This fall, Japan will experience its first major 5-day consecutive Silver Week holiday in 11 years, running from September 18th to the 23rd, 2026. Many are expected to use paid holidays on September 24th and 25th, extending to a full 9 days off.

Because of the extreme summer heat and peak August crowds, many travelers have opted to slide their vacation plans into September. According to travel agency HIS, domestic travel bookings for Silver Week alone have surged by 136.6% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, to beat inflation and dynamic pricing hikes, travelers are securing their plans much earlier, with a notable increase in reservations made as early as January through April. With this extended holiday, tourist destinations around Japan are expected to be incredibly lively!

The most popular autumn destinations for this year's September-November period were Okinawa in first place, Hokkaido in second place, and Nagasaki in third place (according to HIS data).

Many visitors to Okinawa are looking for marine activities and to enjoy the ocean; those to Hokkaido are looking to enjoy autumn foliage and hot springs; and those to Nagasaki are looking to enjoy Huis Ten Bosch.

This fall, try extending your trip to a sightseeing spot you have never visited before!

Located near Cape Bisezaki on the Motobu Peninsula in the northwestern part of Okinawa's main island, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium exhibits various creatures living in the Okinawan sea.

Although typhoons tend to hit Okinawa in September and October, visitors to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium can enjoy the aquarium even in bad weather without getting caught in the rain. Another reason for recommending the aquarium as an autumn destination is that there are fewer visitors than during the high season in July and August, so you can enjoy your visit in a more relaxed atmosphere.

The facility is built to recreate the marine world from the surface of the water to a depth of around 700 meters. Starting with Invitation to the Great Sea (4th floor), where you can see the aquarium from above, visitors can go on to Journey to a Coral Reef (3rd floor), where they can get up close to the creatures living around the coral reef, Journey to the Kuroshio (2nd floor), which represents the dynamic world of migrating fish, and lastly Journey into the Deep Sea (1st floor), where they can go down to the sea floor. Each floor leads visitors into the world of the deep sea.

A must-see is the Kuroshio Sea, a huge tank where you can observe the symbolic whale shark and the Nanyo Manta, the world's first successfully bred manta ray. Outside the museum, there is also the Okichan Theater, where you can enjoy a show by Okichan the dolphin and her friends, and the Sea Turtle Pool, where you can observe sea turtles below and above the water.

Ishigaki Island is located more than 410 km southwest of the main island of Okinawa. It is known for its beautiful emerald green sea and white sandy beaches. There are many places to visit, including Kabira Bay, Tamatorizaki Observatory, Ishigaki Island Stalactite Cave, and the Hirakubozaki Lighthouse. Still, many might opt to simply enjoy relaxing on the beach.

Each beach has unique points: Fusaki Beach is famous for its beautiful sunset, and Ishigaki Island Sunset Beach has incredibly clear waters. You can enjoy hopping around the island from beach to beach to find your favorite spot! Also, the Ishigaki Island Festival will be held from November 5-6, 2022, with parades, concerts, fireworks, and much more.

In the remote islands of Okinawa, there are still days that feel like mid-summer heat until mid-October, and you can enjoy the ocean without any problem. From November, the beaches on the island close, so if you want to play in the ocean, be sure to visit ahead of time.

Marine activities offered by tour companies, such as snorkeling, can be enjoyed all year round. Also, July to October is the best season for stargazing, thanks to the clear weather. Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, which includes Ishigaki Island, was recognized as the first protected Dark Sky area in Japan. You’ll love coming here in autumn, relaxing, and enjoying the stunning night sky.

Miyako Island, located between Okinawa Island and Ishigaki Island, is also recommended. There are beautiful beaches all over the island, including Yonaha Maehama Beach with 7 km of pure white sand - said to be the best beach in the East - and Nakanoshima Beach, surrounded by coral reefs where snorkeling and diving can be enjoyed.

There are also local beef brands such as Ishigaki beef on Ishigaki Island and Miyako beef on Miyako Island that are worth trying out.

Okinawa offers year-round tours to enjoy water activities such as sea walks, parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling, SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), and kayaking. Autumn is not as hot as summer and is rather comfortable, and there are fewer tourists than during the peak season, so you can enjoy yourself in a more relaxed atmosphere.

SUP is a recommended activity, as it is larger than a surfboard, and even beginners can master it with a bit of practice. You will love floating above the clear blue ocean.

Okinawa has many places with clear water and shallow depths, making snorkeling safe even for those who haven’t tried it before. Parasailing and flyboarding can also be enjoyed because it is still warm in Okinawa in autumn.

Jozankei Onsen is one of Hokkaido's leading hot spring resorts, accessible in about an hour by direct bus from Sapporo Station. Many people visit on a day trip from Sapporo.

The reason we recommend this as an autumn destination in Japan is for the magnificent fall colors. Jozankei is surrounded by mountains on all sides, so visitors can enjoy the foliage just by strolling through the hot spring resort.

The hot spring resort area is dotted with bridges overlooking forests and valleys, such as the red Futami Suspension Bridge, and the autumn leaves reflected in the water are a sight to behold. Red is not the only color of autumn in Jozankei, but you can also see various colors, including yellows and oranges. The leaves tend to begin to change color in October, and you can check our Japan foliage forecast here.

The Autumn Leaves Kappa Bus, a bus tour in which local volunteer guides take you to the autumn foliage spots around Jozankei. Buses are also available to the surrounding autumn foliage spots.

There are also a variety of ways to enjoy the autumn foliage, such as the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort's Autumn Leaves Gondola, from which visitors can enjoy the autumn foliage from above by taking a ride in the air.

Jozankei Nature Luminarie by NAKED is held every night from early July to late October around Futami Park and Futami Suspension Bridge. Visitors can enjoy gorgeous performances using illumination techniques and projection mapping. The area becomes one with the forest and water, creating a fantastic atmosphere.

Recommended ryokan inns nearby

Asahikawa Asahiyama Zoo, accessible in about 40 minutes by direct bus from Asahikawa Station, is a spacious 151,000 square meter zoo where 650 animals of around species live.

The zoo's most distinctive feature is its unique behavioral exhibits that showcase the animals in their natural habitat. Visitors are fascinated by unique exhibits such as the Penguin Pavilion, where penguins can be seen swimming energetically as if flying through the air from a tunnel-shaped passageway, and the Polar Bear Pavilion, where 300 kg polar bears dive into a huge pool and swim around actively.

Don't miss the Seal Pavilion, where seals play in a cylindrical tank, and Mogumogu Time, where keepers feed the animals and explain their unique behavior.

Asahikawa's autumn season deepens in late September, and the mornings and evenings can get chilly, so be sure to bring warm clothing. Nearby Asahiyama Park is at its best in early October when the autumn colors peak - be sure to visit after enjoying a trip to the zoo!

Around the moat, there is a 1.8-km long promenade allowing visitors to enjoy the fall colors while leisurely walking around. On the bank inside the moat across the second bridge, you can see the autumn leaves of azaleas that have been cut into circles.

Huis Ten Bosch is one of Japan's largest theme parks, meticulously recreating Dutch-style streetscapes and canals. It’s a spectacular destination in autumn, combining European architecture with vibrant fall flowers like cosmos and dahlias.

For the 2026 season, Huis Ten Bosch is hosting a massive Halloween event running from September 18 to November 3. The Haunted Halloween at the Palace features a brand-new "Death King" character and an immersive horror cruise on the ship Mariela. For families, this year marks the first-ever Miffy's Costume Parade, where Miffy and friends march through Amsterdam City dressed as witches, pirates, and wizards. As night falls, don't miss the revamped Shower of Lights spectacle, featuring live music, fountain displays, and projection mapping.

If you plan to visit later in the season, mark your calendar for November 14, 2026, when the park hosts the 13th Kyushu's Biggest Fireworks Festival, launching a staggering 22,000 fireworks—the largest display in western Japan.

If you are looking for spectacular autumn foliage and a relaxing soak, Unzen Onsen is the perfect destination. Located in Japan's first national park, Unzen is famous for its Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell), where high-temperature hot springs and steam erupt violently from the earth, creating a striking, otherworldly landscape.

The real highlight in autumn is the Nita Pass (Nitatoge). From late October to mid-November, the mountainside erupts into a sea of red and orange leaves. You can take the Unzen Ropeway for a 1,300-meter ride above sea level, making you feel as if you are swimming in a sea of autumn colors. To make access easy, a direct shuttle bus will operate daily from Unzen Onsen to the Nita Pass from November 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026. After enjoying the magnificent views of the changing leaves, head back down to soothe your tired muscles in the therapeutic waters of Unzen Onsen.

No autumn trip to Nagasaki is complete without experiencing the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival, among the city’s wildest and most famous events. Held annually from October 7 to 9, this 400-year-old festival at Suwa Shrine is a designated National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. It brilliantly showcases Nagasaki’s unique history as a gateway to the world, blending Japanese Shinto rituals with dynamic Chinese and Dutch influences. The highlight is the energetic performances (dashimono), particularly the famous Jaodori (dragon dance) and elaborate ship floats. Even if you don't have paid seats at the shrines, you can catch the niwasaki-mawari—free street performances where troupes dance in front of shops and homes throughout the city.

While in the city, take time to visit Glover Garden, an open-air museum preserving the former settlement of 19th-century foreign merchants. It's a fantastic spot for retro photos against the backdrop of Japan's oldest surviving Western-style wooden building. Also, be sure to stop by Dejima, the man-made island that served as Japan's only window to the West during the Edo period, and snap a picture at the historic Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge).