September 2026: Japan's Ultimate Car Event Guide with 96 Events!

As the intense summer heat begins to mellow, Japan's automotive scene truly comes alive in September 2026, offering an exhilarating calendar for international car enthusiasts! With a staggering 96 events happening across the country, get ready to experience Japan's unique car culture.

Note that we expect more events to be added in the upcoming days. Many events only publish their schedule a few weeks before the date. As an example, one month ago in our blog we mentioned 45 events for August. At last count, August now has 76 events! Keep checking our website for updates.

Our Discover JDM IOS and Android apps have a Pro version that sends you notifications when a new event is added. Please check it out!

Our website and apps now have a Spots page that shows a list of the spots in our database. This information was previously only available in the Map but now has its own list, making it easier to search for a particular spot. The page contains a curated list of auto museums, race circuits, car culture places and car spotting locations, searchable by keyword, category and region.

Near Tokyo:

The region around Tokyo offers an unique mix of car meets and track days, including a large track day/event at Mobara on September 6. Here are some top picks:

• September 6 | 08:00 - 18:00 - ButcherStyleRacing Summer Festival: A very large and excellently organized drift/grip track day/ride-alongs/car show event hosted by Butcher Style Racing at Mobara Twin Circuit. Over 200 cars participating. Tickets now on sale at ButcherStyleRacing.
• September 5-6 | 10:00 - 16:00 - SAGAMI VIBES: A combination car meet, food festival, and flea market at Fuchinobe Park in Sagamihara.
• September 6 | 08:00 - 11:30 - Super American Morning: A casual USDM swap meet with easy access from Tokyo at Arakawa Saiko Park.
• September 10 - MEGA 100 BOOST Z: A sports car meet featuring 100 cars at the iconic ANEST Iwata Sky Lounge on the Hakone Turnpike.
• September 12 | 07:00 - 16:00 - Niko Niko Track Day: A biweekly drift/grip track day at Mobara Twin Circuit, perfect for getting on track yourself.
• September 13 - 2026 D1 Next Central Series RD.3: Round 3 of the D1GP feeder series brings exciting drift action to Mobara Twin Circuit.

Near Osaka:

Although there are very few events in central Osaka, there is a rich variety of events in the Kansai region from several drift competitions to relaxed night meets:

• September 5-6 | 09:00 - 16:30 - Sakaihama Yuruguda Off-Meeting 2 Days: An open-format, two-day car meet at a bayside park in Sakai City, south of Osaka.
• September 5-6 - FDJ Rd.5: Round 5 of the Formula Drift Japan series kicks off at Okuibuki Motorpark in Shiga, a large ski resort parking lot converted into a drift pad during the warm months.
• September 11 | 21:00 - 00:00 - Osaka FNM (Friday Night Meeting): A casual monthly open-format night meet in Osaka held every 2nd Friday (cancelled if raining).
• September 12-13 - FDJ2 Rd.5: Formula Drift Japan2 (FDJ2) Round 5 continues the drift action at Okuibuki Motorpark.
• September 13 | 08:00 - 11:30 - Takao Sunday Meeting: A recurring classic car meet for pre-1980 vehicles held north of Kyoto.
• September 20 - FDJ3 Rd.4: Formula Drift Japan3 (FDJ3) holds Round 4 at Okuibuki Motorpark.
• September 20 | 11:00 - 15:00 - 3rd LEGACY off in Awaji: A Subaru Legacy meet attracting around 100 cars at a scenic park on Awaji Island.
• September 22 | 11:00 - 18:00 - Hazky Car Music Event 2026 in Osaka: A unique car contest and music event for 90 cars in Sakai City, south of Osaka.
• September 26 | 08:00 - 17:30 - The Beetle JAPAN meeting: A dedicated VW Beetle meet at a bayside park in Sakai City, south of Osaka.

Notable Events Across Japan:

September hosts several truly massive and unique automotive spectacles:

• September 6 | 09:30 - 15:00 - CHUBUMEETING 2026: A huge Mazda Roadster/MX-5 meet drawing 500 cars to a summer-closed ski resort in Gifu Prefecture.
• September 13 | 09:00 - 16:00 - 5th Hakosyasai: A large custom van concours featuring demo cars, merch, and model photoshoots for 250 vehicles in Futtsu City (Chiba).
• September 13 | 10:00 - 15:30 - 2026 CORVETTE LOVERS JAPAN MEETING!!: The 8th annual Corvette meet for 150+ cars near Lake Biwa, east of Kyoto (Shiga Prefecture).
• September 13 | 09:00 - 15:00 - Cross Five OSAKA: A major USDM custom car meet bringing 200 cars to a bayside park close to Osaka city center.
• September 19-20 | 10:00 - 17:00 - Gunma Classic Car Market 2026: A significant two-day car/bike show (1950-2000 models) at a convention center, featuring sales, VIP talks, and food in Takasaki City (Gunma).
• September 19 | 10:00 - 15:00 - Friends of 86/BRZ 2026 Autumn Aso Offline Meet: A large gathering of 86/BRZ enthusiasts at Aso Farm Land in Kumamoto Prefecture.
• September 20 | 10:00 - 14:00 - E.M.T.G in NAGARA 13: A huge itasha meet, focusing on bishojo games, attracting 330 cars southeast of Tokyo (Chiba).
• September 20 | 08:00 - 16:00 - Roadster Furano Hokkaido Meeting: A large Mazda Roadster/Miata/MX-5 meet set amidst the beautiful flower fields of Furano in Hokkaido.
• September 20 | 07:30 - 17:30 - Circuit Festa: A massive Honda grip race, track day, and car meet drawing 400 cars to Central Circuit in Hyogo Prefecture.
• September 20 | 08:00 - 15:00 - Misawa International Motor Show 2026: A unique car meet and drift exhibition held during a joint Japan/US air show at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture.
• September 21 - Honda All Type R World Meeting 2026: A monumental gathering of 500+ Honda Type R vehicles at the iconic Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture.
• September 27 | 09:30 - 14:00 - Dream Car Festival: The 10th edition of a popular pre-1979 old car meet, attracting several hundred vehicles in Tahara City (Aichi).
• September 27 | 09:00 - 16:00 - VW FAMILY DAY 2026: A celebration of air-cooled VWs at Mobility Resort Motegi, featuring rare displays, demos, and a swap meet (Tochigi).
• September 27 | 10:00 - 15:00 - EURO MEETING IN KARUIZAWA 2026: A large gathering of 260 European cars set against the picturesque backdrop of Karuizawa's ski resort (Nagano).
• September 27 - "Kday !!" Chapter14: A significant meet for 300 US-market focused cars at Sportsland SUGO, perfect for JDM fans with a USDM twist (Miyagi).

Travel Tips for September:

• Weather: Although September will be more "mild" than the blast furnace of August, still expect very high humidity and temperatures. Always carry water, especially at outdoor events. Vending machines at crowded venues like a race circuit can sell out very quickly. In addition, it is typhoon season, so always check local forecasts a few days before any outdoor event. Events will be cancelled without exception if a typhoon is approaching. Our IOS and Android apps show weather forecasts for events.
• Transportation: Japan's public transport in city regions is excellent, but many car events are held at tracks or parks that might require a car local bus, taxi, or rental car to reach. Our partners and TSJapan Tours offer safe, flexible, and professional interpreted/guided tours to car meets and events. If you prefer to drive yourself, consider a car rental to go to one of these meets.
• Etiquette: Japanese car meets are generally very respectful. Be mindful of noise levels (especially early mornings or late nights), avoid touching cars without permission, and always clean up after yourself.
• Booking: Many events are free for spectators. Events at large venues, major races or track days often require an entrance fee. For these, booking tickets in advance is highly recommended, as they can sell out quickly.

Get Ready to Explore!

September 2026 is poised to be an unforgettable month for car enthusiasts in Japan. Bookmark this guide, check the event links for the latest details, and start planning your ultimate Japanese automotive adventure!