November brings late autumn color, cooler air and clear skies.

JNTO’s November guide highlights foliage, onsen travel, winter lights beginning in some cities, the Fukuoka sumo tournament, and Karatsu Kunchi from November 2 to 4.

What To Watch

This is a strong month for gardens, temple walks, ravines, hot springs, and evening light displays. Kyushu also hosts the Fukuoka sumo tournament and Karatsu Kunchi.

Hanafuda Lens

November is the willow suit. The four cards are the rain figure bright card, swallow, plain ribbon, and lightning.

How We Know

This page uses JNTO for November foliage, hot-spring, illumination, sumo, and Karatsu Kunchi context. Nintendo Museum supplies the Hanafuda month structure, and Koi-Koi supplies the exact card face used in the hero image.

The Willow Suit

November's Hanafuda suit is Willow: four exact Koi-Koi card faces in the site deck, shown here without redraws or substitution.

November Hanafuda card: Willow, Rain figure, Bright
Rain figureBright
November Hanafuda card: Willow, Swallow, Animal/Object
SwallowAnimal/Object
November Hanafuda card: Willow, Plain ribbon, Ribbon
Plain ribbonRibbon
November Hanafuda card: Willow, Lightning, Chaff
LightningChaff

Events In The Index

These sourced listings currently overlap November in the Japan Almanac events index.

September 1-November 3, 2026

Tokyo Festival

Venues across Tokyo, anchored by Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre2026 date announced
See all 26 November listings

Sources

  1. Japan in November, Japan National Tourism Organization. Accessed 2026-09-02. Used for clear late-autumn weather, foliage, hot springs, winter illuminations, sumo, and Karatsu Kunchi context.
  2. Try Playing Hanafuda!, Nintendo Museum. Accessed 2026-09-01. Used for the 48-card, 12-month Hanafuda structure and Nintendo Museum workshop context.