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The primary time I visited Koyasan was arguably on the worst time of the 12 months to go. It was in mid-Could, lengthy after the final cherry blossom had fallen, however earlier than something resembling heat air was current inside a number of hours of dawn or sundown.
I keep in mind arriving at Daimon gate after mountaineering eight hours from Kudoyama Station, overheated from the trek, however freezing from the air round me. I spent my complete time on the summit in marvel of the tradition and surroundings round me, but in addition feeling regretful: Wouldn’t all of it be higher throughout a extra lovely month?
It took me practically a decade (and visits through the depths of winter, and different seasons) to expertise Koyasan in autumn, however I can now say that my speculation was right. Right here’s what you could know for those who want to comply with in my footsteps.
Koyasan Peaks Earlier Than the Remainder of Kansai
Though all the photos on this article are from 2025, I truly made my first Koyasan autumn try seven years earlier. I’d determined to spend a whole week in Kyoto through the peak of fall colours and, discovering myself with a free day in the midst of it, received a wild hair and determined to make a day journey to Koyasan. It was a stunning day with clear skies and heat climate; I had a unbelievable feeling about it.
Sadly for me, I arrived on the mountaintop to seek out nearly all non-evergreen bushes naked. This puzzled (and upset me) on the time however now, makes good sense: Mt. Koya is a number of thousand ft larger than Kyoto’s metropolis middle, and though the air temperature wasn’t markedly completely different on that individual day, the general local weather meant that leaves there had peaked a number of weeks earlier (through the first or second week of November, as is the case in most years).
My Favourite Koyasan Autumn Coloration Spots
Danjo-garan
The Danjo-garan sacred complicated is rightly often called the centerpiece of Mt. Koya any day of the 12 months, largely because of the large Konpon Dai-to pagoda. Whereas there aren’t an entire lot of maples and ginkgoes instantly throughout the core temple space, they add an excessive amount of coloration round it, so I do advocate beginning right here.
Koyasan Reihokan Museum
The unhealthy information? The Koyasan Reihokan Museum has a strict no-photography coverage inside its constructing, which is a disgrace as a result of it’s house to some really fascinating artifacts. The excellent news? There’s loads of autumn coloration on provide outdoors of the constructing, which is why I’ve added it to my Koyasan autumn itinerary anyway.
Koyasan Central Road
Heading via Koyasan city from Danjo-garan and the museum and previous Kongobu-ji towards the cemetery is the place I contemplate the candy spot of autumn coloration to be. It’s not simply that there are a variety of completely different bushes (although that is true), however fairly than they exist in good proportion to constructed buildings and the evergreens that rise excessive above them.
Okuno-in
Talking of the Okuno-in cemetery, it’s one in all my favourite locations to go to in Mt Koya in autumn, despite how a lot of its surrounding forest is made up of cedars and different non-changing bushes. Specifically, it’s house to a number of the most lovely ginkgoes atop Mt. Koya, although most of the maples are fantastic as effectively.
Daimon gate at sundown
My final entry is Daimon gate, which is bizarre—this was the primary place in Koyasan I laid eyes upon, on condition that I hiked from the underside. Regardless, there aren’t truly many bushes right here, however that’s not the purpose. I like ending right here as a result of the sunshine of sundown makes the bushes that do exist much more sensible, and sundown itself is at all times fantastic.
Ought to You Do a Koyasan Temple Keep in Autumn?
I’ve written extensively about shukubo temple stays on this website, and customarily advocate them. There are some caveats, nonetheless. To start with, they are usually costly for what you get—they’re successfully minshuku or ryokan with shared bogs, and but are way more costly than comparable properties elsewhere in Japan. The distinctive meals choices served right here offset this considerably, however not totally.
With particular regard to the Mt Koya autumn, this tends to be a really busy time to go to, and costs replicate that. You possibly can escape the upper charges a bit for those who e-book early (i.e. at the very least 6-12 months upfront), however even this isn’t assured for all properties. For those who plan to go to in autumn, however solely reserve lodging a number of weeks earlier than you depart, you’ll be able to simply spend ¥50,000 (or extra) for a single evening in Koyasan temple keep through the fall season.
Different FAQ About Koyasan in Autumn
When do Koyasan autumn leaves attain their peak?
Koyasan’s leaves attain their peak across the first week of November in a mean 12 months. Notably, that is a lot sooner than is the case in lower-lying reaches of Wakayama prefecture, in addition to in locations like Kyoto and Osaka. Leaves can keep on bushes effectively into November, although that is by no means assured.
What’s Koyasan like in October?
Koyasan experiences nice climate in October, with heat and sunny days and gentle, crisp nights. Whereas autumn colours might begin to seem towards the tip of the month, most of October is outlined by inexperienced maple and ginkgo leaves atop Mt. Koya. This ins’t essentially unhealthy, although it’s best to set your expectations based on it.
Is Koyasan value visiting in autumn?
It’s completely worthwhile to go to Koyasan in autumn! Do preserve a few issues in thoughts, nonetheless. To start with, Koyasan is at its most crowded in autumn—count on a number of different individuals to be current, and for lodging to be much more costly than normal. Secondly, leaves right here attain their peak 2-3 weeks earlier than these in Kyoto and Osaka. So, early November fairly than late November.
The Backside Line
Koyasan in autumn is a revelation, whether or not you arrive on foot or through funicular, and irrespective of the place it (or round) the city you expertise its vibrant colours. Though extra crowded (way more crowded, if we’re being trustworthy) than the remainder of Wakayama prefecture, Koyasan’s autumn nonetheless feels extra particular than many different locations within the Kansai area do in early November, partly as a result of its leaves peak a lot sooner than these in Kyoto and Osaka—and particularly for those who keep in a single day in a shukubo and might see the colours illuminated within the evening. Want customized assist planning your autumn journey? Fee a customized Japan itinerary right this moment!
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