Okutama
Still a great option at the beginning of September for rivers, waterfalls, hiking and escaping the heat of central Tokyo.

Mount Takao
A good nature escape from Tokyo, especially later in the month when temperatures start to become more comfortable.

Kinchakuda Manjushage Park, Saitama
One of the most famous places near Tokyo for higanbana. Millions of red spider lilies usually cover the forest floor around mid to late September.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura
Worth visiting during the shrine’s September festival, especially for the famous horseback archery ceremony.

Kibune
Still a good escape from Kyoto’s September heat, especially during the first half of the month.

Kurama
Forested mountain trails and a cooler alternative to spending the entire day in central Kyoto.

Ōhara
Sanzen-in, countryside landscapes, rice fields and much quieter surroundings than central Kyoto.

Takao

A forested mountain area northwest of Kyoto with temples, rivers and hiking trails. Autumn colors come later, but September is good for the greenery and quieter atmosphere.

Uji
Byōdō-in, matcha, tea shops and riverside walks. Easy to combine into a half or full day from Kyoto.

Kishiwada
The place to be during the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, one of Osaka’s biggest September festivals.

Minoo Park
Still very green in September and a good option for a nature day outside central Osaka.

Katsuo-ji
Combine the famous daruma temple with northern Osaka and Minoo.

Sennan & southern Osaka
Good for coastal walks and sunsets while the weather is still warm.

Daisetsuzan National Park
One of the first places in Japan to see autumn foliage. Colors can begin at higher elevations in early September and become especially beautiful around the middle of the month.

Asahidake
Take the ropeway into the mountains for some of Japan’s earliest autumn colors.

Kurodake
Another excellent area for early autumn hiking and mountain scenery.

Tokachidake Onsen
Mountain onsen surrounded by some of Hokkaidō’s earliest autumn landscapes.

Hachimantai
Mountain scenery starts transitioning toward autumn before most of central Japan.

Mount Hakkoda, Aomori
Higher elevations can begin changing color toward the end of September.

Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima
Visit during Aizu Matsuri for historical processions and samurai culture.

Mount Aso
Still very green in September, with huge volcanic landscapes and plenty of space to explore.

Takachiho Gorge
Lush scenery continues into September, especially after the summer rains.

Kurokawa Onsen
A good mountain escape if you want to slow down after the summer season.

Kirishima
Volcanic landscapes, hiking and onsen away from the major cities.

Kamikōchi
September is a great month for hiking. It’s cooler than the major cities, with mountain views and forests before the main autumn foliage crowds arrive.

Norikura
High-altitude landscapes where autumn starts much earlier than in Tokyo or Kyoto.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
High elevations begin transitioning into autumn during September.

September is also the season of higanbana, or red spider lilies.

These bright red flowers usually bloom around the autumn equinox, although exact dates change every year depending on temperatures.

Some places can turn completely red for a few weeks.

Famous Higanbana Spots

Kinchakuda Manjushage Park, Saitama
Probably the most famous higanbana destination in Japan.

Gongendo Park, Saitama
Large displays of red spider lilies along the park paths.

Yakachigawa River, Aichi
Higanbana growing along the riverbanks.

Katsuragi Hitokotonushi Shrine area, Nara
Red spider lilies surrounded by rice fields and countryside.

Tsuzura Rice Terraces, Fukuoka

Higanbana growing between traditional terraced rice fields.

🌺 Important: bloom dates can change significantly from year to year, so always check the flowering situation shortly before visiting.

September 1 to 3
Owara Kaze no Bon, Toyama
Traditional dancing fills the old streets of Yatsuo during one of Toyama’s best-known festivals.

Early September
Kakunodate Matsuri, Akita
Large festival floats, music and traditional performances in Kakunodate’s historic streets.

Mid September
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, Osaka
Huge wooden danjiri floats are pulled through the streets of Kishiwada at high speed. One of the biggest events of the month in Kansai.

Mid September
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Reitaisai, Kamakura
The shrine’s annual grand festival, famous for yabusame, traditional horseback archery.

September 11 to 21
Dara-Dara Matsuri, Tokyo
A long festival at Shiba Daijingu also known as the Ginger Root Festival, with stalls selling fresh ginger.

Mid to late September
September Grand Sumo Tournament, Tokyo
One of Tokyo’s three annual Grand Sumo tournaments, held at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Late September
Aizu Matsuri, Fukushima
Historical processions through Aizuwakamatsu with participants dressed as samurai and figures from different periods of local history.

Around the Autumn Equinox
Higan, nationwide
A Buddhist period associated with the equinox when many Japanese families visit and clean their ancestors’ graves.

Tsukimi literally means “moon viewing.”

It’s a traditional autumn custom celebrating the moon and the harvest. The date changes each year because it follows the traditional lunar calendar, so it can fall in September or October.

People traditionally decorate with susuki (Japanese pampas grass) and make offerings such as tsukimi dango, seasonal vegetables and fruit.

Temples, shrines, gardens and castles sometimes organize special moon-viewing events.

🌰 Kuri (chestnuts)
Chestnut rice, Mont Blanc cakes and seasonal wagashi start appearing everywhere.

🍠 Satsumaimo (Japanese sweet potato)
Roasted sweet potatoes and sweet potato desserts return as autumn approaches.

🍇 Grapes
September is a great month for Japanese grapes, including Kyoho and Shine Muscat.

🍐 Nashi (Japanese pear)
Crisp Japanese pears are in season.

🐟 Sanma (Pacific saury)
One of Japan’s classic autumn fish, usually simply grilled with salt.

🌾 Shinmai (new-season rice)
Freshly harvested rice begins appearing toward autumn.

🎑 Tsukimi dango
Small rice dumplings traditionally associated with moon-viewing season.

Don’t expect cool autumn weather as soon as September starts.

Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and much of western Japan can still feel like summer, particularly during the first half of the month. Temperatures gradually become more comfortable later in September.

Hokkaidō is very different, with cooler temperatures and the beginning of autumn in the mountains.

September is also one of the main months for typhoons, so keep some flexibility in your itinerary and check forecasts regularly if a storm is approaching.

Summer holidays are over, so many destinations become less crowded than in August.

Don’t pack only autumn clothes. You’ll probably still need summer clothing in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Kyūshū.

Keep some flexibility in your itinerary because of typhoon season.

If you’re looking for autumn foliage, don’t expect peak colors in Tokyo or Kyoto yet. Head north to Hokkaidō or to higher mountain areas instead.

September also includes national holidays around the third week of the month (silver week), so domestic travel can become busier around long weekends.