Things to do in Japan in autumn
Autumn (September to November) is festival season and the time for red and gold leaves, starting in Hokkaido and the mountains in October and reaching Kyoto and Tokyo in late November. The comfortable weather is perfect for picnics and hikes.
Spots that shine this season
Kyoto / Arashiyama
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walk
Kyoto / Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-dera & Higashiyama Lanes
Kyoto / Kurama
Kurama to Kibune Mountain Hike
Aomori / Towada
Oirase Gorge Stream Walk
Hiroshima / Onomichi
Shimanami Kaido Island Cycling
Tokushima / Iya
Iya Valley Vine Bridge
Tokyo / Shinjuku
Picnic on the Lawns of Shinjuku Gyoen
Kyoto / Demachiyanagi
Riverside Picnic at Kamogawa Delta
Osaka / Suita
Picnic by the Tower of the Sun
Hokkaido / Sapporo
Picnic at Moerenuma Park
Fukuoka / Ohori
Lakeside Picnic at Ohori Park
Toyama / Kurobe Gorge
Kurobe Gorge Railway Trolley Train
Events this season
Nagasaki / Suwa Shrine
Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
Wed, October 7, 2026 – Fri, October 9
Gifu / Takayama
Takayama Autumn Festival
Fri, October 9, 2026 – Sat, October 10
Okinawa / Naha
Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival
Sat, October 10, 2026 – Mon, October 12
Osaka / Kishiwada
Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (October)
Sat, October 10, 2026 – Sun, October 11
Shizuoka / Shuzenji
Nijinosato Illumi the Night 2026
Sat, October 10, 2026 – Wed, March 31, 2027
Ehime / Niihama
Niihama Taiko Festival
Fri, October 16, 2026 – Sun, October 18
Mie / Kuwana
Nabana no Sato Winter Illumination
Sat, October 17, 2026 – Mon, May 31, 2027
Kyoto / Imperial Palace – Heian Shrine
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)
Thu, October 22, 2026
Kyoto / Kurama
Kurama Fire Festival
Thu, October 22, 2026
Nara / Nara National Museum
78th Shosoin Treasures Exhibition
Sat, October 24, 2026 – Mon, November 9
Hiroshima / Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Food Festival
Sat, October 24, 2026 – Sun, October 25
Tokyo / Inagi
Yomiuriland Jewellumination 2026
Thu, October 29, 2026 – Sun, April 4, 2027
Hiroshima / Hiroshima Station
Night Tram 768 on Hiroshima's Train Rouge
Sat, October 31, 2026 – Sat, March 27, 2027
Saga / Karatsu
Karatsu Kunchi
Mon, November 2, 2026 – Wed, November 4
Kanagawa / Hakone-Yumoto
Hakone Daimyo Procession
Tue, November 3, 2026
Tokyo / Roppongi
Roppongi Hills Christmas: Keyakizaka Illumination
Thu, November 5, 2026 – Fri, December 25
Nagasaki / Sasebo
Huis Ten Bosch: The Starlight Million
Fri, November 6, 2026 – Thu, February 25, 2027
Tokyo / Asakusa
Asakusa Tori-no-Ichi Fair
Sat, November 7, 2026
Tokyo / Asakusa
Asakusa Tori-no-Ichi Fair (Second Rooster Day)
Thu, November 19, 2026
Yokohama / Minato Mirai
Christmas Market at Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Fri, November 20, 2026 – Fri, December 25
Hyogo / Himeji
Himeji Otemae-dori & Castle Illumination
Fri, November 20, 2026 – Mon, January 11, 2027