A ramen competition at Okubo Park in Shinjuku, where 64 shops from across Japan take turns over eight phases and visitor votes pick the winner.
Tokyo · 10 Oct – 15 Nov 2026
Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows you can join, yokai greetings every day and limited yokai food.
Kyoto · 12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026
An exhibition celebrating the absurdist manga Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo through immersive zones themed around its protagonist's battle techniques and surreal world.
Tokyo · 30 Sep – 17 Oct 2026
Temple 81 of the Shikoku pilgrimage, on Mt Shiromine in Kagawa, where the exiled Emperor Sutoku was laid to rest after his death in 1164.
Sakaide
Reference rates · 2026/10/12
An October festival features a grand procession with a portable shrine led by samurai-clad participants, with local residents bowing in reverence along the streets.
15 Oct 2026Niimi · OkayamaA transformative mobility exhibition brings together automotive innovation, motorcycles, motorsports, and future transportation solutions.
13–16 Oct 2026ChibaEach October, Kumano Hayatama Taisha holds the Mifune Matsuri, two days of sacred processions culminating in a thrilling fast-boat race on the Kumano River.
15–16 Oct 2026Shingu · WakayamaAn exhibition celebrating the absurdist manga Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo through immersive zones themed around its protagonist's battle techniques and surreal world.
30 Sep – 17 Oct 2026TokyoEach autumn, breweries from across Kansai gather in central Osaka for two days of tasting, with more than seventy sake between twenty-six makers.
17–18 Oct 2026OsakaA yearly kimono fair at Shinsaibashi in Osaka, where weavers and dyers from across Japan show their work and short workshops teach the crafts behind it.
14–18 Oct 2026OsakaA limestone cave under the Akiyoshidai karst plateau in Yamaguchi, a Special Natural Monument with a one-kilometre route and a steady 17 degrees.
Mine · YamaguchiThe Akita Senshū Museum of Art showcases works by local Ranga artists and features a memorial hall dedicated to painter Kenzo Okada.
AkitaThis Heian-period temple beside Lake Biwa houses an Important Cultural Property statue and was built to honor Amida Butsu and ensure the lake's safety and prosperity.
Otsu · ShigaAizendo Shomanin is a Tendai Buddhist temple and the first stop on a seventeen-temple pilgrimage honoring Aizen Myo-o, housing Osaka's oldest wooden pagoda structure.
OsakaBuilt in just one year starting 1617, this fortress commanded the Seto Inland Sea with 20 towers and 27 gates as a backup to Himeji Castle.
Akashi · HyogoThis 7.1-hectare theme park immerses visitors in the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli films across five themed zones with restaurants featuring character-inspired cuisine.
Nagakute · AichiAlmost all JR trains nationwide, including most shinkansen
from ¥50,0007, 14 or 21 days, adult
Booking through our links earns us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Japan Game Awards 2026: "Pokemon Pokopia" takes the Grand Award, "Word Game" the Game Designers Award, and the Pokemon series a ministry honour for 30 years.
2026/09/15A million and a half people between Tokyo and Yokohama, and almost nobody stops. What is actually in Kawasaki, and why it is worth getting off the train for.
BLEACH Mirrors High just revealed three new Kubo-designed Soul Reapers and a full system trailer. Here's the story, cast, and battle system, explained.
The English guide to Kobito Zukan: what kobito are, the most popular characters from Nabata Toshitaka's field guides, and where to find kobito goods in Japan.
Pandorobo, The Bread Thief, in English: the story of Japan’s beloved bread-stealing character, the picture books, the anime, and Pandorobo merchandise.
2026 is anime's most stacked year ever. Your season-by-season guide to every major release, streaming options, and Japan-only perks.
