NOVEMBER Festivals and Events

A very good reason to come to Japan in November is that there are excellent festivals and events that happen only once a year! November is also a fine time to beat the crowds and price increases that cluster around the high season at cherry blossom time at the end of March and early April.

Click on Tell me more to read about the event, then use the search term below to find out the exact dates and times for the year you’ll be there.

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White Heron Dance At Senso-ji Temple

Around the first weekend of November, catch the White Herons dancing in front of Senso-ji temple

Tell me more!

Search terms: White Heron Dance Sensoji

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Chrysanthemum Competitions

Living chrysanthemums bonsaied into fantastic figures, Elvis poufs, and enormous globes are just a few of the camera-grabbing sights at the various Chrysanthemum competitions around Tokyo in November.

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Shichi-go-san (7-5-3) Holiday

Three-year-old girls, five-year-old boys, and seven-year-old-girls dress up in traditional finery and are blessed at shrines and temples on November 15th, but you can see them with their families at many shrines all month long

Tell me more!

Search terms: shichi-go-san

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Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves come into their glory during the month of November, with red Japanese maples giving way to spires of golden gingko trees. Click on the link for the best places to take those killer snapshots

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Autumn Leaves Lit Up at Night at Rikugi-en Garden

Rikugi-en garden keeps its gates open until 9:00 p.m. during leaf season, so everyone can enjoy the autumn leaves lit up at night

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Search terms: Rikugien autumn light up

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Illuminations

All of Tokyo begins to sparkle with FREE animated, choreographed holiday light shows, beginning in mid-November. Click the link for where to see the most upworthy ones

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Other events in the month of November that might be worth checking out:

Dream Yosakoi in Odaiba

Meiji Shrine Fall Festival

Lucky Rake Festival at Sensoji

Tokyo Nail Expo

You can search for information on these by Googling the names in bold or searching for them on Tokyo Cheapo or TimeOut Tokyo, which I think have the most reliable info for events that change dates from year to year.

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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had

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