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 ocher tones, 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 participate 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 characterizes the season. Here are some must-see 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.
• The Kiyomizu-dera temple: with a mind-blowing view of the autumn foliage.
• The Pontocho District: a traditional pedestrian street lined with red lanterns, stores 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.

Although you can do this activity on your own, you will 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 live 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 tranquility. 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 the cultural importance of this drink.

Interesting information

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

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 through 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. Although the ride may be slow, you will find it very quiet, allowing you to enjoy a different perspective of the streets, temples and green areas tinged with ocher colors.

Usually this rickshaw tour of Kyoto 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 stop at the Tenryuji temple, a World Heritage Site.
• Higashiyama: the driver will take you through cobblestone streets surrounded by traditional wooden buildings. You will see some Kabuki theaters, 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 about 41€ per person.
• Duration: about 3 hours.

Autumn sunsets in Kyoto usually offer an amazing visual spectacle that you can enjoy from the viewpoint of the Kyoto Tower. This skyscraper, erected in 1963, is located in the heart of the Shimogyō-ku district.

Once in the observation area of the tower, you will be amazed by the 360º panoramic view 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 access the restaurant area for a meal and a drink. You will also have the opportunity to stroll through the souvenir store located on the second floors of the building.

Information of interest

• Price: Admission for adults is usually around €6, students pay around €5 and children under 3 are free.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.

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

Also, you will see the permanent collections with more than 12,000 works dating from the Meiji period, highlighting among them a series 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 store. You can also stop in the garden area and watch the Momiji (changing color of the leaves of the trees), while eating and drinking matcha tea in the cafeteria.

Information of interest

• Price: general admission tickets are about 4€ for adults and about 2€ for children.
• Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (9:30 am to 6:00 pm), Friday and Saturday (9:30 am to 8:00 pm). 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 elaborations.

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 a mandatory destination for those who participate in the best cooking lessons in Kyoto, since before the class they go to the market in search of ingredients. It is also a place frequently incorporated into Kyoto food tours.

Information of interest

• Price: entrance to the market is free and booking a gastronomic tour of Kyoto with small groups costs approximately 100 €.
• Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (daily). However, opening hours may vary according to the food stall.

Starting in mid-October, the autumn season begins in Kyoto, a time when the locals are eagerly awaited by the locals to observe the leaves of the trees, an activity known as momijigari. Join this ancient tradition and enjoy the ocher tones of the landscape.

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

In this sense, Eikan-dō Temple is one of the most popular temples to enjoy Momiji. Upon arrival, you will be amazed with the reddish, yellow and brown colors in the foliage of its extensive vegetation, which in turn is combined with the Tahoto pagoda (traditional multi-story building).

Information of interest

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

Among the things to do in autumn during your stay of 2 days or more in Kyoto, you must include the tasting of roasted chestnuts. This is a traditional ingredient at this time of the year, which you can find in street stalls and restaurants.

To try the so-called yakiguri, you can go to busy streets such as the pedestrian Pontocho or visit the Nishiki market, located in the center of Kyoto. These places are dotted with food stalls and restaurants, where you will have to wait in line to buy this delicacy.

You can also get 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 are in Kyoto in November, specifically on November 15, 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 will 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 (pants) and haori (jackets). In addition, you will be able to enjoy some traditional dances and music. All this, while tasting chitose ame or thousand years of longevity candies, surrounded by an autumn atmosphere.

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

The activity starts at the Imperial Palace of Kyoto with the offering to the mikoshi (portable temple of Shinto) belonging to Emperor Kammu and Kōmei. Afterwards, these temples are carried on foot through the center of the city to the Heian Shrine.

Around 2,000 people dressed as samurai participate 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.

Information of interest

• Price: admission is free.
• Hours: from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm approximately.

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

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. On the other hand, in the evenings 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. Therefore, if you plan to travel during this season, which runs from mid-October to early December, you should pack long-sleeved clothing, some pants, scarves and light coats.

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