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Updated: September 15, 2026

Best Things to Do and See in Tokyo in October

Is October a good time to visit Tokyo?

October is one of the best times to visit Tokyo. As the summer heat fades and the city becomes more comfortable to explore, October features food events, temple festivals, art exhibitions, film festivals, Halloween events, and more across the city. With warm days, cooler mornings and evenings, and gradually decreasing humidity, it is also one of the most comfortable months for sightseeing.

What is the weather like in Tokyo in October?

The average temperature is around 18.5℃ (65.3°F) during the day. It can reach as high as 22.1℃ (71.7°F) and as low as 15.7℃ (60.2°F). Temperatures gradually get cooler in the second half of the month. With an average monthly rainfall of 106.5 mm, it's also good to be prepared for the occasional rainy day, and to be on the alert for typhoons. But because it steadily gets less humid throughout October, conditions are perfect for sightseeing and other outdoor activities. Carry a light jacket as it may get chilly at night. The mountainous areas of west Tokyo are a lot cooler than the central parts of the capital, so extra layers of clothing can help you enjoy Tokyo to the full.
Note: This guidance is based on meteorological data for 2025.

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

Tokyo Yosakoi

Tokyo Yosakoi is held in October as the second part of the Fukuro Matsuri festival, an Ikebukuro autumn tradition. During the event, around 5,000 dancers—split into about 100 teams—gather from across Japan to show off their yosakoi dance routines, which are accompanied by energetic chanting. The finale on the last day, featuring all of the performers, is a must-see.

Meguro no Sanma Matsuri (Pacific Saury Festival)

This event—which is part of the larger Meguro Citizens' Festival—is all about Pacific saury ("sanma" in Japanese), a seasonal fish that heralds the arrival of autumn. These fish come from Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, a sister city of Meguro. They are charcoal-grilled, garnished with grated daikon and kabosu (a type of citrus fruit), and served for free (advance registration required). Meguro Citizens' Festival also features many food stalls selling local products from across the country. At the festival square you can enjoy bands and other performances. There is also the popular Kodomo no Hiroba area for families with young children.

Kanda Used Book Festival

The Kanda Used Book Festival is held annually in Jimbocho, Tokyo's "book town." Rows of bookshelves line Yasukuni-dori, the main street, while the Tokyo Antiquarian Book Hall hosts talk shows and special sales of rare books.

Tokyo International Film Festival

Tokyo International Film Festival is a big attraction for all film fans. Festival events include open-air screenings, screenings followed by Q&A sessions with cast and crew, and screenings with appearances by the actors. Seminars, symposiums, and workshops related to the film industry are also held.

©2024 TIFF

Tokyo Ramen Festa 2026

Held at Komazawa Olympic Park from October 30 to November 3, the Tokyo Ramen Festa 2026 is one of Japan's largest outdoor events dedicated to ramen. Visitors can try many unique styles of ramen from all over Japan. The event offers the chance to experience local food cultures and learn about regional attractions from across the country.

Halloween in Tokyo

In Ikebukuro, you can visit the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2026. It draws more than twenty thousand people dressed in their favorite manga and anime-inspired outfits (known as cosplays). Separately, Sanrio Puroland is hosting "PUROMONSTERSCRAMBLE," a Halloween event modeled after a party with monsters. This year's edition marks Sanrio Puroland's first collaboration with LABUBU and features a 360-degree immersive live show, DJs, horror-themed content, photo areas, and limited-edition merchandise.

©POP MART ©2026 SANRIO CO., LTD. TOKYO, JAPAN
©Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Festival 2025

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 Setsubun, a Japanese tradition in which beans are thrown to bring good luck, is held at homes, temples, and shrines. Plum blossoms are in full bloom, and plum festivals take place across the city. On Valentine's Day, Japanese people often give chocolate as gifts, so department stores stock a wide variety.
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 when the cherry blossoms are at their best. In early April, cherry blossom festivals are held in many areas, and crowds come out to enjoy hanami (flower viewing). As the cherry blossoms fade, you can also look forward to azaleas and wisteria. Spring is also a busy season for events at shrines and temples, including traditional ceremonies designated as Intangible Cultural Properties of Tokyo.
May May festivals and events begin with the latter half of Golden Week holidays. Greenery or Arbor Day (May 4) sees entry fees waived in many of the city's parks and gardens, including Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Rikugien Gardens, and Hama-rikyu Gardens. 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 In Tokyo, events throughout July evoke the Edo period (1603–1867) and celebrate the season of summer. The night sky is illuminated by fireworks at displays like the Sumida River Fireworks Festival and the Tachikawa Showa Kinen Park Fireworks. The streets are filled with markets and local festivals. Traditional events and large-scale celebrations offer great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. It's a time of year when the city buzzes with excitement.
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 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 November is the season of beautiful autumn foliage in Tokyo. By day the colors are stunning, and by night the illuminated leaves create a dreamlike spectacle. The ginkgo-lined avenues, which turn the city a brilliant yellow, are also an iconic sight of autumn in Tokyo.
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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