What’s On In Hiroshima, October 2025
As the hot summer days finally give way to the first hints of autumn, we enter one of its best seasons, and there are so many things to do in Hiroshima.
October brings cool evenings, sunny days, harvest festivals, and an exciting lineup of cultural and sports events. From sipping sake to wandering through lantern-lit streets, the month offers a blend of tradition and modern culture in equal measure.
Here’s your guide to the best things to do in and around Hiroshima in October 2025.
Featured event
Wonderholic Jamboree (Oct 3-5)
Hiroshima Gatepark
The strangest event poster of the year, it belies three days of markets, stalls, workshops, and even a massive assembly of barbers from far and wide.
Autumn Shrine Festivals
Hiroshima’s shrines come alive in the fall with colorful matsuri, lively parades, and traditional kagura performances. Expect portable shrines (mikoshi), food stall and carnival games, plus the best opportunity to view Hiroshima’s thrilling Kagura performances, all with a genuine sense of neighborhood spirit.
Sorasaya Shrine Autumn Festival (Oct 18–19)
Event details here.
Hirose Shrine Autumn Festival (Oct 18–19)
Event details here.
Ikari Shrine Autumn Festival (Oct 25–26)
Event details here.
Toshogu Shrine Children’s Peace Mikoshi Procession (Oct 25)
Event details here.
Tsuruhane Shrine Autumn Festival (Oct 26)
Event details here.
Shirakami-san Autumn Festival (Oct 28–29)
Event details here.
Events & Festivals
Hiroshima Sake Festival (Oct 1)
Our favorite sake festival, right downtown, featuring breweries from across the prefecture.
Event details here.
Trivia Night Pub Quiz (Oct 1)
Test your knowledge and enjoy a pint at Hiroshima’s favorite quiz night.
Event details here.
Kangetsu Moon Viewing Tea Ceremony (Oct 6)
Take part in the annual appreciation of the autumn moon in the tastefully illuminated Shukkeien Garden, which stays open late for the occassion.
Event details here.
Saijo Sake Matsuri (Oct 11–12)
One of Japan’s biggest sake celebrations, transforming the streets of Saijo into a festive tasting ground.
Event details here.
Onomichi Lantern Festival (Oct 18)
Thousands of lanterns illuminate the port town of Onomichi in this magical evening event. Read more here.
Event details here.
Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival (Oct 25-26)
A picturesque night stroll through Takehara’s preserved Edo-period streets lit by soft candlelight.
Event details here.
Hiroshima Food Festival (Oct 25-26)
Two days of local food stalls around Hiroshima Castle, plus samurai rifle brigade demonstrations.
Event details here.
Entertainment
Tropical Bar Revolucion 14th Anniversary (Oct 10-11)
Drinks and music at one of the Hiroshima international crowd’s most popular bars.
Event details here.
Kikku-sai Bugaku Dances on Miyajima (0ct 15)
A rare chance to watch Bugaku classical court dances on Itsukushima Shrine’s platform over the sea in the evening, rather than early in the morning.
Event details here.
Wednesday Night Kagura
Experience the thrilling world of kagura, Hiroshima’s beloved traditional dance-drama, performed every Wednesday.
Details here.
Yokogawa Zombie Night
The streets of Yokogawa are overrun with the the undead, both scary and super cute.
Details here.
Art Exhibitions
Takano Ryudai (Sept 27 – Dec 7)
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.
A photographic journey through “insignificant spaces.”
Event details here.
Rey Camoy (Sept 13 – Nov 3)
Hiroshima Museum of Art
Explore the emotional and expressionist works of celebrated Japanese painter Rey Camoy.
Event details here.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt (Sept 20 – Nov 30
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum bring the fascinating world of ancient Egypt to Hiroshima.
Event details here.
Sports
Catch Sanfrecce Hiroshima in action at the new Edion Peace Wing Stadium this October.
・ Oct 4 vs Machida Zelvia – J.League Match (16:00 kickoff)
・ Oct 12 vs Yokohama FC – J.League Cup Semi-final, 2nd Leg (15:00 kickoff)
・ Oct 17 vs FC Tokyo – J.League Match (19:00 kickoff)
Cinema
At Hatchoza
Ghostlight (2024) – Oct 10–16
When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.
USA, 1 hour 55 minutes
At Salon Cinema
Kids (1995) – Oct 17–23
A day in the life of a group of teens as they travel around New York City skating, drinking, smoking and deflowering virgins.
USA, 1 hour 27 minutes
Kim’s Video (2023) – Oct 17–23
Documentary that follows a trail of beloved video store films from New York City to Sicily..
USA, 1 hour 28 minutes
Jan Švankmajer Season – Oct 17–23
Three films, rotating daily, celebrate the work of Czech surrealist and filmmaker Jan Švankmajer
・ Insects (2018)
・ Athanor: The Alchemical Furnace (2020)
・ Kunstkamera (2022)
The Way We Were (1973) – Oct 24–30
In a trubite to the late Robert Redford, Salon Cinema screens this Sydney Pollack directed story of love during the McCarthy era, in which Redford starred alongside Barbra Streisand.
USA, 1 hour 58 minutes
I Saw The TV Glow (2023) – From Oct 24
The Roses (2025) – From Oct 24
Even more things to do in Hiroshima this month
Check out our events pages for more things to do in Hiroshima and please feel free to follow us on Facebook, Threads, Instagram, and Bluesky for regular updates.
