Rakuten Travel’s October 2026 destination trends report identified five Japanese prefectures generating above-average search and booking growth: Mie, Ibaraki, Tokushima, Shiga, and Miyagi. None of these figures among Japan’s most visited regions, but each offers something specific that is drawing interest from both domestic and international travellers this season.
Mie Prefecture: Ise Lobster Season Opens
October 1 marks the official start of Ise-ebi season in Mie Prefecture, when Ise lobster catches become available at coastal restaurants and ryokan across the Shima Peninsula. Mie is also home to Ise Jingu, Japan’s most important Shinto shrine complex, and the Ago Bay pearl farms that supply much of the country’s cultured pearl trade. The prefecture consistently receives fewer international visitors than Kyoto or Nara despite being roughly two hours from Osaka by limited express, making autumn one of the better times to visit without heavy crowds.
Ibaraki: Autumn Foliage Without the Crowds
Ibaraki sits northeast of Tokyo, close enough for a day trip from the capital. Kairakuen Garden in Mito is one of Japan’s three celebrated gardens and its Japanese cedar and maple plantings make it a reliable autumn colour destination. The Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan’s top three waterfalls, frames well against late October foliage. Ibaraki’s relative obscurity outside of domestic travel keeps accommodation prices well below those in more famous destinations.
Tokushima: Walking the Shikoku Pilgrimage
October is one of the prime months for sections of the 88-temple Shikoku pilgrimage, which begins at Ryozenji Temple in Tokushima. Cooler temperatures and lower rainfall make the walking portions of the route considerably more manageable than the summer months. Tokushima City also hosts Awa Odori, Japan’s largest dance festival in August, but October sees the city’s quieter side, with good access to the Iya Valley and its vine bridges.
Shiga: Lake Biwa and Temple Circuits
Shiga surrounds Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake, and sits between Kyoto and Nagoya on the Tokaido Shinkansen. The prefecture contains dozens of significant temples, including Enryakuji on Mount Hiei and Hikone Castle, one of only five Japanese castles designated a national treasure. Autumn colours appear across the mountain ridges surrounding the lake from mid-October onward.
Miyagi: Sendai and the Tohoku Autumn
Miyagi anchors the southern Tohoku region, with Sendai as its main city. The Naruko Gorge, about 90 minutes from Sendai, is one of the most photographed autumn foliage sites in Japan and typically peaks in late October. Matsushima Bay, with its pine-covered islands, features in Basho’s Oku no Hosomichi travel journal and remains one of the more atmospheric coastal settings in northern Honshu.
See our Japan itineraries for route ideas through these less-visited prefectures.