What to Do in Osaka & Kyoto in October: Events, Festivals, Halloween Fun & More

Events at Theme Parks & Popular Hotspots

Monster Hunter: The Field at Nijigen no Mori (Awaji, Hyogo)

©CAPCOM

Nijigen no Mori, a unique theme park in Hyogo’s Awaji Island Park, blends anime, technology, and nature. Currently, it features a limited-time collaboration with the action-packed hunting game Monster Hunter in its special attraction, Monster Hunter: The Field.

Participants take on the role of rookie hunters at the “Awaji Gathering Hub” and embark on training quests to become seasoned hunters. The quest consists of two parts: “Field Exploration” and “Large Monster Hunt.” Equipped with weapon controllers and tracking devices, players face off against the fearsome Rathalos. Using full-body movement to control weapons and dodge attacks makes for an exhilarating experience. Exclusive collaboration merchandise and themed food inspired by the game are also available.

Tickets are required, and prices vary depending on the “hunt” and the season. Please check the official website for details.

Event Details
・Venue: Nijigen no Mori
・Dates: July 27, 2024 – January 31, 2025
・Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM (subject to seasonal changes)
・Price: 1 Hunt (single ticket) – Adults (junior high and up) 2,900–3,900 yen, Children (elementary and younger) 1,800–2,100 yen (Prices vary by hunt and season. Children in elementary school and younger must be accompanied by a ticket-holding guardian (junior high and older)).

Hahaha! Halloween Party (Konohana, Osaka)

Universal Studios Japan’s highly anticipated Halloween event returns this fall! During the day, enjoy the lively “Hahaha! Halloween Party,” while the night transforms into the spooky “Halloween Horror Night.”

The highlight of “Hahaha! Halloween Party” is the Pokémon Jumpin’ Halloween Party. DJ Pikachu, DJ Gengar, and other ghost-type Pokémon like Mimikyu join the fun, singing, dancing, and creating an energetic atmosphere! The event features interactive performances set to remixed Pokémon music, including tracks by DECO*27.

Other daytime Halloween programs include five special events, such as the My Melody & Kuromi Happy Halloween Greeting, where these characters appear in exclusive Halloween costumes for USJ.

For kids in elementary school or younger, there’s a “Trick-or-Treat” activity from 10 AM to 5 PM. Children who say “Trick-or-Treat!” to crew members wearing specific pouches will receive candy!

Event Details
・Venue: Universal Studios Japan
・Dates: September 5 – November 4, 2024
・Hours: Vary by event
・Price: Free to participate, but a USJ admission ticket is required (prices vary by date). Special viewing area tickets: 1,900–2,100 yen (same price for adults, children, and seniors; varies by date).

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling.
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2024 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© NintendoTM and © 2024 Sesame Workshop
© 2024 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
© 2024 SANRIO CO., LTD.　APPROVAL NO. EJ4062103TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
©2024 Pokémon. ©1995-2024 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
©CAPCOM
©藤本タツキ／集英社・ＭＡＰＰＡ
©2024 Universal Music LLC
TM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Halloween Horror Night (Konohana, Osaka)

After enjoying the daytime fun of “Hahaha! Halloween Party,” Universal Studios Japan transforms into a chilling Halloween experience at night, filled with spine-tingling thrills.

One of the main attractions, Street Zombies, pits you against hordes of zombies alongside the Blue Rose Squad, led by Captain Ado, who possesses the power to break curses through song. Guests can experience the terror as waves of zombies charge at them, shrieking and attacking in a horrifying spectacle. Other events include Zombie de Dance, where you dance with zombies to powerful beats, and Resident Evil™: Night of Heroes, an outdoor horror attraction born from the collaboration with Resident Evil. In total, there are 10 thrilling events to enjoy at night, but due to the intensity, younger children, especially those in elementary school and younger, are advised not to participate.

Event Details
・Venue: Universal Studios Japan
・Dates: September 6 – November 4, 2024
・Hours: Vary by event (posted on the official website about one week prior to your visit)
・Price: Free to participate, but a USJ admission ticket is required (prices vary by date). Special viewing area tickets may be available for certain events. Participation is not recommended for preschoolers, and elementary school-aged children need parental consent.

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling.
Minions and all related elements and indicia TM & © 2024 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.
© NintendoTM and © 2024 Sesame Workshop
© 2024 Peanuts Worldwide LLC
© 2024 SANRIO CO., LTD.　APPROVAL NO. EJ4062103TM & © Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
©2024 Pokémon. ©1995-2024 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.
©CAPCOM
©藤本タツキ／集英社・ＭＡＰＰＡ
©2024 Universal Music LLCTM & © Universal Studios. All rights reserved.

Escape from the Night Pirate Amusement Park (Hirakata, Osaka)

The popular real-life escape game series “Night Amusement Park Series,” which has attracted over 300,000 participants, is returning with its latest installment at Hirakata Park in Osaka this October. The park will be entirely reserved for participants, who must solve puzzles and crack codes hidden throughout the park to escape within the time limit.

Before the event begins, participants receive important instructions and tips for a successful escape. Throughout the park, from attractions to hidden corridors, players hunt for clues, using their wits to solve the puzzles. After the time limit, the host will provide a detailed explanation of the mysteries, followed by an ending video that wraps up the story. In addition to the night event, there’s a Day Course: Escape from the Pirate Amusement Park with 100 Treasures, allowing guests to start whenever they like and enjoy the park’s attractions while participating.

Event Details
・Venue: Hirakata Park
・Dates: September 13 – October 14, 2024
・Times:
– Night Performance: Doors open at 5:45 PM, final entry at 6:15 PM, show starts at 6:30 PM, ends around 8:45 PM
– Day Course: Anytime from park opening to closing, final entry at 3 PM

・Prices (same-day tickets):
– Full-Day Ticket (includes entry): 6,800 yen
– Night Performance Ticket (with entry): 4,300 yen / without entry: 4,000 yen
– Day Course Ticket: 3,300 yen (entry not included)

*Full-day tickets allow park entry before the night event (attraction fees not included). Same-day tickets are available until each event’s final entry time. Tickets without park entry still grant access starting from the event’s opening time.

teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka (Higashisumiyoshi, Osaka)

teamLab, known for its cutting-edge digital art, presents the teamLab Botanical Garden Osaka at Nagai Botanical Garden. This nighttime outdoor museum features interactive art installations that change with the seasons, integrating the plants and wildlife of the garden. From August 29, 2024, the new exhibit Walk, Walk, Walk – Secondary Forest has been added, featuring anonymous figures walking endlessly along the trees. The garden can be dark with uneven terrain, so it’s recommended to wear comfortable shoes like sneakers. To avoid mosquito bites, bring insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants.

Event Details
Venue: Nagai Botanical Garden
Dates & Times: September 19–22: 8:30 PM – 10 PM; September 23 – October 23: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM; October 24–27: 8:30 PM – 10 PM; October 29–31: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM (Final entry at 8:30 PM, 9 PM on specific dates.)
Closed: September 9, 24; October 7, 28; November 1, 25
Price: 2,000–2,200 yen (varies by date) Same-day tickets are sold onsite but may sell out. Prices may vary.

Traditional Festivals

Hasedera Autumn Leaves Festival & Special Fall Viewing (Sakurai, Nara)

(Photo: Hase-dera)

Located a short walk from Kintetsu Hasedera Station in Nara, Hasedera hosts its annual Hasedera Autumn Leaves Festival & Special Fall Viewing starting in early October.

Set within the expansive mountains, Hasedera showcases a variety of trees like maples, gingko, dogwood, and zelkova. During the peak of autumn, visitors can enjoy the stunning reds and yellows of the leaves at the Hasedera Autumn Leaves Festival. Additionally, the Special Fall Viewing offers a rare opportunity to enter the National Treasure main hall, where visitors can touch the feet of the Kannon statue in prayer, an experience normally reserved for temple staff.

Event Details
・Venue: Hasedera Temple
・Dates: Autumn Leaves: October 5 – December 8, 2024; Special Fall Viewing: October 5 – December 8, 2024
・Hours: General Admission: 9 AM – 5 PM (until 4:30 PM in December); Special Fall Viewing: 9:30 AM – 4 PM
・Price: General admission 500 yen, Special Fall Viewing 1,000 yen

Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (Kishiwada, Osaka)

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is a traditional event held in Kishiwada City, located in southwestern Osaka. With a history of over 300 years, the festival began in the mid-Edo period to pray for a bountiful harvest of the five grains.

A “danjiri” is a type of float used in festivals, particularly in western Japan. Kishiwada’s festival features 22 unique danjiri, each intricately designed with impressive decorations and carvings. The largest floats can weigh up to 4 tons. During the day, participants pull the danjiri through the streets with energetic shouts of “Sorya!” as they parade through shopping areas and shrines. At night, the floats are illuminated with lanterns and move more slowly.

The main attraction is the intense “danjiri pulling” during the day, where hundreds of people pull the massive floats with two ropes. The highlight is the “Yarimawashi,” where the floats take sharp turns at intersections at high speeds. Paid viewing seats are available, offering a close-up view of this thrilling moment.

Event Details
・Venue: Various locations in Kishiwada, Osaka
・Dates: Trial Run: October 6, 2024; Yoimiya: October 12, 2024; Honmiya: October 13, 2024
・Hours: Trial Run: October 6, 2024, 1 PM – 5 PM; Yoimiya: October 12, 2024, 6 PM – 10 PM; Honmiya: October 13, 2024, 7 PM – 10 PM (times vary by district)

Kurama Fire Festival (Sakyo, Kyoto)

The Kurama Fire Festival is a traditional event held every year on October 22 at Yuki-Jinja Shrine in Kurama, Kyoto.

Yuki Shrine is just a few minutes’ walk from Kurama Station on the Eizan Electric Railway. Nestled in the mystical Mt. Kurama, known for its tengu legends and lush greenery, this festival is one of Kyoto’s three most unusual festivals. Children and young men parade through the streets carrying torches, scattering sparks as they go. The large torches carried by the young men reach up to 5 meters in height. The sight of these blazing torches moving through the night, accompanied by chants of “Sairei, Sairyo,” is a truly powerful experience.

Event Details
・Venue: Yuki-Jinja Shrine vicinity (Kurama Honmachi)
・Date: October 22, 2024
・Hours: 6 PM – around midnight

Jidai Matsuri (Sakyo, Kyoto)

The Jidai Matsuri is a vibrant festival that highlights Kyoto’s autumn. Held every year on October 22, the anniversary of the Heian capital’s establishment, it celebrates the founding of Heian Shrine.

First held in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the Heian capital, the festival’s main attraction is a grand procession featuring around 2,000 participants parading over 2 kilometers. The historical pageant represents eight periods of Japanese history, from the Meiji Restoration to the Enryaku period, with 20 different processions. The Heian era procession even includes Kyoto’s traditional geiko, adding elegance to the event.

The procession departs from Kyoto Imperial Palace’s Kenreimon Gate and travels to Heian Shrine. The participants, dressed in authentic period costumes and carrying historical artifacts, recreate Japan’s history with precision. Over 12,000 pieces of clothing, tools, and ceremonial items are used, making this event a living tapestry of the nation’s past.

Event Details
・Venue: Heian Shrine
・Date: October 22, 2024
・Hours: Jidai Matsuri 7 AM; Shinkosai 8 AM; Gyozaisho-sai 10:30 AM; Procession begins at 12 PM

Seasonal Flower Events

Toyono Cosmos-no-Sato (Toyono, Osaka)

Toyono Cosmos-no-Sato (Image: PIXTA)

Toyono Cosmos-no-Sato opens exclusively during the cosmos blooming season, where around 1 million cosmos flowers cover the 1-hectare park. Visitors can explore freely along walking paths surrounded by these vibrant flowers, some reaching adult height. The park also offers benches for rest and light snacks, with food vendors on-site.

The cosmos are typically in full bloom from late September to early October. Access is available via the Hankyu Bus To-Nose Line (Route 126) from Hankyu Ikeda Station (West Bus Stop) to Myokenguchi, followed by a 5-minute walk. Alternatively, take the Hankyu Bus North Osaka Neopolis Line (Route 26) to Yono, then walk 15 minutes.

Event Details
・Venue: Toyono Cosmos-no-Sato
・Dates: September 15 – late October, 2024 (peak viewing typically September 20 – October 10)
・Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
・Price: Adults 500 yen, Elementary/Middle School Students 300 yen

Art & Music Festivals

Jujutsu Kaisen Cafe 2024: Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Movie (Tennoji, Osaka)

© 2021 “Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the Movie” Production Committee © Akutami Gege/Shueisha

© 2021 “Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the Movie” Production Committee © Akutami Gege/Shueisha

Based on Gege Akutami’s popular manga Jujutsu Kaisen, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2018, this themed cafe features new illustrations from the movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0. The menu is inspired by memorable scenes and characters like Yuta Okkotsu, Maki Zenin, Toge Inumaki, Panda, and Satoru Gojo.

Unique dishes include the onion rings shaped like a ring, the pineapple-topped white curry, and “Yuta Okkotsu’s Friendship White Curry” (1,890 yen), which comes with salt cabbage flavored with sesame oil, a favorite of Yuta. For dessert, the “Panda Heartbeat Parfait” (1,590 yen) mimics Panda with yogurt ice cream. The cafe also sells exclusive goods like random character badges (605 yen) and mini acrylic stands (990 yen).

Guests who pre-order (660 yen per person) receive a random prepaid-style card (5 types), and those who order a drink get a random coaster (5 types) per drink.

Event Details
・Venue: BOX cafe & space Tennoji MIO
・Dates: August 29 – October 27, 2024
・Hours: 11:20 AM – 9:40 PM (75-minute time slots; advance reservations recommended, 660 yen per person)

Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Cafe (Kita, Osaka)

©’24 SANRIO Copyright Sanrio Co., Ltd.

To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary, a limited-time themed cafe has opened at BOX cafe & space KITTE Osaka. The menu is packed with Hello Kitty-themed treats, including the adorable two-tiered “KITTY & MIMMY Afternoon Tea” (6,590 yen) and the “Hello Kitty Pancake” (1,590 yen), shaped like Kitty’s face. Other fun dishes include the “Apple Cream Rice” (1,690 yen), featuring ketchup rice inspired by an apple, and “Strawberry Milk” (990 yen), served with coconut on the glass rim.

Event Details
・Venue: BOX cafe & space KITTE OSAKA 2nd location
・Dates: September 13 – October 20, 2024
・Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM; takeout available from 11:15 AM (last order at 8:05 PM) (*During busy periods, numbered tickets may be issued; 75-minute time slots; advance reservations (660 yen per person) recommended. Pre-order guests receive a “Square Badge” (50 types).)

Eggs presents FM802 MINAMI WHEEL 2024 (Minami, Osaka)

FM802 MINAMI WHEEL is a massive live music festival held across the Minami area of Osaka every autumn. Around 400 artists perform at roughly 20 venues, including live houses and clubs. Attendees purchase a PASS, which grants access to all venues, allowing them to enjoy their favorite performances. A 600-yen drink fee is required when exchanging the PASS.

Event Details
・Venues: club vijon / hills Pan Factory / SUNHALL / FANJ twice / DROP / VARON / BEYOND / AtlantiQs / ANIMA / Pangea / BRONZE / CLAPPER / BIGCAT / CONPASS / OSAKA MUSE / FootRock&BEERS / OSAKA RUIDO / JANUS / soma / Namba Hatch (October 12 only)
・Dates: October 12–14, 2024
・Times: Varies by venue
・Price: 3DAYS PASS (3-day, all-venue pass): 11,000 yen; SATURDAY PASS (Saturday only): 4,900 yen; SUNDAY/MONDAY PASS (Sunday or Monday only): 4,500 yen; Namba Hatch-only PASS (Saturday only): 1F standing 2,500 yen, 2F reserved seating 4,500 yen

Make the Most of October in Kansai!

As October deepens into autumn, Kansai comes alive with various music and food events. On top of that, fully embrace and indulge in the festive celebrations of Halloween and the breathtaking views of the fall foliage.

(Information is accurate as of September 2024. Please check official websites for the latest updates.)

Written by:

Kaori Kimura is a Japanese travel writer with roughly 20 years of experience in editing and publishing travel guides. After graduating from university, she worked at a publishing company for about 10 years, specializing in travel guides. She has undertaken numerous assignments both internationally, including in places like Paris, France, and Taiwan, as well as domestically in areas such as Hokkaido and Kyushu. Following this, she lived in Guangzhou, China for about two years as an expatriate spouse and contributed to local media, writing on economics and travel guides. Upon returning to Japan, she gained experience in editing and writing for web media. A key strength of hers is her involvement in creating travel guide articles for both inbound and outbound tourism. She possesses the highest level (HSK-6) of the standardized Chinese language proficiency test, level 2 in Japan’s French language test, and EIKEN Grade Pre-1.