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Japan in October: weather, what to wear and what's on

In October, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 16.4°C (62°F) in Sapporo to 28.1°C (83°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 6.2 days in Hiroshima to 12.9 days in Hakone.

Updated

28.1°COkinawa
16.4°CSapporo
3.90Mvisitors (2025)

15 places in October

Averages for 1991–2020 at the JMA station in or nearest each place. Hakone has rain records only.

15 places in October: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
PlaceHighLowWet daysDeepest snow
Tokyo22.0°C14.8°C10.5 days—
Kyoto23.4°C14.4°C8.2 days—
Osaka23.7°C16.0°C8.3 days—
Sapporo16.4°C8.0°C11.6 days1 cm
OkinawaNaha28.1°C23.5°C8.8 days—
Hakonerain only——12.9 days—
Fukuoka23.7°C16.0°C6.8 days—
Nagoya23.3°C14.8°C9.0 days—
Mount FujiKawaguchiko18.3°C8.7°C10.1 days—
Hiroshima23.7°C14.9°C6.2 days—
Kanazawa21.8°C13.9°C12.7 days—
Nara22.6°C13.5°C9.2 days—
NikkoImaichi18.8°C10.1°C10.8 days—
Takayama19.9°C9.2°C10.3 days—
Shirakawa-goShirakawa19.2°C8.8°C12.6 days—
Mountain ridges covered in yellow, orange and green autumn foliage in the Yoro Mountains, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Photo: Autumn leaves of Yoro Mountains.jpg by Alpsdake (CC0 1.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

What to wear in October

How we choose: from the JMA's average high and low for October, by our own rules.

Our clothing level for each place in October (from the JMA's averages)
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Warm25 to 30°CShort sleeves or thin long sleeves, with a light layer for air-conditioning and evenings.Okinawa 28.1°C
Mild20 to 25°CLong sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan.Tokyo 22.0°C, Kyoto 23.4°C, Osaka 23.7°C, Fukuoka 23.7°C, Nagoya 23.3°C, Hiroshima 23.7°C, Kanazawa 21.8°C and Nara 22.6°C
Cool15 to 20°CLong sleeves with a light jacket or sweater.Sapporo 16.4°C, Mount Fuji 18.3°C, Nikko 18.8°C, Takayama 19.9°C and Shirakawa-go 19.2°C

Flowers and autumn colour in October

Flowers and leaves in October: average dates for 1991–2020 and 2026 (JMA sample trees)
PlaceWhatAverage date2026
SapporoAutumn leaves (maple)28 October—

Dates are for one sample tree at or near the JMA observatory, not for every park in the city.

Rainy season and typhoons in October

Typhoons in October: on average 3.4 form, 1.7 come within 300 km of Japan and 0.3 make landfall (JMA, 1991–2020).

Holidays, visitors and crowds in October

National holidays in October 2026:

  • Mon 12 October — Sports Day
  • Sat 10 October to Mon 12 October: 3 days off in a row

Every Nozomi on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen is reserved-seat only on Sat 10 October – Mon 12 October (JR Central and JR West).

3,896,524 visitors arrived in Japan in October 2025. The most came from South Korea (867,261), China (715,804) and Taiwan (595,915) (JNTO).

Visitor arrivals to Japan in 2025, month by month (millions)

Jan3.78
Feb3.26
Mar3.50
Apr3.91
May3.69
Jun3.38
Jul3.44
Aug3.43
Sep3.27
Oct3.90
Nov3.52
Dec3.62

How full hotels were in October 2025, by prefecture (%)

Average room occupancy for all hotels and inns. Japan as a whole: 66.6%.

Osaka Prefecture84.9%
Tokyo80.6%
Kyoto Prefecture76.8%
Fukuoka Prefecture76.3%
Aichi Prefecture73.4%
Hiroshima Prefecture72.4%
Kanagawa Prefecture70.8%
Okinawa Prefecture66.6%
Ishikawa Prefecture65.2%
Gifu Prefecture63.6%
Hokkaido63.2%
Tochigi Prefecture62.8%
Nara Prefecture57.7%
Yamanashi Prefecture46.7%

What's on in October

Events in October in our 15 places: dates from each organizer's official page
EventPlaceWhen
Oeshiki at Ikegami Honmonji池上本門寺 お会式Tokyo11 to 13 October in 2026, centred on the memorial day of Nichiren on 13 October Official page
Oeshiki at Zoshigaya Kishimojin雑司ヶ谷鬼子母神御会式TokyoEvery year from 16 to 18 October Official page
Arashiyama Tsukitouro (Arashiyama Bamboo Light-up)嵐山月灯路KyotoEvenings from late September to early November: 30 September to 8 November in 2026 Official page
Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages)時代祭Kyoto22 October every year; postponed if it rains Official page
Kurama Fire Festival (Kurama no Himatsuri)鞍馬の火祭Kyoto22 October every year, from 18:00 until after midnight Official page
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri岸和田だんじり祭OsakaTwo festivals: September (main days 19 and 20 September in 2026) and October (main days 10 and 11 October in 2026) Official page
Naniwa Yodogawa Fireworks Festivalなにわ淀川花火大会Osaka17 October in 2026 (the 38th festival) Official page
Sapporo Autumn FestさっぽろオータムフェストSapporoMid-September to early October, 23 days (11 September to 3 October in 2026) Official page
Naha Otsunahiki (Naha Giant Tug-of-War)那覇大綱挽OkinawaMid-October, on the Sunday before the sports holiday (11 October in 2026) Official page
Sengokuhara Pampas Grass Field仙石原すすき草原HakoneOctober to November Official page
teamLab Fukuoka Castle Ruins: Festival of Light (one-time run)チームラボ 福岡城跡 光ノ祭Fukuoka30 October 2026 to 11 January 2027 (not held every year) Official page
Fukuoka Oktoberfest福岡オクトーバーフェストFukuokaMid to late October, for 10 days (16 to 25 October in 2026) Official page
Hakata Okunchi (Autumn Grand Festival, Kushida Shrine)博多おくんち（櫛田神社 秋季大祭）FukuokaEvery year on 23 and 24 October Official page
Osu Street Performers Festival (Osu Daido Chonin Matsuri)大須大道町人祭NagoyaOctober, with an eve event (9 October) and two main days (10 and 11 October in 2026) Official page
Nagoya Festival名古屋まつりNagoyaMid-October, two days (17 and 18 October in 2026) Official page
Nagoya Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition名古屋城菊花大会NagoyaLate October to late November Official page
Rainbow Flower Festival (Niji no Hana Matsuri)虹の花まつりMount FujiLate August to mid-October (29 August to 12 October in 2026, listed as planned) Official page
Hataori Machi Festival (textile town festival)ハタオリマチフェスティバルMount FujiMid-October, for two days (17 and 18 October in 2026) Official page
Hiroshima Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition広島城大菊花展HiroshimaLate October to mid-November Official page
Kanazawa Marathon 2026金沢マラソン2026KanazawaLate October (Sunday 25 October in 2026) Official page
The 78th Shosoin Exhibition第78回 正倉院展NaraLate October to early November: 24 October to 9 November in 2026 Official page
Uneme Matsuri at Sarusawa Pond采女祭NaraThe night of the mid-autumn moon (Chushu no Meigetsu), usually in September and in October in some years; events start at 17:00 Official page
Toshogu Autumn Grand Festival (procession of 1,000 samurai)日光東照宮秋季大祭（百物揃千人武者行列）Nikko16 and 17 October every year (yabusame on the 16th, procession on the 17th) Official page
Autumn Takayama Festival (Hachiman Matsuri)秋の高山祭（八幡祭）Takayama9 and 10 October every year Official page
Autumn Illumination at Hida-no-Sato (Hida Folk Village)飛騨の里紅葉ライトアップTakayamaSaturdays, Sundays and holidays from mid-October to early November (10 October to 8 November in 2026), 17:30 to 20:30 Official page
Shirakawa-go Doburoku Festivalどぶろく祭Shirakawa-goMid-October: 14 and 15 October (Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine), 16 and 17 October (Hatoya Hachiman Shrine), 18 and 19 October (Iijima Hachiman Shrine) Official page
Autumn colours in Shirakawa-go白川郷の紅葉Shirakawa-goFrom early to mid October; the mountain roads close for winter, so colour there can be seen until around the end of October Official page

Other months

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in October?

In October, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 16.4°C (62°F) in Sapporo to 28.1°C (83°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 6.2 days in Hiroshima to 12.9 days in Hakone.

Where is warmest in Japan in October?

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Okinawa is warmest with an average high of 28.1°C (83°F). Next come Osaka at 23.7°C and Fukuoka at 23.7°C (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is October a busy month to visit Japan?

3,896,524 visitors arrived in October 2025, the 2nd highest month of the year (JNTO). Hotels across Japan were 66.6% full (1st of 12 months, Japan Tourism Agency).

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Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 2, 2026