Comfortable weather and stunning autumn foliage make November one of the best months to visit most of Japan.
Whether you're looking for a romantic milestone celebration or travelling with your family for a holiday, colorful leaves are the perfect backdrop for your Japan trip.
With mild and dry weather, November is the transition month from autumn to winter. Thus, you could expect milder weather in early November, and the further south in Japan, the warmer weather you can get.
Find out about average temperatures, rainfall, and tips on where to go and what to wear in Japan in November below...
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Alisa Liu is a star to work makes Asia Highlights even better
Alisa Liu was my contact person for Asia Highlights. She was remarkably punctual, she was thoughtful, and she handle an emergency on my end, with grace and patience. She recommended great hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan that put us in the center of the action. The guides she choose were personable, punctual a knowledgeable about their cities. More
Brent Zadorozny,
Oct 2023
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Excellent service
Started using Asia Highlights to plan my trip to Japan. Sharon was very helpful, giving me all the information I would need for the tour. I would definitely use Asia Highlights again, when planning another trip to Asia. More
Rachel Nelson,
Oct 2023
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Japan tour
Our airport pick-up went very smoothly. Our guide, Vivian, on the second day was very nice, very accommodating, took into account our preferences. In Osaka, our trip to the castle was a very long walk with lots of steps to climb and quite honestly wasn’t very interesting. But Dotonburi is a must-see and we enjoyed that very much.Our trip to Hiroshima was very memorable. I highly recommend it. Our guide, Etsuko, was very knowledgeable and kind. The trip to Miyajima island, on the other hand, wasn’t too memorable. Our next city, Kyoto, is a truly wonderful place to visit. All the temples we went to were very interesting and very distinctive from each other (Kinkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Sanjusangendo temple,Kiyumizo temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Tojaidi temple). The sake tour was a downer and wouldn’t recommend it.Our guide, Ritsuko, was a darling. She was very knowledgeable too and kind and warm and easy to talk to. Our last tour in Tokyo was a rainy day and Sue, our guide, was able to change our tour to the next day. She was so efficient and so accommodating and so kind and very knowledgeable too. More
Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris,
Oct 2023
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Very good tour of Japan
Very good tour around Japan for 10 days, including Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto. Excellent guides and experiences. Albee, the tour organiser, was always available to sort out changes to itinerary or extra requests. More
Guy Slimmon,
Oct 2023
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Everything is good
All of the hotels were wonderful and our guides were super friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We had a 10 day trip that included multiple cities and lots of different sights, we squeezed in as much as we could, including a 2 day hiking trip to Mt. Fuji (our guide Sun Nan was awesome!). Our guide in Tokyo, Jennifer, was lovely and our guide for 2 days in Kyoto, Dennis, was also super great. We did a food tour in Osaka with Vivian which was nice Sallie Fujimoto-Swun More
Ideale Tran,
Oct 2023
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Thank you for the wonderful experience…
Thank you for the wonderful experience we all truely enjoyed. From the beginning (making first contact with Sharon from Asia Highlights) to the end (Saying good bye to our amazing guide Lilly) the experience was top notch. Great communication while preparing the trip and excellent local knowledge of our tour guide. I can highly recommend Asia Highlights and would not hesitate to use them again for our next trip. More
Dany Gruosso,
Oct 2023
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Vacations in Japan
The guides Jessie and Vivian were very kind and professionals and the drivers as well. In a future vacation we will get in touch with Asia Highlights without a doubt. More
Hilda Andrade,
Oct 2023
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Experience with Asia Highlights
This was my first time working with a travel agent to plan an international trip and because of the seamless experience I had, I have decided to always work with an agent when booking international trips. Asia Highlights did an amazing job in ensuring we found a trip that worked well for our budget and provided us with special experiences in Japan that exceeded our expectations. From travel logistics in Japan to lodging and activities, we felt taken care of. If I had known that travel agents were this helpful, I would have worked with them in my prior travels. I definitely plan to book my next trip to Asia with this agent. More
Adie Ballantyne,
Oct 2023
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Jason and Cathy from Asia Highlights…
Jason and Kathy from Asia Highlights did a great job for us. They were very responsive and professional. Hotel choices and attractions made for a wonderful first time trip to Japan. More
Norman and Mary Van Zante,
Sep 2023
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This was one of the best experiences in…
This was one of the best experiences in Travel that I have ever had... and I have traveled extensively. The reliability of the the driver and guide, the kindness each displayed (different people in different cities same result) and the flexibility to work with my family's requests was outstanding. I now wish for this experience where ever I may travel next! More
Donna Huck,
Sep 2023
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Prompt response!
First and foremost, this review is based strictly on prompt response from Asia Highlights.I was browsing Asia Highlights website on the night of September 17th 2023 and really impressed of the positive reviews. So I decided to send an e-mail for an estimate of a private tour guide in Tokyo Japan for 6 days/7 nights including hotel accommodation for my 90-year-old father and I. I provided as much information as I can what areas of interest we would like to visit. I was really expecting a 72-hour delay response from Asia Highlights given time difference in California and Japan. The following day, I received an e-mail from Kate Long. Impressive! Kate provided a very detailed suggested itinerary with great consideration for my 90-year-old father. I truly appreciated her thoughtfulness! I will definitely reach out to Asia Highlights on our next trip! Thank you Kate! More
F K,
Sep 2023
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Perfectly planned and organized
Albee at Asia Highlights created a diverse, fun-filled itinerary for our trip. She listened carefully to our interests and made sure that we made the best use of our time in Japan. Our local guides, drivers and vehicles were excellent. Albee was always available to answer all my questions with a lightening fast response time. A very memorable experience and I would definitely book with Asia Highlights again. More
Carol Ann Paget Brown,
Sep 2023
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Sharon provided great service while…
Sharon provided great service while planning and booking our Japan trip! Unfortunately, we had to cancel due to family medical reasons. Sharon was very understanding of this and helped process the cancellation and refund in a very timely manner. When we are ready to book our trip again, I will certainly be reaching out to Sharon and Asia Highlights! More
Ali Tahir,
Sep 2023
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I just wanted to tell you how pleased…
I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were planning and coordinating our recent Japan trip with Alisa Liu. Alisa was responsive, answered questions in a timely manner despite our 15 hour time difference, and coordinated a trip for a 6 person multi-generational tour to everyone's satisfaction. (ages7-70!)We were particularly thankful for her help as 2 typhoons bore down on Japan during our stay. She helped us rearrange train and hotel reservations, and was able to get us a refund from a hotel that would not typically offer that. I have referred other friends to her with confidence. More
Berdine Bender,
Sep 2023
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Leah Stine
Not only Albee was great! Each of our guides and drivers were also a joy. Daniel was our first knowledgeable guide who spoke excellent English and was so much fun throughout the day. Jeremy was our guide for the next few days and he also was fun, flexible, and had so many interesting tidbits to share with us throughout the day. Kiko was our guide on the next leg of our journey. She had such a joyful sense of adventure and curiosity that was such a hoot. Vivian was also professional and very aware to what our needs were in the moment. Tian was incredibly flexible and when our plans literally changed when he picked us up, he showed great flexibility and took us to some really fun places at the last minute that were some of our best experiences. And finally Charlie was our last guide and he was so thoughtful and consistently anticipated our needs. By the time we realized we might need something, he would already have it taken care of. All of our guides were so thoughtful and conscious of either making sure we got time to ourselves or of being available right when we needed them. They were each fun and had their own personal flavor that they brought to the experience. We are so grateful for the consideration and flexibility that Asia Highlights showed us consistently and would highly recommend them for anyone interested in visiting Asia. Thank you so much! It was an amazing trip! More
Leah Stine,
Aug 2023
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Alisa is awesome!
We have been looking to go to Japan for a long time. The food, the culture, and the rich history have always intrigued us. We tried many times to set up pieces of the trip on our own, but couldn’t put together a sensible vacation. Then we found Asia Highlights and Alisa! She helped us tailor a remarkable adventure to Japan! She answered our many questions and shifted our itinerary to maximize our time in each city. I highly recommend Alisa to help you put together the trip of a lifetime. We are looking forward to our journey! More
Mark Linn,
Aug 2023
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Sharon has been very helpful since the…
Sharon has been very helpful since the beginning coordinating our itinerary in order to accommodate everything we want to see, it been great working with her More
May,
Jul 2023
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When I first book I was scared of what…
When I first book I was scared of what to expect, but oh my God! What an amazing experience this has been, from Sharon to all the guides Shawn and Mr. Ho, such amazing people! Their work is excellent More
Saul Velez,
Jul 2023
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Albee was very helpful and responsive…
Albee was very helpful and responsive in helping me make plans for their 10 day Japanese tour. More
Bhavini Patel,
Jul 2023
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Alisa was a perfect tour consultant
Alisa responded to my numerous questions with efficiency and accuracy. She was constantly suggesting options to make the trip more enjoyable More
Matha Goram,
Jul 2023
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Japan Weather in November: Averages

- Temperature range: 9–17°C (48–62°F)
- Rainfall: 86 mm (3 inches)
- Rainy days: 8
- Sunny days: 22
Weather of Japan's Major Cities in November
Japan City | Ave. Min. Temp. | Ave. Max. Temp. | Average Rainfall |
---|---|---|---|
Sapporo | 2°C (35°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 30 mm (1 in) |
Tokyo | 9°C (48°F) | 17°C (62°F) | 96 mm (4 in) |
Kyoto | 8°C (47°F) | 17°C (62°F) | 74 mm (3 in) |
Osaka | 10°C (50°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (3 in) |
Hakone | 9°C (48°F) | 14°C (59°F) | 79 mm (3 in) |
Nara | 7°C (44°F) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (3 in) |
Hiroshima | 9°C (48°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 69 mm (2 in) |
Okinawa | 20°C (68°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 119 mm (5 in) |
Tokyo and Central Japan: Best Place for Autumn Foliage

In November in central Japan, you could admire the exploding autumn colors with mild and sunny weather during the day. But you'd better prepare for cold or cool late evenings and early mornings.
The favorable weather and breathtaking autumn scenery make central Japan an ideal place for outdoor activities. For the best views of fall leaves, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Nara would not disappoint you around mid-November.
If you like hiking, don't miss the Kumano Kodo trail. You could indulge yourself in dreamy countryside views and get some off-the-beaten-path insights into Japan. Besides navigating, our experienced guides are helpful in creating deeper contact with locals. Contact us for a private hiking tour tailor-made for you!
Wanna know more about planning your Japan trip? Read about How to Plan Your Trip to Japan >>>
Okinawa and Southern Japan: Sunny and Cool
As the wet season has gone, you could explore southern Japan with dry and warm weather of around 18–24°C (64–75°F). With cooler water temperatures, swimming and surfing is more comfortable in a wetsuit.
Besides the water activities, you could wander around the castles and streets with fewer crowds. For anniversaries or second honeymoons, take a sunset cruise and spend some private romantic hours with your partner!
Hokkaido and Northern Japan: Winter Begins
Owing to its high latitude, winter arrives earlier in northern Japan than in central and south Japan in November.
You can experience cold weather, with average temperatures ranging from 0–10°C (32–50°F). Thus, the north's amazing hot springs are ideal cold weather getaways.
Although the temperature can drop to freezing, the best time for skiing hasn't arrived yet. You would just have a chance to see the first snowfall in November. If you're keen on winter sports, you're suggested to visit north Japan from late December.
5 Best Places to Visit in Japan in November

Autumn colors usually top the things-to-see bucket list for a November Japan trip. Kyoto and Tokyo are the best places, along with Hakone.
If you're travelling with kids, tame deer in Nara Park near Kyoto could be a highlight. For a natural hit, Nikko National Park north of Tokyo is a good place to enjoy outdoor fun.
To well discover Japan in a comfortable pace, you might need at least 2 weeks. Get some inspiration about 2-week Japan itineraries or 3-week Japan itineraries...
1. Tokyo: Admire Autumn Foliage and Winter Illumination
Without extreme heat or cold, Tokyo in November sees a blend of autumn colors and festive illuminations.
You could appreciate zen gardens or temples framed with colorful leaves. Hiking on Mt. Takao would give you even more tranquil views. Visiting these places on weekdays is helpful to avoid crowds too.
Winter illuminations start from November, when you can appreciate them without the big crowds that come when Christmas approaches.
If you're travelling with your kids, don't miss the annual Disney Christmas (from early November to late December). With fewer crowds in November, you may enjoy the festive Christmas decoration inside the Disney resort more.
2. Hakone: View Mt. Fuji from a Ryokan Inn with Private Hot Springs
With dry and clear weather, November is one of the best times for a clear view of snow-capped Mt. Fuji from afar. Hakone is one of the best viewing places.
You could capture a postcard-perfect backdrop with colorful leaves, Mt. Fuji, and bright skies. For the most iconic views, take a mountain cableway ride or a cruise in the sunset.
For your big celebration, what could be more special than a ryokan (Japanese inn) experience? Bath in its private outdoor hot springs, overlook Mt. Fuji and taste exquisite kaiseki (traditional Japanese multi-course cuisine)...
3. Nara: Encounter Roaming Deer Under Autumn Trees

Just 45 minutes by bullet train from Kyoto, Nara is a famous family destination in Japan. Within its calming atmosphere, you and your kids could feed and interact with freely-roaming deer in Nara Park.
History comes to life in Todai-ji temple, the oldest and largest temple in Nara. In late November, this ancient temple becomes more impressive when decorated by autumn colors.
4. Kyoto: Ancient Capital Blazing with Fall Colors
Being a dry month, Kyoto in November embodies pleasant weather and idyllic autumn foliage. Clear skies and colorful leaves offer a great backdrop for a private couple's vacation or family trip.
You could join in the leaf-viewing parties congregating from streets to iconic shrines in the day, and also have a special night trip. Taking a romantic train ride in Arashiyama will put you in amongst the scenery.
Suggested reading: 10 Days in Japan: Top 5 Itineraries for a Family/Couple>>>
5. Nikko: Go for Outdoor Activities
Nikko National Park is an outdoor paradise with sacred temples, breathtaking waterfalls, and forested slopes.
Unlike in Tokyo or Kyoto, autumn foliage in Nikko peaks in early November. Away from the major cities, you could enjoy the attractive scenery more peacefully.
You can wander through temples and parks strewn with colorful leaves or hike through the mountains to see the autumn colors. You could also admire its beauty from cable cars.
Costs and Crowding in November
November is considered one of the best months to visit Japan. So high costs and some crowding is inevitable in November, especially in central and south Japan. But compared with cherry blossom season (March to May), the conditions are still acceptable.
To avoid crowds, a well-organized private tour is beneficial to avoid the stress of crowds. Weekdays are also advisable for visiting the iconic attractions in November. Check the classic Japan tours or contact us to customize your own private tour!
What to Pack in November
In central Japan, lightweight layers like a jacket with a cardigan or sweater over a long-sleeved shirt can provide the necessary warmth during cooler days and evenings.
For northern Japan, winter clothing is necessary to keep you warm. If you go to the southern islands, summer clothing is fine.
With plenty of sunny days, don't forget your sun protection.
Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Japan
Learn about the weather in Japan for 12 months and find out the best places to visit each month.
Japan in January | Japan in February | Japan in March |
Japan in April | Japan in May | Japan in June |
Japan in July | Japan in August | Japan in September |
Japan in October | Japan in November | Japan in December |
Exploring Japan with Asia Highlights
At Asia Highlights, we have created over 10,000+ big trips for insightful travelers, mostly for families and couples. We will be happy to personalize your private Japan tour that offers you an unforgettable Japan Autumn!
Get inspiration from the below hands-on itineraries. All of them could be customized to your interests/schedule within 24 hours!
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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Get Inspired with Some Popular Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.