Visiting Hiroshima in October is great for travelers wanting to enjoy pleasant weather and avoid the peak autumn season crowds. It is also the time of the year when most breweries begin producing sake, and being home to one of Japan's "sake capitals," Saijo, Hiroshima is the perfect place to visit for a brewery tour or some sake tasting.
Below you will find everything you need to know about Hiroshima in October, such as the Saijo Sake Festival, the Miyajima Fireworks Festival, and general seasonal highlights. We have also included some tour suggestions to help plan your visit and make the best use of your time.
Weather in October
Weather in Hiroshima during October is typically described as mild, with temperatures throughout the day ranging from 12ºC to 24ºC (54ºF to 75ºF ) on average. It is important to note that the weather at the beginning of October greatly differs from the one at the end of the month. In the first couple of weeks, temperature highs of 27ºC (81ºF) are not unusual, but by the end of the month it is closer to 21ºC (70ºF).
If you plan to visit during this time, we recommend opting for short sleeves and a light jacket which you can shrug on or off as needed. Long sleeves are also a good option as long as the fabric is thin and breathable. We advise saving the sweaters and hoodies for later in the year.
Festivals & Events in October
Saijo Sake Festival
- October 11th-12th
- Saijo, Higashi-Hiroshima
As previously stated, in Hiroshima visitors can find the town of Saijo, which is considered one of Japan's "sake capitals." Here, breweries which are more than a century old produce high-quality sake using traditional brewing methods. While Saijo can be visited for sake tasting and brewery tours at any time throughout the year, a special event, the Saijo Sake Festival, is only celebrated in early October. This year, the festival took place on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th.
In this festival visitors can enjoy street food, music performances, local vendors, and of course, sake tasting. People of all ages are welcomed, but alcohol consumption reserved for those 20 years or older. The location of the festival is also easily accessible, as most food and drink stalls can be found less than a 5-10 minute walk from the JR Saijo Station (located 36 minutes away by train from JR Hiroshima Station).
While entry to the festival area is free, a special area, the "Sake Plaza" requires advance purchase tickets which can be bought online prior to the date of the festival. In the plaza, you will be able to do sake tasting and receive a limited edition sake cup. These tickets run out very quickly and are for specific time slots so we recommend purchasing them as soon as they become available on the official "Saijo Sake Matsuri" website.
Please note that due to its popularity, the festival can become quite crowded. The JR Saijo Station is also fairly small and not designed for such a high volume of visitors. While the event is typically well organized and additional staff is available at the station to help with the crowd size, expect packed trains and waiting lines during peak hours of the day.
Miyajima Fireworks Festival
- October 18th, 18:15-18:45
- Miyajima Island
Located in the western part of Hiroshima Prefecture, the island of Miyajima is one of Japan's top three scenic locations, and also home to the "floating" Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the past, Miyajima was also known for its yearly fireworks festival held in August over the waters off the island. Unfortunately, this tradition dating back to 1973 came to an end in 2019 due to safety concerns.
Thankfully, due to popular demand, the event made a comeback in 2025. On Saturday, October 18th, thousands of people gathered in Miyajima to watch the impressive 30-minutes fireworks show. It is still unclear if there will also be a festival in 2026, but we hope the success of this year's event means we will get to experience it next October as well.
Itsukushima Shrine Ceremony
- October 15th, Starting from 5:00 PM
- Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima Island
At the center of Itsukushima Shrine lies a stage used for Bugaku performances on special dates throughout the year. Bugaku is a type of traditional Japanese dance and music which is performed for certain religious ceremonies.
The last performance of the year in Itsukushima Shrine usually takes place mid-October, in which Kikka-sai (the "Chrysanthemum Ceremony") is celebrated with a vast repertoire of dances. Witnessing Bugaku is a unique and special experience so we definitely recommend timing your visit to the island with the Kikka-sai celebration. Watching the performance also requires no additional fees other than the usual JPY300 entry cost of Itsukushima Shrine.
Seasonal Highlights in October
Early Autumn Colors
While the iconic fall foliage of Japan is usually expected in Hiroshima around November, some locations can actually start changing colors as early as October. One such place is Sandankyo Gorge, one of the six gorges in Japan designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. It is one of Hiroshima's hidden gems known for its stunning waterfalls, lush greenery, and rivers which weave throughout the valley. If you have the time to head out of the city, we definitely recommend a 1-day visit to this magnificent gorge.
Flower Viewing
In October, flowers such as Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and Cosmos bloom throughout Hiroshima. These can be observed naturally around the city or in flower parks such as the Sera Kogen Farm and Kamu no Sato Flower Village. While these latter locations are typically difficult to access via public transportation from the city of Hiroshima, special bus services are usually implemented during the peak blooming seasons so that more visitors can enjoy the flowers.
Featured Tours in October
Half-Day Saijo Tour: Sake Tasting & Inside Brewery Tour in Hiroshima's "Sake Capital"
Given that it is the start of the brewing season, October is a perfect month to do a brewery tour and sake tasting in Saijo. Around this time, the breweries start buzzing with activity and you can observe the beginning of the sake making process. This half-day tour will allow you to learn about the history of Saijo, understand how sake is made, and sample many different types of sake.
Highlights:
- Tour the inside of one of Saijo's historic sake breweries
- Sample a wide variety of sake from multiple breweries
- Gain a thorough understanding of the sake making process
1-Day Miyajima Tour: One of Japan's Most Scenic Spots
October is a great month to visit Miyajima before the peak November crowds arrive. The weather on the island is fairly pleasant and some autumn colors begin to appear near the end of October. This tour combines a visit to shrines and temples on the island with a ropeway ride towards the summit of Mount Misen. As the days are also usually sunny, the views from the observatories at the top of the mountain are spectacular.
Highlights:
- Visit the iconic Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Observe the "floating" torii gate at both low and high tide
- Ride the Miyajima Ropeway and take in the stunning sights from inside the cable car
- Marvel at the view of the Seto Inland Sea from the top of Mt. Misen
Tips for Visiting & Travel in October
- Busy Season for School Trips - Most schools in Japan will start going on school trips in October, so expect large groups of children at major tourist attractions such as Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima. To avoid the large crowds, we recommend heading to these locations very early in the morning. The Peace Memorial Museum in particular can be difficult to navigate from 10:00 to 16:00 so we advise visiting outside those hours.
- What to Wear – Short sleeved tops are perfect for most of October in Hiroshima, though we recommend carrying a light jacket to wear in the evening and at night when temperatures tend to drop. Near the end of October, visitors might feel more comfortable with long sleeves and warmer outerwear
- Timing Your Visit – Weekends and festival days are very busy. If you prefer a quieter experience, consider visiting on weekdays and avoiding festivals
Where to Stay in October
There are multiple convenient locations to stay around in Hiroshima. Visiting in October will allow guests to book accommodations for reasonable prizes before room rates spike up during the busy autumn foliage season.
- Around Hiroshima Station – Most visitors will arrive to and leave from Hiroshima Prefecture via Hiroshima Station. Many tours, including ours, also have the station as their meeting point. Thus, this is an extremely convenient location with a great variety of hotels to choose from.
- Miyajima Ryokan & Inns – Staying on Miyajima will allow you to enjoy the island early in the morning and late at night when there are very few tourists around. Many of the accommodations are also ryokans with onsen, allowing for a more traditional and unique experience. Miyajima is an extremely popular location no matter the time of the year so we recommend making hotel reservations as far in advance as possible.
- Near Peace Memorial Park – Booking a hotel near Peace Memorial Park will not only place guests close to the city's most highlighted location, but also right in the city center. This area has an abundance of stores, restaurants, bars, karaoke facilities, etc. which makes it great for visitors looking to spend most of their time outside their accommodations.
For more guidance and thorough details, see our 30 Things to Do Around Hiroshima & Where to Stay page.
Plan Your October Visit
October might not be Hiroshima's busiest season, but it is still definitely important to plan ahead. Purchasing tickets in advance, figuring out festival dates, and booking hotels early in the year will make your visit much more relaxing and enjoyable. For visitors looking to decrease the amount of planning necessary, consider joining a guided tour in which your itinerary, transportation, ticket purchases, etc. are all taken care of by the guides.
Ready to discover Hiroshima in October? Take a look through our other tours offered in Hiroshima and its surrounding area to discover the wide range of locations and experiences you can enjoy when visiting Hiroshima.
