About PeakYet
Is it peak yet?
What PeakYet is
PeakYet shows where Japan's seasons are at their best right now, and how likely they are to be at their best on your dates. Every report on the site says who saw it and when.
We started with autumn leaves, because they are the hardest to time: a temple in Kyoto and a lake in Nikko can peak weeks apart. Cherry blossoms are next.
What you can do with PeakYet
- See what's at peak today. The map shows 776 autumn-leaf spots across Japan, each coloured by its latest report.
- Check your dates. Add your travel dates and the map shows where the colour usually is then, and how likely each of 51 cities is to be at peak.
- Find the best week. The season calendar shows when each prefecture usually peaks, week by week, from Hokkaido in early October to Kyushu in December.
- Look up one spot. Tap any spot to see its latest status, who reported it and when, its usual dates, and every report this season.
Why we built it
Timing a trip around the autumn leaves is hard. The best reports are spread over dozens of Japanese websites, many carry no date, and they often disagree. On 19 October 2026, the Nikko Tourism Association called Lake Chuzenji good for viewing, while the JR System feed on tenki.jp said its leaves were starting to colour.
PeakYet brings these reports together in English, shows each one with its source and date, and tells you which one we trust and why. Then you can decide for yourself.
Who makes PeakYet
PeakYet is made by Ellis, an avid traveller who chases Japan's seasons, from the first red maples in Hokkaido to the last ginkgo in Kyushu. Ellis is a pen name, and it signs every article on the site.
To report a mistake or ask a question, email isitpeakyet@gmail.com. Sources can ask us at the same address to change how we show their reports.
What you can count on
- Every status names its source and its age. "Nikko Tourism Association, 2 days ago" sits next to every colour on the map.
- Old reports turn grey. When a spot has had no report for 3 days, it turns grey and shows how old its last report is.
- Our chances are tested. We checked the PeakYet Score against 1,001 past forecasts from 2018 to 2025. When it gave a chance, it came true that often, within 3 points.
- Each spot keeps its own timing. A city forecast never colours a spot, because a temple can peak weeks before the city's official tree.
Where the reports come from
All five are public sources. We credit and link each one wherever we show its report.
Status for about 750 spots across Japan, updated daily.
Reports from Nikko's own tourism body, for about 24 spots.
Kyoto City Official Travel Guide
Reports from Kyoto City for about 78 temples and gardens, from late October.
Japan's weather agency: the day each city's official maple and ginkgo turn colour and drop their leaves.
Japan Meteorological Corporation
The season forecast for each city, updated a few times each autumn.
How PeakYet works: sources, trust rules and how we test the forecast
What's next
Autumn leaves are our first season. Cherry blossoms come next, in spring 2027, and more of Japan's seasons after that. Each one follows the same idea: where it's at its best, with dated proof.
Common questions
- Is PeakYet free?
- Yes. PeakYet is free to use, with no account or sign-up.
- Is PeakYet part of any of these sources?
- PeakYet is independent and has no link to the sources it shows. We credit and link each one, so you can check it before you travel.
- How often does PeakYet update?
- Twice a day, every morning and every afternoon, Japan time. Each report keeps the date its source gave it.
- Does PeakYet work on a phone?
- Yes. PeakYet is made for phones first, because most people check it while they travel.