12 locations to enjoy the red leaves in the early morning

If you want to watch the red leaves in the early morning after getting off the Night bus to Kyoto, please read this article. You can discover the maple leaves with new different feelings in the morning with fresh air.

Tenryu-Ji Temple

Tenryu-Ji Temple will be available from the period 10th November to 2nd December in 2018, starting from 7:30am. Tourists are not allowed to get into the main hall of the temple, but people can still admire the beautiful views, with the reflections of red leaves on the pond of Sogenchi Garden. In this cold weather, you can also enjoy the view of fog from the borrowed scenery of Arashiyama. Although there are no red leaves, we suggest you to take photos at the Bamboo forest path behind the Tenryu-Ji Temple. You can feel free to take photos since there are not many tourists at that time. Click here for more information

Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine

Here is open for 24 hours. If you go here in the morning, you can avoid tourist jam at the daytime and take the photos comfortably in the famous Senbon Torii (Thousands torii). You can discover many red leaves in the nearby streets of and ponds nearby Senbon Torii. Click here for more information

Nagaoka Tenmangu

As it is open for 24 hours, you can come in the early morning. The narrow crossed bridges on the pond(八條池) and the red leaves garden Kinkei-en were built in 2007. There is also a nearby temple Komyo-ji where is popular for falling red leaves scenery (open at 9:00am). Suggest also take a visit.

Address :

京都市左京区鞍馬本町1074

Red maple leaves period: mid to late November

Maruyama Park

There is the most ancient park open since Meiji period. There are the Chion-in temple at the north side and the Yasaka Jinja shrine at the West side. The Tatchu sub-temples “Six Ami”of Anyoji Temple were built at here. But now the only remaining “left Ami”is the high-class restaurant in Kyoto. This Japanese Garden was built by Ueji Ogawa Jihei VII. There are the bronze statues of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro near the gourd pond. You can see the fullmoon-maple trees with red leaves here. If you stay in the Hotel Chorakukan or Japanese Inn Yoshimizu, there will be a magnificent scenery of red leaves for you.

Address :

Maruyama-cho 473, Higashiyama-ku

Red maple leaves period: Mid November to Early December

Honen-In Temple

It is on the The Philosopher's Path (Tetsugaku no michi), open at 6:00am every morning. While watching the red maple leaves on the path, you can also admire the magnificent entrance with the thatch on the roof of the main gate. There is also an artwork of Byakusadan-Terrace of White Sand with the red leaves nearby to welcome every tourist. Click here for more information

Murin An garden

This garden was built by Ueji Ogawa Jihei VII , open at 7:30 am only in November. This is one of the well-known official residence of Yamagata Aritomo for its gorgeous view. The nearby hotel Westin Miyako Kyoto Hotel’s garden is also the work of Ueji Ogawa Jihei VII . You can also visit Nanzen-ji Temple within one day.

Address :

京都市左京区南禅寺草川町31番地

Kamo Shrine

It is open at 5:30 am. Tourists can walk along the small river (楢之小川) to enjoy the red leaves. There is a famous food stall (Jimbadou) open at 7:00am. The baked rice cake will be sold out in a short time. Suggest buying the Jimbadou immediately after watching the red leaves. Click here for more information

Kyoto Gyoen Garden

It is a huge garden open for 24 hours with many people strolling and jogging. If you stay at the hotel nearby, you can experience the local lifestyle by strolling in this garden in the early morning. Beware the opening hours of Kyoto Gosho Palace and Sento Gosho Palace are different. Click here for more information

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

It is open at 6:00am every morning, but the shopping streets Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka are still closed. If you have visited Kyoto before, suggest you to come earlier to have a different experience of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Click here for more information

To-Ji Temple

It is open at 5:00am. You can come earlier to enjoy the red leaves more peacefully. You can also search for some treasures for a cheaper price in second hand market at Kobo city on 21th every month.

Address :

京都市南区九条町1番地

Shimogamo Shrine

It is open at 6:30am every morning. After passing through the Tadasu No Mori forest, you can find the ginkgo near the river (手洗川) After strolling near the shrine, visitors can walk along the Kamogawa river. This is also a special experience of jumping through the tortoise-like stone on the river. Click here for more information

Kifune Jinja shrine

It is a bit far away from the Centre of Kyoto, but it is open at 6:00 am every morning. If you come in early morning, the stone staircases with rows of red lanterns will be your private scenery. The first Eizan Railway train will start on 5:33am at Demachiyanagi station. Click here for more information

Epilogue There are many spots of shrines and temples to experience the red leaves in the early morning. It is quite exhausting getting up in the early morning after the night lightening event. Why not adjust our schedule? Try to get up earlier and discover the new views of red maple leaves.