This guide highlights what to expect from the weather, must-see seasonal attractions, and our featured tours you can join and enjoy during your visit.
Weather in October
Tohoku in October brings about crisp, cool weather and bright sunny days. It's an ideal time for exploring the outdoors, especially with the vibrant autumn foliage hitting mostly every location at this point. Although certain areas of Tohoku tend to drop in temperature quite quickly in the autumn season, it's still important to remember to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen every day.
Daytime highs in Sendai usually range from about 15°C to 24°C (59°F - 75°F), with an average temperature around 20°C (68°F). Nighttime temperatures range from about 5°C to 17°C (41°F - 62°F). Overall the temperatures are cool with long stretches of sunny days.
In areas like Koriyama the average highs are 15°C to 24°C (59°F - 75°F) with the average daily temperature at 20°C (68°F). October is typically comfortable with nightly dips in temperature in Koriyama.
Aomori City can see temperatures from 13°C to 23°C (55°F to 73°F), making it slightly cooler than other areas of Tohoku. Average lows tend to be around 8°C (46°F). Aomori typically runs on the colder side once autumn hits, and can be quite breezy so be sure to pack layers. Rainy days are also to be expected.
Overall temperatures throughout all of Tohoku are on a steady decline, with nights getting drastically colder as we reach mid- to late- October. With the comfortable day time weather at your side, it's the perfect time to go out and adventure into the abundance of nature Tohoku has to offer. A key highlight is the beginning of some vibrant fall foliage across all six prefectures.
Seasonal Highlights in October
With the graces of cool autumn weather and turning leaves, October is a beautiful time to visit the Tohoku region. Here are a few fun seasonal highlights:
Naruko Onsen & Gorge
Located about one hour via shinkansen and local trains from Sendai Station, Naruko Onsen and Gorge area is a popular destination spot for many Japanese folks. Over the years, the destination is slowly gaining popularity with visitors from overseas thanks to the scenic hot springs and vibrant fall colors of the area. The area itself is broken into five separate onsen areas, but most travelers focus on the central area which is conveniently called Naruko Onsen.
For the trail blazers, there are lovely hiking routes in the area as well. We suggest the 1.3 km trek around Katanuma lake – which is quite flat, has boat rentals for those wishing to head toward the water, and even has local cuisine for you to try.
Naruko Gorge is located between Nakayamadaira Onsen and Naruko Onsen stations, being a significant walk from each location but good for those who are willing to make the trek. This location offers some gorgeous photogenic views of the changing leaves!
Autumn Foliage in Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Towada-Hachimantai National Park is one of 35 national parks in Japan that touches Aomori, Akita, and Iwate Prefectures. It's famous for relaxing onsen, gorgeous hiking trails, and exciting ski hills during winter months. The park is 85,534 hectares and is split into two zones: Towada-Hakkoda to the north, and Hachimantai to the south. A perfect way to get an up close look at some of the vibrant autumn foliage is to take a ride up the Hakkoda Ropeway! It operates all year round every 15 to 20 minutes with the first departure starting at 9:00. In October, the last departure is at 16:20.
Ouchi Juku
Ouchi Juku is a preserved post town south of the Fukushima Prefecture castle town of Aizuwakamatsu. Ouchi Juku was utilized during the Edo Period for travelers making their trek across the northeast. The town has now been preserved and restored to its original form to give visitors as authentic an experience as possible. With the gorgeous backdrop of the slowly changing autumn colors, Ouchi Juku is a perfect destination for history lovers and adventure seekers alike. Take a trip off the beaten path to this historic town and delve deep into the rich samurai history tied to it. Ouchi Juku is famous for hand-made soba noodles served with a sharp tasting leek used to eat the noodles instead of chopsticks.
AOMORI Sightseeing Apple Garden
October is a great time for fresh apples and what better place to get apples than the apple capital of Japan, Aomori? Located a 34 minute bus ride from JR Aomori Station, AOMORI Sightseeing Apple Garden is one of many apple orchards that offers you a chance to pick your own apples to take home and eat. Aomori produces roughly 60% of all of Japan's apples so if you're in the area, we highly recommend giving this a try!
AOMORI Sightseeing Apple Garden is open from 9:00 to 16:00 and has three different experiences available. For those looking to simply enter into the orchard and take photos, a simple 100 yen fee is applied. For those looking to get to pick their own apples there are two options:
- 2 apples for 350 yen
- 2 apples + fresh apple juice (180ml) for 500 yen
GPS Art: Ghost in Sendai
Those looking to put a little extra spooky whimsy into their October travels, GPS art is a fun way to do just that! This 15km course takes you through the heart of Sendai City. It passes by a series of sports halls, Rakuten Mobile Park, the Sendai City Museum of History & Folklore, as well as a few beautiful shrines. This course is perfect for those with an extra day to explore the city, runners, or bicyclists! Get into the spirit of Halloween with this GPS art course that draws a cute little ghost on your map once you're complete!
Lake Towada & Oirase Gorge
Located within the Hachimantai National Park, Oirase stream flows into Lake Towada and is a highly popular tourist spot. Rather than driving through the area, it’s recommended to take upon the trails off the side of the road and view the countless waterfalls and babbling brooks. The whole expanse is about 14 kilometers and can take upwards to 5 hours to walk or cycle through. This area is especially popular for poetry authors and artists, who take their time and even set up stations to sit and capture the natural scenery in all its glory. In the fall, the scenery becomes especially breathtaking! This area is also a wonderful place to experience forest bathing as you breathe in the fresh air provided by virgin beech, Japanese oak, maple, and white cedar trees.
Sannai Maruyama Site
This excavation site turned tourist destination is a great way for visitors to Tohoku to learn more about the prehistoric people of Japan. Excavation sites from all over Tohoku relating to the Jomon Period, including Sannai Maruyama, are all designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2021. This massive excavation site was home to a long term settlement during the early to middle Jomon period. Within it, historians have uncovered invaluable artifacts and information about how the Jomon people lived, ate, and worked. Since there is a massive outdoor village area with recreated dwellings and structures, it's best to visit in autumn when the weather isn't too hot. A bonus is the trees surrounding this historic site are also bright red and yellow!
Festivals and Events in October
With the autumn traffic picking up in popular destinations, October is a great time to head north in Japan to get an early glimpse at some of the changing leaves and avoid some of the crowds. October has some great events and festivals that you don't want to miss. Regardless of your destination, the Tohoku region has something for everyone.
World Yabusame Championship
- October 24th (SAT) - October 25th (SUN)
- 7:00 - 15:00
- Towada City Central Park
Yabusame is a traditional form of horse-mounted archery where the archer rides down a long pathway and shoots at targets. This type of archery dates back all the way to the Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333) and has been a sacred activity used to please and entertain a myriad of Japanese deities. The Yabusame Competition takes place every year in autumn. There's also an additional performance of yabusame in the spring underneath the cherry blossoms. It's quite the spectacle to see with the participants wearing traditional Japanese clothing to match their horse's decorations. All this underneath the gorgeous autumn foliage.
The venue for the weekend gets turned into a festival – food stalls, horseback riding experiences, photo contests, and limited edition yabusame goods all for your enjoyment! This event is international so participants are invited from all over the world. The program is set up so that archers and horseback riders are allowed to practice in the days prior (also available for spectating) before participating in the weekend competition.
Oni Kojuro Festival
- October 3rd (SAT)
- 10:00 - 15:00
- Shiroishi Castle Main Keep Plaza, Miyagi
Travel back in time to the days of samurai and warring clans in this reenactment event! Located on the grounds of Shiroshi Castle, "The Battle of Domyoji: The Decisive Battle Between the Katakura and Sanada Armies," performance recreates the exploits of Katakura Kojuro Shigenaga, the second lord of Shiroishi Castle, during his Summer Campaign of Osaka. The scenes include action, drama, and even comedy performed by locals recruited from the area.
Those visiting Sendai would find this to be the perfect day trip, as Shiroishi Station is easily accessible from Sendai Station via the Tohoku Line. Come spend a day witnessing the dramatic reenactment of the clash of Sendai's Date Clan and the Shiroishi Castle's warriors.
Michinoku Yosakoi Festival
- October 10th (SAT) - October 11th (SUN)
- 9:30 - 20:30
- 3 Stage venues: Kotodai Park, Nishikicho Park, & Aobayama Park
- Parade (Oct. 11th only): Jozen-Dori Street
The Michinoku Yosakoi Festival is a yosakoi dance event held every year in Sendai for the past 20+ years. It's a festival filled with excitement, music, dance, and energetic vibes. Yosakoi is a type of dance that originated in Japan that combines traditional elements of music and dance with modern day elements such as jazz, hip hop, and metal music. It's powerful, exciting, and utilizes the entire body. An iconic motif of the yosakoi dance are the noise clackers called naruko the dancers hold while dancing. Another key element is the designated flag bearer who waves an extremely large flag behind the performers as they dance and chant.
The Michinoku Yosakoi Festival consists of over 500 dance teams and 5,000 dancers from all across Japan, especially throughout the Tohoku region. Spectating the event is free but there is paid seating available at some of the venues.
Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum & Autumn Foliage Festival
- October 30th (FRI) - November 8th (SUN)
- Hirosaki Castle Park
- 9:00 - 20:00 (last entry 19:30)
Hirosaki Castle is historically known for the gorgeous spring cherry blossoms that fill out the park grounds, but did you know that the autumn months offer an equally impressive sight? The autumn foliage of the maple trees are a stark contrast to the vibrant castle structures and gates throughout the park. To make things better, in the evening the park has certain areas lit up magnificently, giving a magical feeling to the night time scenery. The cherry trees too have some bright autumn colors. There is also an installment of bamboo lights called CHIKAKEN. Bamboo materials are used to create artistic displays that offer unique shapes and silhouettes against the night time sky.
Kiritanpo Matsuri
- October 10th (SAT) - October 11th (SUN)
- 10:00 - 17:00
- Odate Jukai Dome, Odate City, Akita
One of the major foods from Akita Prefecture is kiritanpo – freshly cooked rice shaped into a cylinder around a wooden skewer and grilled until slightly golden brown. In the tucked away town of Odate. Many folks know about the famous Hachiko dog statue in Tokyo's Shibuya, but did you know that Odate is actually Hachiko's original home? This town is famous for breeding the Japanese Akita Inu and has its very own Hachiko statue just outside of the JR Odate Station.
This festival takes place inside the town's large sports dome. Plenty of kiritanpo vendors sell all sorts of rice dishes as well as other produce and foods to take home. There is live music, mascots, photo ops, and tons of fun things to enjoy!
Featured Tours in October
October is the perfect time to visit Japan, but especially the Tohoku region. With crowds bound to collect at more popular areas in Tokyo and Kyoto, why not head north to catch some of the vibrant autumn leaves, interesting festivals, and crisp autumn weather? Some of our highlight tours in the region are as follows:
Visit Two Spiritual Pilgrimages of Tohoku
Experience two spiritual behemoths, in size and importance, of the Tohoku region.
This tour will grant you a day of spiritual significance, historical interest, and natural beauty. Sendai’s Daikannon (White Robbed Colossus) Statue and Yamagata’s Yamadera Temple (Risshaku-ji) are some of the most breathtaking sights located in the Tohoku region of Japan. Both of these notably spiritual destinations boast grandiose height, ritual pilgrimage, and offer visitors a chance to connect with the prominent Buddhist history that has shaped much of what Japan is today.
Highlights:
- See a panoramic view of Sendai City and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean
- Witness 108 unique statues within the "womb" of Daikannon
- Taste Yamagata's celebrated delicacy ita soba or give yourself some energy with chikara konnyaku
- Climb the 1,015 stone steps of tranquil Risshaku-ji
- Partake in spiritual pilgrimages important to Japanese Buddhism
Discover Historic Temples at Hiraizumi's World Heritage Site
Explore the World Heritage Site of Hiraizumi with this scenic walking tour!
This tour offers you an in-depth look at significant Buddhist temples in the town of Hiraizumi in the Iwate Prefecture. Motsuji Temple and Chuson-ji Temple are two of the most famous religious sites in the town of Hiraizumi and offer some spectacular views. This tour will cover the cultural significance of the area as well as give you a deeper appreciation for the lengths Japan has gone through to preserve their long, rich history.
Highlights:
- Visit historic temples that feature Pure Land Buddhism
- Learn about the area's importance to the Tohoku region as a World Heritage Site
- Discover the walkable town of Hiraizumi and its local history
- Experience the quiet calm of Japan's less-traveled countryside
New Tour
1-Day Tour from Ichinoseki: Temple Highlights of World Heritage Site Hiraizumi
- Spots:
- Pick-up:
- Ichinoseki
- Drop-off:
Explore Nikko’s World Heritage and National Park
Get out of Tokyo and step back in time to Tochigi prefecture and explore the world famous heritage site and national park of Nikko! If you want to see some of Japan's most beautiful and culturally significant temples, shrines, traditional architecture and natural landmarks, then this tour is for you. With Nikko being two hours from Tokyo, it is the perfect day trip outside of the capital!
Highlights:
- Experience one of Japan’s most famous World Heritage sites and National Parks!
- See Nikko’s beautiful wood carvings of the famous ’Three Wise Monkeys’ and the ’Sleeping Cat’!
- See the resting place of Japan’s most famous Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu
- Walk through a gorge filled with ’Jizo’ statues and see a waterfall!
- Enjoy exploring a traditional and historic Imperial villa and garden!
New Tour
1-Day Tour from Ichinoseki: Temple Highlights of World Heritage Site Hiraizumi
- Spots:
- Pick-up:
- Ichinoseki
- Drop-off:
Curious about other Japan regional highlights in October? Check out our INFORMATION page for more details!
Tips for Visiting & Traveling in October
- Shinkansen: Travel to Tohoku is easy and convenient with the JR Pass or JR East Pass.
- Dress in layers: Tohoku can have comfortable days and cold, so be prepared for dramatic shifts in temperatures. Especially in the evenings when temperatures can drop.
- Take Advantage of Beautiful Fall Foliage: Especially mid to late October, many mountainous areas will have vibrant colors ready for that perfect snapshot!
- Beware of Bears: Those looking to go hiking, make sure you are informed about proper bear safety protocols in Tohoku.
Plan Your October Visit
With summer behind us and autumn taking its hold, October is a great time to head north and visit the abundance of nature waiting for you in Tohoku. There are countless ways to make the most out of your trip, especially travelers looking to trek the less-beaten paths. Take advantage of the more temperate climates and venture outdoors or walk through cities like Sendai or Aomori and take in the less-beaten paths of Tohoku.
October is a fun season to visit Japan with the plethora of festivals, concert events, vibrant outdoors life, and memorable adventures waiting for you.
Ready to discover Tohoku in October? Explore our seasonal tours and charters to experience the best Tohoku and other regions of Japan have to offer.
Tohoku Throughout the Year
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