Dear Hawaiian Traveler,
I think I remember your having written in one of your postings that you were an amateur meteorologist and wondered if you could give us your thoughts on what the weather (and foliage) is likely to be like for our upcoming trip to Japan in November. Our current itinerary is as follows:

Nov 13-14 San Francisco-Tokyo
Nov 14-17 Tokyo
Nov 18-Hakone
Nov 19-20 maybe Takayama ?
Nov 21-26 Kyoto
Nov 27- Koya-san
Nov 28 -Miyajima
Nov 29- A final night in Kyoto before returning home

If we don't go to Takayama, we will probably spend those two nights in Kyoto, making more day trips from there (accomodating my husband's wish to move around less). Will we be too late for foliage and what are we likely to get in terms of general weather conditions? We have both flight (with miles) and hotel reservations made, but if it seems like a really bad choice could possibly still change them to earlier.

Thanks for your help--I really enjoyed your description of your April trip.

I travelled in Japan at that time of year, just about the exact same days and several of the same places.

I can attest to the fact that November 18, 2001, was peak fall color in Kyoto It was very colorful in Nara on the 22nd. On the 24th, it was colorful in Kamakura with lots of fallen leaves.

Viewing the turning of the maple leaves on Miyajima is a big deal. I think that you might be late for that, but I am not sure. Being south of Kyoto if the season arrives late then you might hit it right.

I just took a look at my photos from the trip. Colorful in Nara, yes, but past peak on the 22nd - 23rd. Colorful but fading in Hakone a couple days later. Quite colorful, still, in Kamakura where I stopped on the way from Hakone.

I wore a fairly sturdy jacket, sometimes a sweater, sometimes both. Think Pittsburgh in late October.

hahahaha, I wouldn't change any plans because of my predictions......

On first glance looks a little late for Hakone and Takayama this year.

This year will be a little hotter than normal and drier in Japan due to the ongoing La Nina. Let me study a little and I'll get back to you with a PREDICTION nothing else

Aloha!

Thank you Mr. Wonrfl--this is good to hear

After further review as I stated earlier the weather patterns favor a little warmer than usual fall/winter in Japan so will go with a few days later prognosis than usual

You might be a little early for sea level Tokyo area. I am figuring the latter part of Nov into early Dec for that area. You might find nice colors around Tokyo in the heights(Nikko/Lake Chuzenji).

You look a little late for Koyasan but all looks right on to me for your timing in Kyoto and Miyajima.

Best of luck to you and hope you hit the timing right on.

We will all be waiting for a report if you can when you return. We are planning a koyo trip next October so I am very interested in what you see and do. Have fun!!!

Aloha!

Mahalo and mille grazie HT. I'll write trip notes when we return and would be happy to offer ideas if you ever make it to our area of expertise, which is Italy, especially Venice.

p.s. to HT Is there a reason you picked October instead of November next year for Kyoto?

Thanks for the offer of info about Venice. We have been to Venetia three times already and we do absolutely love the place. We were last in Italy for two weeks in 2004 along with another two weeks in Paris and Portugal. I'll keep your offer in mind when we make another return trip as soon as the Euro is not so over inflated.

We will not be going to Kyoto next year but will be going to Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku to see the fall colors so we need to be a little earlier. I mentioned the word KOYO earlier which is what the Japanese call their fall colors.

We will do Shiretoko, Lake Akan, Daisetsuzan Natl Park, and some areas in southern Hokkaido along with the Oriase valley,Nasu and of course Kakunodate in N. Tohoku. We might even do a couple of days in Hakone if the timing is right.

We plan on three weeks in Japan after 10 days in Bangkok and Luang Prabang so hopefully we will have time to let the Koyo line move southwards.

Aloha!