A ramen competition at Okubo Park in Shinjuku, where 64 shops from across Japan take turns over eight phases and visitor votes pick the winner.
Tokyo · 10 Oct – 15 Nov 2026
Uzumasa Kyoto Village (Toei Kyoto Studio Park) fills with yokai every autumn: two evening parades, dance shows you can join, yokai greetings every day and limited yokai food.
Kyoto · 12 Sep – 29 Nov 2026
An exhibition celebrating the absurdist manga Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo through immersive zones themed around its protagonist's battle techniques and surreal world.
Tokyo · 30 Sep – 17 Oct 2026
Temple 81 of the Shikoku pilgrimage, on Mt Shiromine in Kagawa, where the exiled Emperor Sutoku was laid to rest after his death in 1164.
Sakaide
National holiday: Sports Day
Reference rates · 2026/10/09
Tokyo's street of professional cooking tools holds its 41st festival: a week of store deals, and on the last day the street closes to cars for parades and taiko.
6–12 Oct 2026TokyoA yearly kimono fair in Yurakucho, Tokyo, where weavers and dyers from across Japan show their work and short workshops teach the crafts behind it.
7–12 Oct 2026TokyoScreenings of the films of Kon Satoshi at two Tokyo cinemas in the month of his birth, with talks by the actors who voiced his characters.
9–12 Oct 2026TokyoAn October festival features a grand procession with a portable shrine led by samurai-clad participants, with local residents bowing in reverence along the streets.
15 Oct 2026Niimi · OkayamaA transformative mobility exhibition brings together automotive innovation, motorcycles, motorsports, and future transportation solutions.
13–16 Oct 2026ChibaEach October, Kumano Hayatama Taisha holds the Mifune Matsuri, two days of sacred processions culminating in a thrilling fast-boat race on the Kumano River.
15–16 Oct 2026Shingu · WakayamaTemple 81 of the Shikoku pilgrimage, on Mt Shiromine in Kagawa, where the exiled Emperor Sutoku was laid to rest after his death in 1164.
Sakaide · KagawaFuture Train on Kyoto's Umekoji viaduct is Japan's first restaurant on a disused railway, featuring a repurposed Limited Express Thunderbird train car.
KyotoThe royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Naha and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its main hall, the Seiden, burned in 2019 and reopens rebuilt on 2026/11/23.
Naha · OkinawaOfficial ONE PIECE flagship store opening December 2025, featuring 500 exclusive items themed to the manga and anime's iconic islands and locations.
TokyoOfficial JoJo's Bizarre Adventure destination in Tokyo with interactive games, the Stand Ability Research Institute, themed cafe, and exclusive collectibles.
TokyoMuseum featuring full-scale reconstructions of Edo period buildings including traditional merchant houses, samurai residences, and street scenes.
TokyoAlmost all JR trains nationwide, including most shinkansen
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Japan Game Awards 2026: "Pokemon Pokopia" takes the Grand Award, "Word Game" the Game Designers Award, and the Pokemon series a ministry honour for 30 years.
2026/09/15A million and a half people between Tokyo and Yokohama, and almost nobody stops. What is actually in Kawasaki, and why it is worth getting off the train for.
BLEACH Mirrors High just revealed three new Kubo-designed Soul Reapers and a full system trailer. Here's the story, cast, and battle system, explained.
The English guide to Kobito Zukan: what kobito are, the most popular characters from Nabata Toshitaka's field guides, and where to find kobito goods in Japan.
Pandorobo, The Bread Thief, in English: the story of Japan’s beloved bread-stealing character, the picture books, the anime, and Pandorobo merchandise.
2026 is anime's most stacked year ever. Your season-by-season guide to every major release, streaming options, and Japan-only perks.
