Japan event calendar: October / November 2025

This five-day matsuri is held every year in Kyoto to mark the arrival of autumn. Inspired by a centuries-old procession to honor the deity Kitano Tenmangu, to whom gratitude was expressed for bountiful harvests, the festival sees a number of mikoshi parade through the Kitano Tenman-gu shrine. Traditional dances are also expected.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Kitano Tenmangū Shamusho, Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8386

OPENING HOURS: daily, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m

WEBSITE: https://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/

To celebrate the end of summer, rediscover the bay of Odaiba under the haunting glow of lanterns.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 1 Chome-4 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tōkyō-to 135-0091, Japan

SCHEDULE: from 5:30pm

WEBSITE: https://www.tptc.co.jp/park/01_02/event/detail/1775

Famous for its decorated floats and night parades, the Hachiman Matsuri is a major event in the region. Cited as one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan, it honors the Sakurayama Hachimangu shrine and features floats over 400 years old! Traditional puppet performances are also featured.

FURTHER INFORMATION

As times and locations vary from day to day, we recommend that you consult the website.

WEBSITE: https://www.hida.jp/english/festivalsandevents/4000209.html

A 10-minute train ride from Kyoto, this festival is sure to brighten up your visit to Kansai. The highlight of the Ōtsu festival is the parade of thirteen richly decorated hikiyama floats . Festival-goers march by throwing chimaki, small straw bundles wrapped in paper, intended to ward off evil spirits.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 3-3-36 Kyo-machi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture

HOURS: daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m

WEBSITE: http://www.otsu-matsuri.jp/home/

Tachikawa Yokai Bon Odori

October 11th-13th (Tokyo Prefecture)

Over three days, discover the spirits of Japanese folklore in a festive atmosphere. On the program? Live performances, costume contests, food stalls and DJs!

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: GREEN SPRINGS 2F Plaza, 3-1 Midoricho, Tachikawa City, Tokyo

HOURS: daily, 11am-9pm

WEBSITE: https://www.yokaibonodori.tokyo/english

It's one of the biggest tug-of-war events in the world! Come and measure your strength alongside thousands of participants. The festival has its origins in a 15th-century ritual used to guarantee abundant harvests.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Kokusai Dori, 3-2-10 Makishi, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture

HOURS: 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m

WEBSITE: https://www.naha-navi.or.jp/magazine/2025/08/49306/

At Kiyomizu-dera temple a Buddhist parade honors the blue dragon Seiryu, a guardian god of the region. The festival takes place three times a year (March, April and October) and features the procession of an 18-meter-long dragon.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 1-294 Shimizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

SCHEDULE: 2 pm to 3:30 pm

WEBSITE: https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/en/visit/seiryu-e/

Twice a year, the Nikko Toshogu shrine celebrates the return of the spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founding shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty. For the occasion, a parade of 100 samurai marches through the streets from the shrine, and a demonstration of Yabusame, archery on horseback, is expected.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 2301 Sannai, Nikko, Tochigi

SCHEDULE: Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m

WEBSITE: https://www.nikko-kankou.org/public/event/506

The Onomichi Lantern Festival is an annual event held in the small town of Onomichi. On this occasion, many temples in the surrounding area are lit up with candles, offering visitors a magical spectacle not to be missed.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: The event takes place at 14 temples in the city. Please consult the official website for the addresses of each temple.

SCHEDULE: 6 pm to 8:30 pm

WEBSITE: https://www.onomichi-matsuri.jp/akari-matsuri/

This is one of Kyoto Prefecture's most popular fire festivals. Set on the slopes of the adjoining mountain, in the village of Kurama, it features a hundred or so people parading through the streets with flaming torches. The aim? To pay homage to the spirits of the Yuki-jinja shrine, erected in Kurama in 940 to protect the region from evil.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 1073 Kurama Honmachi, Sakyo, Kyoto Prefecture, 601-1111

OPENING HOURS : from 6 p.m

WEBSITE: http://www.yukijinjya.jp/

Jidai Matsuri

October 22nd (Kyoto)

This legendary event attracts over 2,000 costumed participants who parade through the streets of Kyoto. From the time of the Meiji Restoration (19th century) to the Enryaku period (8th century), via famous warriors and characters, (re)discover Japanese history in an immersive and astonishing way. The procession begins at the Imperial Palace and ends at the Heian-jingu Shrine, where the spirits of the emperors are honored.

Much more than just a firework festival, this event in Ibaraki Prefecture assembles prominent firework manufacturers from all over Japan and presents them with an opportunity to showcase their offerings in a competitive setting. 2025 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the event. There is a shuttle bus that takes visitors out to the venue on the Sakuragawa River from JR Tsuchiura Station in around 10 minutes.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Sakuragawa River (near Gakuen Ohashi Bridge, 〒300-0803 Ibaraki, Tsuchiura, Sanoko)

TIMETABLE: 5.30 pm to 8 pm

WEBSITE: https://www.tsuchiura-hanabi.jp/

A tribute to legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi is performed by a live orchestra against the backdrop of glowing candlelight. Held on five different dates throughout November, the concert will be held at the Ohtsuki Noh Theater in Osaka.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Ohtsuki Noh Theater, 〒540-0005 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Uemachi, Ａ7

TIMETABLE: varies according to performance date. Please consult the website

WEBSITE: https://feverup.com/m/133191/en?srsltid=AfmBOopurIi2hoofkpp9DBjxU-fcplbPjOIZO1N24QjUKA9DRBIGjsCX

The festival is held in the center of Tokyo at the famous Meiji-Jingu Shrine and kicks off the autumn season. The festivities are a great way to enjoy the cooler weather after hot and humid Tokyo summers. Be sure to attend the Yabusame (horseback archery) event held on November 3rd. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Meiji-Jingu Shrine, 1-1 Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya, Tokyo 151-8557

TIMETABLE: daily from 10 a.m

WEBSITE: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/whattosee/rites/

The festival is traditionally held annually in order to ward away evil spirits. The shrine has been of major importance since the Heian Period (794-1185) and is accessible from Kyoto Station by bus. The blazing fire of the festival makes for powerful imagery and memories.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Kifune Shrine, 180 Kurama Kibunecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 601-1112

SCHEDULE: from 11 a.m

WEBSITE: https://kifunejinja.jp/en/event/#event-10

Osaka's art scene is showcased through the works of numerous local artists. The event combines art, gastronomy, culture and crafts, with a giant rubber duck installation by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman at the center.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: 4 Chome-1-55 Kitakagaya, Suminoe Ward, Osaka, 559-0011

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m

WEBSITE: https://suminoeartbeat.wixsite.com/home

Organized every four years by the International Deaf Sports Committee, the Deaflympics will take place in Tokyo in 2025. Created in 1924, these games celebrate their 100th anniversary this year. Signs, light signals and colored flags enable hearing-impaired athletes to compete under adapted conditions. The competition will take place in and around Tokyo. Admission to the events is free.

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please visit the official event website.

WEBSITE: https://deaflympics2025-games.jp/en/#gsc.tab=0

Autumn in Japan entails gorgeous hues of burgundy and gold as the foliage changes colors. The leaves of ginkgo trees in particular are a gorgeous sight. Hachioji City in Tokyo is host to one of the most notable festivals that celebrates the autumnal transitional season. Along with enjoying the scenery, parades, performances, and food stalls all lace the grounds for a great environment with nice, cool weather. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Hachioji (from Koshu Kaido Oiwake intersection to Kobito Seki, around Ryounan Park)

TIMETABLE: daily, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

WEBSITE: https://www.ichou-festa.org/

Located on the island of Miyajima the Daishoin temple organizes a spectacular ceremony in April and November: Buddhist monks walk barefoot over cypress embers as part of a purification ritual.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Daishoin Temple, 210 Miyajimachō, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588

TIMETABLE: from 11 a.m

WEBSITE: https://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/event/event_shiwatari.html