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

In September, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 22.8°C (73°F) in Sapporo to 30.6°C (87°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.5 days in Hiroshima to 15.1 days in Nikko.

Updated

30.6°COkinawa
22.8°CSapporo
3.27Mvisitors (2025)

15 places in September

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

15 places in September: averages for 1991–2020 (JMA)
PlaceHighLowWet days
Tokyo27.5°C20.3°C11.0 days
Kyoto29.2°C20.7°C9.8 days
Osaka29.5°C21.9°C9.5 days
Sapporo22.8°C14.8°C10.2 days
OkinawaNaha30.6°C25.8°C11.8 days
Hakonerain only——14.7 days
Fukuoka28.6°C21.6°C9.7 days
Nagoya29.1°C21.0°C10.5 days
Mount FujiKawaguchiko23.8°C14.8°C11.1 days
Hiroshima29.1°C21.1°C8.5 days
Kanazawa27.2°C19.9°C12.0 days
Nara28.8°C20.1°C10.0 days
NikkoImaichi24.2°C16.1°C15.1 days
Takayama26.1°C15.9°C12.0 days
Shirakawa-goShirakawa25.1°C15.2°C13.2 days
Dense red spider lilies covering the ground beneath tall, slender trees
Photo: Hidaka Kinchakuda Spider Lily 1.jpg by 京浜にけ at Japanese Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped), via Wikimedia Commons.

What to wear in September

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

Our clothing level for each place in September (from the JMA's averages)
LevelAverage highWhat to wearPlaces
Hot30°C or moreShort sleeves and light, breathable clothes. A light layer for cold air-conditioning on trains and in shops.Okinawa 30.6°C
Warm25 to 30°CShort sleeves or thin long sleeves, with a light layer for air-conditioning and evenings.Tokyo 27.5°C, Kyoto 29.2°C, Osaka 29.5°C, Fukuoka 28.6°C, Nagoya 29.1°C, Hiroshima 29.1°C, Kanazawa 27.2°C, Nara 28.8°C, Takayama 26.1°C and Shirakawa-go 25.1°C
Mild20 to 25°CLong sleeves, or a T-shirt with a light jacket or cardigan.Sapporo 22.8°C, Mount Fuji 23.8°C and Nikko 24.2°C

Rainy season and typhoons in September

Typhoons in September: on average 5.0 form, 3.3 come within 300 km of Japan and 1.0 make landfall (JMA, 1991–2020).

Holidays, visitors and crowds in September

National holidays in September 2027:

  • Mon 20 September — Respect for the Aged Day
  • Thu 23 September — Autumnal Equinox Day
  • Sat 18 September to Mon 20 September: 3 days off in a row

3,267,228 visitors arrived in Japan in September 2025. The most came from China (775,657), South Korea (670,563) and Taiwan (526,982) (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 September 2025, by prefecture (%)

Average room occupancy for all hotels and inns. Japan as a whole: 62.8%.

Osaka Prefecture83.4%
Tokyo76.5%
Kyoto Prefecture70.1%
Aichi Prefecture70.0%
Fukuoka Prefecture69.9%
Hokkaido67.4%
Hiroshima Prefecture66.5%
Okinawa Prefecture62.6%
Kanagawa Prefecture61.7%
Ishikawa Prefecture58.5%
Tochigi Prefecture56.9%
Gifu Prefecture56.9%
Nara Prefecture50.6%
Yamanashi Prefecture46.5%

What's on in September

Events in September in our 15 places: dates from each organizer's official page
EventPlaceWhen
Grand Sumo September Tournament (Tokyo Basho)大相撲九月場所（東京）TokyoMid-September, Sunday to Sunday: 13 to 27 September in 2026 and 12 to 26 September in 2027 Official page
Reitaisai (Annual Grand Festival) at Nezu Shrine根津神社 例大祭TokyoLate September: festival events on 26 and 27 September in 2026, with the rite itself on 21 September 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
Choyo Shinji and Karasu-zumo (Crow Sumo) at Kamigamo Shrine上賀茂神社 重陽神事・烏相撲KyotoEvery year on 9 September; the rite starts at 10:00 Official page
Kangetsu no Yube (Moon-Viewing Evenings) at Daikaku-ji大覚寺 観月の夕べKyotoThree days in late September: 25 to 27 September in 2026 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
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
Okinawa Zento Eisa Matsuri沖縄全島エイサーまつりOkinawaThe first weekend after the lunar Obon period (4 to 6 September in 2026) Official page
Hojoya, Hakozaki-gu筥崎宮 放生会FukuokaEvery year from 12 to 18 September Official page
Taishogoto Taisai at Osu Kannon大須観音 大正琴大祭NagoyaEvery year on 9 September, from 10:00 Official page
Mt Fuji climbing season, Yoshida Trail (Yamanashi side)富士山 吉田ルート 登山シーズンMount Fuji1 July to 10 September; the start may be delayed by weather or remaining snow 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
Yabusame Festival (Komuro Sengen Shrine annual festival)流鏑馬祭り例祭（小室浅間神社）Mount FujiEvery year on 18 and 19 September Official page
Yamanakako Myojin Anzan Matsuri (safe childbirth festival)山中湖明神安産祭りMount FujiEvery year from 4 to 6 September Official page
Mantoe (Ten Thousand Lanterns Service), Daishoin Temple萬燈会（大聖院）HiroshimaMid-September, for three days (11 to 13 September in 2026) Official page
Tanomo-san (floating of Tanomo boats), Miyajimaたのもさん（宮島）HiroshimaOn the 1st day of the 8th month of the old lunar calendar (11 September in 2026) Official page
Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Four Seasons Story: autumn light-up金沢城・兼六園四季物語 秋の段（ライトアップ）KanazawaFour days in September and weekend evenings in November (19 to 22 September, then 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 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
Lake Chuzenji Swan Boat Race中禅寺湖スワンボートレースNikkoEvery year on 5 September (a ritual date) Official page
Sento Kuyo-sai (thousand-lantern memorial) at Oiwake Jizo千灯供養祭（追分地蔵尊）NikkoEvery year on 24 and 25 September Official page
Kurumada rice harvest in Matsunoki-cho松之木町 車田の稲刈りTakayamaMid-September (12 September in 2026; 20 September if it rains) Official page
Kurumada rice harvest at Hida-no-Sato飛騨の里 車田の稲刈りTakayamaMid-September (13 September in 2026) Official page
Golden rice ears and pampas grass in Shirakawa-go白川郷の稲穂とススキShirakawa-goSeptember Official page

Other months

Frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Japan in September?

In September, average highs in our 14 places with temperature records run from 22.8°C (73°F) in Sapporo to 30.6°C (87°F) in Okinawa (JMA, 1991–2020). Wet days (1 mm or more of rain or snow) range from 8.5 days in Hiroshima to 15.1 days in Nikko.

Where is warmest in Japan in September?

Of our 14 places with temperature records, Okinawa is warmest with an average high of 30.6°C (87°F). Next come Osaka at 29.5°C and Kyoto at 29.2°C (JMA, 1991–2020).

Is September a busy month to visit Japan?

3,267,228 visitors arrived in September 2025, the 11th highest month of the year (JNTO). Hotels across Japan were 62.8% full (4th of 12 months, Japan Tourism Agency).

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