Complete Guide to Hiroshima Events October 2025: Architecture Exhibition, Festivals & Must-See Attractions
Hiroshima is a captivating city where tradition, modern culture, and nature beautifully merge together. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine, visitors can enjoy Japan's historical architecture and vast natural landscapes, while stepping into the urban areas offers glimpses of vibrant shopping districts bustling with life.
Particularly in October, Hiroshima experiences pleasant weather as the summer heat subsides, making it an ideal time for outdoor exploration. As more people begin strolling outdoors, various events are also held throughout the month.
This time, I will introduce my carefully selected recommendations from the events held in Hiroshima during October 2025, featuring the most spectacular Hiroshima Event October 2025 celebrations that tourists shouldn't miss.
If You Visit Hiroshima in October, Don't Miss the "Itsukushima Floating Fireworks Display"!
Source:Hiroshima Keizai Shimbun
Among the Hiroshima Event October 2025 lineup, what I particularly recommend is the "Itsukushima Shrine Floating Lantern Fireworks Display" that illuminates the autumn night sky. The Itsukushima Shrine Floating Lantern Fireworks Display is a festival with over 50 years of history, attracting many fans not only from local areas but also from across Japan and internationally.
The main highlight of this event is the spectacular sight of the Great Torii beautifully illuminated in various colors from behind, and the magical reflection of fireworks light dancing on the water surface. The collaboration between Japan's traditional architecture and fireworks creates a distinctly Japanese autumn landscape.
Furthermore, the performances unfolding near the water surface offer a unique charm that can only be experienced at a fireworks festival staged on an island. Please capture plenty of Instagram-worthy photos as memorable souvenirs of your Japan trip.
Information:
- Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
- Access: Take JR to "Miyajimaguchi," then board a ferry and disembark at "Miyajima Pier" (approximately 15-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://dive-hiroshima.com/feature/feature-97522/
3 Must-See Traditional Hiroshima Event October 2025 Celebrations
Yoshiura Crab Festival
Source:Kure City Official X
At Yoshiura Hachiman Shrine in Kure City, Hiroshima, the traditional autumn event "Yoshiura Crab Festival" is held annually on the first Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of October. This remarkable Hiroshima Event October 2025 celebration derives its name from the fact that this is the season when the most blue swimmer crabs can be harvested locally throughout the year.
During the Yoshiura Crab Festival, traditional Japanese Shinto rituals are performed, including mikoshi processions and lion dances. The biggest attraction is the appearance of a giant Danjiri (a float used in Japanese festivals) carrying four children.
The performance where participants carry the 1-ton Danjiri and climb the stone steps within the shrine grounds with spirited chants is filled with incredible energy and excitement.
Also, pay attention to the unique dolls appearing in the festival and the colorful costumes worn by participants.
When I visited this event, I was impressed by how the local residents came together as one. Take this opportunity to experience the traditions that have been passed down in Japan's rural areas for centuries.
Information:
- Date: October 4-6, 2025
- Access: Take JR Kure Line to "Yoshiura" station (approximately 10-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.kure.lg.jp/soshiki/67/m000089.html
The Annual Festival at Kameyama Shrine
Source:Official website
Among the traditional events held during autumn in Hiroshima, "The annual festival at Kameyama Shrine" is famous as a significant Hiroshima Event October 2025 celebration. This event has been held annually at Kameyama Shrine in Kure City for over 130 years to express gratitude for nature's blessings and pray for safety.
Through The annual festival at Kameyama Shrine, which has a long history, you can feel the Japanese people's deep connection to festivals. Particularly, when you spot the "Yabu" wearing demon masks, pay attention to their movements.
Yabu serves as guards and guides for the deity. While they may appear to be disrupting the festival's progress, they are actually supporting the deity's safe procession through the town.
From such performances, you can understand how important deities are to Japanese people.
During Hiroshima tourism, I also recommend spending time experiencing regional culture, which offers a different flavor from simply touring tourist attractions.
Information:
- Date: October 11-12, 2025
- Access: Take JR Line to "Kure" station (approximately 15-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.kameyama-jinja.com/gyoujimaturi.html
Tsuji Hachiman Shrine no Kohzori
If you visit Hiroshima in autumn, I recommend extending your trip slightly from the city center to observe "Tsuji Hachiman Shrine no Kohzori" in Miyoshi City, another enchanting Hiroshima Event October 2025 experience.
Tsuji Hachiman Shrine no Kohzori is an event that has been treasured and continued since a great famine over 230 years ago, when prayers for a good harvest were fulfilled.
I truly want tourists visiting Hiroshima to witness the magical scenery of Tsuji Hachiman Shrine no Kohzori with their own eyes.
The main highlight of this event is the light from lanterns held up by local residents. Participants walk through the town carrying red and green lanterns suspended from poles, heading to the shrine for dedication, using the 9 PM fireworks as their signal.
The scene of dim lights illuminating the streets creates a nostalgic atmosphere completely different from city illuminations.
Please take this opportunity to experience the atmosphere of Japan's local festivals firsthand.
Information:
- Date: To be determined
- Access: Take JR Line to "Kissa" station (approximately 10 minutes by taxi)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.miyoshi.hiroshima.jp/soshiki/49/3516.html
For Those Interested in History and Traditions, We Recommend Historical Tours with Local Guides!
For visitors to the World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine, we highly recommend using the "Miyajima Half-day Trip Historical Walking Tour."
Of course, you can explore the island without a guide, but I have personal experience of traveling abroad relying only on guidebooks and ultimately gaining only superficial information, which I later regretted. Particularly at historical tourist sites, the enjoyment is greatly diminished without proper explanations.
This tour features English-fluent guides who provide detailed explanations of information that only locals know. Additionally, since it's a private tour, you can freely ask questions about anything you're curious about or don't understand, which is an attractive point for deepening your understanding.
Meeting Point: Seven-Eleven in front of JR Miyajima-guchi Station
Tour Area: Miyajima
Start Time: 9:30 AM
Three Events Where You Can Enjoy Japan's Beautiful Nature
Moon Viewing Tea Ceremony at Shukkei-en
For those who want to experience Japan's beautiful nature and traditional culture simultaneously, we recommend the "Moon Viewing Tea Ceremony at Shukkei-en."
This tea ceremony, held annually in October, is a Hiroshima Event October 2025 highlight where you can appreciate the autumn moon while drinking Japanese tea in a fantastically illuminated garden.
The venue, Shukkei-en, is a historical Japanese garden with over 400 years of landscaping history and is one of the tourist spots you should definitely visit when coming to Hiroshima.
This garden becomes even more serene at night. The time spent sharpening your senses to Japanese elegance in the comfortable climate of autumn nights is a special experience that can only be tasted on-site.
Moreover, at this tea ceremony, foreign tourists can watch skilled tea ceremony masters prepare matcha up close, which is another attractive point.
- Date: October 6, 2025
- Access:
Streetcar: Take JR line from "Hiroshima" South Exit Platform A, boards 1, 2, or 6, transfer at "Hatchobori" to Hakushima line and get off at "Shukkei-en-mae"
Bus: Take JR line "Hiroshima" Shinkansen Exit (Orange Route/Lemon Route) and get off at "Kenritsu Bijutsukan-mae (Shukkei-en-mae)"
- Admission Fee: Main seat 1,300 yen (outdoor tea seat 800 yen) + entrance fee: - Adults 350 yen, University students 150 yen
- Website: https://shukkeien.jp/
Hiroshima Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition
Source:Yahoo! News
When it comes to Japan's autumn seasonal traditions, "chrysanthemums" are famous. If you're visiting Hiroshima in October, why not stop by the "Hiroshima Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition"?
The Hiroshima Castle Chrysanthemum Exhibition is a Hiroshima Event October 2025 that takes place annually from late October to early November within the grounds of Hiroshima Castle.
Various varieties of chrysanthemums are displayed at the venue, captivating visitors. If you capture the booths decorated in yellow and pink in your frame, you can take a picture that looks like a painting.
Chrysanthemums, which symbolize nobility, are also depicted on the cover of Japanese passports and are special flowers for Japanese people.
Please enjoy this uniquely Japanese natural scenery that can only be seen during autumn.
- Date: To be determined
- Access:
Streetcar: Get off at "Kamiya-cho Higashi" or "Kamiya-cho Nishi" (about 15 minutes walk)
Astram Line: Get off at "Kencho-mae" (about 12 minutes walk)
Bus: Get off at "Godo Chosha-mae Bus Stop" (about 8 minutes walk) or "Hiroshima Bus Center" (about 12 minutes walk)
- Admission Fee: Free
- Website: https://dive-hiroshima.com/events/events-76720/
Autumn Leaf Viewing (Momiji-gari)
October in Hiroshima is exactly the best season for "viewing of autumn leaves."
Japan has the word "viewing of autumn leaves" (momiji-gari), showing how deeply rooted the culture of appreciating autumn-colored trees is.
Actually, Hiroshima has many attractive autumn foliage spots, and every year I find myself troubled by where to go for autumn leaf viewing.
Among them, the three autumn foliage spots I'd like to recommend to foreign tourists are Itsukushima Shrine, Shukkei-en, and Buttsu-ji Temple.
At Itsukushima Shrine, the highlight is the autumn leaves turning bright red behind the Great Torii.
Meanwhile, at Shukkei-en, the elegant Japanese garden dyed in red and yellow captivates people.
Also, the sight of Buttsu-ji Temple's approach becoming a tunnel of autumn leaves is spectacular.
Please definitely stop by during your sightseeing.
Itsukushima Shrine
- Date: Peak autumn colors are expected around mid to late November 2025
- Access: Take JR line to "Miyajima-guchi," then board ferry and get off at "Miyajima Pier"
- Admission Fee: Free
- Website: http://www.miyajima.or.jp/
Shukkei-en
- Date: Peak autumn colors are expected from early to late November 2025
- Access: About 15 minutes walk from Hiroshima Station, or take streetcar and get off at "Shukkei-en-mae"
- Admission Fee: Adults 350 yen, University students 150 yen, High school students and under, and 65 years and over are free
- Website: https://shukkeien.jp/
Buttsu-ji Temple
- Date: Peak autumn colors are expected from early to late November 2025
- Access: Take JR Sanyo Main Line to "Hongo," then take bus and get off at "Buttsu-ji"
- Admission Fee: Free
- Website: https://buttsuji.or.jp/
3 Must-See Festivals to Enjoy Hiroshima's Gourmet Cuisine
Hiroshima Food Festival
Source:Official website
If you want to fully savor Hiroshima's autumn flavors, the "Hiroshima Food Festival" is an unmissable Hiroshima Event October 2025. This large-scale culinary celebration, held annually in late October around Hiroshima Castle, brings together proud gourmet offerings from every region of Hiroshima.
The reason I recommend this event to foreign tourists is the incredible variety of gourmet options available. The venue features countless booths offering not only Hiroshima's famous okonomiyaki and oyster dishes, but also cuisine made with fresh local vegetables, sweets, local sake, and much more.
For foreign tourists who come to Japan to enjoy Japanese cuisine, the Hiroshima Food Festival provides an excellent opportunity to experience various flavors all at once. Hiroshima gourmet food tastes exceptional when enjoyed under the pleasant blue autumn sky.
- Schedule: TBD
- Access: Get off at JR "Hiroshima" station (about 15-minute walk), or streetcar "Kamiyacho-higashi" (about 10-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://foodfesta.jp/
Hiroshima Teppan Grand Prix
Source:Tabelog
Many people say, "I absolutely want to eat okonomiyaki in Hiroshima." For such visitors, participating in the "Hiroshima Teppan Grand Prix," an event that determines the pinnacle of Hiroshima okonomiyaki, will make your dining experience even more enjoyable.
This annual autumn event brings together okonomiyaki restaurants from throughout Hiroshima Prefecture to compete with their signature flavors. I want foreign tourists to enjoy comparing various okonomiyaki at this event.
Try not only the classic okonomiyaki with plenty of cabbage wrapped in batter and topped with sweet-savory sauce, but also creative okonomiyaki with unique personalities and limited-time seasonal autumn menus to find your favorite flavor.
Additionally, watching the cooking process on the teppan right in front of you and experiencing the excitement is part of the charm of Japanese street food culture.
- Schedule: TBD
- Access: Several venues set up around Hiroshima Castle area
Access to Hiroshima Castle:
City streetcar (lines 1, 2, 6) get off at "Kamiyacho-higashi" or "Kamiyacho-nishi" (about 15-minute walk)
Bus: get off at "Godo-chosha-mae" (about 8-minute walk)
Sightseeing bus "Meipuru-pu" (Orange Route/Lemon Route) get off at "Hiroshima Castle" (about 6-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://foodfesta.jp/map/map.html
Sake Festival
Source:Official website
A big event held in October in Saijo, Higashihiroshima City, is the "Sake Festival." At this event where Japanese sake from all over the country gathers, you can fully experience the depth of Japanese sake by finding your favorite flavors and trying rare brands.
The reason I recommend this event to foreign tourists is that while the Sake Festival is a Japanese sake celebration, it contains many elements of traditional Japanese festivals that involve the entire local community.
At the venue, you can enjoy traditional Japanese festival scenes, such as children in happi coats walking through the streets while beating drums, and female performers carrying mikoshi in procession.
When you find the "big cedar ball," which is the symbol of the Sake Festival, be sure to take a photo.
- Schedule: October 11-12, 2025
- Access: Right at JR "Saijo" station
- Admission: Free (some areas are paid)
- Website: https://sakematsuri.com/
Miyoshi Wine Autumn Festival
Source:Candies Kitchen
For those who want to understand the differences between Japan and their home country, why not compare preferences through wine? At Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery in Miyoshi City, Hiroshima, the "Miyoshi Wine Autumn Festival" is held in October.
At the venue, you can taste various wines produced at Hiroshima Miyoshi Winery, purchase products you like as souvenirs, and enjoy cuisine made with local ingredients.
Wine made to suit Japanese tastes and complement Japanese cuisine will undoubtedly have a different flavor from those in your home country.
Please take this opportunity to enjoy Hiroshima wine in the open location surrounded by beautiful vineyards while comparing cultures.
- Schedule: TBD
- Access: Take JR Geibi Line to "Miyoshi," then take a bus and get off at "Shiritsu Miyoshi Chuo Byoin" (about 10-minute walk)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://love-wine.jp/wineevent/hiroshima/miyoshi-autumn-winefes/
To Fully Enjoy Hiroshima's Exquisite Food, Have Locals Guide You to Their Favorite Restaurants!
After enjoying sightseeing during the day, please also experience nighttime Hiroshima. I recommend the "Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour" to foreign tourists.
This tour includes a guide who will accompany you to hidden famous restaurants that locals regularly visit.
While experiencing local people's daily life is one of the highlights of overseas travel, foreign tourists who don't understand the language may find it difficult to enter local establishments alone.
Even in such situations, with an experienced local guide, you can relax to your heart's content without worrying about language barriers or manners.
- Meeting point: In front of Gucci at Hatchobori Station
- Tour area: Central Hiroshima City
- Start time: 7:00 PM
