Before You Go · Published 2026-09-29 · Updated 2026-09-29
Facts last checked 2026-09-29 · Next review 2027-02-01
When is peak season at Japanese sights? What 299 official notes say about blossoms, leaves and snow
Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves lead the peak-season notes on official pages, followed by festivals, snow and hydrangeas. Here is what we counted, with examples, and why some places change hours and fees in peak season.
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"When should I go?" For many sights in Japan, the answer on the official page is a season, not a month. We read the peak-season notes on this site to see which seasons come up most.
What we looked at
- Base: 299 published spots with a peak-season note from their official page (checked 2026-09-24 to 2026-09-27).
- Method: text search on 2026-09-29, then a read of the matches. The numbers are "at least".
| Peak-season note mentions | Spots (at least) |
|---|---|
| Cherry blossoms | 75 |
| Autumn leaves | 73 |
| Festivals | 39 |
| Snow or winter | 23 |
| Hydrangeas | 14 |
| Golden Week | 4 |
| New Year | 4 |
Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves are the two most common themes by far.
Examples
- Kenrokuen, Kanazawa: cherry blossoms in early April, autumn leaves in mid-November, and the snow ropes on the trees from November to mid-March.
- Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto: about 1,500 cherry trees and 1,000 maples grow in the grounds.
- Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo: about 900 cherry trees bloom in spring; autumn brings foliage and a chrysanthemum exhibition.
- Tofukuji, Kyoto: the Tsutenkyo bridge is famous for autumn leaves, and hours and fees change during the autumn viewing period (November 14 to December 6).
Kenrokuen Garden — key facts
- Opening hours
March 1 - October 15: 7:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30); October 16 - end of February: 8:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30). Free early-morning entry from 4:00-6:00 (by season) until 15 minutes before normal opening.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Closed
Open every day.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Admission
Adults 320 yen, ages 6-17 100 yen, 65 and over free (official ID required).
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Getting there
About 3 minutes on foot from the Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa-jo bus stop (Kanazawa loop bus, Hokutetsu and JR buses); about 10 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
Kenroku car park 480 spaces (4 minutes to the Katsurazaka gate), Ishibiki car park 407, Kenrokuen-ue parking 36.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Payment
Credit cards and transit IC cards accepted; online tickets available.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Accessibility
The garden is on a slope; wheelchairs can be borrowed at the ticket gates, and there is a flat (barrier-free) route.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Peak season can change the rules
In peak season, places may:
- change their hours or fees (Tofukuji, above);
- require advance reservations (Kiyotsu Gorge, for example; see Crowds in Japan);
- recommend early mornings on their official page.
The dates of blossoms and leaves can shift from year to year. The dates above are what each official page gave when we checked. Check the page again closer to your trip.
How to plan
- Decide the season first, then check the sights' pages for that season's hours and fees.
- If a page mentions reservations or special periods, note the dates.
- For blossoms and leaves, keep a day or two of flexibility.
Sources
- Peak-season notes for each place: the official page linked on each spot page (checked 2026-09-24 to 2026-09-27)
- Counts in this article: Verified in Japan crowd notes, text search on 2026-09-29