Tokyo in November: Best Things to Do

Tokyo in November offers numbers of exciting events and attractions including autumn foliage, one of the most celebrated seasonal attractions in Japan along with cherry blossoms, and also the country’s top attraction during winter, winter illuminations will be kicking off at numbers of spots in Tokyo. Besides, there are many more special events and thing to do that are only available this time of year!

In this article, I have listed the hottest travel information in Tokyo in November, so let’s check it out to plan a perfect trip in Tokyo!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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Tokyo in November

November, the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, is known as one of the best months to for foreign tourists to travel Tokyo with clean fresh air. The average temperature in November in Tokyo ranges from 12°C (53.6) to 15°C (59°F), and you may feel a little colder early in the morning and late in the evening. Tokyoites enjoy viewing autumn leaves turning red and yellow around the town in November while lots of winter event such as Christmas markets and illuminations are starting.

1. Autumn Leaves

November is one of the best season to visit Tokyo as the whole city is tinted in warm colours by autumn leaves. It’s in fact the second most popular seasonal attraction in the country after cherry blossoms in spring. The autumn foliage season in Tokyo is usually from November to early December, and colourful leaves such as maples and ginkgo display beautiful scenery at numbers of locations in Tokyo.

Here is the list of top 10 autumn foliage viewing spots in Tokyo:

2. Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival

One of the most popular autumn festivals in Tokyo, Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival “Icho Matsuri” (神宮外苑いちょう祭り) is held annually from mid to late November. The festival features the 2 lane avenue lined by approx 150 Ginkgo trees which display gorgeous yellow leaves. There will be also numbers of food vendors which you can eat delicious regional dishes around Japan. The venue is situated between Omotesando and Aoyama area, which is very accessible from popular tourist areas such as Harajuku and Shibuya.

More info:

3. Rikugien Garden

Rikugien (六義園), the scenic Japanese style landscape garden is one of the top visited sites for autumn leaves viewing in the city. The spacious traditional Japanese garden was originally founded in 1700, and consists of teahouses, hills, ponds, bridges and the rich nature which turns into warm colours in autumn. During the peak season of autumn leaves, the garden is open till 21:00 with the evening light-up. (from late November to mid December)

More info:

4. Winter Illuminations

Winter illuminations are arguably the top city attraction during winter, and some of the most popular illumination events such as Shibuya Blue Cave, Roppongi Hills Christmas and Yebisu Garden Place attract over a million people every season.

Winter illumination events kick off at several locations in November, and you can actually enjoy with less crowds as events get busier towards Christmas season. (and it’s less cold, too!) Enjoy the long and romantic early winter night in Tokyo with colourful illumination lights 🙂

Check out the attached article below introducing the best winter illumination event held in Tokyo in winter!

5. Dessert Buffets

If you love sweets, you should definitely visit one of all-you-can-eat dessert buffets in Tokyo. Numbers of hotels in Tokyo host seasonal dessert buffets through the year with seasonal themes or ingredients. The desserts are made by high-skilled pastry teams of each hotels, and they are not only tasty but also very creative and photo-worthy.

From September to November, a variety of dessert buffets can be enjoyed at numbers of venues in Tokyo. From  autumn fruits to Christmas theme, pick your favourite and indulge yourself with the finest quality desserts as much as you like!

Related articles:

6. Disney Christmas

Tokyo Disney Resort (Disneyland and DisneySea) hosts a variety of seasonal events through the year, and the annual Christmas event “Disney Christmas” is the perfect one for the grand finale of the year.  The entire park will be decorated with festive Christmas decoration, and there will be special program  including attractions, shows and parades as well as limited-edition food and drinks, and merchandise collection available only this time of the year 🙂

Date: early November to late December

Book your tickets to Tokyo Disney Resort:
▶Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea Tickets and Easy Pick-up

7. Puro Christmas

Sanrio Puroland is a theme park dedicated to Sanrio which produced numbers of popular Japanese characters such as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Gudetama, Pompompurin, etc. The Christmas event, Puro Christmas is usually held from early November to late December. You can meet adorable Sanrio characters in special Christmas costumes. The event features fairy winter decorations, colourful illumination, photo spots, special shows, limited food and drink menu, and merchandise.

▶ Book tickets for Sanrio Puroland here!!

Related article:

8. Asakusa Tori-no-ichi Fair

Tori-no-ichi (酉の市) is a traditional festival celebrated annually at the Otori Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo since Edo period. The event is to wish for good fortune and business prosperity, featuring a lucky charm called “Kumade” sold at vendors at the festival.

Date: 5, 17, 29 November 2024

9. Mejiro Garden Autumn Garden Light-Up

Mejiro Garden (目白庭園) is a small and peaceful traditional Japanese landscape garden located in Mejiro, Tokyo. It’s very closed to Ikebukuro Station, one of the busiest districts in Tokyo. The garden consists of pond, historical Japanese buildings and monuments, and beautiful nature displaying seasonal scenery. The garden hosts a special light-up event during the peak season of autumn leaves (late November to early December), and the illuminated autumn foliage can be enjoyed at night.

10. Food Events

Autumn in Japan is described as the season of appetite, and numbers of food-related events are held during the season. Food events are usually free admission, and offer a large number of food booths selling a variety of dishes from regions across Japan.

One of the biggest food events in Japan, Tokyo Ramen Festa (formerly known as Tokyo Ramen Show) is held at Komazawa Olympic Park in Tokyo from late October to early November. The event offers a large number of booths of ramen stores selected across Japan. If you are a Ramen lover, don’t miss a chance to taste the delicious regional Ramen in the heart of Tokyo!

From ramen to Hokkaido delights, find the best food events in Tokyo this year from the following link!

▼Travelling to Tokyo in December??▼

Planning a trip to Tokyo in the autumn? Why not consider our nice 1 Week Itinerary in Tokyo in Autumn as a reference?

Thanks for reading! Not only autumn leaves, but there are many more exciting events held in November! If you are planning to visit Japan around November, please check out the listed articles below, too!

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