OfficialOn now© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0Sapporo Autumn Fest
A three-week harvest food festival in Odori Park celebrating Hokkaido's bounty — fresh seafood, ramen, sweets, wine and local produce.
Until Wed, Sep 30, 2026 20:30 JST SapporoFree
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OfficialOn now© Qiuqizhenghong · CC BY-SA 3.0
OfficialUpcoming© そらみみ · CC BY-SA 4.0Munakata Taisha Autumn Festival — Miare-sai 2026
Around 100 fishing boats escort three deities' mikoshi across the sea at this World Heritage shrine's grand autumn festival.
Thu, Oct 1, 2026 09:00 JST FukuokaFree
OfficialUpcoming© z tanuki · CC BY 3.0Takayama Autumn Festival (Hachiman Matsuri)
Eleven gilded Edo-era floats parade through old Takayama by day, then glow with 100+ lanterns at dusk in one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals.
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 09:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© katorisi · CC BY 3.0Sawara Grand Festival: Autumn 2026
Fourteen giant wooden floats, each topped by a towering doll of a legendary hero, are hauled through the canal-side 'Little Edo' streets of Sawara to lilting Sawara-bayashi music every autumn - October 9-11 in 2026 - in one of the Kanto region's three great float festivals, just a day-trip from Tokyo.
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 10:00 JST Across JapanFree
OfficialUpcoming© Internet Archive Book Images · No restrictionsHitachi Seaside Park Kochia (Autumn Red Bushes)
Some 33,000 round kochia bushes turn Miharashi Hill a blazing crimson each October, a fluffy red carpet rolling toward the Pacific Ocean.
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 09:30 JST Across JapanAdults (high-school+) from ¥450; price rises during peak kochia season
OfficialUpcoming© Lance Cpl. David Hersey · Public domainGame Market 2026 Autumn
Japan's biggest analog-game fair, where thousands of indie board, card and tabletop creators sell and demo their games over one weekend.
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoAround ¥1,500 advance / ¥2,000 same-day (2026 reference; autumn fees TBA); elementary schoolers and younger free.
OfficialUpcoming© Christophe Robin · CC BY-SA 2.0Nikko Irohazaka & Kegon Falls Autumn Foliage
The hairpin Irohazaka road climbs through a moving gradient of red and gold to Lake Chuzenji, where the 97-m Kegon Falls plunges past blazing maples.
Sun, Oct 18, 2026 08:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© zannaland · CC BY-SA 2.0Earth Garden Autumn 2026
A laid-back eco-minded community fair in Yoyogi Park — organic food, world music, crafts and a mellow forest atmosphere that draws Tokyo's international and creative crowd.
Sat, Oct 24, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Shubert Ciencia · CC BY 2.0Korankei Valley Autumn Foliage (Momiji Festival)
Over 4,000 maples of 11 varieties set Aichi's Korankei gorge ablaze in crimson, with evening light-ups reflecting on the Tomoe River until 9 p.m.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 09:00 JST NagoyaFree
OfficialUpcoming© Joi (Joi Ito) · CC BY 2.0Gion Odori — Autumn Geisha Dance of Gion Higashi
Kyoto's only autumn geisha dance, staged by the geiko and maiko of the Gion Higashi district. Ten days of elegant kyomai dance under lanterns, accompanied by live shamisen and song — a refined seasonal highlight of Kyoto.
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 13:30 JST Kyoto¥6,000 (viewing only); ¥7,000 with a tea ceremony. Two shows daily at 13:30 and 16:00.
OfficialUpcoming© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Design Festa Vol.64
Asia's largest open-submission art fair fills Tokyo Big Sight with thousands of jury-free booths from independent creators of every conceivable medium.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoPaid: roughly ¥800–¥1,000 for a one-day pass (children free).
OfficialUpcoming© Suicasmo · CC BY-SA 4.0Eikando Temple Autumn Light-Up
Kyoto's most celebrated maple temple glows after dark in autumn, its crimson leaves mirrored in a tranquil pond.
Sat, Nov 14, 2026 17:30 JST KyotoEvening light-up admission around 600-700 yen
OfficialUpcoming© Takeshi Kuboki · CC BY 2.0Arashiyama Autumn Leaves
Kyoto's Arashiyama bursts into crimson and gold each November, with mountain temples, a scenic train and bamboo groves.
Sun, Nov 15, 2026 08:00 JST KyotoFree
OfficialUpcoming© Mila Lai · CC BY-SA 2.0Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament (Aki Basho) 2027
The 2027 Grand Sumo Autumn Tournament (Aki Basho) runs Sep 12–26, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo — 15 straight days of top-division bouts. It's a 2-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station. Tickets go on sale roughly 5–8 weeks ahead via the official English site; arrive by ~15:00 for the makuuchi stars.
Sun, Sep 12, 2027 08:00 JST TokyoPaid, ticketed. Rough guide (approximate 2026 prices — the 2027 fares are released with each tournament, so confirm on sumo.or.jp; as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki around ¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes about ¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair (isu-seki) seats from about ¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ¥11,000+ (tier SS). A limited number of same-day chair tickets (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the box office each morning, first-come.
OfficialPast event© Volfgang · CC BY-SA 3.0Oktoberfest 2026 in Shiba Park (Autumn)
Japan's Munich-recognised Oktoberfest brings genuine German breweries, Bavarian food and oompah bands to Shiba Park beneath Tokyo Tower.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026 11:00 JST TokyoPaid: entry plus a refundable glass deposit; food and beer charged on site.
OfficialPast event© Vassil · CC0Japan Reptiles Show in Tokyo (BIG Autumn Rep) 2026
Japan's biggest reptile and exotic-animal expo packs Tokyo Big Sight with geckos, snakes, frogs and the breeders who love them.
Sun, Sep 20, 2026 10:00 JST TokyoAdults ¥1,400 advance / ¥1,600 door; elementary ¥700 advance / ¥800 door; preschoolers free.