Things To Do In Nara - September 2025 Events
- NARA Visitor Center & Inn
- Aug 2
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 26
Key events and things to do in Nara for September mostly center around the Fall Equinox, which in Japan is a public holiday known as ‘shubun-no-hi’. Most of these equinox celebrations are cozy community light-ups. Throughout September, you can catch ongoing events like the Voyage Around the World special exhibition and wind chimes at Ofusa Kannon Temple. For foodies, the Yamato Tea Fair highlights matcha specialties and various Nara beer gardens run to around mid-month.
Best things to do in Nara in September 2025:
Kashihara-jingu Shrine Light Up (09/09)
Yamato Tea Fair (ends 09/30)
1. Voyage Around the World Exhibition
Date: Ends Sat 23
Entry: 1,800 yen
Time: 9:30 to 17:00
Location: Nara National Museum, East Wing
Transport: 15-min-walk from Kintetsu-Nara Station
Since late July, rare global artifacts have been on show to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the Nara National Museum and the 100th anniversary of Tenri University. If you haven’t seen this special exhibition, Voyage Around the World, you still have until Sept. 23 to catch the boat.
The exhibition is a curation of objects celebrating human achievement in art, ritual, and daily life spanning some 6,000years. There are three unfolding themes to the exhibition entitled ‘Crossroads of Civilizations’, ‘World of Gods and Mystical Wonders’, and ‘Reminiscence of the 20th Century’. Many objects are unique to the Tenri University Sankokan Museum collection of 300,000 artifacts, with several works being unveiled to the public for the first time.
The exhibition is closed on September 01, 08, and 16.
2. Kashihara-jingu Shrine Kentousai Light Up
Date: Tue. 9
Entry: None
Time: 17:00
Location: Unebicho, Kashihara City
Transport: Train from Yamato-Saidaiji Station to Kashiharajingu Mae Station
During September, the grounds of Kashihara-jingu Shrine are lit up with over 1,000 lanterns. The event is a prayer for prosperity and success, especially for those who have supported the temple with various lantern donations. Kashihara City was the ancient imperial capital of Japan before the capital moved to present day Nara City.
3. Ryuto-e Yamanobe Light-up
Date: Sat 13, Sun 14
Entry: None
Time: 17:00 to 21:00
Location: Yanagaimoto, Tenri City
Transport: JR Nara train to Yanagimoto Station.
If you want to catch an autumn light-up early in the month, the place to be is the Ryuto-e. This illumination is held in Yanagimoto around the Kurozuka Tumulus mound. In previous years, highlights have been a parade from the station to the ‘kofun’ or ancient burial mound, a Noh performance, and traditional Gagaku music. Yanagimoto Station is just two stops down from JR Tenri Station, so you can easily combine this with a day of sightseeing in Tenri City.
Yanagimoto Station also runs along the Yamanobe Michi, one of Japan’s oldest walking roads. The trail starts from Isonokami-jingu Shrine—a 30-min-walk from Tenri Station—with trail signs showing the way from inside the shrine precinct. From Chogaku-ji Temple, a rough halfway point, it’s a 20-min-walk to Kurozuka Tumulus and you can visit the Tenri Trail Center and the Kurozuka Tumulus Museum along the way.
4. Jushichi-ya Bon Odori at Nigatsu-do
Date: Wed. 17
Entry: Free
Time: 18:00–21:00 (ritual from 18:00, Bon Odori from 18:30)
Location: Nigatsu-do, Todai-ji Temple, Nara City
Transport: 15-min walk from the Daibutsuden/Kasuga Taisha bus stop (5 min bus ride from Kintetsu-Nara Station, or 10 min bus ride from JR Nara Station).
Every year on September 17, Todai-ji Temple’s Nigatsu-do Hall hosts the Jushichi-ya ritual, a long-standing Buddhist observance connected to Kannon on the 17th day of the month. The main hall and approach are lit with hundreds of lanterns, creating an atmosphere quite different from the temple’s famous Omizutori in spring. After the evening service, the temple forecourt comes alive with the Jushichi-ya Bon Odori, said to be Nara’s final Bon dance of the year and often called the “last dance of Kansai.” Locals and visitors join in freely, with traditional Kawachi-ondo and Goshu-ondo songs providing the rhythm. From yukata-clad dancers to casual passersby, everyone is welcome to step in and enjoy the circle dance.
5. Ikoma Fall Equinox Festival
Date: Tue. 23
Entry: Free
Time: Around noon till 21:00 *Light up starts at 18:00
Location: Hozan-ji Temple
Transport: Cable way from Ikoma Station, one stop.
On the night of the Fall Equinox or ‘higan’, there is a lantern festival which illuminates the stone stairway from Hozan-ji cable station to Hozan-ji Temple. The lanterns are colored and decorated with many themes, some of them done by local school children or community members. Inside the temple grounds, you can enjoy musical and other events. There will also be food stalls near the upper car park and at open venues along the stairway. Hozan-ji Temple is in Ikoma City about a 20-min express train ride from Kintetsu-Nara Station.
6. Asuka Scarecrow Festival
Date: Sat. 27th and Sun.28th (*display of scarecrow from Sun.7th till early November)
Entry: None
Time: Full day event
Location: Inabuchi rice terrace in Asuka Village
Transport: Train from Yamato-Saidaji Station
If you want to get out and about during the day, Asuka Village has blooming clusters of Amaryllis or spider lilies! You can view these lovely red flowers set against the golden hue of rice paddies at their best from mid to late September. The annual Scarecrow Festival will happen on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th. There will be local foods on sale, a farmers’ market, and a scarecrow contest among other events. The area to go to is Asuka Inabuchi, Historical National Government Park, and Ishibutai Tumulus. You will find “Scarecrow Road” in the Inabuchi area where there will be a scarecrow competition.
7. Nara Promenade Light UP
Date: Until Tues 23
Entry: None
Time: 18:00 to 22:00
Location: Various historic bldgs.
Transport: By train and on foot
If you missed the major light ups last month such as the Nara Tokae, Manto-kuyo-e, or Chugen Mantoro, you can still see some of Nara’s key heritage buildings lit up into the night. The event started in July and runs through until after the Fall Equinox on September 23.
Locations include: Kasuga-taisha Shrine, Todai-ji Temple, Nara National Museum, Ukimido on Sagi-ike Pond, Sarusawa Pond, Buddhist Art Research Center, Heijo Palace Site (Daigokuden Hall and Suzaku Gate), and Yakushi-ji Temple (East and West Pagoda).
8. Ofusa Kannon Wind Chimes
Date: Until end Sept.
Entry: 500 yen
Time: 7:00 to 16:30
Location: 6-22 Ousa-cho, Kashihara City
Transport: Bus from Kintetsu Yamato-Yagi Station to Kobosu and walk 5-min, or from JR Unebi Station it’s a 10-min-walk.
The Ofusa-Kannon Temple wind chime display has been running since July and lasts until the end of September. Here, you can enjoy the cooler breeze of September to the sounds of wind chimes from around Japan. The temple also has a beautiful garden and a historic tea house where you can relax and enjoy green tea and snacks.
9. Yamato Tea Fair
If you’re a fan of all things matcha flavored, then September is your last chance to enjoy select desserts and drinks made from signature Yamato green tea. The Cha-Cha-Cha Yamato Cha festival is run in conjunction with Nara City Tourism and features matcha specials from a number of select cafés and other venues.
You can enjoy treats such as matcha shaved ice, matcha espresso latte, soft cream, cakes sets, and much more. Here is a full listing of participating stores, items available, and a Google map is included.
10. Nara Beer Gardens and Terraces open in September
Outdoor rooftop and terraced beer gardens, typically, found on department store rooftops, or on the roof terraces of large hotels, are a popular summer event. Most beer gardens run into mid-September, and a few in October. You can enjoy various ‘nomi-hodai’ and ‘tabe-hodai’ plans, meaning all you can eat and drink. Check beforehand on waiting times or if you need a reservation. Here are the best beer gardens in Nara still open in September:
Goodspoon Takanohara Terrace Beer Garden 2025 is three minutes from Takanohara Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. The beer garden runs until October 31, and you can choose between a beer garden plan or a BBQ plan on the open terrace. Set prices range from 1,500 yen to 5,000 yen, online reservation.
Nikko Nara Panoramic Rooftop on the rooftop area of Hotel Nikko Nara directly connected to the west exit of JR Nara Station. The garden runs until September 15. Adult price is 5,500 yen, children at a discount, online reservation.
Nara Hotel Beer Terrace is on the garden terrace of Nara’s most historic hotel, with views of Nara's three famous mountains of Yamato and the sunset over Mt. Ikoma. The garden runs until September 15. Two plates of food and 90 min. of all-you-can-drink at 7,000 yen, online reservation.
Kintetsu Department Store Kashihara Rooftop BBQ Beer Garden is a 5-min-walk from Yamato-Yagi Station and runs until the end of October. It has panoramic views of the Yamato Sanzan mountains. Set prices of 4,400 yen or 5,500 yen.
Kashihara Shrine Youseiden Cafe Beer Hall is held in the wedding hall of the Kashihara-jingu Shrine — a glass-walled space (with aircon) surrounded by the greenery of the vast shrine forest. Prices from 1,000 yen to 6,000 yen, 90 min, or 120 min
.The event runs until September 12.
What’s on in Nara! - Music and The Arts, September 2025
September is the last month to see the Samurai outfits expo at the Kasugataisha Museum and the World Exploration Journey at the Nara National Museum. For musical events and exhibitions, seating is usually 30 in before the start of the event or 30 minutes before the closing time of the museum or gallery.
07/05‒09/07: Japanese Gorgeous Armors, exhibition of Samurai outfits, Kasugataisha Museum, 10:00-17:00, 1,500 yen
07/19‒10/19: The Four Seasons of Nara, Irie Taikichi self-selected collection of best photographs, Irie Taikichi Memorial Museum of Photography, 9:30-17:00, 500 yen
07/26‒09/23: World Exploration Journey, commemorative exhibition of rare cultural global artifacts from Tenri University Reference Museum, Nara National Museum, 9:30-17:00, 1,800 yen.
08/09‒10/19: Atsushi Uemura Memorial Exhibition: The World of Birds, second of two memorial exhibitions showcasing the career of a master painter, Shouhaku Art Museum, 10:00-17:00, 820 yen.
09/20: Yuki Saito Salon Concert, world renowned guitarist inclusive of lunch or dinner, Le Bois French Restaurant Noborioji Hotel, lunch course 7,000 yen or dinner course 21,000 yen, reservation needed.
09/21: Nobuya Sugawa SAX Festival, world-renowned saxophonist Nobuya Sugawa and pianist Masanori, Yamatotakada Sazanka Large Hall, 15:00 to 17:00, 1,500 yen.
Things To Do In Nara
Author: NARA Visitor Center & Inn
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