Autumn in Japan begins on September 23 and ends on December 22. It is one of the favorite times for most of the tourists and it is one of the most beautiful seasons to travel to Japan. Autumn in Japan offers a natural spectacle par excellence in the country of the rising sun with the change of color of the leaves of the plants known as Momiji. The multiple shades that trees take on due to the reddening of their leaves can go from green, yellow, orange, red, brown and even purple. That is why it is one of the best times to visit parks and places in nature. There are also many outdoor events and festivals as the temperature are still pleasant. Here are some reasons why we believe that autumn could be the best time to visit Japan.
Places to enjoy autumn in Japan
Below we are going to list some outdoor sites that will amaze you. In Tokyo, we have Ueno Park, Meiji Jingu Gaien Park and Ginko Avenue, Yoyogi Park, Oze National Park, Rikuji Garden, and Tokyo Imperial Palace. Near Mount Fuji, we have Five Lakes Area (Kawaguchi, Motosu, Sai, Shōji and Yamanaka). In Kyoto, we have Eikando Temple, Arashiyama and its bamboo forest, Tofukuji Temple, and Nara Park .
Autumn festivals in Japan
Here are some of the most famous autumn festivals in Japan.
- Tokyo Game Show – It takes place in September and is the most important video game trade fair and convention in the world .
- Jidai Matsuri – It takes place in Kyoto on October 22 and commemorates the founding of Kyoto as the capital of Japan in 794.
- Samurai parade – It is celebrated in the city of Nikko on October 17 and there is a large parade of people wearing the costumes of ancient samurai warriors.
- The Shichi-go-san – Known as the children’s party. It takes place on November 15. It is a Shinto festival that is celebrated in temples.
- Dance of Geishas and Maikos – It takes place in late October and early November in some theaters in Kyoto.
- Nada no Kenka Matsuri wrestling festival is celebrated in the city of Himeji on October 14 and 15.
Major Sumo tournaments
Sumo is the national sport of Japan. It has been practiced for more than 1,300 years. During the spring, two major tournaments are held in the cities of Osaka in March and Tokyo in May. In autumn, you may not see the Sumo tournaments, but you can meet the sumo wrestlers, see their lifestyles, watch them practicing, etc. The wrestling tournament lasts for 15 days.
Backpackers’ tips
Avoid traveling during typhoon season. If you travel on these dates, it is best to visit the Hokkaido area. If you travel in winter, try to travel with suitable clothing. On these dates, the temperatures can become very low. In spring or autumn, as the temperatures are warmer, it is recommended to travel with more mid-season clothes. Golden Week (The last week of April and May 1) is one of the few holidays that the Japanese have. During these dates, there are usually many transport and accommodation problems.
