Japan Autumn Foliage: The Koyo Journey
Japan ablaze — the autumn foliage season that rivals anything in the world
From
£3,995pp
About this tour
Japan's autumn foliage (koyo) is as celebrated as the spring cherry blossom and, many argue, more beautiful — the palette broader, the duration longer, the locations more varied. From the maples of Nikko's sacred mountain forest to the Arashiyama gorge set ablaze with fire-red momiji, from the moss-garden at Saiho-ji with its autumn canopy to the Kinkaku-ji golden pavilion doubled in an autumn-gold reflection pool, Japan in November is arguably the most beautiful place on earth. This ten-day private tour follows the koyo south from Tokyo — tracking the colour as it descends from the mountains — with Emma Thornton's same real-time monitoring system ensuring the programme always finds the peak.
“Emma Thornton considers autumn her favourite season in Japan. Her knowledge of the koyo progression — which temples peak in early November, which hold their colour into December — is the result of eleven autumns spent in Kyoto.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Emma's koyo monitoring tracks the colour progression daily and adjusts the programme accordingly
- Nikko in autumn — rarely visited by standard tours but among the most spectacular foliage destinations in Japan
- Arashiyama's maple gorge in full colour is the single most beautiful landscape image in Asia
- Cooler autumn temperatures (8–18°C) are ideal for walking
- Smaller crowds than spring — the autumn season is beloved by photographers but less known to mainstream tourists
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Price per person — based on two travelling together.
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Arrival Tokyo
Tokyo
ArrivalPark Hyatt Tokyo
Arrival Tokyo
Tokyo
Park Hyatt welcome. If early colour in Shinjuku Gyoen, an evening walk among the first maples.
2Nikko Autumn Forest
Tokyo
Moderate day tripPark Hyatt Tokyo
Nikko Autumn Forest
Tokyo
Day trip to Nikko — the cryptomeria cedar avenue and maple forest in full colour, the Tosho-gu shrine complex ablaze with autumn. Japan's most dramatic autumn mountain destination.
3Tokyo Autumn Parks
Tokyo
GentlePark Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo Autumn Parks
Tokyo
Shinjuku Gyoen for the Japanese maples, then Hamarikyu garden in full autumn gold.
4Bullet Train to Kyoto
Kyoto
EasyTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Bullet Train to Kyoto
Kyoto
First-class Nozomi to Kyoto. Tawaraya Ryokan. Emma's autumn briefing identifying the week's peak colour locations.
5Kyoto: Arashiyama Autumn Gorge
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Arashiyama Autumn Gorge
Kyoto
Arashiyama's gorge walk among the autumn maples — the most spectacular koyo location in Kyoto. Tenryu-ji's moss garden with autumn colour. Sagano bamboo with maple counterpoint.
6Kyoto: Temple Gardens in Autumn
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Temple Gardens in Autumn
Kyoto
The moss garden at Saiho-ji (requires advance permit — Emma secures it months ahead), Kinkaku-ji in autumn reflection, Ryoan-ji rock garden surrounded by autumn maples.
7Kyoto: Higashiyama Koyo Walk
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Kyoto: Higashiyama Koyo Walk
Kyoto
The Higashiyama hillside walk from Kiyomizudera to Maruyama Park — maple-lined stone lanes and traditional shophouses in autumn colour. Evening Gion dinner in a machiya townhouse restaurant.
8Nara Autumn
Kyoto
GentleTawaraya Ryokan, Kyoto
Nara Autumn
Kyoto
Nara in autumn — the deer among falling leaves, the giant Buddha's hall framed by autumn colour. Kasuga Shrine's lantern-lit forest path in the afternoon.
9Osaka
Osaka
EasyThe St. Regis Osaka
Osaka
Osaka
Transfer to Osaka — Osaka Castle in autumn, Dotonbori street food and a farewell dinner.
10Departure
Osaka KIX
Departure
Departure
Osaka KIX
Final Osaka Castle park walk, then Kansai International.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Designed around the autumn foliage season with the same flexibility as the Cherry Blossom tour. Emma monitors the colour progression and adjusts the programme to follow the peak.
Walking
4–5km/day on flat temple paths. Nikko involves more walking (5km).
Transport
First-class Shinkansen; private vehicle.
Altitude
Nikko at 600m — cooler. November: 8–18°C. Warm layers essential.
Heat / Climate
Autumn: cool and crisp (8–18°C). Ideal walking weather.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Park Hyatt Tokyo
★★★★★Tokyo · 3 nights
Tokyo's finest hotel.
- City views
- New York Bar
Tawaraya Ryokan
★★★★★Kyoto · 5 nights
Japan's most celebrated ryokan.
- 18 rooms
- In-room kaiseki
- Bamboo garden in autumn
The St. Regis Osaka
★★★★★Osaka · 1 night
Osaka's finest hotel.
- Central
- Osaka Castle proximity
Enhance your trip
Shirakawa-go Autumn Extension
+£395
The thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go in autumn colour are even more beautiful than in winter or summer. A one-night extension en route from Tokyo to Kyoto.
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£3,995
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£1,195 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£1,195 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 9 nights in 5-star hotels and ryokan
- All bullet trains first-class
- Emma Thornton throughout
- Saiho-ji moss garden permit
- Meals as specified
- All entrance fees
- IC cards
- Mineral water
- Airport transfers
- ATOL-protected
Not included
- Travel insurance
- Single supplement
- Gratuities
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Emma Thornton
Emma considers autumn in Kyoto the finest thing she witnesses each year. The Saiho-ji moss garden permit — requiring advance application to the temple — is one of the access advantages unique to her tours.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
The most beautiful two weeks of my life
“I am a landscape photographer with 40 years of experience and I have never seen anything to rival Arashiyama in the late November afternoon light. Emma's knowledge of exactly where and when to position for the best light is extraordinary. The Saiho-ji moss garden at the height of koyo is simply the most beautiful place I have ever stood.”
Dr Jonathan Holt
Bristol · 2024-11-20
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
UK: visa-free 90 days.
Currency
JPY cash. IC cards.
Tipping
No tipping.
Electricity
100V, Type A.
Health & vaccinations
No vaccinations. Bring warm layers — November mornings are cold.
Flights
Tokyo Haneda/Narita in; Osaka Kansai out.
Local transport
First-class Shinkansen; private vehicle.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is koyo and when does it peak?
Koyo (紅葉) means "crimson leaves" — the Japanese autumn foliage season, which typically runs from mid-October (in the northern highlands) through late November (in Kyoto and Nara). Japan's autumn colour is among the most spectacular in the world: the predominant Japanese maple (momiji) turns deep crimson, orange and gold simultaneously, against a backdrop of evergreen cedar and bamboo. The peak in Kyoto typically falls in mid-to-late November; Emma monitors the forecast from October and ensures the programme is timed to the actual peak.
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