Warmer weather delays autumn foliage in Japan

Japan’s bright autumn foliage is expected to appear later than usual in 2024, according to a forecast released by the Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) on Oct 30.

Weather navigation website Tennavi said in a bulletin that temperatures in several parts of Japan are expected to be higher than usual between September and November.

As a result, peak foliage timing has been pushed back nationwide.

For instance, JMC’s forecast showed that red maple leaves are expected to show in the capital Tokyo on Dec 5 – a week later than the average of Nov 28.

Meanwhile, the yellow gingko leaves will peak six days later than usual, with peak foliage forecast around Nov 29.

In Kyoto, another popular spot, maple leaves are expected on Dec 16, 11 days later than average. Gingko leaves are forecast on Dec 2, eight days later than average.

According to JMC’s website, the autumn foliage date forecast is based on observation standards of sample trees, estimating the first day in which most parts of the tree’s leaves change colour.

The Japan Times reported that 11 cities are on track to break records for how late the autumn foliage peaks.

Among the cities that will see the longest delays are Utsunomiya in Tochigi prefecture and Nagano, which will see peak foliage more than two weeks later than average, it said.

Japan saw its

joint warmest summer in 2024

since records began in 1989, equalling the temperatures in 2023.

The country’s long-term average temperature between June and August was 1.76 deg C above the standard value.