Perfect Guide to Japan in September & Octber – No One Tells You About

Perfect Guide to Japan in September & Octber – No One Tells You About

Konnichiwa. Today I’m bringing you the perfect 
guide to traveling in Japan in September and October. This is one of the most beautiful times 
of the year when the harsh summer heat finally is up and the cities and nature start to glow 
with autumn colors. For travelers, it’s also one of the best season to visit. You’ll find 
stunning fall foliage, lively autumn festivals, and delious seasonal foods everywhere you 
go. In this video, I’ll cover everything you need to know. weather and clothing tips, the 
beauty of Japan’s autumn nature, must try foods, culture events, and practical travel advice 
to make the most of your trip. I share videos like this all the time about Japan and Japanese 
culture. So, if you are planning a trip soon, don’t forget to hit that like button and subscribe 
to my channel. All right, let’s get started. First, let’s talk about September and October in 
Japan, the real season of change. In September, summer is still hanging around. In places like 
Tokyo or Osaka, daytime temperatures can climb up to 25 to 30° C, and it’s often still 
pretty humid. But once the sun goes down, you’ll see that refreshing cool breeze that 
reminds you autumn is on the way. By October, it finally starts to feel properly like fall. 
Around Tokyo and Kyoto, daytime temperatures drop to around 20℃, and at night, it can go below 15. 
Up north in Hokkaido, the leaves hit their peak color, and by late October, you might even see the 
first snow. So, what should you wear? The key is layering. In early September, a t-shirt with 
a light jacket is usually enough, but you’ll want a cardigan or hoodie once the evening 
chill sets in. Toward the end of September, you might be fine with short sleeves during the 
day, but you’ll definitely need long sleeves at night. Think shorts or sweaters during the day 
and add a jacket or light coat when you go out in the evening. One important thing to keep in mind 
is that September is Typhoon season. Bad weather can delay flights and even the Shinkansen. So, 
always have a backup plan. Museums, aquariums, or even some good shopping areas are perfect 
for rainy days. On the other hand, October is peak travel season. Whether it’s fall foliage 
or Halloween events, you can expect big crows. The best move is head out early in the morning or 
catch the nighttime lightups to enjoy fewer people around. And finally, this season comes with a 
lot of public holidays, which means more domestic travelers. Trains may get booked up quickly, so 
make your reservations early. You don’t want to be that traveler imagining stunning red leaves and 
autumn festivals, but ending up stuck behind a sea of people with nothing to see. A little planning 
goes a long way in autumn Japan. And as I said earlier, when you travel around Japan in September 
and October, the first thing you’ll notice is the change in color. Summer’s deep greens slowly 
transform into bright yellow and fiery reds, turning both the cities and mountains into 
something that looks like a giant painting. The fall color spread gradually starting from the 
north and the mountains and moving south and into the cities. In late September, the mountains of 
Hokkaido and Tohoku being to glow. And by October, you’ll see the same colors in central 
Japan’s Highland and even urban parks. This fall foliage front moving slowly across the country 
is one of Japan’s most unique natural dramas. So, here’s announcement time. I’ve just launched 
my tour guide service called Japan Trails. The concept is walking around like you would with 
a local friend, discovering hitting alleyway spots and enjoying authentic local food you want 
to find in any guy books. The tours are small group and English friendly so you can join with 
confidence. Right now you can get 10% off with a coupon code on Japan. Check the link in the 
description for details. Autumn also brings a special kind of sky. The heavy humidity of summer 
finally fades. The air turns crisps and the blue sky seems brighter than ever. These clear days 
are called akibare or autumn skies, perfect for throwing outdoors. At night, the moon shines 
clearly and the quiet is filled with the sound of insects. From late September to early October, 
the harvest moon is especially stunning, casting soft light over towns, rice fields, and mountains. 
And the best part is that you don’t even have to go to a famous sightseing spot to feel autumn in 
Japan. Walk down a street and you’ll see gingle trees glowing golden. Sit on the bench in the 
park and red lips will fall at your feet. Even just looking out the window of a train gives you 
that feeling. Oh, autumn has arrived. In Japan, the scen itself becomes the destination and that’s 
what makes fall here so unforgettable. In Japan, autumn is often called the season of appetite. 
Basically, a polite way of saying you are going to be hungry all the time. It’s that season when 
no matter where you travel, your stomach will be growing sooner or later. Let’s start with 
chestnuts. walk into a cafe or departmental basement and you’ll see Mont Blanc cakes completely 
taking over the display cases. The only problem is deciding which line to stand in. Foreign travelers 
often wonder, do Japanese people really wait this long just for cake? And honestly, at this point, 
queuing for Mlak is like a theme park attraction. You’ll need a patience of Disney visitor, maybe even 
more. And next, we’ve got Sanma or Pacific saury. The smell of its grilling over charcoal is 
enough to lure you straight into an izakaya. Add some grated Japanese radish and soy sauce. Take 
a bite and the rich juiciness surprises people who never imagine fish could taste like this. 
Mushrooms are another seasonal favorite. Matsutake is known as the king of fragrance. But the price 
is on the expensive side. Seeing the price tag in the supermarket, you might think, “What is this 
a souvenir price for tourists?” Luckily, other mushrooms like make shimeji and eryngii are much 
cheaper and they’re amazing in temper or hot pot. And of course, autumn in Japan wouldn’t be 
complete without roasted sweet potatoes. You’ll see little street cuts or covenience 
store selling them often wrapped in foil and still steaming hot. The moment you peel it open, 
that sweet aroma feels the air and you can’t help but take a bite right away. It’s warm. soft and 
sweet, so satisfying that you’ll probably wonder why you didn’t buy, too. Honestly, it’s a kind of 
comfort food that makes wandering around in the crisp autumn air feel even better. And even 
Japan’s convenience stores go crazy in autumn. Chestnut pudding, pumpkin lattes, sweet potato ice 
cream, new seasonal products roll out every week. The real danger is that you stop by for a quick 
snack and end up filling your hotel fridge with dessert. It’s basically the hidden side effect 
of traveling in Japan in the fall. In the end, Japan’s autumn isn’t just about sightseeing. Eating 
itself becomes the highlight of the trip. Then, when it comes to autumn in Japan, you 
can’t skip the events. This season is packed with everything from traditional 
ceremonies to modern celebrations. First up, moon viewing or otsukimi. In midepptember, people 
enjoy what’s called harvest moon. Traditionally, Japanese families decree with pampas grass and 
eat round rice dumplings while gazing at the full moon. The dumplings are wrong because they 
are supposed to look like the moon. But honestly, I think it’s also just an excuse to eat something 
sweet. Sitting under the night sky with the people of dumplings is one of the simplest but most 
beautiful ways to feel the season. Then there are autumn festivals all across the country. Local 
traditions come alive. People carrying portable shrines, the sounds of drums and chants, and the 
smell of festival fooding the air. One of the most intense one is the Donji festival in Kai. It’s so 
wild that dozens of people get injured every year, but that’s part of what makes it such a thrilling 
and unforgettable experience, even if you’re just watching from the sidelines. And of course, we 
can’t forget Halloween. Over the past 10 years or so, Halloween has completely taken root in 
Japan, and Tokyo Shiba has basically become holy ground for costume parades. If you visit 
the Shiba Scramble Crossing at end of October, you’ll see everything. Zombies, anime characters, 
even people dressed up as random food items. It’s so over the top that many visitors are 
shocked. Like, wait, Japanese people love dressing up this much. Originally, Japan is a Buddhist and 
Shinto country, but when it comes to having fun, religion doesn’t matter anymore. That’s why 
Christmas, Halloween, pretty much everything get turned into an event here. It’s part of what 
makes traveling in Japan so unique. Of course, joining in the chaos can be fun, but Shibuya gets 
insanely crowded during Halloween. So, if you are planning to check it out, make sure you stay 
safe while you enjoy the madness. And finally, let’s talk about hotel and flight prices. When 
you are planning an autumn trip to Japan, you’ll want to keep an eye on hotel and flight prices. 
If you are coming in one of the best seasons, you might as well budget smart. Let’s start with 
flights. Once the summer holiday rush is over, September is usually more affordable for flying 
into Japan from many places around the world. After seeing those August prices, you might think, 
wait, how is the same place suddenly cheaper? And by October, travel starts picking up again thanks 
to fall color and events. On the hotel side, things get a bit tricker. As October rolls in, 
demand rises, especially in popular cities like Kyoto and Tokyo, and room rates can jump. During 
peak foliage season, you might open a booking site and think, did I accidentally search for a 
luxury resort? So, here’s the takeaway. Flights in September and October are generally easier 
to look at steady prices, but hotels tend to spike once October begins. If your days are set, 
lock in your accommodation early. To save a bit, aim for weekday stays or look at the later half 
on October when things can be much quieter. So, that’s our deep dive into traveling Japan in 
September and October. Before we wrap things up, let me give you a few quick tips to make your trip 
even smoother. First, pack for changing weather. Some days are still warm enough to make you 
sweat. While evening can feel surprisingly chilly, layering is the key here. Second, keep your 
schedule flexible. Autumn is peak travel season in Japan, which means big crowds at famous 
spots, especially on weekends. If you are visiting popular fall foliage spots or festivals, head out 
early in the morning or flip the script. Go later in the day and you might just catch a scenery 
with fewer people around. Third, don’t miss the chance to try seasonal food and drinks. 
From chestnut desserts to pumpkin lattes and sweet potato ice cream, conven stores and cafes 
roll out new limited edition fruits every week. Stopping for those little bites isn’t just tasty, 
it’s part of the cultural experience. Overall, September and October in Japan are amazing 
because you get everything. Pleasant weather, stunning nature, exciting events, and incredible 
food. It’s a must in between season where you can feel a little bit of summer and the hint of winter 
all in one trip. If this video helped with your travel plans or at least made you hungry, don’t 
forget to hit like and subscribe to my channel. And hey, if you didn’t like it, leave a 
comment and tell me why. Maybe you just don’t like sweet potatoes. Anyway, thank you 
for watching and I’ll see you in next video.

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Here’s your perfect japan travel guide for traveling in Japan during September and October, one of the most beautiful times to visit! You’ll find stunning fall foliage japan, lively autumn festivals, and delicious seasonal foods everywhere you go.

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～CHAPTERS~
0:00 Intro
0:44 Weather & What to Wear
2:25 Autumn Nature in Japan
4:16 Autumn Foods in Japan
6:21 Autumn Events in Japan
8:06 Hotel & Flight Prices in September and October
9:08 Outro

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