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Updated: October 19, 2023

Is November a good time to visit Tokyo?

While the whole of autumn is a great time to visit Tokyo, the brilliant hues of the fall foliage are at their most vibrant in November. This is the best time of the year to see the beautiful rows of ginkgo trees at Meiji Jingu Gaien and the flowers of the Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. In addition to these natural highlights, November is a great month to take in cultural events, like the Tori-no-ichi Fair in Asakusa.

What is the weather like in Tokyo in November?

The average temperature is around 13ºC (55°F) during the day, and 4ºC (39°F) at night. Early November tends to be a bit warmer. Temperatures may fluctuate a bit during the day, and the evenings can get a bit chilly. It's a good idea to wear a lightweight jacket or sweater—especially in late November. November is relatively dry, with 96 mm (3.7 in) of rainfall on average.

Best events, festivals, and other things to do in November

Autumn leaves in Tokyo

In November the foliage reaches a peak of beauty, making this the best time to enjoy the autumn leaves in Tokyo. Visitors who want to appreciate this picturesque beauty can do so from many locations throughout the capital, including Meiji Jingu Gaien (Outer Garden), Hibiya Park, Yoyogi Park, and Rikugien Gardens.


 

Mt. Takao Autumn Leaves Festival

Mt. Takao, a popular hiking location less than an hour from Shinjuku Station, hosts the Mt. Takao Autumn Leaves Festival every November. Visitors can enjoy various performances and events throughout the festival, and also try local dishes such as the famous Mt. Takao grated yam soba.
Note: Please check the website for more details and schedule information.

For more information on how to enjoy autumn at Mt. Takao, please watch this introductory YouTube video.

 

Tori-no-ichi Fairs

Tori-no-ichi Fairs are held every November at shrines and temples on dates that the traditional lunar calendar designates as days of the rooster. People wish for health, good fortune, and prosperity. Merchants also sell beautiful kumade (ornamental rakes) decorated in gold and silver. In Tokyo, you can participate in the festivities by visiting areas such as Asakusa, Shinjuku, and Fuchu. The exciting atmosphere and wonderful items available for sale are imbued with the energy of old Tokyo.

 

Chrysanthemum Flower Beds Exhibition

From November 1 to 15, Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden hosts an annual Chrysanthemum Flower Beds Exhibition. Chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Japan for centuries and have been displayed at Shinjuku Gyoen since the 1920s. This tradition is associated with the imperial family, and has been carried on to this day through this event. Brilliant displays are guaranteed.

Please note:
Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, using sports equipment and musical instruments in the garden are prohibited. Please check the Shinjuku Gyoen website for the most up-to-date information on the garden's opening hours.


Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Management Office

 

Kokubunji Festival

The Kokubunji Festival is Kokubunji City's largest annual event. With a focus on people, industry, and commerce, the festival offers a wide range of events. Visitors can experience parades, live traditional music, and other stage performances. Kokubunji residents also sell homemade goods and refreshments at booths, making the festival a great opportunity to meet some local people.

 

Dream Yosacoy Festival

The Dream Yosacoy Festival, a dance festival held in early November, is one of Tokyo's biggest annual events. Any group that wishes to perform may do so, regardless of nationality, age, or gender. Thousands of unique groups dance at multiple venues across Tokyo. The wonderful routines and exciting atmosphere make this a must-see event.

Dance performances in the Odaiba Area
Marunouchi Area (Gyoko-dori Avenue, in front of Tokyo Station): dance performances between the Marunouchi Building and Shin-Marunouchi Building

 

Hachioji Ginkgo Festival

The Hachioji Ginkgo Festival is a perfect occasion to admire the area's beautiful ginkgo trees. Over 700 of them decorate the area around the Koshu Kaido road. Take in the crisp autumn air while you collect stamps or brands (on a wooden plaque) at 12 local checkpoints. Enjoy the local delicacies available at the festival's stalls. However you choose to take part in the festival, you're guaranteed to have a great time.


©Hachioji Ginkgo Festival Festival Committee
©Hachioji Ginkgo Festival Festival Committee

Event on This Month

 

Calendar

January January in Tokyo speaks of traditions. Start the New Year in good spirits and head to a temple or shrine for Hatsumode on January 1 and pray like the locals do for peace and good health. Some begin their sojourn the night before on New Year's Eve to hear temple bells chime 108 times as the new year dawns, but Hatsumode is drawn out and takes place over 2-3 days.
February Tokyo's festival and event card is varied in February. Visit Tokyo at this time of year and you'll be witness to festivals and events that honor ume (plum blossoms), banish devils, celebrate the efforts of runners and see an unusual take on Valentine's Day—only men are supposed to receive chocolate.
March Temperatures and moods begin to thaw in March, the month heralding the start of spring. While cherry blossoms or sakura appear at month's end and are eagerly awaited, the rest of March offers much to see and do.
April April in Tokyo is blooming marvelous. Many of spring's events have a floral focus, with the highly anticipated Sakura or cherry blossom season reigning supreme. Join in the hanami or flower viewing parties all over the city.
May May festivals and events begin with the latter half of cluster of Golden Week holidays. Greenery or Arbor Day (May 4) sees entry fees waived in many of the cities parks and gardens, while Children's Day (May 5) heralds the arrival of brightly colored carp or koi streamers festooned around the city.
June Visit Tokyo in June, and the weather begins to get steamy. Rainy season arrives, but not all days are marked by wet weather. Embrace the increasing humidity with the official opening of Tokyo's many beer gardens and imbibe in a glass of your favorite ale. From the lofty heights of the beer garden atop Mt. Takao to the elegant surrounds of Meiji Kinenkan, you'll find a beer garden for every occasion.
July From the booming sound of fireworks lighting up the night sky to the soothing sounds of fuurin wind chimes tinkling in the breeze, July in Tokyo is a sensory experience. Festivals and events ranging from spectacular fireworks shows and ancestral bon odori rites to the sonic wizardry of summer music festivals that attract the best of domestic and international artists.
August August sees Tokyo at it’s hottest, but a continuing cascade of fireworks, traditional obon dances, multicolored tanabata lantern events, and the height of official water park and beach season all provide welcome distractions.
September September means sayonara, or goodbye, to the soaring heat of summer. Nights begin to cool and temperatures become more bearable, but these changes also see the occasional typhoon. Many of the city’s beer gardens remain open, however, a reminder that there’s still fun to be had outdoors yet.
October October, the height of autumn, is one of the best times of year to visit Tokyo. From ongoing traditional festivals to art and cultural soirees to culinary-focused events celebrating the bounty of the season—the city's event card is full.
November Visit November in Tokyo and shade yourself in hues of yellow, orange, red and golden brown. With seasonal foliage at its finest, the month sees the arrival of Koyo, or changing autumn leaves. Bask in the rich-jeweled tones of the season at Rikugien Gardens—at night the grounds are illuminated—or delight in the vibrant yellows of the city's numerous ginko trees.
December Tokyo is dazzling in December–literally–when the city lights up with illuminations. The dark nights are an ideal canvas for intricate and elaborate light displays and the illuminations are a signature winter sight.

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