Japan in November With Kids: Weather, Autumn Leaves and Crowds

Disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Weather, holiday and leaf data below come from the Japan Meteorological Agency, the National Astronomical Observatory, the Japan Weather Association and Tokyo's official tourism site, checked on October 9, 2026.

Dollar amounts are approximate at $1 ≈ ¥158 (October 2026). You pay in yen.

I’m Ramen Dad, raising my daughter in Tokyo. This guide gives you the real numbers behind “November is nice”: Tokyo’s official averages, when autumn colors typically turn based on official observations, the two public holidays, Shichi-Go-San, and the dates that get busy.

This guide focuses on Tokyo and nearby family day trips. If you’re also visiting Kyoto, Osaka or northern Japan, expect different temperatures and leaf timing; there’s a short comparison further down.

Ramen Dad’s note: November in Tokyo has its own family routine for us. It’s the month I’d pick for a family trip.

Quick answer

Tokyo weather in November: the official numbers

These are the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 30-year averages (1991–2020) for central Tokyo (JMA):

What that means in practice: November is drier and sunnier than October, with less than half the rain. Early November can still feel like autumn jacket weather in the afternoon; by the end of the month, mornings and evenings are cold.

What to pack for kids

• Layers for changing temperatures. Long sleeves, a fleece and a warm jacket work for most Tokyo days. You’ll take layers off on trains and in shops, which are heated. Babies and toddlers sitting in strollers feel the cold more than walking kids, so bring an extra layer or blanket, especially after sunset.
• A hat and gloves for late November evenings, especially if you’ll be out after dark.
• A compact umbrella or rain cover for the stroller. Rain is less frequent than in October, but it still comes. Water-resistant shoes and spare socks help too.
• One warmer layer for day trips. Mountain spots like Hakone and Mount Takao are colder than central Tokyo.

Ramen Dad’s note: I dress my daughter in layers for November in Tokyo. Trains and shops are heated, so layers you can take off work best.

Short days

The sun sets at 4:46 p.m. on November 1 and 4:28 p.m. on November 30 in Tokyo, and rises between 6:02 and 6:31 a.m. (National Astronomical Observatory). With kids, that changes the shape of the day: plan parks, gardens and leaf-viewing earlier in the day, while there’s plenty of light. For late afternoons, pick indoor places that stay open late enough (some museums close around 5 p.m.), and check closing and last-entry times before you book.

Autumn leaves: when they actually turn

Most guides say “autumn leaves in November.” In central Tokyo, the peak is usually late November into early December, later than many visitors expect.

What the official observations say

The Japan Meteorological Agency records the day a sample tree in Tokyo has turned, defined as the first day most of the tree has changed color with almost no green left. From its 2025 tables:

Sources: JMA ginkgo and maple tables. Notice the spread: in 2024 both turned in December, about ten days later than in 2025.

These are observations of specific sample trees, not predictions of peak color at every park or garden. Some places turn earlier or later, and the best viewing dates vary even within Tokyo.

The 2026 forecast

The JMA doesn’t forecast leaves. The Japan Weather Association does, and its first 2026 forecast (published October 1) says peak color will be average or later than average across most of Japan, because temperatures have stayed high since late September and are expected to stay above normal into November. Lowland areas in eastern and western Japan may run late (tenki.jp forecast).

The same site lists the usual peak for Tokyo’s famous spots: the Meiji Jingu Gaien ginkgo avenue (about 300 m of ginkgo trees) mid-November to early December, Rikugien garden late November to mid-December, and Hakone Museum of Art mid to late November (tenki.jp Kanto). The forecast is updated through the season; check it a week before you go.

For a family: the Gaien ginkgo avenue is flat and stroller-friendly. Mount Takao is a proper hill; the cable car helps, but plan it as a half-day with snacks.

If you want leaves outside Tokyo, the Romancecar takes about 80 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto station (Odakyu). The Hakone Museum of Art is further up the mountain in Gora: about 41 minutes on the Hakone Tozan train from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, then about 3 minutes by cable car to Koen-kami station and a 1-minute walk (Hakone Navi). Budget extra time for transfers with kids. The museum’s usual leaf peak is mid to late November, and it opens 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., without its usual Thursday closure in November (Hakone Tourism Association). My Hakone ryokan guide covers the family side.

See the Hakone Freepass on Klook ↗Affiliate link. Prices and availability can change.

If you’re also visiting Kyoto, Osaka or Hokkaido

Tokyo’s numbers don’t carry over to the whole country. The JMA’s 30-year averages and normal leaf dates for its sample trees:

Sources: JMA averages for Kyoto, Osaka and Sapporo, and the leaf tables linked above. Kyoto and Osaka feel much like Tokyo, with the maples a little later. Sapporo is a different season: the leaves are mostly done by November, and snowfall over the month averages about 30 cm, so pack real winter clothes for Hokkaido.

Holidays and crowds in November 2026

November has two national holidays (GO TOKYO):

• Tuesday, November 3: Culture Day. Tokyo’s official tourism site notes that cultural events are held and some major museums offer free admission that day.
• Monday, November 23: Labor Thanksgiving Day. With the weekend, Saturday Nov 21 to Monday Nov 23 is a three-day weekend. It lands right at the usual leaf peak, so expect gardens, day trips and theme parks to be busy. There’s no official crowd data for the month, and the Shichi-Go-San weekend and other late-November weekends can be busy too.

Tokyo Disney in November

Ticket prices follow demand, and November shows it clearly. Adult 1-Day Passports run from ¥9,900 to ¥12,400 (≈$63–$78), with early-November weekdays (Nov 2–6) at the bottom and Saturdays such as Nov 14 at the top. For a family of four (2 adults, a 6-year-old and a 2-year-old, who is free):

November 3 is a national holiday, so don’t assume a lower ticket price means smaller crowds. If you can choose, a non-holiday weekday is easier with young children.

Tickets go on sale at 2 p.m. Japan time, two months before each date. Details in my Tokyo Disney with a toddler guide. Prices and availability can change, so check the official Tokyo Disney calendar for your date, then compare ticket options before you book.

Check Tokyo Disney ticket prices on Klook ↗Affiliate link. Prices and availability can change.

• teamLab Planets: closed Thursday Nov 5. teamLab Borderless: closed Tuesday Nov 24, and closes early at 5 p.m. on Tuesday Nov 17 (teamLab Borderless; our teamLab comparison)
• Ueno Zoo: closed Mondays, but when Monday is a holiday it opens and closes the next day instead. So it’s open Mon Nov 23, closed Tue Nov 24.
• Ghibli Museum: closed every Tuesday. Nov 3 is a Tuesday holiday, so check the museum’s calendar (Ghibli and Pokémon tickets).

Shichi-Go-San: the kids’ festival you’ll see everywhere

Shichi-Go-San (“seven-five-three”) is on November 15. Japan’s national tourism organization describes it as the day families take boys aged 3 and 5 and girls aged 3 and 7 to a Shinto shrine to pray for their health and growth. Girls wear kimono, boys wear haori and hakama, and kids get chitose-ame, long sticks of candy (JNTO event calendar, PDF).

Shrines such as Meiji Jingu offer the prayers on any day, not only the 15th, so you may see young children dressed in traditional kimono at shrines on other November weekends too. In 2026, Nov 15 falls on a Sunday.

At Meiji Jingu, prayers are offered year-round, including Shichi-Go-San, at the Kaguraden hall from 9 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., with no reservation for individuals. The offering starts at ¥5,000 (≈$32), and the reception spot can move during the Shichi-Go-San season (Meiji Jingu).

Visitor etiquette: it’s a family occasion. Admire from a distance, and ask before photographing someone else’s child.

Ramen Dad’s note: We’ve done Shichi-Go-San for my daughter. If you see families in kimono, admire from a distance and ask before taking photos.

Tori-no-ichi in Asakusa

Another November-only sight: Tori-no-ichi, a fair selling decorated bamboo rakes for good luck, at Otori Shrine and Chokokuji Temple in Asakusa. In 2026 it falls on Saturday Nov 7 and Thursday Nov 19 (GO TOKYO). It’s crowded and loud in the evening; with small kids, go early.

A sample November week with kids

This is a flexible seven-day outline, not a fixed schedule. Put Tokyo Disney on a non-holiday weekday when possible, leave room for naps and jet lag, and choose your outdoor stops based on the latest leaf forecast.

For more on how many days to plan, see how many days in Tokyo with kids.

FAQ

“Is November a good time to visit Japan with kids?” Yes. It’s mild, drier than October, and the leaves turn in the second half of the month. The trade-offs are short days and a busy three-day weekend around Nov 23.

“When do the leaves peak in Tokyo?” Usually late November to early December. The JMA’s normal dates for its sample trees are Nov 23 for ginkgo and Nov 28 for maple, and the 2026 forecast leans average or late. Individual parks can be earlier or later.

“Is it cold in Tokyo in November?” Not very. The average high is 16.7°C (62°F) and the low 8.8°C (48°F). Kids need a jacket and layers, not heavy winter gear. Babies in strollers may need an extra layer after sunset.

“Should we avoid Nov 3?” It’s a holiday, so popular places are busier. It’s also a day with cultural events and some free museum entry. With kids, I’d use it for something nearby rather than a big ticketed day.

“What if one of the kids gets sick?” Kids can get sick on any trip. Keep my kid sick in Japan guide handy, and check the rules on bringing medicine into Japan before you pack.

Checklist: Japan in November with kids

1. Pick your dates around Nov 21–23 (the three-day weekend) unless you want festival energy.
2. Check the leaf forecast a week before you fly; peaks move by 10 days between years.
3. Book Disney two months ahead, and pick an early-November weekday if price matters.
4. Plan outdoor things for mornings; sunset is around 4:30 p.m. by late November.
5. Pack layers, plus hats and gloves for evenings and mountain day trips.
6. Check closing days and hours: teamLab (closed Nov 5 and Nov 24; Borderless closes at 5 p.m. on Nov 17), Ueno Zoo (Nov 24), Ghibli (Tuesdays).

Ramen Dad’s note: My one piece of advice: plan outdoor things for mornings. By late November, sunset is around 4:30 p.m.

Weather averages, leaf observations and holidays were checked against official sources on October 9, 2026. Leaf forecasts are updated through the season; check the latest before you go.