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Best destinations to visit in September in Asia

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Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
9.5
Giant lanterns shaped like animals and flowers light Chinatown and Gardens by the Bay for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes sell in hotels and bakeries. Weather is hot and humid with short showers. Haze from Indonesian fires can appear, so check the air quality before you head out.
Highlights:
  • 🏮 Wander through Chinatown’s temples and traditional shophouses
  • 🌳 Visit Gardens by the Bay and its iconic Supertree Grove
  • 🌆 Admire the futuristic skyline from Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Boats carrying guests float on Osawa Pond at Daikakuji temple for a moon viewing festival in September or October. Red spider lilies bloom around Arashiyama in late September. Heat fades by the end of the month. Crowds stay small before autumn leaf season arrives in November.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Takayama
Old town, morning markets and Hida beef
8.1
Like a small version of old Kyoto in the mountains, Takayama has Sanmachi Suji, lanes of dark wooden merchant houses and sake breweries marked by cedar balls hung from the eaves. September days are warm but cooler than on the plains, so strollers browse the morning market along the Miyagawa River.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Tour the Takayama Jinya, the historic Edo government house
  • 🍠 Visit the morning markets along the Miyagawa River
  • 🏮 Wander through Takayama’s preserved old town of Sanmachi Suji
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
9.3
Autumn color starts early in Daisetsuzan National Park, where red and gold leaves appear on the high slopes in early September. Hikers climb Asahidake, 7,516 feet, in cool clear air with crisp mornings while farm stands in Furano sell melons and sweet corn at the end of summer.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Explore historic Otaru Canal and its shops
  • 🏂 Ski or snowboard in world-famous Niseko resorts
  • 💧 Visit the spectacular Shirogane Blue Pond
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
8.5
Monsoon rains fade in September and the valleys turn deep green. Dzongs, hilltop fortress monasteries, glow white and red against clearing skies. Autumn festivals called tshechus begin in some districts with masked dances. Tourist numbers are low, so trails to Tiger's Nest Monastery are quiet.
Highlights:
  • 🌄 Admire Himalayan panoramas from Dochula Pass’ 108 chortens
  • 🎉 Join a colorful Buddhist festival at Punakha Dzong
  • 🏔️ Hike to the cliffside Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Paro
Georgia
Wine country, mountain villages and old Tbilisi
7.2
Families in Kakheti pick grapes by hand during the harvest festival called rtveli. Wine is made in clay jars called qvevri, a method UNESCO lists as cultural heritage. Hot days and cool nights in September make the vineyards comfortable. Village feasts end with toasts and songs.
Highlights:
  • 🏙️ Walk through the historic Old Town of Tbilisi
  • 🕳️ Explore the ancient Uplistsikhe cave city carved into rock
  • ⛪ Climb Gergeti Trinity Church overlooking Mount Kazbek
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