Japan in October: is this the best time to visit Japan?

Is October a good time to visit Japan? Read on to find out if might be the ideal month for your trip.

So you're thinking of visiting Japan in October? Perhaps you're envisioning crisp, clear skies, the subtle start of autumn colors, and a break from the sweltering heat of summer. October is a glorious time in Japan, offering a perfect balance of pleasant weather and unique seasonal experiences. While the country is still buzzing with energy, the intensity of summer has given way to a more comfortable and leisurely pace. So, is October a good time to visit Japan? Definitely! As long as you know where to go to see the best sights and what to look for, you’re in for a treat.

Weather in Japan in October: a breath of fresh air at last!

After the intense heat and humidity of July, August and even September, October in Japan feels like a breath of fresh air. While the temperatures can still be relatively hot - it can still hit 30°C in Tokyo and Osaka (that's the mid-80s for our Fahrenheit fans) - the fierce, sticky heat of the summer is gone, especially from the middle of the month on. However, it’s important to remember that weather and temperature can vary significantly across different regions. The northern island of Hokkaido will already be feeling crisp and cool, while the southern islands of Okinawa will still be warm enough for a day at the beach. Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu are generally mild and pleasant, with clear, golden days that are perfect for sightseeing.

What to pack for Japan in October? In some ways, packing for Japan in October is much easier than for the summer months: you won't have to worry about sweating through your entire wardrobe in the first three days for one thing. With temperatures that can vary throughout the day and depending on the region, layers are your best friend. Pack long-sleeved shirts, light sweaters, and a light jacket. For the warmer-blooded among us, a t-shirt or two will come in handy for warmer days. For the locals, though, October is officially autumn, and they'll have already switched into outfits more appropriate to slurping on a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte, so you might feel a little out of place in your summer togs. Packing a light rain jacket isn't a bad idea because, although October isn't a particularly wet month, you could well catch the tail-end of a typhoon. And bring your sunglasses from home because it's hard to find any at all in the shops at this time of the year in Japan. Check out Japansophy’s Ultimate Japan Packing List for more tips on what to take when travelling in Japan.

What to do and see in October in Japan

Despite being a quieter month than July and August, October still offers a tapestry of unique Japanese experiences.

Festivals and events:

October is prime festival season, but with a different feel than the vibrant summer festivals. The festivals are often more subdued and cultural. Many cities will host autumn festivals (aki matsuri), but you should keep an eye out for a few notable events:

• Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) in Kyoto: This is one of Kyoto's most famous festivals, held on October 22nd, with a huge parade featuring thousands of participants dressed in costumes from different eras of Japanese history.

• Kurama Fire Festival in Kyoto: Also held in late October, this is a dramatic and ancient festival where young men carry huge burning torches through the mountain village of Kurama.

• The city of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture hosts a week-long fireworks festival in Mid-October. While not as big as some other regional fireworks displays, this one is particularly easy to reach if you're in Kansai, with fewer crowds and a venue that offers plenty to see and do before the display begins. Plus, with a display every evening, it's easy to fit one into your travel schedule.

• Also in Hyogo Prefecture, the Nada Fighting Festival, or Nada no Kenka Matsuri, is an exhilarating and raw Shinto festival held every October in Himeji. Known as one of Japan's most spectacular and dangerous festivals, its highlight involves hundreds of men fiercely clashing gigantic, ornate portable shrines (mikoshi) against one another. This display of strength and community spirit culminates in the dramatic "clash of the portable shrines," a powerful and breathtaking spectacle that honours the gods and ensures a bountiful harvest.

• Halloween: Though of course not a native holiday in Japan, Halloween was adopted initially as a marketing ploy and has now firmly established itself in the Japanese events calendar. Restaurants and cafés come up with Halloween-themed menus, shopping centres are decorated appropriately and theme parks such as Disney and USJ hold special events.

  Tokyo's Shibuya district has gained international notoriety in recent years as a massive, impromptu street party hub, particularly popular among foreign residents and tourists. However, the chaos and cleanup efforts that followed led to a dramatic change in policy. Shibuya authorities are now actively asking people not to come to the district for Halloween and have implemented a public drinking ban in key areas. The police have increased their presence and will be cracking down on disorderly behaviour.

Autumnal colour

While most of the country is still green, October marks the beginning of the autumn foliage season (koyo) in the northern regions of Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps. As the month progresses, the colors will start to creep south. You can also find some beautiful flowers and plants:

• Cosmos flowers: These beautiful flowers bloom in abundance in large fields, creating a sea of pink, white, and purple. Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo is a great place to see them. If in Osaka, the Banpaku Kinen Koen park also has a cosmos festival every October.

• Kochia: The fluffy, green kochia bushes at Hitachi Seaside Park turn a brilliant red in early October, creating a breathtaking, fiery landscape.

• Ginkgo: The fiery reds of acer trees are usually what spring to mind in association with autumn colour in Japan but October is generally too early to see the momiji in their full glory. This doesn't mean, though, that you have to miss out, because the ginkgo that are popular in parks, temples and avenues throughout Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and the other "golden triangle" destinations are at their prime from mid-October, when they turn bright yellow for a beautiful autumnal backdrop.

What to eat and drink in October?

October is a wonderful time for foodies: you can now start tucking into some delicious treats that it was just too hot to enjoy in the summer.

• Autumn fruits: This is the season for delicious fruits like persimmons (kaki), grapes, and chestnuts. These will often feature on the menus of cafés and restaurants as special autumn treats.

• Sake: October 1st is "Sake Day" in Japan, so it's a great time to visit a local brewery to try some of the new batches of sake.

• Oden: As the weather gets cooler, you'll start to see street stalls selling oden, a hearty, traditional hot pot dish of various ingredients simmered in a light broth.

• Matsutake mushrooms: These highly prized, rare mushrooms are only available in autumn and are a seasonal delicacy.

What else can I do in October in Japan?

The pleasant weather in October makes it a perfect time for outdoor activities that might have been too much of a challenge in the summer.

• Hiking: For a challenging and breathtaking adventure, the Japan Alps offer a network of stunning mountain trails for serious hikers, with rugged peaks, dramatic alpine scenery, and multi-day treks. Alternatively, for a more cultural (more leisurely) journey, the historic Nakasendo Trail provides a unique experience. Once a vital route connecting Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo), its preserved sections allow for a leisurely walk through picturesque, ancient post towns, offering a tangible connection to Japan's rich samurai history

• Cycling: Cycling tours are a fantastic way to explore cities and countryside, and October is a perfect month for it. Check out the Shimanami Kaido: a breathtaking 70-kilometer cycling route that connects Japan's main island of Honshu to Shikoku, passing over six islands in the tranquil Seto Inland Sea. Famous for its well-maintained, dedicated cycling path, it offers a truly unique journey over a series of suspension bridges that provide stunning panoramic views of the sea and islands. This scenic route is an unforgettable adventure, blending impressive engineering, serene coastal landscapes, and a glimpse into the laid-back charm of rural island life

Japansophy's recommendations for travelling to Japan in October: plan ahead and don't be afraid to explore lesser-known regions

• Head north for fall foliage (koyo): If you're chasing the beautiful autumn colours, your best in early to mid-October is to head to the northern island of Hokkaido or the highlands in the Japan Alps. These regions tend to be off the usual tourist trail, which means that you can generally get your koyo fix without the crowds.

• Central Japan is perfect for everything else: For a mix of city sightseeing, culture, and festivals, sticking to central Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) is a great choice. The weather is perfect for exploring.

• Plan and book in advance: October is a very popular month for travel in Japan, so it is essential to book your flights and accommodation well in advance. Much of Europe, for example, has two weeks' school holiday in mid-October and you can expect European flights to be more expensive during this period. You should also be aware that the second Monday in October is a Japanese public holiday (Sports Day). Not only does this mean that you will see greater crowds at attractions on that day and the preceding weekend (for example, at Disneyland), but some facilities such as museums will be closed the day after.

  
  

We definitely think October is a good time to visit Japan...

It’s a time of comfortable weather, beautiful scenery, and a chance to see a side of Japan that's brimming with autumnal energy after the dog-days of summer. Yes, it can be busy, but you'll find that Japan's October charms are utterly irresistible. Here are a few FAQs to help you with your planning.

FAQS

• Is it cold in October in Japan?

  Even in Hokkaido at the end of October, you're unlikely to have day-time temperatures below 10°C (50°F). In Tokyo, you'll probably enjoy day-time temps of around 20°C. The evenings can get chilly, though, and of course it will be colder in open areas and at higher latitudes. You may have to wrap up quite warm if you're doing a Mount Fuji tour, for example.

• Can I ski in Japan in October?

  You might manage to see a bit of snow in October in the most northerly reaches of Hokkaido but you generally won't be able to ski before November at the earliest.

• Is Japan busy in October?

  October can be quite a busy month, since many tourists consider it a great time to travel (much of Europe has school holidays in October and Australia has spring break in the first half of the month). Since the weather is good and local festivals are a-plenty, it's also a preferred month of travel for the locals. But still, it's not comparable to cherry-blossom season, autumn-leaf season, August or New Year.

• Can I wear shorts in Japan in October?

  Technically, yes. Those of us not domiciled in sub-tropical climes will definitely have no problem baring some skin in October. But packing shorts and spaghetti-strap tops for an October trip to Japan is the equivalent of wearing a big !cold-climate-tourist-coming-through" sign around your neck, because the locals will already be in their autumn gear, even on what some might consider a relatively balmy October day.

Have you been to Japan in October? Got any insider tricks for us? Let us know in the comments.