OCTOBER Festivals and Events

A very good reason to come to Japan in October is that there are excellent festivals and events that happen only once a year! October 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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Bakeneko Festival (Ghost Cat Parade)

The costumed participants in the Cat Ghost Parade (Bakeneko) never fail to delight and entertain. Truly an only-in-Japan experience

Tell me more!

Search terms: Bakeneko Parade

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Festival of 10,000 Lanterns (Oeshiki Ikegami)

This nighttime parade of golden pagoda lanterns festooned with streamers of white flowers is well worth the outing and the crowds. The revelers parade though the Ikegami neighborhood to the magnificnet Ikegami Honga-ji temple, which is lit up at night for the occasion

Tell me more!

Search term: Oeshiki Ikegami

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Tokyo Cake Show

This three-day event took place around the middle of October when I went to see it, and it included not only the most spectacular wedding cakes I’ve ever seen, there were also amazing sugar sculptures and strange things carved out of chocolate

Tell me more!

Search terms: Japan Cake Show Tokyo 20XX (the year you’re searching for)

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Cosmos Fields

Waves of blooming cosmos fields brighten Tokyo from late September to early October. Here are the best places to see them:

Tell me more!

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

Yasukuni Shrine Fall Festival

Log Rolling Exhibition

Halloween 

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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