Seasonal travelBy Clever Tourists · Published
October is a good month for Japan if you accept some rain: it is warm, uncrowded compared with April and November, and autumn colour has started in the north and the mountains. Tokyo's highs are about 22°C (72°F) and Kyoto's about 23°C (74°F), but October is also the wettest month of the year in Tokyo's normals, at around 235 mm, and typhoon season has not ended. The big cities' leaves do not turn until late November, so October suits mountain towns and Hokkaido better than Kyoto. Our Japan route ran in March and April 2023, not October, so the figures below are Japan Meteorological Agency 1991 to 2020 normals and not our experience.
• Best weather: the first half of October is usually the most settled. Days are warm and the humidity of summer has gone.
• Best for autumn colour: Hokkaido and the mountains. Japan Guide's 2026 forecast lists Sapporo for late October to early November and Nikko for mid October to early November, while Tokyo and Kyoto are late November.
• Fewest crowds: weekdays in October are quieter than April or late November in Kyoto and Tokyo.
• Cheapest: compared with the two peak seasons, hotels are noticeably softer, but not at their lowest.
• Avoid: the long weekend of 9 to 11 October 2027 if you can, because Sports Day (Monday 11 October) creates a three-day holiday.
Typical October figures from the Japan Meteorological Agency 1991 to 2020 normals:
• Tokyo: about 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F), around 235 mm of rain over 12 rain days and 129 hours of sun. It is the wettest month in Tokyo's year, usually because of typhoons and autumn rain fronts.
• Kyoto: about 14 to 23°C (58 to 74°F) with around 143 mm of rain over 9 rain days and 156 hours of sun.
• Sapporo: about 8 to 16°C (46 to 62°F) and around 110 mm of rain. Evenings are cold enough for a proper jacket.
• Naha, Okinawa: about 24 to 28°C (74 to 83°F) with about 179 mm of rain. Still warm enough for the beach, but typhoons are a larger factor here.
Typhoon season runs through early autumn, and the busiest weeks usually fall between August and early October. Most storms mean a day of cancelled trains and flights rather than a lost trip, but build slack into your last day and keep your flexible tickets. Our best time to visit Tokyo page covers the full year.
The northern and high-altitude regions turn first. In Japan Guide's 2026 autumn colour table, Sapporo and Nikko were listed for late October to early November, and Tokyo, Kyoto and Kanazawa were listed for mid to late November and into December. The dates shift by a few days each year and the forecast is updated through autumn, so check the forecast the month before you fly.
That makes October the month for the Alps and the north rather than for Kyoto's famous temple gardens. If you want those, read our Japan in November guide and the Kyoto autumn leaves guide.
• Takayama Autumn Festival, 9 to 10 October: the second Takayama Matsuri, with floats in the old town. In 2027 the dates fall on a Saturday and Sunday before Sports Day, so expect it to be very busy and book rooms months ahead. We were in Takayama from 26 to 29 March 2023; see how many days in Takayama and our Takayama guide.
• Sports Day, Monday 11 October 2027: a national holiday, which makes 9 to 11 October a three-day weekend for the whole country.
• Halloween: Tokyo's Shibuya and Roppongi fill with costumed crowds in the last week. Check local rules before planning a night out there.
Because of the leaf timing, we would aim October at mountain and northern stops. Our route covered Takayama, Matsumoto and Kanazawa in late March; Matsumoto and Takayama are the places on that route that sit high enough to colour early. See how many days in Matsumoto and our Kanazawa guide.
A practical October trip is Tokyo, then the Alps by train, then Kyoto and Osaka at the end of the month, when the heat has gone. Our 10-day itinerary is built around that shape.
Apart from the Sports Day weekend and the Takayama festival weekend, October is a lighter month than April and November. Tokyo and Osaka rates are lower than blossom season. Weekend crowds are heavier at shrines and in the mountains because domestic travellers also go out for autumn colour.
Book flights and trains with a few days of margin for typhoons. If you use rail passes, check the maths with our Japan Rail Pass worth it guide and the Shinkansen tickets guide.
If your trip is mostly Kyoto temples and gardens, November is the better choice, since the leaves are not out in October.
If rain bothers you, Tokyo's rain is highest in October, so April, May or November are drier.
If you are going to Okinawa for beaches, typhoons are a bigger risk than in the main cities. Pack for rain wherever you go; see our Japan packing list.
Yes, for mild weather and thinner crowds than April or November. Highs are about 22 to 23°C in Tokyo and Kyoto, but October is Tokyo's wettest month and typhoons can disrupt travel.
In the north and mountains. Japan Guide's 2026 forecast listed Sapporo and Nikko from late October to early November, while Tokyo and Kyoto peak late November to early December.
Yes, the season continues into October, with the busiest weeks usually earlier. Expect a possible day of delays and keep flexible bookings.
About 15 to 22°C, with roughly 235 mm of rain over 12 rain days. Pack an umbrella and a light jacket.
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