I think that November is the best season to travel around Japan. You can see beautiful autumn leaves in major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima. You can enjoy amazing scenery at temples and shrines. Especially from mid-November to late, I think that it’s fun just walking along a tree-lined street and a park. However, because it is the best season, everywhere is crowded with tourists. It would be better to organize your itinerary with that in mind. On this page, I will introduce useful information when you travel Japan in November.
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November: Weather and Clothing Information for All of Japan
If you are planning to go anywhere in Japan in November, the following articles provide information on weather and clothing for major tourist destinations. Click on the name of a destination to see articles about the weather and clothing for that destination in November.
| Tokyo | Osaka | Kyoto |
| Hokkaido | Sendai | Nagano |
| Nagoya | Hiroshima | Fukuoka |
| Okinawa |
In November, famous tourist destinations in Japan are crowded everywhere
Typical view of busy street in central of the town at twilight. November 3, 2014 Kyoto, Japan = shutterstock
In November, temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara are surrounded by autumnal leaves and become as beautiful as in the world of paintings. In November, the weather in Japan is stable nationwide and there are many sunny days. The air is not moist like the summer, and you can travel comfortably. November is just the best season of sightseeing.
Both domestic tourists and foreign tourists are very numerous in November. Therefore, if you are going to travel Japan this time, I think it will be a pain to get hotel reservations here and there.
There are many subways in Tokyo and Osaka so you can move around the city without encountering traffic congestion. However, there are few subways in Kyoto city, so in order to go to sightseeing spots, you often have to use a bus or a taxi. For this reason, in Kyoto, you will inevitably encounter traffic jams.
In Kyoto, especially famous sightseeing spots such as the Kinkakuji temple, there are times when you have to line up considerably in order to enter. You are tired from traffic jams and you may get tired of congestion at sightseeing spots. If you travel with small children and encounter traffic jams, it will be hard for you.
I dared to emphasize such things as I do not want you to feel bad in Japan. However, if you carefully understand the above and do not encounter congestion, you must be able to experience a very wonderful trip.
Please make hotel reservations as soon as possible so that you will not ruin your trip by crowd. If you reserve a hotel close to the main sightseeing spot you want to go to, you will be less likely to be caught up in congestion in traveling time.
For example, if you want to travel around Gion, Yasaka Shrine etc in Kyoto, I recommend you to book a hotel around Gion earlier than a hotel near Kyoto station.
On the day you go to famous sightseeing spots, please try to leave the hotel as soon as possible in the morning. Famous sightseeing spots generally crowd more and more from noon. If you go out to famous sightseeing spots in the morning and visit sightseeing spots with few tourists from the afternoon you will be able to enjoy a relatively quiet trip.
To travel around tourist spots efficiently, it is also recommended that you take a taxi that is familiar with local transportation conditions and move. It is also a good idea to take a sightseeing bus tour. Please devise your itinerary and make a fun trip!
Autumnal leaves are beautiful even in urban walkways and parks
Autum in the Shinjuku GYoen Park ,Tokyo, Japanshutterstock
November 2017 : Meiji-Jingu-Gaien is one of the most famous places for its beautiful autumn leaves = shutterstock
In November, autumn leaves are beautiful everywhere in Japan. Even if you can not afford to go to local sights of autumn leaves, you can enjoy autumn leaves sufficiently in Tokyo and Osaka and other cities.
If you want to see autumn leaves in the city, please try looking for a tree-lined street or a park. In Tokyo, I recommend that you go to Shinjuku Gyoen, Meiji Jingu, Omotesando, Aoyama etc. as shown in the picture above. I wish you a wonderful trip!
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
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