Miyajima Autumn Leaves 2026: Peak Dates & Light-Up Hours

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Miyajima has been a maple island for centuries. The name of its most famous sweet, momiji manju, is the maple leaf, and the valley behind the shrine is called Momijidani: maple valley.

A hot autumn has slowed the colour across Japan in 2026. Here is the latest forecast, the official light-up dates, the three places worth your time, and how to see them without the worst of the crowds.

The quick answer

Weathernews expects Miyajima's leaves at their best from about 19 November to 1 December 2026, a little later than usual. Momijidani Park is lit from 13 November to 6 December, sunset to 21:00, free. Daisho-in's maples are lit from 17 to 29 November, 17:30 to 19:00. Go on a weekday, cross before 9:00, and leave the ropeway for later in the afternoon.

When do the autumn leaves peak on Miyajima in 2026?

The forecast puts the peak from about 19 November to 1 December 2026. In a normal year it falls in mid to late November.

Weathernews lists Miyajima's best colour from 19 November into the start of December, and its October forecast warns that a warm autumn is holding colour back in much of western Japan. As of 20 October the leaves were still green. The Miyajima Tourist Association's own momiji guide gives mid to late November as the usual window.

Several species grow together, from Japanese maple to full-moon maple, so the valley turns in stages and the season is long. If you can only pick one date, aim for the weekdays around 24 to 27 November.

Period	What to expect	Our take
Late October to 10 November	Mostly green, first tints on the ridge	Too early
11 to 18 November	Colour building, light-up starts on the 13th	Fine, fewer people
19 November to 1 December	Forecast peak	Go now, on a weekday
2 to 6 December	Leaves falling, carpets of red, light-up ends	Quiet and pretty

When is the Momijidani Park light-up in 2026?

From 13 November to 6 December 2026, from sunset to 21:00. Entry is free.

The tourist association's November 2026 calendar lists the Momijidani Park light-up for 13 November to 6 December, and Walkerplus gives the hours as sunset to 21:00, depending on the colour. Daisho-in lights its own maples from 17 to 29 November, 17:30 to 19:00, also free. The association's line on the evenings: "almost like having the place to yourself".

That is the real argument for a night on the island. The last tour groups leave by late afternoon. Stay over, eat oysters at 18:00, and walk the lit valley at 19:30. The red bridge in the park is the classic shot. The lit torii is a five-minute walk away (the shrine itself closes at 17:30 from mid October).

Date (2026)	Event	Hours	Where
13 November to 6 December	Momijidani Park light-up	Sunset to 21:00	Momijidani Park
14 and 15 November	Miyajima Industry Festival	Daytime	Pier square
15 November	Fire-walking ceremony (autumn festival)	From 11:00	Daisho-in
17 to 29 November	Daisho-in maple light-up	17:30 to 19:00	Daisho-in
23 November	Tibetan goma fire ritual	From 13:00	Daisho-in

The great torii of Miyajima lit up at night over dark water — The torii is lit every evening. In November it pairs with the maple light-up a few minutes away.

Where are the best autumn leaves on Miyajima?

Momijidani Park first, Daisho-in temple second, then the view down from the Misen ropeway. Omoto Park is the quiet alternative.

Momijidani Park sits about ten minutes on foot behind the shrine, along a stream, with about 700 maples and the lower ropeway station at the top. It is free and always open. Daisho-in, the island's oldest temple, adds maples to stone steps, prayer wheels and rows of small jizo statues in knitted caps. Entry is free, 8:00 to 17:00.

From the Miyajima Ropeway you look down on red slopes rolling to the sea; the Momijidani line passes right over the valley. Tickets are 2,000 yen return and the last ride up is at 16:00. Omoto Park, at the foot of the Omoto trail past the aquarium, gets a fraction of the crowd. Our Mt Misen guide covers the climb if you would rather walk through the colour.

Rows of small stone jizo statues in red knitted caps at Daisho-in temple — The jizo statues at Daisho-in. In late November maples hang over them. Photo from 888tour's listing.

Daisho-in, Momijidani and Senjokaku on foot with a guide, lunch included.

Check dates for the Miyajima walking tour

How do you avoid the crowds on Miyajima in November?

Go on a weekday, cross by 9:00, see the valley first and the shrine second, and stay the night if you can.

Autumn weekends are among the busiest days of the year on the island. Tour coaches land around 10:30, and the ropeway can run a wait of an hour or more between about 10:00 and 14:00 in peak weeks. Three things help. Take the 8:00-ish train from Hiroshima and be on the ferry before 9:00. Walk straight to Momijidani while it is still in shade and empty, then do the shrine. Ride the ropeway after 14:00, keeping the 16:00 last ascent in mind.

Check the tide table too. A high tide in the morning gives you the floating torii and an empty valley in one go; our tide guide explains the numbers. Weekends in late November are also when the Reikado Hall site on Misen will be busiest; the background is in our post on the fire.

Time	Crowds	Plan
Before 9:00	Light	Cross, walk to Momijidani
9:00 to 10:30	Building	Shrine and Omotesando
10:30 to 14:00	Peak, coach groups	Lunch away from the main street, Daisho-in
14:00 to 16:00	Easing	Ropeway up (last ascent 16:00)
After 17:30	Quiet	Light-ups at Daisho-in and Momijidani

Which Miyajima tours are best for the autumn leaves?

The MagicalTrip walk, which covers Daisho-in and Momijidani with lunch, or a private guide who can time the day around the crowds.

The MagicalTrip walking tour spends about 30 minutes each at Daisho-in and Momijidani Park, then Senjokaku, over 5.5 hours with lunch included. It is the best fit for a group day built around the maples. A guest in October 2026 wrote that the guide "knew how to navigate the crowds and make things easy", which is the skill you want in November.

The private half day and the 4-hour private tour go at your pace; the 888tour route lists Momijidani and the Shishiiwa viewpoint. Coach days such as the Hiroshima and Miyajima day trip give you limited island time, usually around the shrine, and arrive with the 10:30 wave.