I hope you’re all rested up from our cherry blossom death march last spring, because it’s time to strap on your camera and a couple of extra batteries to hunt down the best autumn leaves in Tokyo! Here are my picks, from momiji season through ginkgo:
Arranged from earliest to latest:
SHOWA KINEN PARK – Tachikawa
There are many different kinds of momiji in the Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park, showing off different shades of yellow, orange and red at the same time.
The Japanese maples turn color early in the Japanese garden at Showa Kinen. Look for them in early November.
This gorgeous promenade of ginkgo trees hits its peak after the Japanese maples, around mid-November.
You can walk under the twin promenades through a tunnel of gold.
Bonus attraction: There is a really choice bonsai garden within the Japanese garden walls, and this open tea room displays the most spectacular specimens.
Gotokuji’s wooden pagoda is the perfect backdrop for splendid red and gold maple leaves in mid-November. You’ll find them here earlier than in central Tokyo.
The momiji here turn very satisfying colors of red and orange.
Added bonus: There is a shrine on the temple grounds where thousands of “good luck” maneki neko cat figures have been offered to ensure success in business.
By late November, this famous boulevard is attracting thousands and thousands of camera-happy gawkers every day, but you can still enjoy the trees despite the crowds.
Ginkgo leaves at their peak, at Ichou Namiki
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YOYOGI PARK – Harajuku Station
Towering ginkgo trees are bright yellow, starting in mid-November.
At twilight, you can scuff your feet through a sea of yellow leaves.
By late November, the maples are turning orange and red.
The trees at Yoyogi Park are big – in the fall it’s a forest of yellow and red right in the middle of Tokyo!
This promenade of ginkgo trees is quite majestic, and extends for several blocks in mid to late-November.
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TOKYO UNIVERSITY – Todaimae
Tokyo University’s gothic buildings are the perfect backdrop for a lovely line-up of ginkgo trees. They reach their golden peak in late November, and there’s never a crowd, so you can enjoy a peaceful walk under the canopy.
The entrance to Tokyo University is just outside the Todaimae subway station.
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NEZU SHRINE – Nezu Station
Golden ginkgo trees shade the red torii gate at the Nezu Shrine, starting in mid-November.
Usually the main gate is the most colorful thing around, but the ginkgos and maples make its red lacquer and gold leaf seem pale in comparison. They’re at their best in late November.
This is my favorite shrine in Tokyo, and autumn is one of the best times to see it.
Bonus attraction: you can walk though a glowing tunnel of orange torii gates.
Rikugi-en never disappoints, with its 88 views from famous waka poems.
Maple trees flame in all colors of the rainbow in late November.
Bonus attraction: From the third week in November through the first week in December, the garden is lit up at night until 9:00 for your leaf-viewing pleasure.
Arg arg arg! Well, you’ve got four years, right? Surely you won’t ALWAYS be at sea during Leaf Season! Or maybe they’ll let you be ashore during cherry blossoms instead, which feature far more full-bodied partying. heh.
Only In Japan 
Soooo…. once again thanks to the Navy I get to see Japan’s nature at its (second?) finest. 😦
Arg arg arg! Well, you’ve got four years, right? Surely you won’t ALWAYS be at sea during Leaf Season! Or maybe they’ll let you be ashore during cherry blossoms instead, which feature far more full-bodied partying. heh.
I’ve seen the schedule for the next two years aaaaaand….. I don’t remember. Maybe? Haha…