The month ahead · Fri 23 Oct 2026
Japan in November 2026: what's on
Autumn colour at its height, the illuminations switching on, and festival season's last big month. What the calendar holds this November.
November is the hinge of the Japanese year: the maples peak across Honshu, the winter illuminations begin their long run in the big cities, and the calendar still holds 81 events before the snow season takes over. These are the ones to plan around, each with its date status shown the way it appears on its own page.
Autumn colour
- Sat 03 Oct to Tue 17 Nov 2026 Nikko Autumn Leaves Season Nikko Expected window
- Sat 24 Oct to Sun 13 Dec 2026 Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival Hachioji Confirmed dates
- Thu 29 Oct to Sun 29 Nov 2026 Showa Kinen Park Autumn Leaves Festival and Night Walk Tachikawa Confirmed dates
- Sun 01 to Mon 30 Nov 2026 Korankei Momiji Matsuri Toyota Confirmed dates
- Sat 07 to Sun 29 Nov 2026 Fuji-Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival Fujikawaguchiko Confirmed dates
- Wed 11 Nov to Sun 06 Dec 2026 Eikando Autumn Exhibition and Maple Illumination Kyoto Confirmed dates
The illuminations switch on
- Fri 09 Oct 2026 to Sun 07 Mar 2027 Tokinosumika Hikari no Sumika Gotemba Confirmed dates
- Sat 17 Oct 2026 to Sun 14 Feb 2027 Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination: Flower Fantasy Ashikaga Confirmed dates
- Sat 17 Oct 2026 to Mon 31 May 2027 Nabana no Sato Illumination Kuwana Confirmed dates
- Fri 23 Oct 2026 to Sun 14 Feb 2027 Kobe Illuminage Kobe Confirmed dates
- Fri 23 Oct 2026 to Sun 23 May 2027 Okinawa Nangoku Illumination at Southeast Botanical Gardens Okinawa Expected window
- Sat 24 Oct 2026 to Sun 28 Feb 2027 Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2026-2027 Miyashiro Confirmed dates
Festivals and food
- Thu 17 Sep 2026 to Sun 28 Feb 2027 Nada no Sakagura Tanbou 2026 (Nada sake-brewery puzzle trail) Kobe and Nishinomiya Confirmed dates
- Fri 30 Oct to Tue 03 Nov 2026 Tokyo Ramen Festa Tokyo Confirmed dates
- Mon 02 to Tue 03 Nov 2026 Kagoshima Ohara Matsuri Kagoshima Confirmed dates
- Mon 02 to Wed 04 Nov 2026 Karatsu Kunchi Karatsu Confirmed dates
- Mon 02 to Tue 03 Nov 2026 Ohara Matsuri (75th) Kagoshima Confirmed dates
- Tue 03 Nov 2026 Hikone Castle Festival Parade Hikone Confirmed dates
Sport
- Sat 24 Oct to Sun 01 Nov 2026 SMBC Japan Series 2026 Yokohama Confirmed dates
- Fri 30 Oct to Tue 03 Nov 2026 Saga International Balloon Fiesta Saga Confirmed dates
- Sun 01 Nov 2026 Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon 2026 Shimonoseki Confirmed dates
- Sun 08 Nov 2026 Fukuoka Marathon 2026 Fukuoka Confirmed dates
- Sun 08 to Sun 22 Nov 2026 Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament 2026 Fukuoka Confirmed dates
- Sun 15 Nov 2026 Kobe Marathon 2026 Kobe Confirmed dates
The full month, all 47 prefectures, is on the events calendar; set the month filter to November and it narrows to exactly this list.
More reading on the articles page, or go straight to the events calendar.