Oct32026
Nikko Autumn Leaves Season
Colour descends by altitude over six weeks, from Okunikko's lakes to the Toshogu shrine woods.
23 events start this month
What's on in Japan in October 2026.
Festivals, fireworks, illuminations and seasonal events starting in October 2026, checked against official sources.
Oct92026
Tokinosumika Hikari no Sumika
Gotemba's Tokinosumika resort lights about 5,500,000 LEDs for the 25th Hikari no Sumika, themed 'DREAM LIGHTS SYMPHONY'.
Oct102026
Beppu Art Month 2026 (17th)
Beppu's open-platform cultural festival run by BEPPU PROJECT in which citizens and artists stage exhibitions, performances and workshops across the hot-spring city each autumn.
Oct172026
Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination: Flower Fantasy
More than five million bulbs light the 100,000 square metre Ashikaga Flower Park, including a light recreation of its famous great wisteria.
Oct172026
Nabana no Sato Illumination
One of Japan's largest illumination events, with a tunnel of light and a themed LED landscape at a flower park in Nagashima Resort.
Oct232026
Kobe Illuminage
Kobe Illuminage, in its 17th year, lights the Fruit and Flower Park Osawa on the theme 'Starlight Dream'.
Oct232026
Okinawa Nangoku Illumination at Southeast Botanical Gardens
Southeast Botanical Gardens' tropical illumination, an Illumination Award winner, is expected to run from late October 2026 to late May 2027.
Oct242026
Mount Takao Autumn Leaves Festival
A seven-week autumn festival on Tokyo's favourite mountain, with weekend performances at the cable car base.
Oct242026
SMBC Japan Series 2026
NPB's best-of-seven championship series between the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
Oct242026
Tobu Zoo Winter Illumination 2026-2027
Tobu Zoo opens after dark on 65 winter days, with animal light objects, a 50 metre tunnel of light and a music-synced illumination tree.
Oct262026
Tokyo International Film Festival 2026 (39th TIFF)
Japan's largest international film festival screens 204 films over 10 days in central Tokyo.
Oct282026
Shojo Manga Infinity: Moto Hagio x Ryoko Yamagishi x Waki Yamato (National Art Center Tokyo)
Landmark three-artist exhibition of shojo manga legends Hagio, Yamagishi and Yamato, part of the Art Week Tokyo 2026 institutional programme.
Oct292026
Showa Kinen Park Autumn Leaves Festival and Night Walk
Golden ginkgo avenues and a lit Japanese garden, with evening opening for the autumn night walk.
Oct292026
Yomiuriland Jewellumination 2026: Growing Light
Yomiuriland's jewel-coloured Jewellumination, designed by Motoko Ishii, runs from late October to early April on the theme 'Growing Light'.
Oct302026
DESIGNART TOKYO 2026
Tokyo's design and art festival fills around 70 venues across the city for 10 days.
Oct302026
Oita Hikari no Fantasy 2026
Central Oita lights about 550,000 bulbs along Chuo-dori and Funai Aqua Park for Hikari no Fantasy, subtitled 'Ashita ni Kakeru Hoshi'.
Oct302026
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
International hot air balloon competition on the Kase Riverbank in Saga City, with 123 balloons entered for 2026.
Oct302026
Tokyo Ramen Festa
One of Japan's largest ramen events, with 12 ramen shops from across the country serving at Komazawa Olympic Park.
Oct312026
Festa Luce in Wakayama Marina City
Festa Luce recreates a European Christmas town inside Porto Europa at Wakayama Marina City, in its 10th anniversary year.
Oct312026
Hirakata Park Hikari no Yuenchi: Flowering Illumination
Hirakata Park turns into a 'park of light' on winter weekends, with 17 illuminated areas and a new 17 metre floral castle.
Oct312026
Mariko Mori: All That Shines (Mori Art Museum)
Major retrospective of Mariko Mori, including the walk-in Wave UFO, at the Mori Art Museum ahead of its temporary closure from 2027-09-24 for renovation.
Oct312026
Roppongi Art Night 2026
Tokyo's all-night art festival returns, running from 5pm on 31 October to 6am on 1 November 2026.
Oct312026
Tokyo Mega Illumi 2026-2027
Oi Racecourse's Tokyo Mega Illumi runs its final season in 2026-2027, with the 100 metre Edo cherry blossom tunnel.