Japan Festivals November 2026: 9 Dates from Karatsu to Sapporo

At 7 p.m. on November 2, the first of Karatsu's giant hikiyama floats starts rolling through the streets around Karatsu Shrine in Saga, 30 minutes earlier than last year. That is how Japan festivals in November 2026 begin: a night in Kyushu, then boats on a Kyoto river, a lucky-rake market in Tokyo, a week when Japan's gods gather in Izumo, and finally the lights of Sapporo.

If your November trip is all about autumn leaves, one of these dates may be worth shifting a day for. I picked nine festivals and listed them in date order, with dates checked against organizer or city websites as of October 17.

Japan festivals November 2026 at a glance

Sources: each festival's official page (footnotes below).

Early November: Karatsu Kunchi, Ohara Matsuri, Hakone

Karatsu Kunchi (唐津くんち, Saga) Nov 2–4

This is the autumn grand festival of Karatsu Shrine: 14 hikiyama floats are pulled through the old castle town, and the festival is on UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list. This year the processions start at 19:00 on Nov 2, 9:30 on Nov 3 and 10:00 on Nov 4.

Rules to know on the street: no sitting on the route, no selfie sticks, and do not walk alongside or right behind a float. One thing visitors miss: IC cards do not work on the JR Karatsu Line (Karatsu to Kubota) or the Chikuhi Line between Yamamoto and Imari, so buy a paper ticket if you come from Saga.

Ohara Matsuri (おはら祭, Kagoshima) Nov 2–3

Southern Kyushu's biggest festival. More than 20,000 dancers move to Kagoshima folk songs such as Ohara-bushi, Kagoshima Hanya-bushi and Shibuya Ondo along the tram street in the Tenmonkan area. It is held every year with the night festival on November 2 and the main festival on November 3, so check this year's start times on the organizer's notice before you go.

Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu (箱根大名行列) Nov 3

Every November 3 (Culture Day), a procession of about 170 people in Edo-period costume walks the old Tokaido road, where real feudal processions once passed. It was first staged in 1935 for a tourism expo in Hakone, and its yakko spear-and-box moves were learned from the Odawara domain's procession tradition. The route and road closures are posted by the Hakone Yumoto tourism association, so check there for start times.

Mid-November: Arashiyama, Tori no Ichi, Hirosaki

Arashiyama Momiji Festival (嵐山もみじ祭) Nov 7–8

Arashiyama's maple festival recreates the boating parties Heian nobles loved: on the Oi River and its banks above Togetsukyo Bridge, performers stage Imayo songs and Heian court music. It is usually held around the second Sunday of November; this year it runs on the 7th and 8th, 11:30–17:00, and is cancelled in rain.

Tori no Ichi (酉の市, Asakusa Otori Shrine) Nov 7 & 19

Asakusa's Otori Shrine holds its rooster-day market, where stalls sell kumade, decorated bamboo rakes. In 2026 there are two rooster days: Ichi-no-tori on Saturday, November 7, and Ni-no-tori on Thursday, November 19, each from midnight to midnight.

Why a rake, and what is the hand-clap ritual after a sale? I told that story here.

Same festivalTori no Ichi 2026: Lucky Rakes, Haggling Lore, Asakusa

Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum & Autumn Leaves Festival (弘前城菊と紅葉まつり) Oct 30–Nov 8

Hirosaki Park is famous for cherry blossoms, but in autumn its roughly 1,100 maples and 2,600 cherry trees turn color. The festival grew out of a local leaf-viewing gathering and began in 1962; today the Hirosaki Castle Botanical Garden is the main venue, with flower art and a citizens' chrysanthemum show, and the leaves get a special light-up at night. This year it runs from October 30 to November 8.

Late November: Izumo's gods, Kyoto nights, Sapporo lights

Kamiari-sai at Izumo Taisha (出雲大社 神在祭) Nov 18–25

Japanese tradition says the gods of Japan gather at Izumo in the old lunar tenth month. This year Izumo Taisha's rites open with the welcoming rite at Inasa Beach at 19:00 on November 18 and close with the Karasade farewell rite at 16:00 on November 25. Kamiari-sai rites are held on the 19th, 23rd and 25th, and the matchmaking festival (Enmusubi Taisai) on the 23rd and 25th. These are shrine rituals, not a show, so read the shrine's guidance before you go.

Eikando autumn light-up (永観堂) Nov 20–Dec 6

About 3,000 maples around the stroll garden are lit for a special night opening. Entry 17:30–20:30, gates close at 21:00, ¥1,000 for junior high age and up. The nearest city bus stop may be closed in peak season, so know the 15-minute walk from Keage Station.

Pick your Kyoto date after checking when the leaves actually peak.

Same seasonKyoto Autumn Leaves Forecast 2026: Temple Peaks

Sapporo White Illumination, late Nov–mid Mar

Sapporo's winter light festival began in 1981 as Japan's first illumination event. It runs from late November to mid-March, and around Christmas the lights stay on until midnight. Each venue has its own dates and lighting hours, so check the official site for the one you plan to visit.

How to pick a November festival in Japan

• In Kyushu, aim for November 2–3: Karatsu Kunchi and Ohara Matsuri overlap, so you can split them across two days.
• In Kyoto, choose November 7–8 or after the 20th: boat performances in Arashiyama by day, Eikando's night maples later in the month.
• In Tokyo, go on Saturday the 7th or Thursday the 19th: Tori no Ichi runs all day and night, so it fits an evening plan.
• For something quieter, Izumo: less a show, more a week of welcoming and sending off the gods.

Eikando's night opening crowds the area. Check its crowd LEVEL first.

IKOKA toolEikando crowd forecast (LEVEL 1–5)

Want every festival into next year in one place? Save the free guide.

Free guideJapan festival calendar 2026–2027, month by month

Information rechecked on October 17, 2026 against each festival's official page. Weather or organizers can change plans, so check again the day before you go. December's roundup comes around the 18th of next month.

Which November festival would you move your trip dates for?