21 Things To Do In Japan This Autumn
posted by John Spacey, July 25, 2015
Autumn is many people's favorite season in Japan. In early Fall, the heat and typhoons of summer start to give way to cooler days of calm weather. Typhoons remain a strong possibility in October but the chance declines as you move towards November.In terms of events, Autumn can't compete with the intensity of the summer festival season but the season does offer a number of events that include both festivals and industry conferences. Travel prices tend to moderate by October and remain reasonable throughout Autumn with exceptions such as public holidays and spots that are famous for their autumn leaves.Late Autumn has a holiday feel as Christmas lights go up all over Japan and people enjoy year end parties in the weeks leading into Japanese New Years. The weather turns cold but is dry with a rare break in Tokyo's rainy weather.The following are a few events and seasonal attractions in Autumn.
1. Autumn Leaves
October 15 to December 15, Varies By Region
Japan has hundreds of attractions that are considered best in their autumn colors including gardens, temples, parks and pleasant streets. Cities such as Kyoto and towns such as Nikko are particularly famous for their leaves. Tokyo also has some reasonably good spots such as Shinjuku Gyoen and Icho Namiki Avenue.
2. Takayama Autumn Festival
October 9 to October 10, Takayama
A parade of tall antique floats that have karakuri mechanical dolls on the top that give performances. The Takayama Autumn Festival has a history going back 350 years and feels very much like an old ritual.
3. Tokyo Motor Show
Japan's largest motor industry event held every two years since 1954. The Tokyo Motor Show is known for its cutting edge prototypes, new model launches and armies of spokesmodels.
4. Niihama Taiko Festival
A parade of 45 floats shaped like taiko drums that weigh about 2 tons each. The locals sometimes refer to the event as the "men's festival" because the floats are tossed wildly into the air to show off each team's spirit in a dangerous display of strength. The teams are also known to ram each other with the giant floats. All of this goes down to the tune of intense taiko drumming.
5. Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
October 7 to October 9, Nagasaki
A unique festival that has been influenced by European and Chinese culture over the centuries that reflects Nagasaki's interesting history. A total of 59 neighborhood teams perform once every 7 years at the festival, meaning that the festival is different year to year. 
6. Japan Grand Prix
A late season race in the Formula One World Championship calendar that often crowns a World Champion and is occasionally hit by late September typhoons.
7. Sumo Kyushu Basho
The last grand sumo tournament of the year. A chance to see the stars of sumo competing to improve or defend their rank.
8. Design Festa
Design Festa is a large art event that includes around 10,000 booths by artists, designers, crafts people, musicians and performance artists. 
9. Chichibu Yomatsuri
December 2 to December 3, Saitama
A night festival featuring large floats adorned with traditional lanterns and a rare autumn fireworks show. The Chichibu Yomatsuri is held in Saitama not far from Tokyo.
10. Jidai Matsuri
A historical reenactment of an Imperial court procession from the Heian Period when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. The event is authentic and subdued without the party atmosphere that surrounds many Japanese festivals. Imperial court fashions from the Heian period were amongst the most audaciously luxurious fashions ever devised with up to 12 layers of silk kimono. 
11. Meiji Shrine Autumn Festival
A three day demonstration of Japanese culture to celebrate Culture Day or Emperor Meiji's Birthday depending who you ask. Demonstrations change each year but typically include traditional dance, theatre, comedy, music and popular martial arts demonstrations such as Yabusame horseback archery. Meiji Shrine is extremely well connected and the demonstrations feature people who are at the top of their art.
12. Bonenkai
Late November and the first three weeks of December are party time in Japan as companies, organizations, clubs and groups of friends hold traditional year end parties called Bonenkai, literally "forget the year party." It's the busiest time of year for izakaya throughout the country. 
13. German Christmas Market
The German Christmas Market is a rare European style Christmas Market in Japan. Sapporo has close historical ties with Germany as many of the foreign experts brought in to develop the city's industry and infrastructure in the Meiji-era were German. 
14. Halloween In Japan
In recent years, Halloween has exploded into popularity in Japan both amongst families with children and adults. It has become a big night at clubs and bars, particularly when it falls on a weekend. Shibuya appears to be Tokyo's unofficial Halloween headquarters with the streets filling with people in costumes most years. For families, events tend to run in quiet residential areas such as Kichijoji and Nakameguro. 
15. Christmas Lights
Mid November to Early January, Multiple Regions of Japan
Japan is surprisingly fond of Christmas lights and elaborate illuminations can be found at shopping venues and other attractions in most large Japanese cities starting in November.
16. Kyoho Picking
A number of Japanese fruits are in season in autumn including Kyoho grapes and Kaki. Kyoho picking is usually an all-you-can-eat plan whereby you eat the grapes from the vines.
17. Tori No Ichi
Days of the Rooster In November, Nationwide
It is customary for businesses in Japan to buy a rake decorated with lucky symbols at the end of the year. These are sold on the days of the Rooster in November according to the Chinese zodiac calendar at shrines across Japan. These markets, known as Tori No Ichi can be interesting to see. The customers haggle for their rake and when a deal is struck a traditional hand clapping ritual is performed.
18. Ceatec Japan
Early October (unconfirmed), Chiba
Japan's largest consumer electronics show that is increasingly focused on robots in recent years.
19. Fukuro Matsuri
A relatively young festival in Ikebukuro, one of Tokyo's largest neighborhoods. The Fukuro Matsuri is focused on traditional dance and music.
20. Karatsu Kunchi Festival
November 2 to November 4, Karatsu
A small town festival with a parade of antique floats that date back as far as 1819 that are considered priceless cultural artifacts.
Summer 2024 Event Calendar
| Start | End | |
Design Festa | Early November* | |
Christmas Lights | Mid November | Early January |
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