This is your last chance to catch the 15th anniversary edition of Universal Studios Japan’s (USJ) Halloween event. It has both nighttime horrors and a daytime Halloween party.

The daytime event features staff on hand to offer goodies to trick-or-treaters (excluding Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Super Nintendo World™), as well as a special Minion Greeting Party, where everyone is invited. Fast-forward to nighttime — Halloween Horror Nights — for an altogether scarier experience, where zombies roam the streets and various rides pull out all the stops, like Resident Evil™, with an immersive horror show and new Resident Evil attractions.

Note: Look out for the seasonal transition as Halloween Horrors turn into Holiday Wonders from November 13, 2026.

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This fall, Godzilla and Monster Hunter unite to create a brand-new series of quests and goodies for visitors to Nijigen No Mori’s Godzilla Intercept Operation and Monster Hunter: The Field. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of legendary Japanese character, Godzilla, guests at the Nijigen no Mori theme park can take part in new quests and purchase a variety of exclusive collaboration goods. There is also a limited-edition menu at the site, and the on-site lodgings have been transformed especially for the occasion.

If Demon Slayer is more your thing, the Kimetsu no Yaiba attraction is hosting a nighttime walk, inviting attendees to become demon slayers themselves for the evening. Elsewhere, Dragon Quest Island is hosting a craft event for all ages.

Who says that folklore is only for Halloween? Head to former Toei Kyoto Studio Park, Uzumasa Kyoto Village throughout fall, with its yokai (Japanese folklore creatures) festival.

The park is transformed with yokai appearing all around throughout November. Activities include “The Night Parade of One Hundred Yokai,” a parade of yokai through the theme park's streets, inviting audiences to join the fun. There is a brand-new dance show and bus tours that take participants off the theme park grounds and into Kyoto. The tours aim to educate punters about key Japanese ghost incidents that happened in Kyoto itself — live the scare!

If you like K-Pop, mascots and have an interest in Japanese history, this festival is for you. Hosted at Shitenno-ji Temple in Osaka, one of the oldest temples in the country, Wasso celebrates its 26th anniversary this year, with the theme “Exchanges of Unity Heading into the Future.”

The festival is held to commemorate the 99 years that Osaka was the capital of Japan (646–745), and honor the ties to other Asian countries that the city built in that time. It has a large main stage hosting music acts, dancers and bands. This year will see music from K-pop idol Yeeun, in addition to Japanese music, and dance performances including a K-pop dance. There is also a parade that sees participants dressed up in traditional dress from various periods of history. The event is fun, festive and you’ll learn a lot.

Officially known as the Ohitaki-sai (火焚祭/fire-hitting festival), Kifune Shrine’s annual fire festival is known for its drastic burning pyres. The event constitutes a ritual where impurities are cleansed by the blazing fires that are lit by the shrine’s priests.

Kifune Shrine is one of the most famous in Kyoto, thought to be over 1300 years old, and the deity Takaokami-no-Kami, the god of water, is enshrined there. It’s thought that Takaokami was born from a fire, and that by burning the flames each year, the deity will see a rebirth. There is one the following day at Fushimi Inari Shrine, but beware of crowds.

Hasedera, one of Nara’s most famous, picturesque temples, hosts an autumn leaf viewing event to show off its fabulous fiery foliage in the cooler months.

Built in 686 AD, the temple serves as the headquarters for the Buzan school of the Shingon sect of Buddhism. It’s so large that it takes around 40 minutes to walk around its buildings, which comprise over 30. The temple is renowned for its five-storey pagoda, surrounded by leaves and flowers that reflect the seasons. The temple is often referred to as the “temple of flowers” — and fall is no different, if leaves count as flowers, that is. The temple invites visitors inside the great hall to pay respects directly to the Kannon herself, normally a privilege reserved for temple staff only.

Motorsports lovers, rejoice! Here’s the final round of the 2026 season for Japan’s premier racing car competition. With everything to lose, this final race event of the year sees its drivers going for an all-or-nothing approach, taking risks around Suzuka Circuit’s infamously tight corners and extremely technical sections.

Tickets also include access to Suzuka Circuit Park which includes go-karting, a ferris wheel and Honda’s Racing Gallery, where historical cars will be on display. Visitors may also grab local Japanese fare from the food stalls and browse the affiliated booths, where a range of merchandise will be on sale.

Kobe’s annual open-air contemporary art festival, Rokko Meets Art 2026 Beyond, sees visitors enjoy modern art installations while meandering around the Rokko Mountain.

Dozens of artists contribute installations scattered across the mountain's botanical gardens, alpine museum, and cable car stations. Notable names include the late Yayoi Kusama and Yoshitomo Nara, alongside a range of up-and-coming contemporary artists from Japan and beyond. Works from the festival also appear at sites close by, such as the Chapel of Light designed by famed architect, Tadao Ando.

Art Collaboration Kyoto is one of the country’s largest contemporary art fairs. It brings galleries from different countries and invites them to collaborate with a Japanese counterpart in the same booth at the fair.

This year sees 63 galleries from 18 countries around the world. Japanese artists exhibiting include Takuro Tamayama, Urara Tsushiya and Junichi Mori; worldwide artists include Ai Weiwei, Olafur Eliasson and Elena Tutatchikova. Gallery collaborations include Taro Nasu (Tokyo) with Hauser & Wirth (Zurich) and Tokyo’s Con_ with Season Four Episode Six (London).

High above the city on the slopes accessible via ropeway, the Kobe Christmas Market at Nunobiki Herb Garden welcomes visitors into a European-style winter market. Get into the festive spirit with glowing wooden huts, festive decorations, warm mulled wine, and artisanal crafts.

Shop for seasonal gifts and sip mulled wine while admiring the panoramic night views of Kobe port below.

Creative company Naked Inc lights up one of Kyoto’s largest Buddhist temples, Higashi Hongan-ji, this fall and winter season. Visitors can experience the temple gardens in a whole new light (quite literally), with illuminations and projection mapping in different seasonal themes.

In addition to installations lighting up the temple gardens, visitors will have the rare opportunity to see inside Founders Hall. Naked will be lighting up its ceiling with swirling projections, bringing each incredible scene to life. There will also be matcha and Japanese sweets on hand

Kobe Illuminage is one of the biggest light-up events in Japan this winter, with at least 6 million sparkling lights. This year’s theme, “Starlight Dream,” sees light displays and even a play area along with plenty of instagrammable spots.

This year, a four-meter-high swing in the shape of a butterfly will be ready to fly sitters through the evening. The swing will be joined by attractions including a parade of rainbow animals, a brand new glowing inflatable play area and returning attractions like the 30 meter-long pink Love Tunnel.

One of Kyoto’s most iconic temples, Kiyomizu-dera, extends its evening hours for ten nights during peak autumn foliage season. Each year, the temple creates one of Japan's most memorable night-viewing experiences, comprising its famous storied pagoda and fiery fall leaves.

Thousands of vivid red maples frame its wooden stage, while a striking single blue beam of light stretches into the night sky from the temple, symbolizing the compassion of Kannon. Unsurprisingly perhaps, this event gets crowded, and entry is on a first-come-first-served basis, so get there early for optimal viewing time.