Ueno Events October 2025: Complete Guide to Fall Festivals, Traditional Celebrations & Must-See Highlights
The Ueno area in Tokyo is known as a cultural district where art museums, museums, and zoos gather, while also retaining a strong atmosphere of traditional downtown charm.
Particularly, the "Ameyoko Shopping Street" near Ueno station is a lively shopping street where you can enjoy food walking and shopping, making it a popular spot for tourists.
And in Ueno park, which spreads out in the center of Ueno, diverse events and festivals are held every season.
This time, we will introduce popular events held annually at Ueno park, art and cultural Ueno Event October 2025 celebrations, and notable events held in the Ueno vicinity.
When visiting Ueno, please check whether any events that interest you are being held during your visit.
Must-See Annual Events at Ueno Park That Create Great Excitement
Ueno park hosts diverse events throughout the year, and popular events where you can experience music, food, and traditional culture show great excitement every year.
From here, we will pick up and introduce recommended events among these.
Tokyo Edo Week
Source:Official Instagram
"Tokyo Edo Week" is a popular event that started in 2016 in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Due to its popularity, it has continued as a regular annual event, and every year during this time, it bustles with many stalls and many visitors.
Held every year in October at Ueno park, it attracts attention as a place where you can experience Japanese traditional culture all at once.
The theme changes every year, and in 2024 it was "Japanese Materials." Staff and visitors in kimono attire color the park, creating a gorgeous atmosphere perfect for taking photos.
At the venue, there are experiences such as digital kimono try-on, traditional Japanese sweets, Japanese sake tasting, and stage performances including Japanese classical dance, allowing you to casually experience Japanese culture.
I visited wearing a kimono, purchased some crafts, and then enjoyed kitchen car gourmet food together with sake from various parts of Japan.
- Schedule: October 11-14, 2024 (2025 schedule has not been announced yet)
- Access: 2-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Takasaki Line, JR Utsunomiya Line "Ueno" station, 1-minute walk from Keisei Main Line "Keisei Ueno" station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.bsfuji.tv/edoweek/
Salsa Street 2025
Source:PR TIMES
"Salsa Street 2025" is an internationally diverse Ueno Event October 2025 held in Ueno park in autumn, gaining popularity as a place where you can enjoy world cultures centered around Latin music and dance.
"SALSA" means "SAUCE" in English in Spanish. Since sauce is made from various ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, and spices, it is held under the concept that humans, like sauce, should transcend race and nationality and enjoy together.
A special stage is set up at the venue, where live performances by domestic and international dancers and artists are showcased, and the audience can dance together and get excited on the spot.
Also, in the food area, you can taste traditional Central and South American dishes and drinks, experiencing authentic Latin culture while in Japan.
Not only Central and South American cuisine, but you can also enjoy gourmet food using specialty products from various parts of Japan. When I visited, there were dishes such as Hokkaido scallops grilled on skewers.
- Schedule: October 4-5, 2025
- Access: 2-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line, JR Keihin-Tohoku Line, JR Takasaki Line, JR Utsunomiya Line "Ueno" station, 1-minute walk from Keisei Main Line "Keisei Ueno" station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://wsavannast.com/events/salsa-street/
To Enjoy Ueno's Gastronomy, Touring Local-Beloved Izakaya is Also Recommended!
Ueno is famous as a tourist destination, but its nighttime charm also lies in izakaya beloved by locals. Izakaya are casual dining establishments where you can enjoy Japan's homey atmosphere and alcohol.
Especially around Ameyoko Shopping Street, there is a wide mix of styles from retro shops that retain the old downtown atmosphere to modern establishments.
However, with so many shops, you might be confused about where to go. With the "All-You-Can-Drink Bar Hopping Tour in Ueno," an English-speaking local guide will take you to 3 recommended shops in about 3.5 hours.
You can enjoy Japanese izakaya culture while interacting with other customers sitting next to you at the shops.
・Meeting point: Near Hirokoji exit of JR Ueno station, in front of the "UENO" object
・Tour area: Around Ameyoko Shopping Street
・Start time: From 18:00
Cultural and Art-Related Ueno Event October 2025
In October Ueno, various events where you can enjoy art and culture are held. There are many attractive events, from world-famous painting exhibitions to events where you can experience traditional culture.
From here, we will introduce recommended cultural and art-related events.
Van Gogh Exhibition: The Artist's Dream Connected by Family
Source:Official website
The special exhibition "Van Gogh Exhibition: The Artist's Dream Connected by Family" held at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is an exhibition that focuses not only on Vincent van Gogh's paintings but also on the story of the family who supported them and passed them on to the next generation.
Gogh's brother Theo died six months after Gogh's death. Therefore, Theo's wife Jo came to manage Gogh's vast collection.
Jo devoted her life to ensuring that Gogh would be recognized as a painter. And Gogh's works have been passed down to this day.
This exhibition displays over 30 works from the Van Gogh Museum collection, plus 4 letters being shown in Japan for the first time.
By the way, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is Japan's first public art museum and has nearly 100 years of history.
- Schedule: September 12 - December 21, 2025
- Access: 7-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Park Exit
- Admission: Adults 2,300 yen (advance 2,100 yen) / University students and vocational school students 1,300 yen (advance 1,100 yen) / 65 and over 1,600 yen (advance 1,400 yen)
- Website: https://gogh2025-26.jp/
Shosoin THE SHOW - Feel. The Miracle That Exists Here and Now
Source:Kunaicho Official
"Shosoin THE SHOW" developed at The Ueno Royal Museum is an event fully supervised by the Imperial Household Agency.
"Shosoin" is a building on the north side of Todaiji Temple in Nara, which has stored over 9,000 treasures for 1,300 years and is called a "miracle."
This exhibition uses cutting-edge technology to display ultra-high-definition 3D images of treasures scanned from 360 degrees on giant screens.
Furthermore, the scent of the legendary incense wood "Ranjatai (YELLOW RIPE SCENT)," known to have been favored by Oda Nobunaga, the warrior who unified all of Japan in the 1500s, appears as a scientifically researched and recreated fragrance - a surprising production that cannot be missed.
- Schedule: September 20 - November 9, 2025
- Access: 3-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Park Exit, 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro and Keisei Electric Railway Ueno Station
- Admission: Adults 2,300 yen (advance 2,100 yen) / High school and university students 1,700 yen (advance 1,300 yen) / Elementary and junior high school students 1,100 yen (advance 900 yen)
- Website: https://shosoin-the-show.jp/
Special Exhibition "Ice Age Exhibition ~The World That Humanity Saw 40,000 Years Ago~"
Source:Official website
The special exhibition "Ice Age Exhibition ~The World That Humanity Saw 40,000 Years Ago~" held by the National Museum of Nature and Science is structured to provide a three-dimensional experience of humanity and giant animals during the "Ice Age" period, when Earth was covered in extreme cold approximately 40,000 years ago.
The exhibition features the first public display in Japan of actual skulls of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon humans, alongside skeletal specimens and elaborate reconstruction models of mammoths and giant deer, which are sure to take your breath away with their impressive presence.
The exhibition introduces the footprints of animals and humanity that lived during the Ice Age, as well as the changing landscape of the Japanese archipelago, accompanied by scientific insights.
Since the National Museum of Nature and Science is located within Ueno Park, it's easily accessible together with other events held in Ueno Park.
- Schedule: July 12 - October 13, 2025
- Access: 5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Park Exit
- Admission: Adults/University students ¥2,300, Elementary/Junior High/High - School students ¥600
- Website: https://hyogakiten.jp/
Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition
Source:PR TIMES
Tokyo University of the Arts is known as an art university that has produced many top artists. The "Geidai Art Plaza Art Award Winners Invitation Exhibition" held at the "Geidai Art Plaza" within the university is a valuable opportunity to showcase new works created by diverse generations, from current students to artists who are actively working after graduation.
You can experience numerous works including oil paintings, Japanese paintings, sculpture, crafts, and design, and enjoy meeting promising artists. Admission is free, and photography and SNS sharing are welcomed, so please feel free to share your photos.
This is a cultural experience unique to Ueno where even art beginners can casually enjoy dialogue with art. Please consider adding this to your Ueno sightseeing plans.
- Schedule: August 30 - October 5, 2025
- Access: Approximately 10-minute walk from JR Ueno Station (Park Exit) or Uguisudani Station; approximately 10-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Nezu Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://artplaza.geidai.ac.jp/column/27804/
Special October Events Easily Accessible from Ueno
In areas that can be reached by short train rides from Ueno, many attractive events are held in October. There are various contents including long-standing festivals and events where you can enjoy Japanese culture. Here are some recommended events among them.
Bettara Market (Nihonbashi)
Source:Nihonbashi Keizai Shimbun
"Bettara Ichi" is a traditional festival held annually in October around Takarada Ebisu Shrine in Nihonbashi. The excellent accessibility, just about 5 minutes by train from Ueno, is also a key point.
This traditional festival has continued since around 1700, and is famous for "Bettara Daikon," a sweet and sour radish pickle that gives the festival its name.
About 500 food stalls line the venue, offering not only Bettara Daikon but also various types of cuisine and Japanese sweets. Local popular restaurants also set up stalls, so you can casually enjoy flavors from famous establishments. I personally enjoyed dishes like chicken meatballs with sauce from a long-established chicken restaurant.
- Additionally, Takarada Ebisu Shrine holds prayers for business prosperity, making this a festival connected to regional faith. The attractive point is being able to simultaneously enjoy food walking and uniquely Japanese culture.
- Schedule: October 19-20, 2025
- Access: Approximately 3-minute walk from Kodemmacho Station Exit 3; approximately 3-minute walk from Shin-nihonbashi Station Exit 5
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.niitakaya.co.jp/lp/bettaraichi/
Kappabashi Tool Festival (Asakusa)
Source:Google Maps
The "Kappabashi Tool Festival" is a large-scale event held annually in October on Kappabashi Tool Street near Asakusa, with good accessibility at about a 15-minute walk from Ueno, making it popular with many tourists.
Kappabashi Tool Street is a specialized shopping district about 800 meters long where you can find all kinds of cooking tools, visited by professional chefs, cooking enthusiasts, and foreign travelers.
During the event period, sales are offered at better prices than usual, making it an excellent opportunity to acquire uniquely Japanese items such as knives, ceramics, lacquerware, and food samples.
Additionally, food stalls and stages appear along the street, with local taiko drum performances and parades, enveloping the entire shopping district in a festive atmosphere.
Particularly popular are the food sample demonstrations, where craftsmen use wax and resin to create sushi and tempura that look exactly like the real thing - truly worth seeing.
- Schedule: October 7-13, 2025
- Access: 15-minute walk from JR Yamanote Line/Keihin-Tohoku Line "Ueno" or "Uguisudani" stations; 25-minute walk from Sobu Line "Asakusabashi" station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/
Kanda Used Book Festival (Jimbocho)
Source:Wikipedia
The "Kanda Used Book Festival" is known as one of Japan's largest antiquarian book fairs, held annually in late October in Jimbocho. With excellent access of about 15 minutes by train from Ueno, this is a must-see event for book-loving travelers. Jimbocho is famous as "the book town," where bookstores gather offering a wide range of specialized books, classic literature, and rare out-of-print volumes.
During the event period, special wagons line the streets for several hundred meters, creating a spectacular sight with over one million books crowding the roads. In addition to the joy of searching for hidden treasures, visitors can experience Japan's unique publishing culture and printing history.
I myself once found an old book I had been searching for when I visited. If you stop by while sightseeing, you might encounter a memorable book as a travel souvenir.
- Schedule: 2024 was held October 25 - November 4 (2025 dates not yet announced)
- Access: 1-minute walk from Jimbocho Station on various subway lines
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/
Nihonbashi Kyobashi Festival (Nihonbashi)
The "Nihonbashi Kyobashi Festival" is a vibrant event held in the Nihonbashi area in central Tokyo. Against the backdrop of Nihonbashi's history as a commercial hub flourishing since around 1600, visitors can experience regional culture and international exchange.
The event's main highlight is the "Parade," featuring traditional Japanese performing arts and various dance performances. With approximately 2,000 participants, it's truly spectacular in scale.
I have visited myself, and even as a Japanese person, I was very satisfied with the content because I could see traditional dances from various regions that I had never been able to visit due to distance.
Another attraction is the booths introducing local specialties and regional gourmet foods from all over Japan, allowing you to taste food cultures from across the country. By participating in this event, you can purchase local souvenirs from various regions of Japan.
- Schedule: October 26, 2025
Access: 1-minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://nikkyo.net/
Oedo Mikoshi Festival (Kiba)
Source:Japan Mikoshi Association
The "Oedo Mikoshi Festival" is a festival themed around the downtown culture of the "Edo" period (1600s-1800s) and Mikoshi (portable shrines).
Mikoshi are gorgeously decorated platforms for temporarily transferring divine spirits, carried by bearers who parade through towns with energetic chants. They are used in traditional festivals throughout Japan.
This festival brings together 11 Mikoshi of various sizes, where you can enjoy the powerful spectacle of the bearers' vigorous movements combined with the audience's enthusiasm. More than 2,000 people participate as carriers.
The finale is particularly spectacular, with all Mikoshi advancing simultaneously in a scene that symbolizes Japanese festival culture.
The venue also features food stalls where you can savor local cuisine and drinks while enjoying the festival atmosphere.
- Schedule: October 26, 2025
- Access: 1-minute walk from Mitsukoshimae Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://nikkyo.net/
For Those Interested in Japanese Culture: Tour Tourist Areas with Local Explanations!
Since there are many attractive spots around Ueno and Asakusa, it might be difficult to cover everything in one day. Therefore, we recommend tours with local, English-speaking guides who know the area well.
The "Asakusa Cultural Walk & Matcha Making Tour" takes you around Asakusa's charming old townscape and Tokyo's oldest temple, "Sensoji Temple," in about 3 hours.
You can also experience making matcha in a tea room, enjoying traditional Japanese culture at a leisurely pace in a quiet atmosphere.
You'll also get to try popular local gourmet foods. It's comprehensive content that covers all the must-do activities in Asakusa.
・Meeting Point: 3-minute walk from Asakusa Station Ginza Line Exit 1, in front of Kaminarimon Police Box
・Tour Area: Around Asakusa Sensoji Temple
・Start Time: 11:00~
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