November Events: Five Fun Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss!

November events in Japan are iconic and celebrated for centuries. This month is the height of the autumn season and when epic events occur throughout Japan. If you want to see Japan at its liveliest, a fun event is the place to be! 

From festivals where you can enjoy delicious food to experiencing the old-fashioned atmosphere, there are many things to see and do. Here are our top five festivals happening in Japan in November. 

Hakone Daimyo March 

This iconic march is a lively procession of historical figures, dancers, and musicians through the famous hot spring town. Every year on November 3, the streets of Yumoto in Hakone come alive with this iconic parade. The daimyo (feudal lord) himself is the main draw of the Hakone Daimyo March!

It’s a parade recreating a feudal Japanese sankin kotai (daimyo journey). This is one for history lovers or anyone who enjoys pomp and ceremony. There are 100 to 200 participants in period costumes dressed as samurai, geisha, workers, and princesses. 

There will also be marching bands, demonstrations of feudal activities, and dance performances to check out along the way. This event is one of Japan’s most exciting and spectacular autumn cultural festivals at the picturesque Yumoto Onsen.

Tokyo Ramen Festa

Get your taste buds ready; Tokyo’s largest ramen arrives on October 26^th and runs until November 5^th for 11 days. This food festival is still exactly what it says on the bowl — lots and lots of ramen. Tokyo Ramen Festa is the largest outdoor ramen event in Japan. If you’ve ever wondered about all the different styles from around Japan, this is your chance to try them out. 

The Tokyo Ramen Festa takes place annually to help drive up support for regional food culture. Through ramen, you’ll learn what’s great about many places in Japan—like tourism opportunities and traditional Japanese foods. Warm up with delicious ramen from across Japan as the weather gets colder!

This ramen festival has over a dozen booths serving Japanese noodles from different prefectures. Pick the many shoyu, tonkotsu, and shio bowls available. Ramen fans who don’t have the time to visit their favorites around Japan will want to take advantage of it. You’ll find every kind of noodle your heart desires at Tokyo Ramen Festa.

Looking to enjoy fun and tasty treats in November? Don’t miss out on what TokyoTreat has to offer you! TokyoTreat sends the best Japanese snacks, drinks, and sweets right from Japan to your door so you can enjoy the latest treats directly from Japan!

Tokyo Motor Show

The Tokyo Motor Show is one of the world’s premier auto shows from October 28^th to November 5^th. It is one of the most iconic Japanese car shows, taking place every two years. Previously held at Makuhari Messe, the show has since 2011 been held at Tokyo Big Sight on Odaiba.

This one-of-a-kind event is the perfect mix of show demonstrations and hands-on events. Visitors can see and enjoy some of the latest in vehicle engineering, passenger safety, and future technology. You can climb inside many vehicles and see models showing the latest and greatest technology! The show also offers hands-on experiences, including test drives of cars and motorcycles. 

Deutschland Festival 2023

A taste of German life in Tokyo, the Deutschland Festival has returned to Tokyo after a brief run in Yokohama! It is co-sponsored by the German Embassy, so you know it’s the real deal. This is probably the best of the German-themed festivals on the yearly calendar, with a more German feel to it than the typical Oktoberfest event. 

Plenty of fresh food stalls will have sausages, pretzels, traditional dishes galore, and wines and beers. Entertainment will come in live music from the open-air stage and workshops on traditional German crafts.

Shibuya Street Dance Week 

Love the art of dance? Then, the Shibuya Street Dance Week event is for you. Newer to the Yoyogi Park event scene, this yearly dance festival is already wildly popular. Enjoy fun dance performances, battles, contests for high school dance teams, and even dance workshops. 

Take a breather at the Chill Out Space, where you can relax with live musical performances and do yoga. It’s not just for spectators; everyone is welcome to participate, so bring your dancing shoes and your best moves.

There are a variety of events that take place in Japan in November, from iconic car events to cool dance festivals. You can enjoy gourmet food from food stalls, listen to music, and dance, which is unique to these festivals.

We hope you will enjoy the cool weather in November in Japan and take advantage of these iconic festivals. The locals will be happy to share their festivals with you! Are you planning to visit Japan in November? Do you have a favorite festival on our list? Let us know in the comments below!