About Kyoto’s Fresh Green Maple Leaves

After the cherry blossoms, the next highlight is the fresh green maple leaves

From the end of cherry blossom season until the autumn leaves season, Kyoto is a great place to enjoy fresh green maple leaves.
Early summer is especially attractive for its vivid and refreshing greenery.
Unlike the cherry blossom and autumn leaves seasons, Kyoto is not very crowded during the fresh green season.

Even during Golden Week, when the fresh greenery is at its peak, Kyoto is surprisingly not too crowded.
Many people visit Kyoto every year during the fresh green season to avoid the crowds of the cherry blossom and autumn leaves seasons and enjoy the city’s quiet atmosphere.
The calm and gentle green scenery can be appreciated at a relaxed pace because the busy cherry blossom season has already passed.
Walking through temple grounds and gardens surrounded by fresh green maple leaves is truly a special experience that can only be enjoyed in early summer.

Long Daylight Hours Make Sightseeing Perfect

The fresh green maple season is recommended not only because it is less crowded, but also because the days are longer during this time of year.
In early summer, when Kyoto’s fresh green maple leaves are at their most beautiful, the sun rises early and sets late.
This allows visitors to enjoy sightseeing efficiently from early morning until evening.
The leaves shining in the morning light are especially lively, almost as if they are expressing the breath of nature.

Autumn Leaf Spots Are Also Beautiful with Fresh Green Maple Leaves

“Green maple leaves” refers not only to the fresh green season, but to all green maple leaves before they turn red in autumn.
The deep green leaves of midsummer also have their own special charm.
This article mainly focuses on the fresh greenery of early summer.
During the short period after the cherry blossoms fall and before the rainy season begins, the streets of Kyoto are filled with shining greenery.
The beautiful fresh green maple leaves have been gaining more attention each year as a unique attraction of this season.

Fresh greenery can be enjoyed with many kinds of deciduous broadleaf trees, but maple trees are still the most beautiful.
Places famous for autumn leaves are also famous spots for fresh green scenery.

Autumn leaves are the final sparkle before the leaves complete their life.
In contrast, fresh greenery has the beauty of leaves growing strongly with new energy.
The lively green leaves seem to give people strength just by looking at them. In recent years, events such as “green maple illuminations” have become more popular, allowing people to enjoy their beauty even at night.
Unlike the fresh and vivid green seen during the day, the leaves lit up at night show stronger contrasts of light and shadow, creating a magical atmosphere.
The soft lighting and shadows bring out a different kind of beauty from what can be seen in daylight.

Fresh Green Maple Spots in Central Kyoto

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine〈Kamigyo Ward〉

Highlights of the Fresh Green Maple Leaves at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is well known for its plum blossoms, but in recent years it has also become popular as a famous autumn leaves spot.
In particular, the historic Odoi area, which has been specially opened to visitors during the autumn leaves season since 2007, is now one of Kyoto’s most famous autumn foliage spots and attracts many visitors.

The historic Odoi area, famous for its autumn leaves, has also been opened during the fresh green season since 2015.
Under the special event “Historic Odoi Green Maple Garden Opening,” it will be specially open to the public from Monday, April 6 to Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Visitors can enjoy the vivid fresh greenery spreading over the valley of the Kamiyagawa River.

At the bottom of the Odoi area, where even the air seems filled with green, stands the bright vermilion “Uguisu Bridge.”
The vivid red color stands out beautifully against the greenery.

Since 2023, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine has also held a rare special nighttime illumination event for the fresh green season.
Until 2025, the event was limited to Golden Week, but in 2026 the period was greatly extended from Monday, April 6 to Sunday, May 24.

Visitor Information

Opening Hours
5:30–17:30 (October to March)
5:00–18:00 (April to September)

Admission

Free entry to the shrine grounds

TEL 075-461-0005

Address
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine Office, Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto

Access
5-minute walk from Randen “Kitano-Hakubaicho Station”

Historic Odoi Green Maple Garden Opening

Open Period
Monday, April 6 – Sunday, June 28, 2026

Viewing Hours
9:00–16:00 (last admission at 15:40)

Admission Fee
Adults: 500 yen
Elementary school students and school trip students: 250 yen

Special Night Illumination

Event Period
Monday, April 6 – Sunday, May 24, 2026

Viewing Hours
From sunset to 20:00 (last admission at 19:40)

Admission Fee
Adults: 500 yen
Elementary school students and school trip students: 250 yen

Shimogamo Shrine & Tadasu no Mori Forest〈Sakyo Ward〉

Highlights of the Fresh Green Maple Leaves at Tadasu no Mori Forest

Tadasu no Mori, the sacred forest of Shimogamo Shrine, is located close to the center of Kyoto City, yet it still preserves its natural, primeval vegetation.

The most vivid fresh greenery can be seen on the maple trees, but the fresh green leaves of zelkova and hackberry trees are also beautifully colored.
Since many of the trees have grown naturally, one of the forest’s charms is the variety of fresh greenery from different kinds of trees.
Even though they are all shades of green, the rich variety of colors creates a soothing atmosphere.

On May 15, when the fresh greenery is at its most beautiful, the Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major festivals, is held.
Amid the beautiful fresh greenery of Tadasu no Mori Forest, the ceremonial procession of the Roto no Gi moves solemnly toward Shimogamo Shrine.

Before the Roto no Gi procession, the Yabusame ritual is held on May 3 at the riding ground in Tadasu no Mori Forest.
Riders shoot targets while galloping on horseback, praying for the safe and successful holding of the Aoi Festival.

Visitor Information
Opening Hours: 6:30–17:00
Tadasu no Mori Forest is open freely during the daytime
Admission: Free entry to the shrine grounds
TEL: 075-781-0010
Address: 59 Shimogamo Izumikawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: About a 10-minute walk from Keihan Demachiyanagi Station

Kyoto Gyoen National Garden (Kamigyo Ward)

Highlights of the Fresh Green Maple Leaves at Kyoto Gyoen National Garden

At Kyoto Gyoen National Garden, located in the heart of Kyoto City, you can enjoy beautiful fresh greenery throughout the grounds.
Although Kyoto has many shrines and temples, there are not many parks, so Kyoto Gyoen is an important relaxing space for local residents.

Kyoto Gyoen is also famous for its cherry blossoms, where you can enjoy both the blossoms and the fresh greenery at the same time.
When the fresh greenery begins to emerge, the satozakura cherry trees by the Demizu Stream reach their best viewing season.

Kyoto Gyoen also serves as a public park, and simply sitting on a bench under the shade of the trees and enjoying the scenery can make you feel relaxed and refreshed.
With the laughter of children in the background, peaceful and gentle moments flow beneath the fresh green maple leaves.

Visitor Information
Opening Hours: Open freely during the daytime
Admission: Free entry to the garden grounds
Address: Kyoto Gyoen, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
Access: Just a short walk from Imadegawa Station or Marutamachi Station on the subway

Conclusion

Late April to May is the best time to enjoy fresh green maple leaves and also one of the most comfortable seasons of the year.
The weather is pleasant, and the longer daylight hours make it perfect for sightseeing.
Kyoto’s green maples show different expressions each time you visit. Even in the same place, the shades and light of green change depending on the weather, time of day, and viewing angle, offering a new experience every time.

With a sightseeing taxi, you can visit multiple green maple spots easily with guidance from the driver.
Places famous for autumn leaves are also beautiful during the green season.
There are still many more green maple spots to discover in Kyoto.

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