What to do in Japan in November ?

Top Autumn Foliage Spots (Kōyō)

KYOTO

○Kiyomizu-dera Temple

○Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji

○Tōfuku-ji Temple

○ Daigo-ji

○Nanzen-ji Temple

○Arashiyama (bamboo grove & river area)

OSAKA

○Minoh Waterfall (Minoo Park)

○Osaka Castle Park

○Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

○Nagai Botanical Garden

○Kema Sakuranomiya Park

TOKYO

○Rikugien Garden (Bunkyō ward)

○Meiji Jingu Gaien (Ginkgo Avenue)

○Ueno Park

○Mount Takao

○Shinjuku Gyoen

ALL AROUND JAPAN

Hokkaidō

○Daisetsuzan National Park (Sounkyō Gorge, Ginsendai)

○Jōzankei Onsen (near Sapporo)

○Onuma Quasi-National Park

○Noboribetsu Hell Valley rim

○Shikisai-no-Oka area (late season views)

Tōhoku

○Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada

○Naruko Gorge

○Hachimantai Aspite Line

○Yamadera temple area (Yamagata)

○Shirakami-Sanchi beech forests

Hokuriku / Chūbu

○Kenrokuen Garden (Kanazawa)

○Kurobe Gorge (Torokko train)

○Korankei (Aichi)

○Kamikōchi valley (late Oct–early Nov edges)

○Shōsenkyō Gorge (Yamanashi)

Kantō (outside Tokyo proper)

○Nikkō (Irohazaka, Lake Chūzenji, Ryūzu Falls)

○Hakone (Lake Ashi, Sengokuhara)

○Mount Nasu highlands

○Okutama valleys

○Mito Kairakuen (seasonal areas)

Chūgoku

○Miyajima Momijidani Park

○Sandankyō Gorge

○Adachi Museum of Art gardens

Shikoku

○Iya Valley (Vine bridges area)

○Oboke/Koboke Gorges

○Ritsurin Garden (Takamatsu)

Kyūshū

○Yabakei (Nakatsu)

○Kuju Mountain Range

○Kurokawa Onsen valley

○Takachiho Gorge (Miyazaki)

○Unzen Hell Valley rim (Nagasaki)

Onsen season begins : It's the perfect time to enjoy hot springs like Hakone, Kusatsu, Arima onsen, Kinosaki, or Beppu.

Illuminations start early: Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe light up with winter illuminations around mid-November.

🎎 Main festivals & events

Nov 1 : Meiji Jingu Autumn Grand Festival (classical & traditional performances), Tokyo. Nov 1–3 — Tokyo Ramen Festa (outdoor ramen festival), Tokyo (Komazawa).

Nov 1–3 : Fujiwara Autumn Festival (historic processions), Hiraizumi, Iwate. Nov 1–30 : Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival & night illumination, Yamanashi (Lake Kawaguchi).

Nov 2–3 : Ohara Matsuri (Kyūshū’s big dance festival), Kagoshima.

Nov 2–4 : Karatsu Kunchi (grand float festival), Saga (Kyūshū).

Nov 3 : Culture Day (Bunka no Hi, national holiday), nationwide.

Nov 3 : Minoh Falls Autumn Festival, Osaka.

Nov 6–9 : Rally Japan (WRC), Aichi / Toyota

Nov 7 : Ōhitaki Fire Festival (fire purification ritual), Kifune Shrine, Kyoto.

Nov 1–30 (most days/weekends) : Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival (performances & koyo), Tokyo.

Nov 9 : Arashiyama Momiji Festival (boat performances), Kyoto.

Nov 15 : Shichi-Go-San (children’s blessing day), nationwide.

Nov 15–Dec 1 : Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival (golden avenue & stalls), Tokyo.

Nov 1–9 : “Kokera Otoshi” Maiko & Geiko Performances (Miyagawachō theater opening), Kyoto.

Tokyo. Nov 9–23 : Grand Sumo Tournament (Kyūshū basho, 15 days), Fukuoka. Nov 20–30 : Ritsurin Garden Autumn Illumination (night garden), Kagawa (Shikoku).

All off Kyoto autumn illumination here.

Notes:

• Some city events publish exact times closer to date; always re-check official pages linked above.

• I used up-to-date sources (Tokyo Cheapo, official tourism, Kyoto/Osaka/Kagoshima pages, Sumo Association) and listed only November-relevant items.

🍵 What to eat this month

○ Sweet potatoes (Yaki-imo) sold warm on streets.

○ Matsutake mushrooms, a luxury autumn delicacy.

○ Hot pot (Nabe) and oden, perfect for chilly evenings.

○ Persimmons (Kaki) sweet, seasonal fruits everywhere.

💡 Travel tips

○ November is busy in Japan for autumn foliage : book accommodations or activities early.

○ Pack layers: chilly mornings, mild afternoons.

○ For photography lovers, sunsets are around 4:30 to 5 PM (if you want to catch it somewhere)