Japan Festivals November 2026: Fireworks, Fairs and Leaf Light-Ups

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It's 17:30 on Saturday 7 November. You're standing by a river in a town most visitors have never heard of, and the first of 2.5 hours of competition fireworks goes up. November in Japan is fireworks, temple gardens lit up at night, and the street fairs locals plan their year around.

Here's the short version. Book anything with a fixed date early: fireworks seats, light-up tickets and trains on the holiday weekends. The autumn colours this year come late, so save your leaf-viewing for the second half of the month.

Verdict in three lines:

• Early November is for festivals: Karatsu Kunchi (2–4 Nov), Tsuchiura fireworks and Tori-no-ichi (7 Nov).
• Late November is for leaves: Kyoto from about 13 Nov, Tokyo's Takao from about 19 Nov, and night light-ups from 20 Nov.
• Holidays fall on Tue 3 Nov and Mon 23 Nov, so 21–23 Nov is a three-day weekend for Japan too.

📅 What's on in Japan in November 2026?

This calendar has the dates, where each event is, how to get there and when to go. All dates come from the organisers' own pages.

🎆 Is the Tsuchiura fireworks show worth a day trip from Tokyo?

Yes, if you can lock in the travel. JNTO lists Tsuchiura as one of Japan's three great fireworks competitions, alongside Omagari and Nagaoka. The country's top fireworks makers compete for the Prime Minister's Award.

The official site gives Saturday 7 November 2026, starting at 17:30. JR East's event page says the show runs to about 20:00.

Getting there is easy. JR East says a limited express from Ueno takes about 45 minutes. JNTO gives about 70 minutes on the Joban Line, which matches a regular train. From Tsuchiura Station it's a 30-minute walk from the West Exit, or a 10-minute shuttle bus from the East Exit.

The part people miss is that there has been no free general seating since 2022. Seats are sold in advance by lottery. If you don't have a seat yet, keep an eye on the official site's paid seating page.

Going home takes longer than getting there. JR East warns that the station may limit entry when crowds are heavy. Honestly, the easier pick here is a hotel in Tsuchiura, or at least no late flight or long-distance connection that night. Then the wait for a train is just part of the evening.

🧧 What is Tori-no-ichi, and why do Tokyo shops go?

Tori-no-ichi (酉の市, "rooster-day fair") falls on the days of the rooster in the old Japanese calendar. Small business owners come to buy a new kumade (熊手, a decorated bamboo rake) to "rake in" luck for the next year. You'll often hear stallholders clap and call out together when someone buys one.

At Otori Shrine in Asakusa, the 2026 dates are Saturday 7 November (ichi-no-tori, the first) and Thursday 19 November (ni-no-tori, the second). There's no third day this year.

The fair runs 24 hours a day, starting at midnight with a drum. That surprised me, and it's useful. You can come at 1am after dinner, or early the next morning when it's calmer.

7 November is also the Tsuchiura fireworks day. You can do both. Visit the fair in the morning, then take a train from Ueno in the early afternoon.

Getting there: the shrine says Iriya Station (Hibiya Line, Exit 3 North) is about 7 minutes on foot. Asakusa Station on the Tsukuba Express is about 8 minutes.

🏮 Which November festivals outside Tokyo are worth the trip?

These two are both in Saga Prefecture in Kyushu, close enough to combine with a stay in Fukuoka.

Karatsu Kunchi (2–4 November, every year). This is the autumn festival of Karatsu Shrine. Fourteen giant hikiyama (曳山, lacquered floats) are pulled through the old castle town. On the evening of 2 November, the lantern-lit parade starts around 19:30.

The main day is 3 November. From about 9:30, the floats follow the mikoshi (神輿, portable shrine) to the beach at Nishinohama, and pulling them in and out of the sand is the big moment. The tourism association asks visitors to come by public transport, and Karatsu Station is the gateway.

Saga International Balloon Fiesta. Competition flights run 30 October–3 November, starting at 7:00, so the last three days fall in November. JR Kyushu opens a temporary station, Balloon Saga, for these five days.

If you're coming from Hakata, JR Kyushu warns that the 6:00 Relay Kamome 1 gets very crowded. The special Kasasagi train runs straight to Balloon Saga with no change. Flights depend on the weather, so a morning slot on a spare day gives you a second chance.

🍁 When do the autumn leaves peak in November 2026?

Later than usual this year. The Japan Weather Association's first forecast (1 October 2026) says it has been warmer than normal since late September. That warmth is expected to last into November, so leaves in Kanto, Tokai and western Japan will peak on time or later.

The forecast puts the start of peak colour at about 13 November for Arashiyama in Kyoto and 19 November for Takao-san near Tokyo. That's eight days later than last year for Takao.

My take: if you only have one week, the last week of November gives you the best chance in both cities. It's also when the night light-ups begin.

Eikando, Kyoto. The night viewing runs 20 November–6 December, with reception from 17:30 to 20:30. As of 2026-10, admission is ¥1,000 (about the price of a coffee and a cake) for junior high students and older. The daytime treasure exhibition runs 11 November–6 December.

Bring a bag for your shoes if you plan to go inside the halls. The temple takes no private cars, so come by city bus No. 5 or the subway.

Rikugien, Tokyo. The night viewing runs 25 November–6 December, 18:00–20:30 (last entry 19:30). The garden closes at 17:00 and reopens with night tickets only.

As of 2026-10, advance tickets are ¥1,000 online, and same-day tickets are ¥1,200 (cash only at the window). Numbers are limited each day, and the sale date hadn't been announced yet. Buying online is clearly the better choice, since it also gets you the priority entry lane.

🚄 When will the trains be busiest?

Japan has two public holidays in November 2026: Culture Day on Tuesday 3 November and Labour Thanksgiving Day on Monday 23 November (from the Cabinet Office's holiday list).

Saturday 21 to Monday 23 November is a three-day weekend. It also falls right in Kyoto's peak leaf week. If you're taking the shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto that weekend, reserve your seats as soon as you know your plans.

On Meiji Jingu's calendar, 3 November is the Reisai festival, and yabusame (流鏑馬, horseback archery) is held during the autumn festival. 23 November is Niiname-sai, the harvest thanksgiving. The shrine gates close at 16:10 in November, so go early in the day.

❓ FAQ

Are there fireworks in Japan in November?
Yes. The big one is the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition on Saturday 7 November 2026, about an hour from Ueno. Seats are paid only.

Where are the best autumn leaves in Japan in November?
In Kyoto and the Tokyo area, from mid to late November this year. The forecast gives about 13 November for Arashiyama and about 19 November for Takao-san.

Do I need tickets for the night light-ups?
Yes for Rikugien: you need a night viewing ticket, and online tickets get priority entry. Eikando sells admission at the temple on the night.

Is Tori-no-ichi free?
Entry to the shrine and the fair is free. Kumade rakes and prayer services cost extra.

Can I see Karatsu Kunchi on a day trip?
Yes. The festival is on the same dates every year (2–4 November), and Karatsu Station is the base for all three days.

🧳 Recap

• Early November is festival season: Saga balloons (to 3 Nov), Karatsu Kunchi (2–4 Nov), and Tsuchiura and Tori-no-ichi on the same Saturday (7 Nov).
• The leaves are late this year, so plan Kyoto and Tokyo leaf-viewing for after mid-November.
• The night light-ups run from 20 Nov (Eikando) and 25 Nov (Rikugien). Buy Rikugien tickets online when sales open.
• 21–23 Nov is a three-day weekend in Japan, so trains and hotels fill early.
• Before you fly, book the trains and tickets for your fixed dates (the fireworks evening and the holiday-weekend shinkansen), so the rest of the trip can stay relaxed.

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