Visiting Japan In November – 24 Best Things To Do In 2024!

Japan in November is a special time of year – crimson and golden autumn leaves meet winter illuminations

Autumn colors are out in full force from early November, and winter approaches with cooler temperatures, signaling the beginning of stunning seasonal light displays and making it one of the most scenic and exciting times of year to visit Japan.

Despite not being officially celebrated, the month of November also kicks off the lead-up to Christmas with the arrival of Christmas markets in larger cities. Light displays across the country compete in true Japanese style, with intense attention to detail and dedication to creating a fun and memorable experience.

Festivals big and small celebrate the changing of the seasons with grand fireworks displays, traditional processions, and parades featuring giant floats honoring local heritage and traditions.

In this article, we’ll explore 24 of the best things to do in November in Japan FOR 2024!

Planning a trip to Japan? Take a look at my most popular article – a 5-day Tokyo itinerary for beginners. Or, if you’re heading to Osaka, check out my collection of 1-day Osaka itinerary ideas.

Japan in November – 24 best things to do in 2024

Nationwide – Momijigari

Autumn foliage viewing or momijigari as it’s known in Japanese is out in full force in much of the country in November. Below is a summary of a few of the top leaf viewing spots to visit:

1. Rikugien Gardens (Momiji)

A top viewing spot for autumn colors, Rikugien Gardens is located in the Bunkyo area of the city and is considered to be one of the most beautiful gardens in Tokyo. Between late November and early December is the best time for viewing, visitors flock to the park to see the illuminations of the bright red maple leaves set against the backdrop of the serene, landscaped gardens. During the festival period, food vendors also set up stalls, and the trees are lit up during the evenings until 9 pm.

• Where & When: Bunkyo City, Tokyo, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM), 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM (for illuminations). There is an entrance fee of 300 yen, or 150 for those aged 65 and over.

• Interesting Fact: During the early part of the 18^th century the gardens became neglected until it was purchased and restored by Iwasaki Yataro, a businessman best known as the founder of the Japanese company Mitsubishi.

• More Information: Tokyo-park.or.jp

2. Mount Takao (Momiji)

A short train ride from Shinjuku will take you to the base of Mount Takao, which feels like another world compared with the skyscrapers of the big city. As one of Tokyo’s most popular places for viewing beautiful autumn foliage, try to avoid visiting on weekends when the mountain summit gets so packed you can barely move. The hike to the top of the mountain is fairly easy and short, but for visitors with walking difficulties, there is also a cable car you can ride. The autumn leaves festival at Mount Takao is held throughout the month of November.

• Where & When: Hachioji, Tokyo, 8:00 AM to 5:45 PM. There is a fee for using the cable car of 490 yen each way or 950 yen for a round trip

• Interesting Fact: Mount Takao is known for mountain asceticism, the act of extreme self-discipline from indulgence, because of this it is also closely linked to Tengu, Japanese spirits depicted with red faces, long noses, and often with wings who are said to chase off evil-doers.

• More Information: Takaotozan.co.jp

3. Ginkgo Leaves (Momiji)

Throughout Tokyo, golden colors start to appear with the arrival of yellow ginkgo leaves in November. One of the top spots to enjoy these leaves in Tokyo is Jingu Gaien, the Ginkgo tree-lined avenue located near Gaienmae station, and the site of Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival which has been celebrated annually in November since 1997.

Other sites to enjoy Ginkgo leaves in Tokyo include Yoyogi Park, Marunouchi, and Showa Memorial Park near Tachikawa Station, which is also a top spot for autumn leaves from mid-November, with its stunning avenue of ginkgo trees.

• Where & When: (1) Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue, Minato City, (2) Yoyogi Park, Shibuya City, (3) Marunouchi, Chiyoda, & (4) Showa Memorial Park, Tachikawa. Mid-November.

• Interesting Fact: Ginkgo trees are native to China where they are associated with longevity and good health as it is not unusual for them to live as long as a thousand years.

• More Information: Meijijingugaien.jp

4. Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival

Can you think of a better way to enjoy the stunning fall leaves than with the majestic Mt. Fuji as a backdrop? Didn’t think so! The Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival is held every November on the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi, with trees lit up until 10 pm daily.

During the festival, there is also a market and food stalls where visitors can try local specialties. If your itinerary allows it then consider staying overnight at a ryokan or hot springs hotel to really enjoy the beautiful scenery, but if not, you can also visit Kawaguchiko as a day trip from Tokyo.

• Where & When: Momiji Corridor Lake Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, October 26 to November 20. Illuminations take place between sunset and 9:30 PM

• Interesting Fact: You’ll catch the best views of Mount Fuji and the beautiful autumn leaves between 6:00 AM & 7:00 AM before the clouds settle in around the mountain. It is therefore recommended to stay in the area overnight.

• More Information: Fujisan.ne.jp

5. Arashiyama

A beautiful place to visit at any time of year, but autumn is the best time to see Arashiyama in the west of Kyoto. The leaves begin to change color in early November and last until early December. Togetsukyo Bridge, one of the most popular landmarks of the area, is an ideal viewing point for autumn colors.

In addition, other well-known leaf-viewing spots include Hogon-in Temple and Tenryu-Ji Temple. Other pleasant ways to see the leaves are along the Sagano Scenic Railway which runs through the Hozukyo Ravine or via a leisurely boat ride on the Hozugawa River.

• Where & When: Sagaogurayama Tabuchiyamacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Early November to early December.

• Interesting Fact: Visitors to Arashiyama’s popular Bamboo Forest might be interested to know that bamboo is actually the fastest-growing plant on the planet, having been known to grow up to 40 inches in a single day.

• More Information: Hogonin.jp (Hogon-in Temple), Sagano-kanko.co.jp (Sagano Railway), Tenryuji.com (Tenryu-ji Temple).

6. Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival

Celebrating the delicious Japanese dumplings known as gyoza, the Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival has been running since 1999 and has become famous throughout Japan. Held annually in early November and an easy day trip from Tokyo, the festival sees gyoza masters from across the region selling dozens of different varieties of dumplings, fried, steamed, or boiled, for just 100-200 yen a plate.

Across the two-day festival visitors can also enjoy a variety of live musical performances, comedians, and local cultural performances, but let’s be honest, the dumplings are the main draw!

• Where & When: Utsunomiya Castle Park, Hommarucho, Utsunomiya-shi, Tochigi Prefecture, Saturday & Sunday in early November, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

• Interesting Fact: Gyoza is the Japanese pronunciation of jiaozi, the Chinese word for these horn-shaped dumplings. Japanese soldiers returning from China after WWII recreated and adapted this cheap and delicious Chinese dish to suit their tastes.

• More Information: Visit-tochigi.com

7. Meiji Jingu Yabusame

The rare and obscure martial art of Japanese horseback archery, known as Yabusame, dates back more than a thousand years. Warriors would often perform the ritual as a prayer for seeking good fortune.

Today, Yabusame is not practiced widely throughout Japan, however, performances can still draw large crowds. Such is the case at the annual Yabusame event at Meiji Jingu shrine in Harajuku which is held in early November. Crowds flock to the shrine grounds for the opportunity to watch these skilled archers shoot at targets whilst riding their horses at high speed.

• Where & When: Meiji Jingu Shrine, Yoyogikamizonocho, Shibuya City, November 1^st to 3^rd.

• Interesting Fact: In Japan, Yabusame is considered a ritual rather than a sport because of its roots in religion. It is primarily performed to please the many gods that watch over Japan.

• More Information: Meijijingu.or.jp

8. Fire Walking Festival

Firewalking has been practiced by many cultures around the world for thousands of years. In religion, it is often performed as a test of faith. Every year on the first week of November, Buddhist priests of the Daiganji Temple step boldly across hot embers in an impressive and powerful display of their courage and faith in front of the temple’s Holy Fire Hall.

If you’re feeling brave enough, visitors are also allowed to take part in walking across the hot coals in bare feet, although if you’re more comfortable watching from the sidelines, that’s fine too!

• Where & When: Holy Fire Hall of Daiganji Temple, Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, November 3 2024, a 1 PM arrival is a good time to see the ceremonies, and 2 PM is the best time to catch firewalking

• Interesting Fact: Ash-covered coals are proven to be poor conductors of heat, and experts believe that if performed correctly, firewalking will not allow your feet to be in contact with the embers long enough to burn.

• More Information: Miyajima.or.jp

9. Karatsu Kunchi

The Karatsu Kunchi is a large three-day event that has taken place annually in Karatsu City in Saga prefecture for more than 400 years.

It is one of the largest festivals on the island and features parades of fourteen huge floats, some as tall as seven meters, made by local districts more than a hundred years ago. Some of the floats include a giant Green Lion, Flying Dragon, a Samurai helmet, and a Tiger-headed orca.

This traditional festival is a spectacle and draws huge crowds every year. In 1980, it was designated an ‘Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property’ by the Japanese government.

• Where & When: Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu, November 2 to 4, 2024

• Interesting Fact: There are more than 200 Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties throughout Japan, which are items considered indispensable to understanding the role and influence they play on Japanese culture and daily life. They can relate to food, clothing, work, performing arts, or rare techniques.

• More Information: City.karatsu.lg.jp

10. Gion Odori

During November, traditional geiko (geisha) and maiko (apprentice geisha) dance performances are held in Kyoto during the first ten days of the month in the city’s Gion Higashi district, it is the only odori event to take place in the autumn. It has been running annually for almost 130 years and is one of Kyoto’s longest-running shows.

Two performances are held daily at 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM at the Gion Kaikan, with tickets priced between 4,000 and 5,000 yen each. If you are visiting Kyoto during this time, this is a rare must-see experience.

• Where & When: Gion Hall, Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, November 1 to 10 2024, 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM (2 performances, each performance is 1 hour)

• Interesting Fact: Maiko are apprentice geisha. It takes around five years of training to become a geisha and women often begin their training as young as fifteen years old.

• More Information: Gionhigashi.com

11. Fukuoka Grand Sumo Tournament

If you’re looking for a uniquely Japanese experience, head over to Fukuoka between November 10 & 24 to catch the end of the Sumo Season and a chance to watch Japan’s sixth and final Grand Sumo Tournament of the year. The 15-day tournament is held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center and features the top sumo wrestlers in the country facing off against each other, with the top-ranking wrestlers performing towards the end of each day.

If you’re lucky, you might even spot some of the wrestlers wandering the streets, or at nearby restaurants or bathhouses outside of the competition.

• Where & When: Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, November 10 to 24, 2024

• Interesting Fact: To help them bulk up, many sumo wrestlers eat Chankonabe, a hotpot dish made from chicken stock that includes many sources of protein such as chicken pieces, fish, tofu, beef, or vegetables. It is usually served in very large quantities with beer and rice to increase calorie intake.

• More Information: Sumo.or.jp

12. Tochigi Autumn Festival

A three-day festival held biannually (during even-numbered years), this epic float festival is one of the largest events in Tochigi Prefecture. It is well worth a visit to watch the extravagant lantern-lit floats paraded through the streets.

The festival began in the late 19^th century when locals paraded floats to honor Emperor Jinmu. As years passed, more floats began to compete with one another and showcase their skills. Elaborate mechanically operated dolls are positioned on top of the floats, while the beats of taiko drummers and traditional flutes provide the festival soundtrack.

• Where & When: Yorozucho, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture, November 1 to 3, 2024, 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM

• Interesting Fact: Japanese festival floats, known as dashi, have been used in many Japanese festivals for hundreds of years. Early floats were made to resemble mountains which reflected mountain worship, a belief that divine spirits resided in nearby mountains.

• More Information: Visit-tochigi.com

13. Okinawa International Carnival

Okinawa International Carnival is a celebration of the thirty-plus nationalities that call Okinawa home. For two days, Koza Gate Street in Okinawa City is filled with festival goers sampling international food, enjoying the cosmopolitan atmosphere, and watching the parade and live shows. Some of the festival’s special events include a tug-of-war, live music, motorcycle contests, karate competitions, food and drink from around the world, souvenir stands, and more.

The main parade on Koza Gate Street and the stage performances on the Ongaku Bridge take place early in the afternoon. It is a good idea to arrive before 1 PM to get a good view.

• Where & When: Okinawa International Carnival, Okinawa City (main venue), Koza Gate Street, Okinawa City (parade), Mid-November, 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

• Interesting Fact: The famous martial art of Karate is actually an Okinawan export. Developed in the Ryukyuan Kingdom and influenced by Chinese martial arts, the region was annexed by the Empire of Japan in 1879 and renamed Okinawa.

• More Information: Oki-carnival.com

Tokyo Winter Illuminations

Winter illuminations have become a popular tradition in Japan. Major cities around the country put on amazing displays into the new year and November is the perfect time to catch them. Tokyo during the winter period is one of the best places to catch these impressive illumination events. Below are some of the best spots to see winter light displays:

14. Roppongi Illuminations

The modern entertainment and shopping complex of Roppongi puts on two equally impressive light displays over the winter period that you need to check out: Tokyo Midtown & Roppongi Hills.

The lights at Tokyo Midtown’s Starlight Garden are always an impressive show featuring beautifully lit trees and a blue sea of light across the garden. There is also a five-minute music and light display featuring over 200,000 LEDs. Keyakizaka Street in Roppongi Hills is a romantic boulevard lined with trees filled with sparkling blue and white lights, making it a popular strolling spot for couples.

• Where & When: Starlight Garden, Akasaka, Minato City, late November to late December. Keyakizaka Street, Roppongi, Minato City, mid-November to late December.

• Interesting Fact: Illuminations have been a staple in Japan since ‘95 when the Kobe Luminarie festival commemorated the Great Hanshin Earthquake of that year. Today, record-setting light displays grow more impressive each year.

• More Information: Roppongihills.com

15. Ebisu Illuminations

Christmas arrives in November in the upmarket Yebisu Garden Place, as the annual winter lights display rolls out dazzling illuminations, a spectacular glistening chandelier, and a giant Christmas tree nestled among offices, shops, and restaurants.

Food and drinks stalls can be found scattered around the area, as well as an open space for impromptu piano performances by musically inclined members of the public. The illuminations are as beautiful as they are elegant and will run until early January-24, so it is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.

• Where & When: Yebisu Garden Place, Ebisu, Shibuya City, Tokyo. Mid-November-23 to Early January-24.

• Interesting Fact: Yebisu beer, produced by Sapporo Breweries, is one of Japan’s oldest beers and was named for the Ebisu area of Tokyo, where it was originally produced. Yesbisu and Ebisu are the same area and pronounced the same.

• More Information: Gardenplace.jp

16. Odaiba Illuminations

The Decks shopping mall on the island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay hosts one of the best winter illumination displays in the city. Set in front of the majestic Tokyo skyline and the brightly lit Rainbow Bridge, the display features a 20-meter-tall tree of light, the largest in Tokyo, and a waterside terrace lit up at night with photogenic displays and decorations.

Take a stroll along the water at night and enjoy the brilliant panoramic view of Tokyo at night, then stop for dinner in one of the many waterside restaurants and cafes on offer.

• Where & When: Decks Tokyo Beach Shopping Mall, Daiba, Minato City, Tokyo. Early December, after sunset, is a great time to visit.

• Interesting Fact: The island of Odaiba, a popular shopping and entertainment district in Tokyo Bay was originally a series of forts built for defensive purposes at the end of the 19^th century to protect Edo from attacks by sea, specifically American Commodore Matthew Perry’s Gunboat Diplomacy.

• More Information: Odaiba-decks.com

17. Yomiuri Land Illuminations

Yomiuriland is an amusement park located approximately 30 minutes from central Tokyo and is home to ‘Jewellumination’, the largest light display in the Kanto area, as millions of dazzling colorful lights illuminate the entire park. Everything from trees to fountain displays, to spectacular live musical performances, and the rides, of course, are all lit up. An Instagrammers dream!

In addition to the lights, there are more than 40 attractions and rides to discover including thrillers like the Bandit rollercoaster, and the Looping Starship, or more family-friendly rides such as the Giant Ferris Wheel, and the Merry-go-land adult carousel.

• Where & When: Yanokuchi, Inagi, Tokyo, Between the end of October 2023, and the end of March 2024.

• Interesting Fact: Also located within the park is Yomiuri Stadium, home of the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, the oldest and most successful professional baseball team in Japan, with 22 Series titles across its 88-year existence.

• More Information: Yomiuriland.com

18. Tokyo Skytree Illuminations

From mid-November until Christmas Day, the Tokyo Skytree and the surrounding area known as Skytree Town is decked out with festive lights and often feature regular projection mapping shows onto the side of the tower.

Festivities around the tower include a large Christmas tree, a European-style Christmas market serving hot food and drinks, souvenirs, and scheduled live musical performances. There are few places within Tokyo that serve up more of a festive feeling than the Skytree Tower and the surrounding Christmas market.

• Where & When: Tokyo Skytree, Oshiage, Sumida City, Tokyo. 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

• Interesting Fact: At 634 meters tall, Tokyo Skytree is not only the tallest structure in Japan but until 2021, it was the second tallest structure in the world behind the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. As of 2023, it is still the tallest tower in the world.

• More Information: Tokyo-skytree.jp

19. Sapporo White Illuminations

Illuminations are extremely popular attractions around Japan throughout the winter months and many of these events are held across the country for weeks at a time.

This year, the 44th Sapporo White Illumination event will take place at various venues around Hokkaido’s capital city, see website link for the latest information. The event has featured multiple award-winning light displays around the city over the winter period for more than four decades, accompanied by a German Christmas Market offering festive food, drink, and crafts. 

The event precedes the annual Sapporo Snow Festival which is held each February.

• Where & When: Odori 1-chome, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido. Between November 22, 2024 and March 14, 2025. The Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo runs until December 25, 2024

• Interesting Fact: The festival began in 1981 at a single venue with just over a thousand LED lights. Today, the festival boasts more than 750,000 LED lights at six sites across the city. It is one of the largest lights events in the world.

• More Information: White-illumination.jp

20. Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival

This annual Autumn Leaves Festival in northern Japan takes place within the Hirosaki Castle Botanical Gardens.

Visitors are free to walk the grounds and admire the autumn foliage, rich evergreen pines, and colorful chrysanthemums which are also used to create kiku-ningyo, life-size dolls clothed in living chrysanthemums. The dolls are often made to resemble famous figures throughout Japanese history or local heroes and make for a unique and beautiful display. The castle closes for winter on November 24^th and reopens on March 31^st.

• Where & When: Botanical Garden in Hirosaki Park, Aomori, November 1 to 10, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

• Interesting Fact: Hirosaki Park, in which the castle is located, is also home to 2,000 cherry trees and is considered one of the best viewing spots for cherry blossoms in Japan.

• More Information: Hirosaki-kanko.or.jp

21. The 118th Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival

As the cooler weather begins to set in, many fireworks festivals throughout the summer have come and gone but the Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival, one of the largest in Japan, sends fireworks season out with a bang!

The annual festival began in 1899 when local merchants put on a firework display in honor of Ebisu one of the seven lucky gods, to hopefully boost their business in the year ahead. Today, the festival draws hundreds of thousands to the banks of the Sai River for a dazzling two-hour display of more than 15,000 fireworks.

• Where & When: Nagano Bridge, or Saigawa Daini Ryokuchi, Nagano City. November 23, 2024

• Interesting Fact: Portuguese sailors brought fireworks to the shores of Japan at the end of the sixteenth century and they became extremely popular during the Edo period. Today there are around 4,000-5,000 fireworks festivals around Japan every year in the summer and autumn months.

22. Tokushima Yokai Matsuri

The Tokushima Yokai festival is an unusual event held near the Hiraga Shinto Shrine in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture each year since 2000.

The local town of Yamashiro is famous in Japan for being a source of many Yokai and so the locals decided to embrace it. The festival features a parade of locals dressed up in hand-made costumes of these colorful, eerie Japanese supernatural creatures, called the March of the Yokai. The parade begins around midday and is open to anyone willing to make a costume.

• Where & When: Hiraga Shrine, Yamashiro-cho, Kamimyo, Miyoshi, Tokushima. Mid-November

• Interesting Fact: Yokai are Japanese spirits or ghosts that feature prominently in Japanese folklore. There are many kinds of yokai that are often either mischievous or malevolent to humans. They often take on animalistic features and have their own grim backstories.

• More Information: Discovertokushima.net

23. Fujiwara Autumn Festival

This three-day festival in early November honors the leaders of the Fujiwara family, a powerful and ancient feudal clan who who are enshrined in the nearby Chūson-ji Buddhist temple. The festival kicks off with a memorial service for the family leaders followed by a precession of children decorating the area with fallen leaves and monks from the temple dressed in Heian period clothing heading towards the golden pavilion where the family leaders are enshrined. 

On the second day, a large chrysanthemum memorial service is held on the temple grounds, followed by several Noh dance-drama performances on the third day throughout the temple grounds.

• Where & When: Chūson-ji temple, Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, November 1 to 3, 2024

• Interesting Fact: The Fujiwara clan influenced Japanese politics significantly during the Heian period for more than 300 years through marrying daughters of the clan to the Emperors

• More Information: Hiraizumi.or.jp

24. Ohara Festival, Kagoshima

One of the largest festivals on Japan’s third island of Kyushu, this two-day festival in Kagoshima city sees more than 20,000 dancers take to the streets in colorful costumes every year to celebrate the revitalization of the town following its devastation during the Second World War. 

Now in its seventy-fifth year and still going strong, parades of dance groups, formed by local schools, businesses, and volunteers, perform their routines to traditional Japanese folk music, alongside marching bands, stage performances, colorful parade floats, and a female-only taiko drum performance. Public participation is also welcome!

• Where & When: Kinsei Street, Kagoshima City, November 2 to 3, 2024

• Interesting Fact: Kagoshima’s mild climate and warm summers offer ideal growing conditions for many citrus fruits, giving it the nickname ‘The Naples of the East.’

• More Information: Kagoshima-yokannavi.jp

Dates to Avoid Traveling Japan in November

National Holidays

Culture Day & Labor Thanksgiving Day – There are two Japanese national holidays in November when you should avoid traveling. The first is Culture Day on November 3, followed by Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23.

Japan in November Autumn Foliage Guide

Japan in November – Autumn Packing Guide

Planning a trip to Japan? Take a look at my most popular article – a 5-day Tokyo itinerary for beginners. Or, if you’re heading to Osaka, check out my collection of 1-day Osaka itinerary ideas.