October brought another busy month of anime news in Japan, from major theatrical announcements to exhibitions that give fans a reason to explore the country.
This month, ONE PIECE is taking its spirit of adventure onto a real cruise ship, Kaiju No. 8 is preparing for a cinematic finale, and Kyoto is exploring an unexpected connection between Studio Ghibli and Zen. Meanwhile, Universal Studios Japan announced two new anime collaborations, Fukuoka revealed a special Gundam event, and Tokushima hosted a citywide anime festival.
Here are ten anime stories from Japan in October 2026, with a focus on what they mean for international fans and how they connect to experiencing anime in Japan.
Planning an anime-focused trip to Japan? You can also browse our pilgrimage and travel guides for more ideas.
1. ONE PIECE Announces Special Cruise Experiences in Japan for Summer 2027
ONE PIECE is taking the idea of a grand voyage surprisingly literally. On October 23, the franchise announced a collaboration with Asuka II, one of Japan’s luxury cruise ships, for three special sailings scheduled between July 27 and August 3, 2027.
The itineraries include journeys connected to Toba and the Izu Islands, the West Izu area around Matsuzaki, and a cruise featuring fireworks at Yokohama’s Minato Mirai. According to the announcement, the onboard experience will include ONE PIECE-themed decorations, special entertainment, collaboration meals, and exclusive merchandise.
The appeal is not simply having anime characters displayed on a ship. It is the opportunity to experience a journey around Japan through a series built on the excitement of traveling, discovering unfamiliar places, and sharing adventures with friends.
For overseas fans considering a special trip to Japan in 2027, this could become a memorable alternative to the usual anime cafés or exhibitions. Bookings are scheduled to open on December 2, 2026, so interested travelers should check the official cruise details and conditions before making plans.
Read more: ONE PIECE Official Announcement
2. Kaiju No. 8 Announces a Theatrical Finale for 2027
Kaiju No. 8 is preparing to end its anime story on the big screen. At an October 24 event in Tachikawa, the team confirmed that the series’ concluding chapter will be released as a theatrical film in 2027.
The announcement was accompanied by a new super-teaser visual illustrated by Shinji Kimura, who also worked as an art director on the television series. The image hints at the enormous threat awaiting Kafka Hibino and his fellow members of the Defense Force, without revealing how their final battle will unfold.
This is an exciting development for a series whose giant-monster action has been one of its defining attractions. A cinema screen offers a different sense of scale from watching episodes at home, especially for scenes built around collapsing cityscapes and battles against massive creatures.
The exact release schedule and participating cinemas will need to be confirmed later. Still, international fans visiting Japan in 2027 may want to keep this film on their radar, particularly if special screenings, admission gifts, or theatrical events are announced closer to opening day.
Read more: Kaiju No. 8 Official Website
3. Studio Ghibli’s Zen and Ghibli Exhibition Opens in Kyoto
Kyoto has welcomed an exhibition that approaches Studio Ghibli from an unexpected direction. Zen and Ghibli opened at the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art on October 3 and will continue through December 6, 2026.
Drawing on conversations between Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and Zen monks, the exhibition explores how Ghibli stories encourage viewers to observe the world without rushing toward simple answers. Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron forms a central part of the presentation, alongside memorable lines, scenes, and Suzuki’s calligraphy.
Rather than focusing only on famous characters, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the ideas and emotions behind the films. The setting is particularly fitting. Kyoto is a city where temples, traditional gardens, and everyday streets offer opportunities to experience Japanese culture beyond the screen.
The museum is in Kyoto’s Okazaki area, so visitors can make this part of a wider sightseeing day. For another anime-themed route through the city, AnimeInJapan also has a Detective Conan Kyoto pilgrimage guide.
Read more: Studio Ghibli Official Exhibition Information
4. Universal Studios Japan Announces Fullmetal Alchemist and Yomi no Tsugai Collaborations for 2027
Universal Studios Japan is bringing two worlds created by Hiromu Arakawa to its Universal Cool Japan 2027 celebration. On October 28, the Osaka theme park announced limited-time collaborations with Fullmetal Alchemist FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST and Yomi no Tsugai, both scheduled to begin in spring 2027.
Fullmetal Alchemist will return to USJ for the first time in 22 years. Its original 2005 collaboration was the park’s first event based on a Japanese television anime. Yomi no Tsugai, Arakawa’s newer fantasy series, will be making its theme-park debut, so the two announcements offer something for both longtime fans and newer audiences.
The additions complete a five-title lineup that also includes Sailor Moon, The Apothecary Diaries, and Detective Conan. Universal Cool Japan 2027 begins rolling out on December 2, 2026, but the Fullmetal Alchemist and Yomi no Tsugai experiences are planned for spring 2027. Specific attraction formats and opening dates have not yet been revealed.
For international visitors, this is a strong reason to keep Osaka in mind when planning a 2027 anime trip. The promise of stepping into familiar anime worlds makes USJ more than an ordinary theme-park stop. Travelers should follow the official announcements for further details before booking around either collaboration.
Read more: Universal Studios Japan Official Announcement
5. Made in Abyss Returns to Japanese Cinemas with a New Film
Made in Abyss returned to cinemas across Japan on October 23 with the first film in a new theatrical series, Awakening Mystery. On the same day, the production team confirmed that a second installment is in development and revealed a new visual.
The first movie continues the franchise’s journey into the Abyss, a mysterious world whose beautiful scenery conceals increasingly dangerous discoveries. Although the series is known for its appealing character designs, its story can also be intense and unsettling, making the theatrical presentation a particularly striking experience for longtime fans.
Japanese cinema releases often include extras that are not available through streaming. For this film, the first week offered a randomly distributed mini illustration board drawn by original creator Akihito Tsukushi. A short animated extra, Himesama Diary, was also shown after the main feature, giving audiences another reason to remain in their seats.
For visitors who enjoy watching anime in its home market, these small details are part of what makes a Japanese theater trip special. Screening locations and availability vary, and limited gifts may run out, so checking a cinema’s official listings is essential.
Read more: Made in Abyss Official Website
6. Machi Asobi Vol. 31 Turns Tokushima into an Anime Destination
Tokushima became a meeting place for anime, manga, and game fans on October 17 and 18, when Machi Asobi Vol. 31 returned to the city. Unlike a typical convention concentrated in a single building, the event spread across streets, parks, shops, and screening venues.
Activities included stages featuring several TYPE-MOON titles, exhibitions, fan events, and collaborations with local businesses. A food-themed project introduced visitors to regional specialties, while other events reached beyond central Tokushima, helping connect the festival with the surrounding community.
Much of the appeal comes from moving between locations. Visitors could explore spaces around Aibahama Park, Shinmachibashi East Park, and the downtown shopping streets rather than spending the entire day inside an exhibition hall. Tokushima’s own tourist information highlighted the mix of city-center venues and the local anime culture.
The main October event has finished, but Machi Asobi remains one to remember when planning future trips. It shows why anime tourism in Japan is not limited to Tokyo or Kyoto: a regional city can offer a distinctive experience precisely because the festival and the everyday town exist side by side.
Read more: Machi Asobi Official Website
7. Evangelion’s 30th Anniversary Exhibition Opens in Osaka
Evangelion is celebrating its legacy with ALL OF EVANGELION, a major anniversary exhibition that opened at Hirakata Park in Osaka Prefecture on October 18. The Osaka exhibition runs through January 11, 2027, with scheduled closed days.
Visitors can see materials that trace the franchise’s visual history, from colorful animation cels used for the original television series to intricate drawings and digital production work from the Rebuild of Evangelion films. These items offer a closer look at how a series famous for its imagery was actually made.
There is also a travel connection beyond the exhibition itself. A related JR Central campaign includes an original audio drama available on the Tokaido Shinkansen and special novelty items, bringing the anniversary celebration into part of the journey to Kansai.
Hirakata Park is outside central Osaka, making it an interesting addition for visitors who have already explored the city’s best-known shopping and entertainment districts. Importantly, the exhibition has a separate admission option, so visitors do not need to buy entry to the amusement park itself. Check the official calendar and ticket details before visiting.
Read more: Hirakata Park Official Exhibition Information
8. Gundam SEED Announces a Special Fukuoka Event and Life-Sized Gundam Illumination
Gundam fans have a new reason to visit Fukuoka this winter. On October 29, the team behind Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO announced a special event at LaLaport Fukuoka on November 27 and 28, ahead of the film’s Japanese theatrical release on January 15, 2027.
The centerpiece is a seasonal illumination at the life-sized RX-93ff ν Gundam statue outside the shopping complex. From November 27, 2026, through February 28, 2027, the statue will feature a special presentation themed around SEED FREEDOM and SEED FREEDOM ZERO, including an object inspired by the Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam. The outdoor illumination is free to view, with lighting scheduled between 5 and 9 p.m.
On November 27, voice actors Kenichi Suzumura and Daisuke Ono are scheduled to attend the lighting ceremony. A special talk event follows on November 28, alongside cinema screenings of SEED DESTINY and C.E. 73 -STARGAZER- with stage greetings. Tickets or participation conditions apply to some of these events, so visitors should check the official schedule.
For overseas fans, the year-round Gundam statue is already a memorable stop in Fukuoka. The winter lighting adds a time-limited reason to visit, while the new movie connects the experience to the franchise’s next chapter. It is also a welcome reminder that anime attractions extend well beyond Tokyo and Osaka.
Read more: Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO Official Website
9. Mamoru Hosoda Exhibition Opens in Osaka to Celebrate The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
October 28 marked the opening of Mamoru Hosoda’s Origins, an exhibition at Grand Front Osaka celebrating 20 years since The Girl Who Leapt Through Time reached cinemas. The Osaka venue will host the exhibition until January 4, 2027.
The exhibition brings together storyboards, drawings, background artworks, and other materials that reveal how Hosoda’s animation has developed over time. Fans of Summer Wars and Wolf Children can explore the creative decisions behind those films alongside work connected to The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and earlier stages of his career.
For international visitors, this is a different way to enjoy familiar movies. Instead of watching finished scenes, you can look at how characters, settings, and movement were planned before they became the images on screen. The venue is also conveniently located in the Umeda area, making the exhibition easy to include in an Osaka sightseeing day.
The exhibition is scheduled to travel to Fukuoka in early 2027 and Toyama later that year. That wider tour is another reminder that anime-related exhibitions are increasingly worth looking for outside Tokyo, particularly when planning trips around western Japan.
Read more: Mamoru Hosoda Exhibition Official Website
10. Jujutsu Kaisen Announces a Major Theme Park Collaboration in Tokyo
Jujutsu Kaisen fans planning a trip to Tokyo this autumn have a new destination to consider. On October 23, the anime revealed full details of its collaboration with Yomiuriland and the adjacent HANA・BIYORI attraction, scheduled for November 6 through December 13, 2026, excluding venue closure days.
The event is built around the Culling Game arc and includes specially decorated rides, newly recorded character voices, themed food, photo spots, and merchandise featuring original illustrations. Yomiuriland also has a stamp rally, while HANA・BIYORI brings character displays into a garden setting.
A special advance-purchase day pass combines access to both attractions with a hologram postcard. Some experiences and merchandise require separate payment, so visitors should read the official terms rather than assuming everything is included in admission.
Temporary collaborations like this can make a Japan trip feel especially personal for fans. They also change quickly: dates, opening hours, bonuses, and stock may vary. Anyone hoping to visit should confirm the official schedule shortly before going, particularly if the collaboration is a major reason for their Tokyo itinerary.
Read more: Jujutsu Kaisen Official Website
What to Watch Next
October showed just how many different forms anime culture can take in Japan. One month brought a luxury cruise announcement, future theatrical finales, theme-park collaborations, and exhibitions and regional events that connect familiar stories with real places.
For travelers, the strongest opportunities are often the temporary ones: a museum exhibition in Kyoto, an anniversary event in Osaka, or a themed attraction available for only a few weeks. As November approaches, keep an eye on the upcoming Jujutsu Kaisen collaboration and the exhibitions continuing into winter.
We will return next month with more anime news, releases, and experiences from across Japan.
Nao is an Osaka based writer with a love for travel and anime. She loves exploring the Kansai region and hopes to inspire readers to visit Japan for their own pilgrimage experiences.
