The ultimate Japan traveling guide: Where to visit in Japan during October?

And in this article, GoEMON is here to help you make the most out of your trip in Japan this October! Here, we will provide some of the latest information about the weather, festivals, as well as some of the hottest check-in locations during this period!

Weather in Japan during October

• October is mid-autumn in Japan. The weather during this period is pretty cool and pleasant, making it a suitable time for tourists to visit Japan and travel around.
• The average temperature in Japan in October is around 15 degrees Celsius. The average daytime temperature is from 19-23 degrees Celsius and at night is 14-18 degrees Celsius.

It is no coincidence that October is considered an ideal time to travel in Japan. This is because the weather at this time is more favorable for tourists on their trip. As September is the beginning of autumn and also the time of season change, the weather changes rapidly, leading to the occurrence of unexpected rains and storms. November, on the other hand, is the end of the season, and thus the weather becomes colder.

Therefore, October is considered the most ideal time for traveling to Japan.

→ October in Japan is mid-autumn, with chilly weather and relatively low temperatures. Therefore, fashionable cardigans, hoodies, woolen hats, etc. are definitely indispensable items in your suitcase when exploring the country of cherry blossoms during this time.

Festivals

During October in Japan, you will have the opportunity to participate in the many exciting and vibrant festivals, which attract a lot of tourists. Let's take a look at the festivals that will take place this October:

• Halloween festival

Halloween in Japan is celebrated on a large scale and is also considered to be the second-largest event in Japan.

Unlike Western countries, on this holiday, Japanese people do not dress up as ghosts, witches, or monsters. Instead, they will dress up as any characters they want: it can be characters in anime, games, or movies. Hence, this can also be considered to be the cosplay event with the most participants in Japan.

You can also go to Universal Studios Japan or Tokyo Disney Resort to be a part of the most exciting Halloween festival in Japan!

• Takayama festival

Duration: October 9th -10th

Location: Takayama City, Hida Area, Gifu Prefecture.

The Takayama Traditional Festival is one of the few festivals that is held twice (in both spring and autumn) a year.

During its October autumn festival, 11 floats will parade around town before reaching the sacred Sakurayama Hachiman Jingu Shrine. Participating in the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the splendid colors of the floats, carried by the performers in traditional festival costumes.

• Nikko Toshogu Shrine Autumn Festival

Duration: October 16th and 17th every year

Location: Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

As one of the most popular events in Japan, the Toshogu Autumn Festival is sure to be an interesting highlight of your trip. At the festival, you will be able to witness an epic parade with the participation of 800 people dressed as ancient samurai warriors, along with signature Mikoshi floats.

• Jidai Matsuri Festival

Duration: October 22nd

Location: Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto.

This is one of the three biggest festivals in Kyoto that no visitors should miss. People of practically any age can participate in the festival. The most attractive feature of this festival is the costume parade with traditional costumes, recreating important periods of Japan during the feudal period.

Travel locations visitors cannot miss in October

Aside from the festivals mentioned above, you can also be immersed in the beautiful scenery, covered in the mesmerizing red shade of maple leaves. Tourists coming to Japan in autumn will enjoy the cool air and gentle sunshine with a high and clear sky.

Let's take a look at some of the prominent locations during October!

Admire the fall foliage

Traveling to Japan in October, you will be surprised by the mesmerizing scenery of the fall foliage. Autumn in Japan puts on the most gorgeous coat of red leaves.

Tokyo and the ancient capital Kyoto are the two most ideal destinations to admire the beautiful autumn leaves in Japan. In the northern and mountainous areas of Japan, autumn usually comes earlier in October like Nikko, Hokkaido, or Nagano.

• Hoshitoge Rice Terraces

The rice terraces scene in Hoshitoge is especially famous and often referred to as the most beautiful rice terraces in Tokamachi.

Visitors will have the opportunity to admire the diverse nuances of the rice fields which change according to the time of day, from misty mornings, sunsets, and starry night skies.

This is one of the locations that visitors cannot miss on their trip to Japan in October.

• Cycling on the Shimanami Kaido route

October with cool weather is the best time for outdoor activities in Japan, in which cycling on the Shimanami Kaido route is one of the most recommended activities.

This is a route stretching through 6 small islands in the chain of islands connecting Honshu and Shikoku islands. Cyclists here can enjoy the beautiful scenery as they cross by the majestic waterfalls, mountain ranges, and even tropical forests.

If you are someone who likes to admire the beauty of nature, then Shimanami Kaido is one of the attractions you can't miss!

In this article, GoEMON has introduced you to the October weather, festivals, and the hottest traveling spots in fall of Japan. We hope that the article will be useful to you on your upcoming trip to Japan!

We wish you a memorable experience traveling in Japan!

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!