Come Late? No problem! 11 locations in Kyoto to enjoy the red maple leaves in December

Red Leaves
京都の紅葉シーズン

Most people think that the period for enjoying the red maple leaves is in November.But in early December, there are still many locations for having the red maple leaves enjoyment.Also there will be less tourists in December. Should we take the last chance to enjoy them in Kyoto in a comfortable way?

Shimogamo-Jinja

All Kyoto’s people know that the red maple leaves period ends very late in Shimogamo-Jinja Shrine. We can enjoy them in the late fall inside the big wood land called “Forest of Correction”
Opening hours: 6:30am to 17:00pm Entrance fee: Free

Address:

京都市左京区下鴨泉川町59

  • 京阪出町柳駅下車、徒歩12分
  • 市バス下鴨神社前バス停下車

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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Sakya Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa

Sakya Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo VillaThis was a new tourist spot opened in 2016, located near the south side of Shimogamo-Jinja.From 16 November to 5 December in 2017, there was a special event. The 2nd floor of the building is open for tourists to enjoy the red maple leaves.The main building is an ancient house built in Taisho period. The 3rd floor will only be open for public in winter only.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Last admission at 4:30pm) Closed on WednesdayFee: Adult 410 Yen , High school 300Yen , Primary school 200 YenSpecial event (2nd floor) :Adult 600 Yen, High School 400 Yen, Primary school 300m , younger than primary school freeSpecial event(2nd & 3rd floor) :Adult 800 Yen , High School 600 Yen,Primary school 400 yen

Address:

58-2 Shimogamo Miyagawachō

  • Keihan Electric Railway OR Eizan Densha train get off at Demachiyanagi station, 5mins walk.
  • City bus, get off at Seiryucho station, 5mins walk
  • City bus , get off at Demachiyanagi station, 5mins walk

Red maple leaves period:Mid November to Early December

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Jonangu Shrine

Jonangu ShrineThe idea of garden Rakusuien is from the Garden of the Shirakawa Tenno of Japanese ancient novel Genji Monogatari. Rakusuien includes five gardens. In spring, there will be a water banquet in the Nihon Teien. There will be another banquet in august to watch the red maple leaves in other gardens.
Opening hours Garden: 9:00am to 4:30pm (Last admission at 4:00pm)Entrance fee: FreeVisiting the Rakusuien: Adult 600 Yen, Younger than Secondary School 400 Yen

Address:

7 Nakajimatobarikyuho,Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi

  • Get off at Jukjeon Yeok Station of Karasuma Line by subway, walk for 15mins
  • Get off at Jonanguhigashiguchi bus stop by city bus.
  • Get off at Aburanokoji Dori Jonangu Shrine bus stop by R
  • EX bus (Get off at Jonangu Shrine bus stop on Sat and Sun)
  • Free car park for 200 private cars

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Kitano Tenmangu

This is the house near the odoi of the Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The red maple leaves period starts on 4 December. There will be also a lightening event to enjoy the red maple leaves.
Opening hours:4月～9月：5時～18時、10月～3月：5時30分～17時30分社務所・授与所：9時～17時（ライトアップ期間は9時～20時）ライトアップ：11月11日～12月3日：日没～20時（7日までの延長期間：日没～19時）（2017年）拝観料:もみじ苑：大人700円、小人350円（お茶菓子付き）境内の拝観は無料

Address:

京都市上京区馬喰町

  • 京福電車「白梅町駅下車、徒歩5分
  • 市バス「北野天満宮前」バス停下車
  • 駐車場はありますが、利用できるのは9時～17時までです。公共交通機関の利用をおすすめします。

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Shinnyo-do Temple

Although late November is the best period for enjoying the red maple leaves, we can still enjoy the nice view of autumn leaves in early December behind the hall.
Opening hours:9時～16時（受付終了15時45分）拝観料:大人500円、高校生300円、中学生200円、小学生無料

Address:

京都市左京区浄土寺真如町82

  • 市バス錦林車庫前バス停
  • 真如堂前バス停で下車徒歩約８分
  • 紅葉シーズンは駐車場使用不可

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Konkai Komyoji Temple

金戒光明寺の紅葉This garden with Japanese dry landscape is a good place to enjoy the red maple leaves. There will be also a special event in 3rd December during the red maple leaves period.
Opening hours:秋の特別拝観：11月10日～12月3日（2017年）9時～16時（受付終了）拝観料:御影堂・大方丈・庭園：大人600円、小学生300円山門：大人800円、小学生400円御影堂・大方丈・庭園・山門セット券：大人1,200円、小学生600円（セット券での拝観は15:30までに入場）

Address:

京都市左京区黒谷町121

  • 地下鉄東西線蹴上駅下車、徒歩30分
  • 市バス東天王町バス停下車、徒歩15分
  • 市バス岡崎道バス停下車、徒歩10分

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Kyoto Botanical Garden

Near the Nakaragi-jinja Shrine , there is a pond area called “Nakaragi forest” , with the autumn leaves falling onto the pond forming a beautiful picture. We can also see reflection of water birds and the maple trees on the pond. Also don’t miss the nice view of maple leaves in the garden named “Hydrangea garden”.
Opening hours:9時～17時（入園16時まで）観覧温室開室時間：10時～16時（入室15時30分）　拝観料:一般200円、高校生150円、中学生以下無料

Address:

京都市左京区下鴨半木町

  • 地下鉄烏丸線北山駅下車3番出口すぐ
  • 市バス・京都バス植物園前バス停下車、徒歩5分

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Bishamondo Temple

Bishamondo TempleIt is famous for its red maple leaves in the Pilgrimage Routes. The Bishamondo Bansui-en Garden (a promenade gardens which landscape gardens in the go-round style), is also the best location to watch the red maple leaves.
Opening hours:3月16日～11月30日：8時30分～17時（最終受付16時30分）、12月1日～3月15日：8時30分～16時30分（最終受付16時）拝観料:大人500円、高校生400円、中学生300円、小学生300円、小学生以下無料

Address:

京都市山科区安朱稲荷山町18

  • JR・地下鉄東西線山科駅下車、徒歩約20分
  • 京阪電車京阪山科駅下車、徒歩約20分
  • 京阪バス山科駅バス停下車、徒歩約20分

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to early December

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Manshu-in Temple

Manshu-in TempleThere is the traditional building style of Tsuiji wall passing through the entrance of the temple. There are many maple trees on the stone wall. There is a beautiful picture when the red maple leaves fall onto the stone wall with green mosses.We can also enjoy the Japanese dry landscape of autumn leaves with different colors. This makes a big contrast with the green pine trees and the white garden soil.We can also admire the view of the pond on the other side of the entrance.
Opening hours:9時～17時（受付は～16時30分）拝観料:大人600円、高校生500円、小中学生400円

Address:

京都市左京区一乗寺竹ノ内町42

  • 叡山電車修学院駅下車、徒歩約20分
  • 市バス一乗寺清水町バス停下車、徒歩20分

Red maple leaves period: November

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Entsu-Ji Temple

Entsu-Ji TempleThis temple is rebuilt from the monument which is the palace of Emperor Go-Mizunoo. There are some Cedrus and Hinoki trees near the hall. We can enjoy the red maple leaves with the Japanese dry landscape in reference to Mount Hiei. Beware that photography is prohibited in some areas.
Opening hours:December to March 10:00am to 4:00pm April to November 10:00am to 4:30pmFee:(Older than High school) 500Yen , (Younger than Secondary School) 300 Yen　

Address :

389 Iwakura Hataedacho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto

  • Get off at Kyoto-Seikadai-mae Station of Eizan Dentetsu train. Walk for 10 mins
  • Get off at Kitayama Station of Karasuma Line by Japan subway, Walk for 30 mins (Taxi for 5 mins).
  • Free Car park for 20 private cars

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

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Kiyomizu-dera Temple

The Koyasu Pagoda is the best location to take photos of the Temple and the red leaves.Although the hall is under construction, it is still available for visiting. Suggest taking photos at the nighttime. Although there are many tourists in the temple, it is still good for photo-taking after lightening. The lightening event at night will continue until 2nd December.
Opening hours:特別拝観：2018年11月17日 〜 12月2日（6時～17時ころ、ライトアップ：17時30分 〜 21時受付終了）成就院庭園：2018年11月17日 〜 12月2日（9時～16時受付終了、ライトアップ：18時～20時30分受付終了）Fee:本堂・舞台：高校生以上400円、小中学生200円（成就院庭園は別途大人600円、小中学生300円）

Address :

京都市東山区清水一丁目294

  • 市バス「五条坂」バス停、「清水道」バス停下車、徒歩約10分
  • 駐車場はなし。近くに京都市清水坂観光駐車場（普通車59台）などいくつか駐車場がありますが、紅葉時期は混みあいます。
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EpilogueDue to the Global Warming Effect, the period of red maple leaves delays every year. While there are less tourists in December than in November, we can still enjoy the red maple leaves in December.Although not mentioned above, according the weather situation in every year, we can still watch the red leaves in Arashiyama in Early December.It is fun discovering the red leaves on the trip even though we are not going for the red leaves during the trip.。