Where to Go in Japan in October 2026: 8 Autumn Gems
In October 2026, autumn reaches Japans highlands weeks before the Kyoto maples. Six hidden gems-the Northern Alps, Kiso post towns and old forests-at their best.
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420+ field-tested travel guides across every Japanese prefecture, by Nobu — written from places he has actually stood in.
Field Notes from Every Prefecture
Every place I’ve walked. In one feed.
420+ articles, written from the places I actually stood in. Filed by region, by season, by what the trip is really about.
Orizuru Kinosaki Onsen: Sushi & ¥8,800 Course in a Historic Hot Spring Town
I ate the ¥8,800 set course at Orizuru, a sushi restaurant in Kinosaki Onsen open since Showa 17. This draft covers the course contents, hours, reservation note, and location.
Takinoya: An Old-School Soba Shop in Mitaka, Tokyo
Takinoya, an old-school tatami-room soba shop in Shinkawa, Mitaka (west Tokyo): a 1,100 yen duck soba, closed Wednesdays, cash or QR only, and a genuine local feel off the tourist track.
Japan’s Hidden Gems: 44 Places a Local Actually Goes (2026)
A local's running guide to Japan's hidden gems: 44 off-the-beaten-path places organized by region - from a sunken forest in Akita to boat villages and castles in the clouds - each with a detailed guide.
Tabi-no-Eki Kawaguchiko Base: A Roadside Food Stop by Mt Fuji
Tabi-no-Eki Kawaguchiko Base, a roadside food market on Lake Kawaguchiko north shore near Mt Fuji: a share-sized 1 kg Fujizakura-pork sauce katsudon, the Asama Market of local produce, wine and strawberries - plus an honest note on its tourist pricing.
Asumiko Pond (Hasu-ike): Lotus & Hydrangea in Fujiyoshida
Asumiko Pond (Hasu-ike) in Fujiyoshida: a Mt-Fuji-worship lake with ~20,000 lotus (mid-July-August) and a 1,500-plant hydrangea slope (July). Seasons, access and a late-June photo walk.
Akita Kantō Festival 2026: Japan’s Lantern-Pole Spectacle
The Akita Kanto Festival (3-6 August 2026): around 280 bamboo poles strung with ~10,000 lanterns, balanced on palms and foreheads on Kanto Odori.
Tone River Grand Fireworks 2026: Sakai’s 30,000-Shell Show
The Tone River Grand Fireworks 2026 in Sakai, Ibaraki: about 30,000 shells on 19 September, four makers competing, free riverbank views and paid seats.
Imahana: A Shōwa-Era Set-Meal Diner in West Tokyo
Imahana, a Showa-era set-meal diner in Kita-Karasuyama, west Tokyo: a wall of hand-brushed menus, ginger pork, chicken katsu and omurice, cash only.
Nankintei Kunitachi: 24-Hour Jumbo Gyoza & Big Plates Near Tokyo
Nankintei's Kunitachi branch is a 24-hour roadside machi-chuka near Tokyo - hand-wrapped 550 yen jumbo gyoza, big fried rice and stamina stir-fries.
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