Japan by month
Japan in October
One of the best months: comfortable days (Tokyo around 22°C), autumn colour in Hokkaido, Tohoku and the mountains, and big festivals in Takayama and Kyoto. Typhoon risk fades through the month.
What October is like
October brings Japan's most comfortable weather on the main islands: Tokyo averages 22.0°C by day and 14.8°C at night, Osaka 23.7°C and 16.0°C. Early October can still bring typhoon rain, but the second half is usually dry and clear.
The north turns cold quickly. Sapporo averages 16.4°C by day and 8°C at night, and the first snow often dusts the high peaks.
Where to go in October
Autumn colour moves down from the mountains. Early to mid-October is peak time around Lake Chuzenji in Nikko, the Hakkoda mountains and Oirase Gorge in Aomori, and the alpine areas of Nagano and Gifu. In the cities, maples turn red around 23 October in Asahikawa and 28 October in Sapporo.
Takayama's autumn festival on 9–10 October parades its own set of ornate floats, different from the spring ones, and Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri on 22 October recreates 1,000 years of costume history.
Sports Day long weekend
Sports Day, a national holiday on the second Monday of October, gives Japan a three-day weekend, so hotels and popular autumn spots fill up. Book ahead if your dates include it.
A mid-October trip to Tohoku or Hokkaido catches the autumn colour at its peak, while Tokyo and Kyoto are still green and pleasant.
Festivals and events
Typical weather in October
Average daily high and low and total rainfall for the month (1991–2020). Tap a city for its 7-day forecast.
| City | High | Low | Rain (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sapporo | 16°C | 8°C | 110 |
| Asahikawa | 15°C | 4°C | 106 |
| Kushiro | 15°C | 6°C | 113 |
| Aomori | 18°C | 9°C | 119 |
| Akita | 19°C | 10°C | 176 |
| Sendai | 20°C | 12°C | 151 |
| Niigata | 21°C | 13°C | 158 |
| Kanazawa | 22°C | 14°C | 177 |
| Tokyo | 22°C | 15°C | 235 |
| Utsunomiya | 21°C | 13°C | 174 |
| Nagano | 20°C | 10°C | 100 |
| Nagoya | 23°C | 15°C | 165 |
| Osaka | 24°C | 16°C | 136 |
| Takamatsu | 23°C | 15°C | 120 |
| Matsue | 22°C | 13°C | 126 |
| Hiroshima | 24°C | 15°C | 109 |
| Kochi | 25°C | 16°C | 208 |
| Fukuoka | 24°C | 16°C | 95 |
| Kagoshima | 26°C | 18°C | 105 |
| Amami | 27°C | 21°C | 261 |
| Naha | 28°C | 24°C | 179 |
| Ishigaki | 29°C | 24°C | 211 |
Tips
- Pack layers: T-shirts for warm afternoons and a jacket for the evenings, plus a warm coat for Hokkaido and the mountains.
- Autumn colour weekends in Nikko and Kamikochi are very busy. Go on weekdays and set off early.
- Avoid Shibuya on the nights around Halloween (31 October) if you don't like heavy crowds.
Questions travellers ask
Is October a good time to visit Japan?
Yes, one of the best. The weather is comfortable, the rain eases after early October, and autumn colour starts in the north and mountains.
Where can I see autumn leaves in October?
Hokkaido, the Tohoku mountains (Hakkoda, Oirase), Nikko, and the alpine areas of Nagano and Gifu. Tokyo and Kyoto peak later, in late November to early December.
What should I wear in Japan in October?
Light layers with a jacket for the evening in Tokyo and Osaka (14–24°C), and a warm coat for Hokkaido.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA climate normals 1991–2020 (Japanese)(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- Kyoto Gyoen National Garden京都御苑Aoi and Jidai Matsuri, Kyoto Gyoen (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Meteorological Agency気象庁JMA maple colouring dates(in Japanese) (opens in a new tab)
- GOOD LUCK TRIP (Arukikata)Takayama Festival, Japan Tourism Agency guide (opens in a new tab)
All 12 months7-day forecasts for 22 cities
Facts checked 23 October 2026