The cold season has finally arrived in Japan. It was indeed a long tough summer for all of us. While waiting for the colors of the leaves to change, here are the anticipated activities this Autumn as we celebrate Aki Matsuri in Japan.

Gourmet Festival

From seasonal ingredients to popular food, beer gardens and outdoor barbecue, definitely one thing to look forward this autumn!

List of Beer Gardens here

Autumn Sweets

Visit Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo for the fancy “Marron Afternoon Tea” and enjoy two hours of not only sweets, but also scones and savouries in the lobby of “Le Jardin” and take advantage of the view of the garden. Booking can be made online .

Or you can try the Shine Muscat Afternoon Tea in Yokohama Bay Hotel Tokyu. Afternoon tea themed “Shine Muscat”, which boasts a refreshing aroma and outstanding sweetness due to its sugar content, will be available for a limited time. The menu includes a tart with sparkling wine mousse and shine muscat, bousses with cream and shine muscat, and verrine (glass dessert) with fruity aroma of elderflower jelly and yogurt cream. There are also plenty of light meals, such as the refreshing “Cold Sweet Potato Potage” and the cute-looking “Eggplant Meat Gratin.” You can check more details here.

Art and Music Events

Tokyo Midtown Design Touch 2023 – free art viewing in Tokyo Midtown close to Roppongi station

Shinjuku Town Festival – “Shinjuku Town Festival 2023” will be held in an event format for the first time in four years. Companies, local residents, shopping streets, government, etc. come together to spread the word about Shinjuku’s diverse charms.

Sports Event

Kanda Sports Festival – Approximately 30 ski resort booths will be set up on the sidewalks of Ogawa Plaza and Yasukuni Dori Sports Street. The latest ski resort information and early bird lift ticket sales will be held. Participating stores will also be holding appreciation sales during the campaign, and customers who spend more than 5,000 yen will be able to participate.

Fruit Picking

Kimura Vineyard – Grape picking, strawberry picking, and summer vegetable picking in Setagaya, Tokyo. Kimura Vineyard is a farm surrounded by nature along the Kokubunji Cliffs in Setagaya.

Hatsuseien – This is a tourist fruit farm that can be reached in about an hour from Tokyo. In addition to pear picking, you can also enjoy grape picking (reservations preferred on weekends and holidays). There is no time limit, and you can enjoy plenty of fresh, delicious fruit that has just been picked under the cool fruit tree trellis.

Tori no Ichi

Okunitama Shrine Tori no Ichi – This year’s Tori no Ichi will be held from November 11th (Saturday) to November 23rd (Thursday, public holiday) until Ninotori. The approach to the shrine is lined with stalls, and the energetic shouts of rake merchants echo through the shrine grounds, making it an event that signals the arrival of early winter.

Asakusa Tori no Ichi – Tori-no-ichi is a place to pray for good fortune in the coming year. The auspicious “rake amulet” will help you prosper in business, keep your family safe, increase your financial luck, and help you find a good match.

Halloween

Ningyocho Happy Halloween Rally – Approximately 1,000 children dress up in costumes and visit five stores in the shopping district, asking for sweets and toys.