In Kumagaya (Saitama), maple leaves typically turn red around December 1, and ginkgo leaves turn yellow around November 28 (Japan Meteorological Agency 1991–2020 normals).
Japanese maple
Ginkgo
Typical color change
December 1
November 28
Typical leaf fall
December 15
December 9
Earliest color change on record
Nov 4 (1986)
Oct 22 (1974)
Latest color change on record
Dec 11 (2006)
Dec 16 (2025)
The best viewing period is usually between the color change and the leaf fall dates above.
Color change dates by year
Kumagaya: 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
Dec 8
—
Dec 16
Dec 22
2024
Dec 4
Dec 24
Dec 12
Dec 24
2023
Dec 8
Dec 18
Dec 8
Dec 18
2022
Dec 5
Dec 14
Dec 12
Dec 19
2021
Dec 9
Dec 23
—
—
2020
Dec 7
Dec 22
Nov 25
Dec 14
2019
Dec 9
Dec 27
Dec 11
Dec 16
2018
Dec 8
Dec 26
Dec 16
Dec 19
2017
Dec 4
Dec 15
Nov 29
Dec 6
2016
Nov 26
Dec 6
Dec 2
Dec 6
2015
Dec 5
Dec 21
Dec 7
Dec 14
2014
Nov 29
Dec 18
Dec 2
Dec 10
2013
Nov 27
Dec 20
Dec 6
Dec 12
2012
Dec 3
Dec 12
Dec 2
Dec 8
2011
Dec 5
Dec 13
Dec 7
Dec 16
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