Autumn in Japan: 5 Fall Events & Activities to Experience in Japan | Guidable - Your Guide to a Sustainable, Wellbeing-centred Life in Japan
fruit picking in autumn in japan

Autumn in Japan: 5 Fall Events & Activities to Experience in Japan

By Guidable Writers Oct 14, 2022

This post is also available in: French Vietnamese

The hot, humid days of summer are over, and we are starting to see changes in temperature, weather, and colors of the leaves. In Japan, autumn is considered to be the season of sports, food, and arts. The following are some of the most popular events and activities you can enjoy in autumn in Japan.

Enjoy Autumn in Japan with These Events and Activities

When you think of autumn in Japan, what first comes to mind? Is it cooler days, reading books inside nice and cosy, or hiking in the beautiful autumn-coloured forests? Here is our list of things you mustn’t miss in autumn in Japan.

運動会 (Undoukai)

autumn in japan undokai

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Undoukai – Sports Day – is an annual sports event held at schools in Japan. It’s a good opportunity to demonstrate the students’ efforts they’ve been putting in during class and after school for this event. Students’ families come to cheer on their children, bringing them bento (lunch boxes).

During the undokai event, each class or grade performs an activity such as dancing, running, and acrobatics. Students are generally separated into two teams, red and white, and compete in various games. Though you will not be able to join in the games, it’s definitely worth witnessing them first-hand if your friend, family or school invites you.

文化祭 (Bunkasai) or 学園祭 (Gakuensai)

bunkasai

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Bunkasai or Gakuensai are annual school festivals at high schools and universities where each class or club prepares a booth or activity to show its artistic achievements. Popular activities include food booths (that sell candied fruits, yakisoba etc) cosplay contests, haunted houses, comedy skits and more.

Each school comes up with a particular theme or slogan for the event every year, so different schools have different styles of Bunkasai. These festivals are generally open to the public, so why not check and see if a school nearby is hosting an event this fall.

紅葉刈り (Momijigari)

autumn in japan red leaves

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Momijigari refers to the act of viewing and admiring Japan’s beautiful autumn leaves. The colors of the leaves vary from yellow to orange and red, providing a stunning landscape of colour. Some trees that change colours with the seasons are maple, Japanese beech, and Maidenhair tree. Momijigari can take a lot of forms. You can just walk around or drive through the trees, soak in a hot spring that is surrounded by them, or pick up some of the leaves and make them into bookmarks to capture their beauty permanently.

果物狩り(Kajitsu or Kudamono Gari)

fruit picking

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Although fruit picking is available throughout the year in Japan, autumn is probably the best season because of the wide variety of fruits harvested during this season. There are many types of fruit-picking activities, and some fruits you can pick in autumn are apples, grapes, pears and persimmons.

Fruit picking in Japan usually means you can pick as many as you want for a low price! It’s a fun and thifty way to enjoy Japanese fruits that are famously very pricey. There may or may not be a time limit depending on the farm. Some farms also let you take your pickings home (sometimes for a fee), whereas some only allow you to pick the amount you can eat on the day. You can also take them home if you wish, but you might be charged an additional fee for it.

Find what fruits are in season in this article.

Tokyo Ramen Festa

tokyo ramen festa

Rather than an activity – this next one we’d like to introduce is an event!

The Tokyo Ramen Festa is an event where you can eat regional ramen from all over Japan, all gathered in one place. The most famous are miso ramen from Hokkaido and tonkotsu ramen from Fukuoka. You may wonder what flavours of ramen other regions are famous for? Well, this is a good chance to try them out.

The event is held on a different date every year. In 2022 the event starts on Thursday 27th October and will end on Sunday 6th November. It’s free to enter but you will need to buy tickets (1,000 JPY per ticket) to purchase the ramen of your choice. Check out the official website (Japanese only) for more details.

What’s Your Favourite Autumn in Japan Activity?

What was your favorite event from above? These are just some of the most famous events and activities available in Japan during the autumn. Explore more and experience the beauty and goodies of this wonderful season in Japan!

Related articles:

The Best Hot Spring Towns to Enjoy Fall Foliage 

Solo Travel in Japan: A Trip to Kyoto