Fall in Japan is a fun time of year to visit. It is not as busy as Spring with the cherry blossoms, the beautiful fall foliage takes over the landscape, and the weather becomes mild and crisp. This time of year people are dressing in warmer clothing, enjoying hot meals with friends and family, and preparing for the holiday season. Japan is our personal favorite time to visit as we enjoy the cooler weather with the beauty of fall foliage with the beautiful Japanese architecture and landscape. There are a host of things you can enjoy during the fall season in Japan, from running around city streets, to visiting iconic shrines and temples, enjoying seasonal dishes, and not being baked in the summer heat. Below we have gathered a list of what to do in Japan this Fall.
Expo 2025 (Osaka)
Running through spring into fall, this world’s fair continues into late 2025 with an impressive global showcase on Yumeshima island.
Momiji (Autumn Leaf) Viewing
Momiji at iconic spots like Nikko, Arashiyama, and Nara. Check out the maps below from JMC showing the fall foliage forecast for this year.
Source: JMC autumn foliage forecast
Fall Foods
Fall is called 食欲の秋 (shokuyoku no aki) which literally translates to “autumn, the season of appetite”. There are so many delicious foods in the fall but a few that you should definitely try are:
- kaki (persimmons)
- ringo (apples)
- anything with sweet potatoes
- Kuri manju / kuri kinton (chestnut based sweets).
September
2025 Events
Sep 1-3 Owara Kaze no Bon (Toyama)
- A graceful wind-ritual dance festival praying for harvest protection.
Sep 6-7 All Japan Kokeshi Festival (Miyagi)
- Celebrate kokeshi dolls through parades and workshop.
Sep 12-14 Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri (Osaka)
- High-speed float races known as a “fighting festival”.
Sep 14-28 Grand Sumo Tournament (Tokyo) Aki Basho
- The second to last grand sumo tournament of the year.
October
2025 Events
Oct 9-10 Takayama Autumn Festival (Gifu)
- One of Japan’s top float festivals with illuminated lantern-adorned yatai
Oct 7-9 Nagasaki Kunchi
- Colorful performances in Nagasaki featuring dragon dances and cultural pageantry
Oct 18-19 Kawagoe Festival (Saitama)
- Edo-era floats and music in a “Little Edo” setting
Oct 22 Jidai Matsuri (Kyoto)
- A historic procession with 2,000 participants in period costumes through Kyoto
Oct 22 Kurama Fire Festival (Kyoto)
- Day turns dramatic with torch-lit rituals at Kurama Temple
November
2025 Events
Tokyo Ramen Festival
- Late October to early November: A culinary highlight at Komazawa Olympic Park showcasing regional ramen variations.
Autumn Illuminations & Foliage Events
- Rikugien Garden (Tokyo) – Late Nov to early Dec
- Maple Corridor at Kawaguchi-ko – Late Oct to late Nov
- Fall Illumination at Shinrin Park (Saitama) – Mid Nov to early Dec
Nov 9-23 Grand Sumo Tournament (Fukuoka) Kyushu Basho
- This is the last tournament of the year for grand sumo where final rankings are determined.
Nov 12th and 24th Tori no ichi (Tokyo)
- Known as the rooster market. Bamboo rakes are sold to “rake” in good fortune. They are held at Asakusa (Otori-jinja Shrine and Chokoku-ji Temple) and Shinjuku (Hanazono-jinja Shrine).
If you need some help planning your upcoming trip visit our posts below for itinerary and packing help!