The very best of autumn
With typhoon season largely over by the end of September, October offers some of Japan's fairest and most comfortable weather. It's a time of harvest and harvest festivals, outdoor excursions, autumnal hikes and art and culture.
Know Before You Go
- Art galleries and museums typically get quite busy in October
- Autumn leaves hit their peak during October in more northerly and higher altitude locations
- Japan has adopted Halloween and you can find events and parties held in most big cities
- Do your research and pack appropriately—Kyushu can still be quite warm in October while Tohoku can become very chilly
Senjojiki Cirque, in Nagano, a popular spot for an autumnal hike
A taste of autumn
Prime harvest time, food tastes great in October, from Japanese pears and persimmon fruit to rice, soba noodles and sake. Niigata, a top-sake and rice producing region, is a great place to sample some of the seasonal sake varieties and even catch a glimpse of the rice harvest in action.
The picturesque Hoshitoge TANADA rice field terraces 
look great in autumn and the rice is generally harvested through until mid-October. For quirky rice field art, head to Inakadate Village in Aomori: It has become an internet sensation in recent years.
The Hoshitoge rice fields in early autumn before harvesting begins
Celebrating the harvest
There are festivals throughout the year in Japan, and the month of October is no exception. Many of them have evolved from simple celebrations of the harvest to festivals with the colorful parades and processions you can see today. The Takayama Autumn Festival , on October 9 and 10, is a particularly impressive affair.
Dazzling autumn colors
While you will have to wait until November for the best colors in Tokyo , Kyoto and other warmer regions, Tohoku , Hokkaido and more northerly and higher altitude locations peak at various times throughout October.
Oyasu Ravine is one of many remote locations in Akita for taking in the fall colors
Popular spots in central Japan include Kurobe Gorge and the similarly-named but separate Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route . The Karasawa Col in the Kamikochi area is another highly-regarded spot, that is extremely popular with hikers.
Views from a section of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
National Parks
Japan has a huge selection of National Parks throughout the country and whether the leaves have turned or not, October is an excellent season to explore them. Some of the best include the Towada-Hachimantai National Park straddling Akita , Aomori and Iwate prefectures, and Oze National Park which spans four different prefectures.
Oze National Park offers pleasant hikes in any season
Art and culture
For something a little less active, visit one of the many leading art galleries or museums throughout the country. Autumn is traditionally considered the time for the arts in Japan, and many of the biggest and best exhibitions begin in October.
The exterior of the Tokyo National Museum / Photo Credit: Hyokeikan
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.
