Nara in November is all about Autumn leaves, especially around the middle of the month and into December. You can stroll the yellow Ginkgo Tunnel of Tenri, join the Tenkawa Autumn Festival, or view evening light-ups at Tanzan-jinja Shrine or Murou-ji Temple. We review the top 10 places to see autumn leaves in Nara. At the end of the month, Takatori Town showcases its exciting 36th annual Castle Festival. Don’t miss these events and find out where to enjoy the outdoors in Nara for the month of November.
Top Event in Nara this November:
Takatori Castle Festival
Takatori—Nara’s most famous castle town—will be hosting the 36th annual Takatori Castle Festival on Saturday, November 23. This is the best single event in Nara for November. Throughout the day there are a host of events, including a period costume period parade, antique market, town market, and a guns and armory exhibition.
You can view the festival PDF (only in Japanese) or browse the Takatori tourist website. However, the morning schedule starts at 10:00 featuring taiko drums, followed by a matchlock gun demonstration, bamboo screen performances, and a ninja show before midday.
From 12:00, you can enjoy ‘dream’ dancing, a sword fighting demonstration, modern Yosakoi dancing, other street performances, and the historic parade runs from 14:30 to 15:00. After the parade, there is a second ninja show and matchlock gun demonstration.
The key station serving Takatori Town is Tsubosakayama which is one stop from Asuka Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line. The actual castle ruins are about 6 km outside the town.
Date: Nov 23
Time: 10:00 to 15:30
Location: Takatori Town
Fee: None
Transportation: From Kintetsu Yamato-Saidaiji station, take the train bound for Kashiharajingumae and change to the Yoshino Line.
The Best 10 Spots for Autumn Leaves in Nara
Visiting any of Nara’s popular and historic temples will almost certainly guarantee you a slice of Autumn splendor. To make the most of your day, we’ve selected Nara’s top 10 foliage spots. Here’s a brief overview of them:
Chogaku-ji Temple in Tenri City is accessible by bus from the station.
Chogosonshi-ji Temple on Shigi Mountain is a full day outing. Catch a bus from Oji Station or the Shigi Cable connection from Higashiosaka side.
The Mitarai Gorge and Dorogawa Onsen are at their best from early to mid-November, accessible from Tenkawa Village.
Mount Odaigahara is for the real hiker in you, but you need to get out by mid-November at the latest.
Shoryaku-ji Temple, steeped in the history of Nara sake, has a special seasonal bus service from Nara Kintetsu and JR Stations.
Mount Yoshino, from mid-October to late-November, has everything from casual sightseeing to autumn hiking trails..
Hase-dera Temple, although most famous for its seasonal flowers, is also a great spot for autumn leaves.
Tanzan-jinja Shrine is at its peak from mid- to end-November. There’s a daytime bus, but to enjoy the light-up, you’ll need your own transport.
Takatori Castle Ruins is a great place to ramble around. It’s a bit out of the way, but you can get a rental scooter from Asuka Station.
Nara Park key spots are the Isuen Gardens, Ukimido Gazebo, Nigatsu-do Temple, and the Mizuyachaya Tea House.
Nara’s 3rd Tyrannosaurus Race
Perhaps something not to be missed, but there will be a very serious Tyrannosaurus fun run at the Nara Historic Heijo-kyo Park. Unfortunately, rental costumes are all sold out, but you can cheer the dinos on and evidence this prehistoric event nonetheless. There are a number of category races such as for small kids with (dino) T-shirts, a costume race, team relays, and the main Tyrannosaurus race is for young teens to adults.And if you happen to miss this one, then you'll have another chance on the 16th at Nara Prefecture Gokoku Shrine.
Date: Nov 9
Time: 11:00 to 16:30
Place: Suzakumon Square, Heijyo Palace Site
Fee: Free to watch
The Nara Autumn Heijo-kyo Tempyo Procession
The Tempyo procession is a costume recreation of the Nara period celebrating the Emperor Shomu and Empress Komyo. The parade consists of 120 applicants for the roles of guards, soldiers, gagaku musicians, male aristocrats and court ladies. The parade starts in front of JR Nara Station and proceeds along Sanjo-dori towards Kasuga-taisha Shrine, then to Ukigumo-enchi Garden, the Great South Gate of Todai-ji Temple, the Middle Gate of Todai-ji Temple, and finally the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple. You can view the parade anywhere along this route.
In Nara Park's Ukigumo Garden, visitors can immerse themselves in the ambiance of the Nara period through a selection of booths that recreate a bustling market typical of the Nara period. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to experience wearing Tempyo-era costumes, providing a tangible connection to this pivotal era in Japanese history.
Date: Nov 3
Time: 13:00
Location: Nara City
Fee: None
Tenkawa Autumn Festival
On the first weekend of November, Tenkawa Village is holding its annual Autumn Festival. There will be promotions of local and regional specialities, a children's art exhibition, taiko drumming, and you can catch a free shuttle bus at the entrance to Mitarai Valley. You can enjoy autumn hiking trails, relax at Dorogawa Onsen, or for the more adventurous there are helicopter sightseeing rides. The helicopter runs on a first-come, first-served basis and it’s 8,000 yen per person.
Date: Nov 9 to 10
Times: 10:00 to 16:00
Location: Tenkawa Village
Fee: None
Transportation: From Kintetsu Shimoichiguchi Station, take the bus bound for Dorogawaonsen and get off at Tenkawa-Kawaai bus stop.
Tanzan-jinja Shrine is Rocking this Fall
Tanzan-jinja Shrine is an architecturally unique and historic shrine situated in Sakurai City. The way there is by bus from the south exit of Sakurai Station, departing from Stand 1. There is only one bus per hour, but you can also get there by taxi in 15 minutes. The bus also stops by the scenic Shorin-ji Temple.
On Nov 3, around midday, you can enjoy the biannual Kemari Festival. Apart from a gathering of priests and shrine attendants in traditional dress, there will also be a display of a courtly football game.
From Saturday, Nov 16 to Sunday, Dec 1 you can enjoy the Tanzan Light-up from dusk until 20:00. The last bus, however, departs at 17:52, so you will need your own transport and taxis may be limited. The entry fee to the shrine is 600 yen.
Tenri Ginkgo Lane, Parade, and Light-up
Tenri City is famous for its abundance of Ginkgo trees. The bright yellow leaves of these trees are an early autumn treat, usually visible from the end of October into mid-November.
Hokotenri is an annual event where part of the National Route 25, on the north side of Tenri City Hall, is turned into a pedestrian walkway. This year, the event runs over the weekend of Nov 16 to 17. On each day there will be a short light-up from 18:00 to 19:45, and on Sunday 17th there is a street parade starting at 13:00.
Day: Nov 16 to 17
Time: 10:00 to 19:45
Location: Tenri city National Route 25
Fee: None
Transportation: 15-min-walk from JR Tenri Station
Autumn Rose Garden at Ofusa Kannon Temple
Ofusa Kannon is a regular staple for its attractive events. The Ofusa Rose Garden blooms twice a year and the autumn show, already in bloom, runs until the end of November. You can see the roses for free, but emission to the main hall is 300 yen. If you have more time on hand, you can relax in their traditional historic tea rooms.
Date: Oct 19 to Nov 30
Time: 07:00 to 17:00
Fee: 300 yen Main Hall
Transport: A 10-min-walk from JR Unebi Station.
Murou-ji Temple Light-up
Murou-ji Temple is on the eastern flank of Nara in the stunningly beautiful district of Uda. The temple was originally a place of worship specifically for women. It is famous for its unique pagoda, national treasures, and rhododendrons.
This autumn, there is a special light-up, but only on weekends and national holidays. For the light-up, the bus departs at 17:00 and 18:00. Return times are 17:45, 18:30 and 20:00. If you want to enjoy a full-day of hiking, there is information at the station on hiking routes to Murou-ji Temple. Any route takes about 6 hours.
Date: Weekends and national holidays from Nov 2 to Dec 1
Time: 17:00 to 20:00
Location: 78 Murou, Uda, Nara, 633-0421
Fee: 600 yen
Transport: Take the bus from Muroguchi-ono station
Autumn Hike along the Yagyu Kaido
If you want to enjoy a perfect autumn hike, why not travel the Takisaka no Michi, or the first half of the Yagyu Kaido ancient road. It runs through the heart of the Kasuga primeval forest and the end point is Enjo-ji Temple. There you can enjoy the autumn splendour of the lake below the entrance of the temple.
The hike (English map) takes between 4 to 5 hours, so you should leave early in the morning, at least 07:30, to reach Enjo-ji by lunchtime. There is a tearoom where you can enjoy light meals, and the bus back is at 12:05 or 13:35, otherwise you have to wait until buses at 16:07 or 17:45. Alternatively, you can take the 09:11 bus bound for Yagyu from Stand 16 at JR Nara or the same bus at 09:19 at Kintetsu Nara from Stand 4. Get off at Ninnikusen stop and walk from Enjo-ji back to Nara.
Man'yo Gagaku Performance
The Man'yo Botanic Gardens, part of the Kasuga Shrine complex, once again has a seasonal Gagaku musical performance. Back-dropped by the beauty of the gardens, you can enjoy traditional wind, string instrument and dance performances which are a cultural heritage of shrine.
Date: Nov 3
Time: 13:00
Location: Man'yo Botanic Gardens, Kasuga-taisha Shrine precinct
Fee: 500 yen
Meijisai Festival at Kasuga-taisha Shrine
Also on Nov 3, the Meijisai Festival at Kasuga-taisha Shrine will celebrate the life and achievements of the Meiji Emperor followed by a prayer for the prosperity of the nation. Afterward, there will be a performance of courtly music and dance.
Date: 3 Nov
Time: 10:00
Fee: 700 yen
Location: Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Nara City
Shosho-in Exhibition at Nara National Museum
The Nara National Museum is holding its annual exhibition of Shōsō-in Treasures. This special exhibition has been a feature since 1946, and this year will be the 76th such event. Artifacts are from the reign and period of the Shomu Emperor or the Tempyo Era or the early to mid-eighth century. If you are in Nara, don’t miss this rare opportunity. This year features selected furnishings, royal attire, Buddhist ornaments and ancient writings.
Date: Oct 26 to Nov 11
Time: 8:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:00)
Location: Nara National Museum
Fee: 2,000 yen
‘Nara for Culture’ Music Festivities in November
The Nara for Culture (Japanese) musical arts festival runs until the end of December 2024. Each month, you can choose from a range of delightful musical events. This month mostly features jazz and related genres at the Nara Blue Note Jazz Bar. You can use Google Translate to browse events.
Things To Do In Nara
Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn
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