

Murouji's 2026 autumn-leaf season events run October 17 to December 6. The light-up is on November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21–23, 28 and 29 (nine nights), 17:00–20:00 (last entry 19:30), with the usual ¥600 adult entry. During the light-up you cannot go beyond the five-storey pagoda, and a temporary bus runs on light-up days only, according to the temple.

One thing to know this year: the five-storey pagoda (from August 17) and the Kondo hall (from October 5) are closed to visitors while their roofs are replaced, with work planned to finish in March 2027 and March 2028. Daytime hours are 8:30–17:00 (9:00–16:00 from December to March); the treasure hall costs ¥400 extra.

Tanzan Shrine

The shrine is about 25 minutes by bus from Sakurai Station (south exit; roughly one bus an hour) or about 15 minutes by taxi. Adult entry is ¥700 (revised April 1, 2026), and the last admission is 16:00. A special exhibition of shrine treasures runs November 1 to December 20, 2026, and a free bus links Ishibutai and the shrine on weekends and holidays from September 12 to November 8. Weathernews lists a planned light-up from November 14 to December 6 (sunset to 20:30), but the shrine's own news page had not announced one as of October 2.

Evenings and other autumn events

• Foliage light-ups: among the spots in this guide, only Murouji's nine nights above were confirmed as of October 2.
• Shuya no Nara-tabi 2026 ("autumn-night Nara trip", Nara City Tourism Association): night visits on October 31 and the Saturdays of November; dates differ by temple (Kofukuji all five dates, Kasuga Taisha and Gangoji the four November Saturdays, Toshodaiji and Yakushiji November 7 and 21 only).
• Shosoin Exhibition: the 78th edition runs October 24 to November 9, 2026 at the Nara National Museum (official page).

Choose by week

• Late October to early November: Isuien (usually from mid-October) and the view from Mt. Wakakusa; easy to combine with the Shosoin Exhibition.
• Mid-November (Nov 14–22): Tanzan Shrine and Hasedera. Murouji's light-up weekends start on November 7.
• Late November (Nov 23–30): Nara Park and Shoryakuji, then Murouji. Expect the biggest crowds this week.
• Early December: Weathernews expects leaves to start falling from about December 5 at Tanzan Shrine, December 8 at Hasedera and December 12 in Nara Park. The autumn events at Shoryakuji, Hasedera and Murouji end on December 6.

Practical tips

• Take the train. Roads around Nara Park get congested on autumn holidays; the prefecture runs park-and-ride car parks on weekends and holidays from October 17 to November 23 (14 days).
• Closing times are early. Last entry is 16:00 at both Isuien and Tanzan Shrine.
• Temple manners: see temple etiquette in Japan and photography etiquette.
• For the national picture, see Japan-Event's autumn foliage 2026 planning guide.

Pair the leaves with a hands-on experience

Spend the morning under the maples and the afternoon making something. Compare options in our Nara cultural experiences guide, or go straight to kimono rental in Nara, sumi ink-making or a tea ceremony in Nara.

FAQ

When do the autumn leaves peak in Nara in 2026? From mid to late November. Weathernews (read October 2) puts the start of the best viewing at about November 19 for Tanzan Shrine, November 21 for Hasedera, November 23 for Nara Park and Shoryakuji, and November 28 for Murouji. Forecasts change, so check again a week before you go.

Where are the best places to see autumn leaves in Nara? In the city, Nara Park with Isuien and Yoshikien gardens; a little further out, Shoryakuji. Hasedera and Tanzan Shrine in Sakurai and Murouji in Uda are the main spots outside the city.

Are there autumn-leaf light-ups in Nara in 2026? Murouji lights up its leaves on nine nights between November 7 and 29, 17:00–20:00. Weathernews lists a planned Tanzan Shrine light-up from November 14 to December 6, but the shrine had not announced it as of October 2. Weathernews lists none for Hasedera.

How much do the Nara foliage spots cost? For adults: Nara Park and Yoshikien are free, Hasedera ¥500, Murouji ¥600, Tanzan Shrine ¥700, Shoryakuji ¥800 during the special viewing, and Isuien ¥1,200 (checked October 2, 2026).

Can I see Nara's autumn leaves on a day trip from Osaka? Yes. Kintetsu says the Nara Park and Mt. Ikoma area is about 40 minutes by train from Osaka-Namba Station. Hasedera, Murouji and Tanzan Shrine are reached by the Kintetsu Osaka Line or by bus from Sakurai Station; plan on two or three spots in a day.

Sources (checked October 2, 2026)

• Forecasts and records: Weathernews Nara autumn leaves, 2026 forecast (Sep 3) and spot pages for Nara Park, Shoryakuji, Hasedera, Murouji and Tanzan Shrine; Japan Meteorological Corporation, 2nd forecast; tenki.jp Nara Prefecture, Nara Park and Isuien; Japan Meteorological Agency maple and ginkgo records
• Temples, shrine and gardens: Shoryakuji autumn leaves, visitor information and access; Hasedera home, entry and access; Murouji 2026 autumn events, pagoda and Kondo notice and visitor guide; Tanzan Shrine entry, access and news; Isuien
• Nara Prefecture: Yoshikien, Mt. Wakakusa, Nara Park overview, park-and-ride
• Transport and events: Kintetsu, Nara Kotsu seasonal buses, Nara City Tourism Association, Shuya no Nara-tabi 2026, Nara National Museum, 78th Shosoin Exhibition

Update log: 2026-10-02 — first version. Weathernews spot forecasts, Japan Meteorological Corporation's 2nd forecast (October 1), Murouji's 2026 autumn events, and each operator's prices and hours checked on their official sites.

Update log: 2026-10-03 — after independent verification: night-visit dates by temple and the Isuien forecast corrected.