10 Things to Do in Kyoto in Fall

The city of Kyoto in autumn is a wonderful place because of its natural scenery. During this season, the leaves of the trees are dyed in shades of ochre, giving you a real visual spectacle. In addition, temperatures are pleasant throughout the day.

Among the best things to do in Kyoto in autumn you will find a wide range of activities. You can go to Eikando Temple and do Momijigari (I'll tell you later what this strange word is), climb the Kyoto Tower and take part in local celebrations, among others.

If your trip coincides with autumn, you should take advantage of the warm and pleasant weather to take a tour of the city of Kyoto. Not only will you learn about the local culture, you will also enjoy the natural scene that characterises the season. Here are some not-to-be-missed places:

• Inari Shrine: you will walk along a path with a series of torii gates and see hundreds of statues of foxes, which are the protectors of the place.
• Kiyomizu-dera Temple: with a breathtaking view of the autumn foliage.
• The Pontocho District: a traditional pedestrian street lined with red lanterns, shops and restaurants.
• Maruyama Park: with quiet paths, which are gradually covered with the reddish leaves falling from the oaks and ginseng trees that surround the paths.

While you can do this activity on your own, you may find it more convenient to book a private tour in Kyoto where a guide will accompany and inform you throughout the tour.

Useful information

• Price: the value of the guided activity is about €88 per person.
• Time: Approximately 4 hours.

With the arrival of autumn, the Chajin (people who follow the way of tea) celebrate the arrival of the new year of tea or Kuchikiri. Join this ancient tradition during your stay in the city and experience Japanese culture up close by booking a tea ceremony experience in Kyoto.

Higashiyama or Gion are the districts where the largest number of tea houses are concentrated. There, you will have a unique experience. You will be able to wear a yukata and a hostess will teach you step by step the stages of the tea ceremony.

You will be immersed in an atmosphere of respect and tranquillity. In this Kyoto tea ceremony experience, the geisha will open a tsubo, a container in which tea leaves are preserved. Afterwards, she will prepare the tea and you will taste it accompanied by a seasonal sweet. All this, while you learn about the cultural importance of this drink.

Useful information

• Price: from 25€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 45 minutes.

Exploring the city by rickshaw, the traditional Japanese transport, is another thing to do in autumn during your stay of at least 3 days in Kyoto. Due to the warm and cool weather, from mid-September to early December, this activity proves to be very popular.

From a small two-wheeled, human-powered cart, you will take a ride in the open air. While the ride may be slow, you will find it very leisurely, allowing you to enjoy a different perspective of the streets, temples and green areas tinged with ochre colours.

This rickshaw tour of Kyoto usually focuses on a specific district of the city, which you should select according to your preferences:

• Arashiyama: you will walk through a dense bamboo grove along winding paths. You will also make a stop at the Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage Site.
• Higashiyama: the driver will take you through cobbled streets surrounded by traditional wooden buildings. You will see some Kabuki theatres, geisha homes, teahouses and shrines, including the Kiyomizu-dera temple with a panoramic view of the city.

Information of interest

• Price: booking a rickshaw tour of Kyoto costs approximately 41 euros per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.

Autumn sunsets in Kyoto often offer a breathtaking visual spectacle, which you can enjoy from the observation deck of Kyoto Tower. This skyscraper, erected in 1963, is located in the heart of the Shimogyō-ku district.

Once in the tower's observation deck, you'll be amazed by the 360-degree panorama of the city. As the sun sets, you will notice how the sky is tinged with shades of red, yellow and orange, which blend together to create a completely magical scene.

Afterwards, you can enter the restaurant area for a meal and a drink. You will also have the opportunity to stroll around the souvenir shop on the first floors of the building.

Useful information

• Price: Admission for adults is usually around €6, students pay around €5 and children under the age of 3 are free.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 21:00.

The Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art (MoMAK) is known for renewing its temporary exhibitions and activities every three months. So if you're in the city in autumn, you can see a unique display of international modern art and the Kyoto school.

You'll also see the permanent collections with over 12,000 works dating back to the Meiji period, including a range of paintings, photographs, ceramics, sculptures, installations, textiles and digital art. All of them belonging to Japanese artists.

In addition to admiring the works exhibited in the different rooms of the museum, the entrance to the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art gives you access to the souvenir shop. You can also stop in the garden area and watch the Momiji (changing colours of the leaves of the trees), while eating and drinking matcha tea in the cafeteria.

Useful information

• Price: general admission is approximately €4 for adults and around €2 for children.
• Opening hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (9.30am-6pm), Friday and Saturday (9.30am-8pm). Closed on Mondays.

Japanese autumn offers a wide range of vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts and much more. Therefore, during your stay in Kyoto, it would be a good idea to visit the Nishiki market and try seasonal products as well as traditional dishes.

When you arrive at this legendary market with about 400 years of history, you will see dozens of stalls with all kinds of Japanese foods: river fish from Lake Biwa, vegetables grown in Kyoto, Shiitake and matsutake mushrooms, Japanese sweet potatoes, Ginkgo Ginnan nuts, bamboo shoots, etc. You will also find dishes such as Ohagi (traditional sweet), mochigome (boiled rice with chestnuts), among others.

This market is also an obligatory destination for those who take part in the best cooking lessons in Kyoto, as they go to the market before class to look for ingredients. It is also a frequent addition to food tours of Kyoto.

Useful information

• Price: Entrance to the market is free and booking a small group food tour of Kyoto costs approximately €100.
• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (daily). However, opening times may vary depending on the food stall.

From mid-October, the autumn season begins in Kyoto, a time when locals look forward to watching the leaves on the trees, an activity known as momijigari. Join this ancient tradition and enjoy the ochre tones of the landscape.

This natural phenomenon of changing leaves, known as Momiji, can be seen all over the city. However, locals often visit some of the best temples in Kyoto to connect with nature.

Eikan-dō Temple is one of the most popular places to enjoy Momiji. Upon arrival, you will be amazed by the reddish, yellow and brown colours in the foliage of its extensive vegetation, which in turn is combined with the Tahoto pagoda (a traditional multi-storey building).

Useful information

• Price: entrance fee is approximately €8 per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

One of the things to do in autumn during your two-day stay in Kyoto or longer is to try roasted chestnuts. This is a traditional seasonal ingredient and can be found at street stalls and restaurants.

To try yakiguri, you can head to the busy streets such as the pedestrianised Pontocho or visit the Nishiki market in central Kyoto. These places are dotted with food stalls and restaurants, where you will have to queue to buy yakiguri.

There are also some typical autumn preparations. Such is the case of mochigome, a small grain of rice boiled with chestnuts, and the traditional rice cake, mochi, pressed with chestnuts.

If you happen to be in Kyoto in November, specifically on the 15th of November, you can experience the shichi-go-san celebration up close at the city's temples. You can get close to the traditions of Japanese culture and enjoy the warm atmosphere of the autumn season.

Shichi-go-san is an ideal activity if you are in Kyoto with children. It is a ritual of thanksgiving to the gods for the healthy growth of the little ones in the house. For this, you'll have to go to one of the local shrines: Arashiyam Temple, Tofukuji Temple or Eikan-dō Temple, among others.

During this experience you will see girls wearing their yukata and boys wearing hakama (trousers) and haori (jackets). You can also enjoy some traditional dances and music. All this, while tasting chitose ame or thousand-year-long-life candy, surrounded by an autumnal atmosphere.

Kyoto in autumn has many celebrations and one of them is the Jidai Matsuri or Festival of the Ages, which commemorates the founding of the city in mid-October. Be part of this celebration and enjoy a grand parade through which you will see years of culture and tradition pass before your eyes.

The activity starts at the Kyoto Imperial Palace with the offering to the mikoshi (portable Shinto temple) belonging to Emperor Kammu and Kōmei. The temples are then walked through the city centre to the Heian Shrine.

Around 2,000 people in samurai costume take part in the route. You will also see representations of personalities from Japanese history up to the Meiji dynasty. You will be amazed by the make-up, wigs, katanas and traditional costumes such as the 12-layered jūnihitoe kimono, among others.

Useful information

• Price: admission is free.
• Opening hours: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm approximately.

The autumn season in Kyoto offers mild weather with maximum temperatures ranging from 23°C to 12°C and minimum temperatures from 14°C to 12°C. You will rarely see the thermometer exceed 28ºC or drop below 3ºC.

During your stay in Kyoto you will notice that the weather during the daytime hours is warm, but very pleasant, making it ideal for outdoor activities and viewing the unique foliage of this season. In the evenings, however, the environment cools down.

Autumn in Kyoto is very cool. You will gradually notice how the environment cools down, leaving the hot summer days behind. So if you plan to travel during this season, which runs from mid-October to early December, you should pack long sleeves, some trousers, scarves and light coats.

You can pack some skirts and dresses, but be sure to wear long thermal tights. Ideally, dress in layers, so that you can adapt to weather variations. And as for shoes, avoid bare feet.