Festivals, nightlife, tech meetups and international parties — hand-picked across Japan, each linking straight to where you book.
All three are confirmed for 2026: Kōdai-ji Oct 23–Dec 13, Eikan-dō Nov 20–Dec 6 and Kiyomizu-dera Nov 21–30. Tōfuku-ji has no night light-up.
2026/10/23 09:00 KyotoKōdai-ji adults ¥800 (same day and night); Eikan-dō light-up ¥1,000 (junior high and up); Tōfuku-ji Tsūtenkyō & Kaisandō adults ¥1,000 in the Nov 14–Dec 6 autumn period (daytime only); Kiyomizu-dera — check the official site (as of September 18, 2026).
Tokyo's 2026 autumn-leaf light-ups: Koishikawa Korakuen opens at night Nov 13–24 and Rikugien Nov 25–Dec 6 (both ¥1,000 advance, ¥1,200 on the day). Hours, how to buy tickets, plus the free Gaien ginkgo avenue and Mt. Takao — checked against official notices on October 14, 2026.
2026/11/13 09:00 TokyoFree (Gaien ginkgo avenue, Mt. Takao trails) to ¥1,200 (same-day evening ticket at Rikugien or Koishikawa Korakuen; ¥1,000 in advance at both); day admission ¥300 at Rikugien / Koishikawa Korakuen; Mt. Takao cable car or lift ¥980 round-trip for adults.
Kyoto's autumn leaves typically peak in the second half of November 2026, with top spots like Tofukuji, Eikando and Arashiyama running mid-November into early December. Here's where to go, what's free, and which temples light up at night.
2026/11/15 KyotoMany temple grounds are free; paid temples run roughly ¥300–¥1,000 for daytime entry. Night illuminations cost about ¥500–¥800 (Rurikoin's special opening is ~¥2,000). Prices as of 2025 — confirm 2026 on each official site.
The 2026 momiji front sweeps south from Hokkaido in mid-to-late September to Kyushu in early December — here is a region-by-region timing table and Japan's best fall foliage spots.
2026/11/15 Across JapanFree at most parks, gardens and mountain roads; some famous gardens, temple grounds and light-up events charge roughly ¥300–¥1,000 (as of 2026).
Hatsumode is Japan's first shrine or temple visit of the New Year, done January 1–3, 2027. Here's what it means, when to go, and exactly how to pray — including the crucial shrine-vs-temple difference.
2027/01/01 Across JapanFree to visit and pray. Bring small coins for the offering box (a 5-yen coin is the lucky choice); omikuji fortunes, ema plaques, hamaya arrows and omamori amulets typically cost a few hundred yen each (as of 2026 — confirm at each site).
Japan's cherry blossoms typically peak late March to early April in Tokyo and Kyoto, with the bloom front moving north from Okinawa (late January) to Hokkaido (early May). The 2027 forecasts are not out yet: in the 2026 season the first ones came between December 18, 2025 and January 29, 2026 — here's how to plan now.
2027/03/25 Across JapanFree — most parks, riverbanks and temple grounds cost nothing to enter; some gardens (e.g. Shinjuku Gyoen) and castle keeps charge a small entry fee, and evening illuminations may have separate hours. As of 2026.
