Things To Do in Nara - November Events
- NARA Visitor Center & Inn
- Oct 29
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
With November being the peak of Fall, we highlight five of the best places to view autumn leaves in Nara. But, there are so many other events that you can enjoy at the same time! Tenkawa Village has its Autumn Festival, and it’s an ideal spot for a couple of days away with scenic hikes and hot springs. Then, there’s the Takatori Castle Festival and roses at Ofusa Kannon Temple. For Autumn light-ups, head to Tanazan-jinjya Shrine, Murou-ji Temple, or the Soni Highlands pampas fields. In Nara City, there’s a huge pottery market, a coffee and tea appreciation festival, as well as the annual deer antler cutting ceremony. There is so much to do in Nara this November, so don’t miss out on this perfect time of year for getting out and about!
Best things to do in Nara in November 2025:
1. Best 5 Spots for Autumn Leaves in Nara
Visiting any of Nara’s historic gardens, shrines, or temples will almost certainly guarantee you a slice of Autumn splendor. To make the most of your day, we’ve selected five of the best autumn spots in Nara. Here’s a brief overview of them:
Chogosonshi-ji Temple on Shigi Mountain is a full day outing. Catch a bus from JR Oji Station or the Shigi Cable connection from Higashiosaka side.
Mount Yoshino, from mid-October to late-November, has everything from casual sightseeing to autumn hiking trails.
Tanzan-jinja Shrine is at its peak from mid- to end-November. There’s a daytime bus from Sakurai Station, but to enjoy the light-up, you’ll need your own transport or a taxi back.
Tenri City’s famous lanes of Gingko trees peak from the end of October into mid-November. During this time, part of the National Route 25, on the north side of Tenri City Hall, is turned into a pedestrian walkway.
Nara City’s best spots for autumn leaves include the Isuen Gardens, Ukimido Gazebo, the Mizuyachaya Tea House and Shyoraku-ji Temple.
2. Man’yo Garden Gagaku Performance
Date: Mon 03
Entry: Adults 700 yen, Children 300 yen
Time: 13:00
Location: Man’yo Botanic Garden, Kasuga-taisha Shrine precinct
Transport: 25-min-walk from Kintetsu Nara Station
The Man’yo Botanic Garden, part of the Kasuga Shrine complex, once again has a seasonal gagaku musical performance. Back-dropped by the beauty of the gardens, and some autumn foliage, you can enjoy traditional wind, string instruments and dance performances. These gagaku performances are a cultural heritage of Kasuga Shrine. Also, from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12, the nearby Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Museum has an Autumn Special Exhibition entitled ‘God's Treasure Chest’, which displays motifs from plants, animals, and insects.
3. Tenkawa Momiji Festival
Date: Sat 08, Sun 09
Entry: Free
Time: All day events
Location: Tenkawa Village
Transport: From Kintetsu Shimoichiguchi Station, take the bus bound for Dorogawaonsen and get off at Tenkawa-Kawaai.
On the first weekend of November, Tenkawa Village holds its annual Autumn festival known as the ‘Milky Way Maple Leaf Festival’. So far, scheduled activities include:
Stalls selling Tenkawa Village's unique products
Food stalls for all
Products from nearby Hirakata City
Performance by Wadaiko Ryuo (Japanese drum group)
Exhibition of Self-Defense Force equipment
Photo shoot stations
Exhibition of works by children of Tenkawa Village
Helicopter Sightseeing Flight
The week before, on Nov. 2 (Sun) from 10:30 is the Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine Autumn Grand Festival. Benzaiten is one of the seven gods of fortune associated with Tenkawa Village. A Noh performance offering will start from around 13:00. Apart from the festival, there are numerous autumn hiking trails to enjoy through the Mitaria Valley and hot springs in nearby Dorogawa Onsen. There’s a wide choice of accommodations in the Tenkawa area, include camping and glamping options.
4. Nara Coffee FES Cup of Brew
Date: Sat 08 and Sun 09
Entry: Free
Time: 10:00 to 18:00
Location: Nara JR Station
Transport: Take the JR Nara Station East Exit to the Old Building Station Square.
The Nara Coffee FES is a special event to share traditional tea and modern coffee culture of Nara. Visitors can enjoy the aroma and taste of various coffees and Yamato teas, and browse related products and crafts. Paired snacks will also be available. A key feature is Yamazoe Village black tea cultivation, which first won recognition back in 1958 for its quality and taste.
5. Tsunokiri - Deer Antler Cutting Ceremony
Date: Sat 08, Sun 09
Entry: 1 000 yen, Children 500 yen
Time: 11:45 to 15:00, last admission 14:30
Location: Nara City, Rokuen Deer Enclosure
Transport: 20-min walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station
In Autumn, Nara’s male deer start to get a little ‘heated’, and in order to minimize ‘incidents of aggression’, many of the friskier deer get their horns snipped. The rites and ceremonies of ‘tsunokiri’ go back some 350 years. This tradition also helps to prevent excessive damage to trees and other foliage. The event happens every year, but this year it falls into early November. When in Nara, always remember to observe correct deer etiquette.
6. The 37th Takatori Castle Festival
Date: Sun 23
Entry: Free
Time: 10:00 to 15:30
Location: Takatori Town
Transport: 10-min-walk from Tsubosakayama Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line.
Takatori is one of Nara’s most illustrious castle towns and a former feudal stronghold. You can explore the ruins of the castle on the town’s outskirts and catch displays of autumn leaves at the same time. Takatori is also home to Tsubosaka-dera Temple. Scooter rentals are available at nearby Asuka Station. Every year, the town celebrates its feudal past and historic achievements in Noh theater development, traditional healing techniques, as well as trade and commerce:
The event program is as follows:
Japanese drum performance
Matchlock gun demonstration
Nanjing bamboo blinds
Sword fighting demonstration
Historical parade entrance
You can browse various markets stalls with local and neighboring district produce, as well as crafts and other items. At the exhibition stall, you can dress-up in period style armor and costume.
7. Nara Noborioji Pottery Market
Date: Fri 28 to Sun 30
Entry: Free
Time: 10:00 to 17:00 (Sun 16:00)
Location: Noborioji Park, Nara City
Transport: 10-min-walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station and just behind Kofuku-ji Temple.
Billed as Kansai’s biggest pottery event, the Noborioji Pottery Market is back in action. Its aim is to recreate a lively market vibe that existed when numerous goods were traded from Nara to all over the country. You can view the many pottery styles of Japan, including Nara, and barter for the ones you love the most and want to take home.
8. Autumn Rose Garden at Ofusa Kannon Temple
Date: Oct 19 to Nov 30
Entry: 500 yen
Time: 07:00 to 17:00
Location: 6-22 Ousacho, Kashihara
Transport: A 10-min-walk from JR Unebi Station.
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 admission to the main hall is 500 yen. If you have more time on hand, you can relax in their traditional historic tea-rooms.
9. Autumn Light Up and Pampas Fields in Soni Village
Soni village, located in the northeastern part of Nara prefecture, famed for its beautiful mountains, hiking trails and fields of pampas grass that turn silver in November. In Soni highlands this year there will be lights in the fields again until Nov.24 lasting until 21:00 every evening.
The best way to get to Soni Village is by private transport, or you can arrange a sightseeing taxi. On Nov. 3, Soni Village will be holding its ‘Seasonal Market’ with displays of local goods and crafts. Parking is available at the Soni Village Fureai Hall.
10. Murou-ji Temple Light-up
Date: Weekends and holidays
Entry: 600 yen
Time: 17:00 to 20:00
Location: 78 Murou, Uda, Nara
Transport: Take the bus from Muroguchi-ono station
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, rhododendrons, and stunning autumn leaves. This autumn, there is a special light-up, but only on weekends and national holidays. The schedule for 2025 is 11/1 (Sat) to 11/3 (Mon/Holiday), 11/8 (Sat) to 11/9 (Sun), 11/15 (Sat) to 11/16 (Sun), 11/22 to 11/24 (Sat/Sun/Hol.), 11/29 (Sat), 11/30 (Sun) for a total of 11 days.
Registration for a ticket closes at 19:30. For the light-up, the bus departs at 17:00 and 18:05. Return times are 17:45, 18:30 and 20:00. If you want to enjoy a full-day of hiking before the light-up, there is information at the station on hiking routes to Murou-ji Temple. Any route takes about 6 hours.
What’s on in Nara! - Music and The Arts, November 2025
For November, there are numerous classical music events happening as well as the 33rd Nara Guitar Festival. Also, the Nara Bluenote has regular jazz nights throughout the month. For musical events, seating is usually 30 in before the start of the event and last entry for museums and galleries is 30 minutes before closing.
10/04-11/30: 2025 Autumn Special Exhibition - National Treasure Fujinoki Kofun, a rare display of funerary items from the unlooted Fujinoki Kofun burial mound, Kashihara Archaeological Institute Museum, 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays), 1000 yen.
10/25‒11/10: 77th Shosoin Exhibition, treasures of Emperor Shomu's beloved items, Nara National Museum, 8:00 to 18:00 or 20:00 wkds, 2000 yen.
11/03: Autumn Heijo-kyo Tempyo Procession and Todaiji Pilgrimage. This grand and solemn procession will make a pilgrimage to Todai-ji Temple.
11/02: Kitamachi Tea Theory Concert, Waschkau Koji Lawrence, an up-and-coming acclaimed violinist plays Bach, Corelli, Beethoven, Zimbalist, Rachmaninoff, and Bartók, Kitamachi Saron, 14:00 or 16:30, 3 000 or 400 yen, advanced bookings only.
11/02: The 12th Hoonko Concert, A selection of songs that evoke Buddhism and peace, Sorakusan Saikoji Temple, 17:00-18:30, Free entry.
9/14-12/12: Autumn Special Exhibition: God's Treasure Chest, designs woven from plants, animals, and insects, Kasuga Taisha National Treasure Museum, 10:00-17:00, 700 yen.
11/16: M’s Sound Factory, a brass band extravaganza, Yamatotakada Sanzaka Hall, 14:00 to 16:00, 800 yen reservation, 1000 yen at the door.
11/24: Yasunao Ishida Violin Recital, solo recital by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster, Yamatotakada Sanzaka Hall, 14:00 to 16:00, 4 000 yen
11/24: 33rd Nara Guitar Festival, Kids, teens, and adults perform classical, tango and pop, Naramachi Center Civic Hall, 13:00-16:30, Free entry.
11/30: Nara Freude Choir 41st Regular Concert, Japanese compositions and Requiem by J. Rutter, Kashihara Cultural Center, 13:30-15:30, 2 500 yen.
Best things to do in Nara in November 2025:
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Things To Do In Nara
Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn
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