October 2025: Key Festivals and Celebrations in Japan

Japan’s October 2025 calendar is vibrant with a variety of traditional and unique festivals, offering a rich glimpse into the country’s cultural heritage as autumn foliage begins to emerge. These events are often characterized by elaborate parades, historical reenactments, and deep-rooted community traditions.

Major Festivals and Celebrations

Here are some of the most significant festivals and celebrations held across Japan in October:

Takayama Autumn Festival (Takayama Matsuri)

Held annually on October 9th and 10th at Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine and the Shimomachi area in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, this is considered one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals. It is a grand autumn harvest celebration, registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in late 2016. The festival features 11 elaborate floats called “yatai,” adorned with intricate carvings and gold leaf, which are paraded through the town. Highlights include karakuri puppet performances and a mikoshi procession. At night, especially during the evening festival (yoimatsuri) on October 9th, these floats are illuminated with lanterns, creating a magical sight, expressing gratitude for a fruitful harvest. Some floats can also be viewed year-round at the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan.

Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages)

This grand historical parade takes place annually on October 22nd in Kyoto, a date that commemorates Kyoto’s foundation in 794. The procession travels from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Jingu Shrine, offering a spectacular glimpse into Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Approximately 2,000 participants, along with about 70 horses and two oxen, are dressed in historically accurate costumes representing various eras of Japanese history, from the Heian Period to the Meiji Restoration. The parade is organized in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent era. Established in 1895, the festival celebrates Kyoto’s 1,100th anniversary as the former capital and honors Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Komei.

Kurama Fire Festival (Kurama no Hi Matsuri)

A dramatic fire festival held annually on October 22nd in the mountainous village of Kurama, north of Kyoto, centered around Yuki-jinja Shrine. For 2025, it falls on a Wednesday. Festivities begin at sunset and last until midnight, featuring watchfires (kagaribi) lit in front of households and a parade of hundreds of flaming torches (taimatsu) carried by villagers, with men carrying massive torches weighing 80-100 kg. Portable shrines (mikoshi) are also carried through the streets, creating a powerful, traditional, and energetic atmosphere. This event is a traditional purification ritual to honor the Yuki-jinja Shrine and its spirits, praying for good health and warding off evil. It was recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.

Kawagoe Festival (Kawagoe Hikawa Festival)

This traditional festival takes place in Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, particularly the historic Kurazukuri Zone, annually on the third weekend of October. For 2025, it is scheduled for October 18th and 19th. The historic town fills with gorgeously decorated Edo-style dashi (floats) featuring intricate carvings, embroidery, and dolls, with stages that revolve 360 degrees. Dating back over 370 years (mid-17th century) and influenced by Edo Period festivals, it honors the town’s rich heritage. It is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property (2005) and inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2016). A highlight is the “Hikkawase” face-offs where floats meet and compete in spirited musical contests.

Kanuma Buttsuke Autumn Festival

Held in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, around Imamiya Shrine, this festival takes place annually on the second Saturday and Sunday of October. For 2025, it is scheduled for October 11th and 12th. Dating back to the mid-Edo period as a harvest gratitude and safety prayer, this UNESCO heritage-listed event is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset (2003) and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (2016) as part of the “Yama, Hoko, Yatai Event.” Its central feature is the “buttsuke,” an impressive musical competition where 3 to 7 elaborately decorated yatai (floats) with taiko drumming teams compete at intersections. This festival is a lively celebration with music, dancing, and processions.

Nagoya Festival (Nagoya Matsuri)

One of Nagoya City’s largest autumn events, typically held in mid-October. For 2025, it is anticipated for late October, specifically October 18th-19th. Held in central Nagoya, including Hisaya-Odori Park, Oasis 21, and Nagoya Castle, the highlight is the grand “Kyodo Eiketsu Gyoretsu” (Local Hero Parade), commenced in 1955, featuring historical processions that recreate scenes from the era of the Owari Tokugawa clan with participants dressed as Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. The city also comes alive with Dashi float parades (with karakuri puppets), Kagura float parades, other diverse processions, stage performances, cultural exhibitions, and food stalls. Many tourist attractions offer free admission during the festival.

Nada no Kenka Festival (Nada Fighting Festival)

Meaning “fighting festival,” this event at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine in Shirahama, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, occurs annually on October 14th and 15th. It is renowned for its “fighting” aspect where male participants, wearing traditional loincloths (fundoshi) and other attire, intentionally crash massive, beautifully decorated yatai floats and three mikoshi (portable shrines) into each other. This fall festival seeks blessings for a good harvest and luck, distinguished by its unique characteristic of intentional jostling.

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

This vibrant, 400-year-old celebration in Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, typically occurs annually for three days, from October 7th to 9th. Its name “Kunchi” refers to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. Primarily held at Suwa Shrine, but also at Otabisho, Yasaka Shrine, and Chuo Park throughout Nagasaki City, it reflects Nagasaki’s unique history as a trading port with a blend of Japanese, Chinese (e.g., dragon dances, lion dances, Chinese boat floats), and Dutch influences (e.g., Dutch-style floats, “Oranda Manzai”). The festival features diverse “dashimono” or “hono” (dances and parades) presented by different city districts (“odori-cho”) on a seven-year rotation. It is designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset.

Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival

An annual shrine festival in Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, usually held on the first Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of October. For 2025, it is scheduled for October 4th, 5th, and 6th. The festival, with a tradition spanning over 350 years (dating back to 1643), is known for its seven massive “Taikodai” floats, over 11 meters high, which are illuminated by approximately 3,000 brightly glowing red paper lanterns, each containing a real candle. The floats, maneuvered entirely by human power by “Wakaren” without steering devices, are paraded through the city center to Nihonmatsu Shrine to the backdrop of lively “Hayashi” festival music played on taiko drums and bells, with distinct rhythms for each town. It is recognized as one of Japan’s top three lantern festivals and an important intangible folk cultural asset of Fukushima Prefecture.

Seki Cutlery Festival (Seki Hamono Matsuri)

This festival takes place in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, annually on the second weekend of October, along Honmachi Dori and at the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum. For 2024, it was held on October 12th and 13th. It celebrates Seki’s 700+ year history in blade crafting; Seki became a major sword-making hub in the 13th century, and after the Meiji Restoration, artisans adapted to producing everyday cutlery, making Seki a global center for high-quality knives. Highlights include traditional Japanese sword forging demonstrations, knife markets (with direct-from-manufacturer sales), displays of various cutlery, martial arts demonstrations, Wadaiko (Japanese Drums) performances, and hands-on experiences.

Paantu Festival

A unique and ancient festival held annually in early October, coinciding with the ninth month of the lunisolar calendar, on Miyakojima island in Okinawa, mainly in the Shimoji District and Nobaru in the Ueno area. Exact dates are often announced shortly before the event. This is a traditional purification ritual to pray for good health, ward off evil spirits, and bring good luck and blessings. During the festival, male villagers embody “Paantu” figures, covering themselves from head to toe in mud (from a sacred well), vines, and distinctive wooden masks. These “Paantu” are believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck, with participants aiming to smear this mud on people, new homes, and cars, an act believed to bestow blessings and ward off misfortune. It was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018.

Otsukimi (Moon Viewing Festivals)

Celebrated across Japan, these festivals occur around mid-September to early October (the fifteenth of the eighth month in the ancient calendar), coinciding with the harvest moon. For 2025, the main harvest moon festival (Jūgoya) is on Monday, October 6th, and the secondary waxing moon festival (Jūsan’ya) is on Sunday, November 2nd. It’s an ancient Japanese tradition dating back to the Heian Period, influenced by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, to celebrate and appreciate the beauty of the autumn moon, give thanks for a bountiful harvest, and seek blessings. Traditional decorations include Tsukimi Dango (sweet rice dumplings), Japanese pampas grass (susuki), and imagery of the “Moon Rabbit” (Tsuki no Usagi), with offerings of seasonal produce like sweet potatoes, chestnuts, beans, and sake.

Niihama Taiko Festival

Taking place from October 16th to 18th in Niihama, Ehime Prefecture, this powerful and exhilarating festival features massive taiko drum floats. Teams of men carry these floats through the streets, with the “kakikurabe” competition being a highlight where teams compete to lift and parade their floats with skill and energy, celebrating a bountiful autumn harvest.

Sea Lights Lantern Festival (Odaiba, Tokyo)

This illuminating festival transforms the beachfront at Odaiba Marine Park into a mesmerizing landscape with colorful lanterns. It features live performances by local musicians and beachside cafes, capturing the relaxed ambiance of Japanese autumn.
October in Japan truly offers a spectacular array of major festivals and celebrations, providing an immersive experience into the country’s vibrant traditions and rich history.

Photo link by Ramapo