11 Best Autumn Festivals in Japan 2024
List of the best Autumn Festivals in Japan
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In Japan, the Autumn season starts from September to November when many events or festivals across Japan celebrate nature, culture, and traditions related to autumn. In this article, you can read about the various big festivals during autumn all over Japan.
Apart from the spring season when many tourists visit Japan, the autumn season is also one of the best times to visit because of the nice weather and the most iconic colorful falling leaves. There are many famous autumn festivals held in different parts of Japan, one of these is called “Tsukimi” or Moon Viewing Festival reminiscent of the moon looking at the beautiful moon in the sky.
The Autumn Festival in Japan is a colorful celebration of nature and culture. Where you can see Many lantern displays and parades including huge floats, with people wearing traditional costumes. And will also not lose the traditional food and cultural performances that added to the beauty of the festival.
Here I will share some major autumn festival celebrations all over Japan. And if you are planning to visit Japan I hope this article helps you find an interesting event for you.
*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.
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1. Tamagawa Fireworks Festival
Tamagawa Fireworks Festival is Tokyo’s biggest fireworks display on the Tama River. And one of the most popular autumn events in Tokyo. You will experience a traditional festival with many food stalls and other activities here.
Genre: Fireworks Festival
Location: Futakotamagawa Area (Tokyo)
Dates: October 6, 2024
Website: https://www.tamagawa-hanabi.com/
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2 minute from Futako-Tamagawa Station. |
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2. Kichijoji Autumn Festival
Kichijoji Autumn Festival is an annual autumn festival held in the area in early September to celebrate and welcome the autumn season. Where people perform traditional shows and parades, there are also food stalls around the area and various activities to enjoy.
Genre: Festival
Location: Musashino Hachimangu Shrine (Tokyo)
Dates: Early September
Website: https://musashino-kanko.com/en/enjoy/event/#anc09
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5 minutes from Kichijoji Station. |
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3. Meguro Sanma Matsuri
The Meguro Sanma Festival is the annual festival or celebration held in Meguro Tokyo. It is one of the most popular festivals in the area which is the celebration of a type of fish called “Sanma” (Pacific saury) in Japan. Here you can experience the free Sanma fish offered for the visitor. There are also shows and other activities to enjoy.
Genre: Festival
Location: Meguro (Tokyo)
Dates: Early October
Website: https://www.city.meguro.tokyo.jp/kusei/gaiyou/sanma/index.html
4. Nezu Sendagi Shitamachi Matsuri
The Nezu Sendagi festival is a traditional autumn festival held in Nezu and Sendagi two neighborhoods in Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo. Here the people celebrate autumn with traditional Japanese performances, dances, and music with food stalls around the area.
Genre: Festival
Location: Nezu Jinja Shrine (Tokyo)
Dates: October 12 and 13, 2024
Website: https://nedujinja.or.jp/
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6 minutes walk from Nezu Station. |
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5. Tori-no-Ichi Festival
The Tori-no-ichi Festival is the annual traditional festival held in Asakusa, Otori Shrine to celebrate and give thanks for the good harvest and success in business. Here you will see many people offering and holding a lucky charm called “Kumade” in Japanese which is the main activity of the festival.
Genre: Festival
Location: Otori Shrine (Asakusa, Tokyo)
Dates: November 5, 17, 29, 2024
Website: https://otorisama.or.jp/english.html
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12 minutes from Asakusa Station (Asakusa Line) |
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6. Kawagoe Festival
The Kawagoe Festival is the biggest annual festival in Kawagoe held in Hikawa Shrine. It features colorful floats and parades throughout the area. Besides the big and colorful floats, there are traditional Japanese performances such as singing and dancing rich in local culture and history.
Genre: Festival
Location: Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine (Saitama)
Dates: October 19 and 20, 2024
Website: https://www.kawagoematsuri.jp/English/
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12 minutes from Kawagoe Station (BUS) to Kawagoe Hikawa shrine. |
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7. Takayama Autumn Festival
The Takayama Festival is a traditional and annual autumn festival held in Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine to celebrate the richness of culture and history and to give thanks for the good autumn harvest. Featuring colorful floats carried through the area with traditional music and dance festivals the main attraction in this event is the night festival that shows floats illuminated by lanterns and night lights.
Genre: Festival
Location: Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine (Gifu)
Dates: October 9 and 10
Website: https://www.hida.jp/english/festivalsandevents/4000209.html
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16 minutes from Takayama Station. Nadacho 5chome to sosha ([F01]Furukawa Kamioka Line) and walk to shrine. |
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8. Kyoto Jidai Matsuri
The Jidai festival is a traditional and annual autumn festival held every 22nd of October at Heian Jingu Shrine in Kyoto. Known as one of Kyoto’s major three festivals the “Festival of the Ages” celebrates the foundation of Kyoto.
Genre: Festival
Location: Heian Jingu Shrine (Kyoto)
Dates: October 22
Website: https://www.heianjingu.or.jp/festival/jidaisai.html
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33 minutes from Kyoto Station to Okazaki Koen by (Bus) |
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9. Kishiwada Danjiri Festival
The Kishiwada Danjiri festival is one of the most famous Danjiri in Japan held in Kishiwada, Osaka that brings Kishiwada’s history and culture to life. The festival’s main highlights is the colorful floats pulled by the people along the area including colorful parades, cultural performance, and local food stalls around the area.
Genre: Festival
Location: Kishiwada Area (Osaka)
Dates: September 14 and 15, 2024
Website: https://www.city.kishiwada.osaka.jp/site/danjiri/
10. Nagasaki Kunchi Festival
The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival is famous and traditional in Nagasaki to celebrate the autumn harvest. It is known as an important festival in Nagasaki to celebrate their culture and history. The festival is famous for its cultural performances such as traditional Japanese dances, and Chinese dragon dance involving huge colorful floats. And other activities that show the traditional rituals of Nagasaki.
Genre: Festival
Location: Nagasaki
Dates: October 7 to 9
Website: https://nagasaki-kunchi.com/english
11. Naked Autumn Leaves Night Garden at Shinjuku Gyoen (TBA)
© 2023 NAKED, INC.
One of the most famous autumn events in Tokyo is the NAKED Autumn Leaves Night Garden in Shinjuku Gyoen. Many trees drop their leaf color when autumn comes and shine more and more with beauty in addition to the unique and colorful lights. Don’t miss out and witness the beauty of autumn in Japan. Get your NAKED Autumn Leaves night garden tickets here.
Genre: Autumn Leaves
Location: Shinjuku Gyoen
Dates: TBA
Website: https://naked.co.jp/en/works/19979/
<<Get your NAKED Autumn Leaves Night Garden tickets here!!>>
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1 minute walk from Shinjuku-gyoemmae Station (Marunouchi Line) |
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For more information about this event, check out the following article!
▶NAKED Autumn Light-Up in Shinjuku Gyoen 2023
+Halloween (all around Japan)
Halloween is one of the famous events during the autumn season in Japan, although there is no traditional culture such as the Halloween festival in Japan, there are many places like shops, restaurants, attractions, and hotels that offer Halloween-themed foods, goods, parties and activities as part of celebrating autumn. For more information about the Halloween events and activities, you can check the following articles below.
▶Best Halloween Events in Japan
▶Universal Studios Japan Halloween
▶Best Autumn Dessert Buffets in Tokyo
. . .
▽Here are more Autumn related articles▽
▶7 Days Itinerary in Tokyo in Autumn
▶Best Events in Tokyo in November
▶Best Events in Japan in November
▶Best Autumn Leaves Events in Japan
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Written by
Greetings to all mommies I am a supermom from Philippines. Previously, I worked and lived in Dubai for seven years, until 2015 the year I moved in Japan. Currently, I am happily settled here with my Japanese husband and our 7 months old baby. I could only describe my almost 6 years of living here as a roller coaster ride more so, after I gave birth to my son. Japan had changed me in ways unimaginable. It has influence my lifestyle, my perceptions and beliefs. I was able to witness firsthand the pros and cons of living in the country. From their language, culture and ethnicity, the people, place and in work. Those years were enough to give me quite personal and memorable experiences which I would be more than delighted to share with you.
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