Planning your late-fall Japan adventure? November is the prime time to experience Japan’s most authentic traditions. Forget the summer crowds and discover these powerful festivals (matsuri) that beautifully blend ancient rituals, vibrant folk art, and the striking beauty of autumn.
Here are our 10 wonderful November festivals guaranteed to elevate your cultural journey.
1. Sanuki Lion dance Kingdom
This is the largest Lion Dance Festival in all of Japan, showcasing regional cultural pride in the Shikoku region. Kagawa, the true “Lion Dance Kingdom,” stages a spectacular clash of nearly 60 dance groups. Prepare for powerful drumming and dazzling, ornate lion costumes in an unforgettable display of regional spirit.
The combination of intense movements and the clanging sound of gongs creates a captivating spectacle for the audience. A great bonus: there’s an outdoor exhibit where you can touch the props and even try making a cardboard lion head, making it a fun, hands-on festival experience.
■Festival Name: Lion Dance Kingdom Sanuki／獅子舞王国さぬき
■Location: Around Takamatsu Station, Kagawa Prefecture
■Date: Early November (Annually)
2. Karatsu Kunchi Festival
This celebrated 400-year-old harvest festival in Kyushu is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. This meaningful culture attracts tourist around the world to come and visit.
The main event is the procession of 14 massive, artistic floats (hikiyama)—some reaching seven meters high and shaped like legendary warriors and creatures. It’s an explosion of sound and sight. If you are interested in culture this will be a best place for you to visit.
■Festival Name: Karatsu Kunchi Festival / 唐津くんち
■Location: Around Karatsu Shrine, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
■Date: November 2nd – 4th (Annually)
3. Ise Grand Shrine Gratitude Taiko Festival
Experience the sheer power of Japanese drumming near the revered Ise Grand Shrine. This festival gathers 16 famous taiko groups delivering thunderous, passionate performances as a dedication of gratitude to the gods. You can witness the spectacular “Special Dedication Performance” held at the Inner Shrine—a must-see for a close-up view of the drum’s resonant power.
■Festival Name: Ise Grand Shrine Gratitude Taiko Festival / 伊勢神宮神恩感謝日本太鼓祭
■Location: Okage Yokocho area, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
■Date: Late October or Early November (Annually)
4. Hitaki-Sai Fire Festival
Visit the iconic Kyoto fox shrine for a powerful, spiritual spectacle. This solemn ritual features a massive bonfire where hundreds of thousands of prayer sticks are burned, thanking the deity Inari Ōkami for the harvest. This ancient ceremony is performed with sacred Kagura dance, praying for good fortune and warding off bad luck.
■Festival Name: Fushimi Inari Shrine Fire-Burning Festival / 伏見稲荷大社火焚祭
■Location: Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kyoto Prefecture
■Date: November 8th (Annually)
5. Takachiho Night Kagura Festival (Yo-Kagura Matsuri)
A traditional event with over 800 years of history, rooted deep in Japanese mythology. This festival features all 33 parts of the local Yo-Kagura tradition (sacred night performance) in one setting. It is an intimate, profound cultural encounter that blends ancient hunting and farming culture with various religious influences, often lasting late into the night.
■Festival Name: Takachiho Night Kagura Festival / 神話の高千穂夜神楽まつり
■Location: Kagura-den at Takachiho Shrine, Takachiho Town, Miyazaki Prefecture
■Date: November 22nd – 23rd (Annually)
6. Ohara Festival
The largest citizen dance festival in Southern Kyushu! Founded in 1949 to revitalize the city after World WarII.
On that time, nearly 20,000 participants—young and old—fill the city streets, dancing in colorful groups. With participants now including many from overseas, the lavish costumes and energetic atmosphere make this a must-experience street party.
■Festival Name: Ohara Matsuri / おはら祭
■Location: Higashisengoku-cho area, Kagoshima City
■Date: November 2nd – 3rd (Annually)
7. Tori-no-Ichi (Rooster Market)
A signature Tokyo business tradition focused purely on prosperity and wealth. Shrines dedicated to the eagle or bird deity host lively markets where people buy elaborately decorated “lucky rakes” (kumade). These rakes symbolize “raking in” good fortune, making them excellent keepsakes or gifts.
■Festival Name: Tori-no-Ichi / 酉の市
■Location: Various related shrines in Tokyo (e.g., Washi Shrine in Asakusa)
■Date: November (Dates vary annually)
8. Izumo Taisha Kamiari Festival
Experience one of the most sacred events in the Shinto world. Legend says all of Japan’s deities gather here for an annual meeting. Consequently, all rituals performed are deeply solemn and cautious, offering a rare, valuable opportunity to witness the transmission of ancient Japanese ritual culture.
■Festival Name: Kamiari Sai (Festival of the Gods) / 出雲大社神在祭
■Location: Izumo Taisha (Izumo Grand Shrine), Shimane Prefecture
■Date: November (Aligns with the Lunar Month)）
9. Inaho Matsuri (Fox Wedding Festival)
This bizarre, enchanting festival is held at Hojoji Temple and is believed to bring about happy marriages. Its origins trace back to a local legend where a pair of foxes helped the temple’s abbot recover a lost Buddhist bead. The main draw is the “Fox Wedding” (Kitsune no Yomeiri) parade, where masked participants escort the “bride and groom” while dancing through the streets.
■Festival Name: Inaho Matsuri / 稲穂祭
■Location: Around Fukutoku Inari Shrine, Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
■Date: November 3rd (Annually)
10. Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival
Perfect for nature and history lovers! This Tohoku event celebrates the breathtaking autumn leaves against the backdrop of the historic Hirosaki Castle. See magnificent artistic displays of chrysanthemums, including a five-story pagoda entirely covered in the beautiful flowers, and enjoy the views from the castle gate.
■Festival Name: Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival / 弘前城菊と紅葉まつり
■Location: Hirosaki Park, Aomori Prefecture
■Date: Early November (Annually)
Don’t Wait! Go Have Fun at These Wonderful Autumn Festivals
After reading about these ten recommended festivals, have you started to appreciate the distinct charm of Japan’s autumn traditions compared to the summer events? Japan’s fall festivals often reflect a blend of tradition, appreciation of nature, and gratitude—experiences that anyone can enjoy and remember!
