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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nTakao is a scenic area that opens up after crossing the Mikyozaka Pass from Kyoto and entering the mountainous region.
Because it is a hidden spot surrounded by mountains, the autumn leaves can be seen slightly earlier than in central Kyoto, starting in early November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along the mountain stream of the Kiyotaki River, the red-tinted maple leaves appear as if they are gently covering the clear stream below. Takao is a well-known autumn leaves spot in Kyoto, famous since old times, so it\u2019s not really a hidden place. Hidden-gem rating: C<\/strong><\/strong> In Kyoto, new autumn-leaf spots keep popping up, so Takao is no longer a standout and has become a bit of a hidden spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jingo-ji autumn-foliage highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among Kyoto\u2019s famous \u201cSanbi\u201d spot, Jingo-ji turns color early. After climbing 400 stone steps to about 200 m high, the temple area usually peaks in early November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the steep slope shaped by the Kiyotaki River\u2019s V-shaped valley, there are many leaf-viewing spots along the stairs, so you can enjoy the view as you climb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you make it to the top, the hidden autumn leaves feel even more beautiful. Parts of the mountains are colored red and yellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In front of the tower gate, by the steps to the Main Hall, the view looking down from the Main Hall, and the valley view from the plate-throwing spot (kawarake-nage) \u2014 there are many good places for autumn leaves inside the grounds. Hidden-gem rating: C<\/strong><\/strong> Yoshimine-dera autumn-foliage highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yoshimine-dera is on the slope of Mt. Shaka in Kyoto\u2019s western hills, about 300 m high. The autumn leaves reach their best from early November, earlier than in central Kyoto. Yoshimine-dera sits high on the mountainside. In early November, when the air is clear, you can see very far. The grounds are wide with big elevation changes. From higher spots you can see maples filling the temple grounds and the Kyoto Basin below at the same time. Because the grounds are large, it rarely gets crowded\u2014a good hidden spot. Hidden-gem rating: <\/strong>B<\/strong> With grand views you can\u2019t see elsewhere and beautiful leaves\u2014and it\u2019s not very crowded\u2014it\u2019s fair to call it a hidden gem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kuwayama Shrine autumn-foliage highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From central Kameoka, just west of Kyoto, you pass calm farm fields to reach Kuwayama Shrine. A night illumination is usually held in early November. After a COVID break, in 2025 it will run for five days: Sat Nov 8\u2013Wed Nov 12. This is a revival after COVID has calmed down. Hidden-gem level: B<\/strong> For sightseeing in Kyoto, leave it to MK\u2019s chartered sightseeing taxi.<\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":585,"template":"","article_category":[],"class_list":["post-539","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-US"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"article_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_category?post=539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When you look up, you can see patches of blue sky peeking through the canopy of autumn leaves above your head.
This is a landscape you cannot see in central Kyoto, and it can be enjoyed from early November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/takao2-600x389-1.webp\")
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Even so, compared with the famous spots in Kyoto City at the peak season, it is much less crowded.
If you visit Kyoto in early November, I recommend coming here to see the autumn leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/takao3-600x404-1.webp\")
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Takao is a well-known autumn-leaf viewing spot in Japan, and it has been chosen as an area to promote to help spread out visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/takao6-600x450-1.webp\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBeautiful autumn leaves at Jingo-ji Temple after 400 stone steps (Ukyo Ward).<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Unlike along the Kiyotaki River in Takao, you can enjoy crisp, bright fall colors here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jingo-ji is a famous autumn-leaf spot in Kyoto\u2019s \u201cSanbi\u201d area, so it\u2019s not really a hidden place.
But there are about 400 steps, and the grounds are fairly large, so even in peak season it usually doesn\u2019t feel too crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYoshimine-dera: Autumn leaves with the Kyoto Basin as the backdrop (Nishiky\u014d Ward).<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s about 2\u00b0C cooler than central Kyoto, so the season (autumn colors) comes roughly 10 days earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine2-600x311-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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By mid-November they peak, and the views are stunning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine3-600x600-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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Its appeal isn\u2019t just the earlier colors than central Kyoto\u2014the great views from the temple grounds are the real draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine4-600x600-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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You can clearly see Mt. Hiei, the Higashiyama range, and even the Daigo mountains.
Many ways to enjoy the view\u2014that\u2019s the charm of Yoshimine-dera\u2019s autumn leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine5-600x311-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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In early November, sunset is early and the western hills cast shade by late afternoon, so visit earlier in the day.
During the foliage season there\u2019s a \u201cSpecial Early Opening.\u201d
In 2025, not only early November: from Sat Nov 2 to Mon Nov 24, the gate opens from 6:30 a.m.
Yoshimine-dera faces east, so it\u2019s also a sunrise spot.
Around first light, the colors are especially beautiful.
If you want the sunrise, arrive right at the 6:30 opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine6-600x311-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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Next-door Sankoji Temple is also a recommended hidden place for autumn leaves, with colors from early November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine7-600x450-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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This famous temple was once called the Nishiyama Monzeki. In the Otokuni area, it\u2019s the top fall-color spot after A\u014d Komy\u014d-ji, so it\u2019s not very \u201chidden.\u201d
However, the grounds are large, so it usually doesn\u2019t get too crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine8-600x311-1.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nKuwayama Shrine \u2014 Kameoka\u2019s guardian deity and a famous autumn-leaf spot (Kameoka City).<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Inside the grounds there are about 1,000 maple trees, plus many Enkianthus (dodan-tsutsuji) shrubs.
From early November, red maple leaves above and red Enkianthus below turn your whole view bright red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/kuwayama2-600x450-1.webp\")
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Until 2024 it was only three days, so it\u2019s been extended by two days.
In Kyoto City, some temples and shrines also start light-ups around this time, but the leaves there are usually only just starting to turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/kuwayama3-600x450-1.webp\")
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If you want to see a beautiful autumn-leaf light-up in early November in Kyoto Prefecture, go to Kameoka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/kuwayama4-600x450-1.webp\")
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In Kyoto City few people know it, so it\u2019s a hidden spot; in Kameoka almost everyone knows it, so it\u2019s not very hidden.
For autumn leaves in Kameoka, this is the first place people mention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/yoshimine9-600x338-2.webp\"){kind=spacer}
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While it met many of the criteria for an \u201cA\u201d rating, the recent growth in visitors from China and Taiwan places it in category \u201cB.\u201d
Before long, it may \u201cgraduate\u201d and no longer be a hidden autumn-leaf spot in Kyoto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/kuwayama6-600x450-1.webp\")
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Your private driver is a Kyoto expert who handles both transport and guiding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/mktaxi-japan.com\/kyoto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/11\/\u30d0\u30ca\u30fc\u8cb8\u5207\u89b3\u5149E-1.png\")
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