6 Heartwarming, Cosy Japanese Dramas To Watch This Autumn!

The crisp air and golden leaves are slowly taking the space that the sweltering summer days occupied just a few weeks ago. This Sunday, the 22nd of September, marks the start of this year’s autumn season. While most foreigners would immediately recognise the spring tradition of hanami (花見, or “flower viewing”) in Japan, fewer would know that now is also the season for the beauty of momiji-gari (紅葉狩り, or “red leaves hunting”).

Momiji-gari is the autumnal hanami, let’s say. It’s the tradition of visiting places in which you can see the leaves turning red and appreciate the autumn foliage. It is equally important and its history dates as far back as the Hanami’s. If you want to learn more, I’d recommend checking the Live Japan guide.

As the red maple leaves paint the Japanese streets, this feeling of nostalgia and cosiness warms our hearts. Often, J-dramas use seasonal transitions to symbolise change, impermanence, and even melancholy as well as to portray character development and bonding.

But beyond the emotional reflection, autumn is very much a season of food, says Miura Yasuko, a researcher of Japanese culture. Since autumn marks the arrival of the harvest season, the Japanese describe the season as “fruitful autumn” or “good appetite autumn”.

If you, like me, are unable to go to Japan this year to witness the beauty and colours of the momiji season, we do have alternatives. The autumnal days are also made for snuggling up on your sofa with a warm cup of tea — and of course, a dorama. We’ve put together six Japanese dramas to watch this autumn: some are about food, others show an autumnal palette, or show that spirit of change and nostalgia that comes with the season.

Looking for Japanese dramas to watch? Here are the ones I am reviewing today (they’re all spoiler-free!)!

You might have already heard of Midnight Diner. The show was so successful that its story spans five seasons (three created by and aired on MBS, two created by and released on Netflix), one movie, and two Chinese, one Taiwanese, and one Korean adaptations.

If you haven’t heard of it or haven’t given it a try (yet), this autumn is the right season for it. An episodic series with a simple premise, Midnight Diner takes place in a tiny restaurant in a quiet alley of the Shinjuku district in Tokyo. Open from midnight to seven in the morning, the kitchen is led by the Master (Kobayashi Kaoru), whose menu consists of only pork miso soup. However, the Master’s policy is to make “whatever customers request as long as [he has] the ingredients for it.“

Midnight Diner is as much about the joy and comfort that food can provide us as it is about the human experience. As a character-driven series, each episode focuses on the stories of the many different customers who come to find consolation in the Master’s food. Through their connection with his food and restaurant, we get to learn about their lives, their dreams, and their struggles. The show stands out as a nuanced portrayal of the good and bad days we all face, sharing thoughtful tales that will make you smile and cry.

The set design is intimate, the colour palette is warm, and alongside the several dishes that the Master offers his customers, the show certainly gives that cosy autumnal feel. The cinematography doesn’t call attention to itself, featuring several medium and close shots that allow the characters’ emotions and the Master’s comfort food to connect with the audience.

Besides being amazingly easy to watch, the episodes are all short (20-30 minutes), so you can get through them all very quickly. But resist the temptation to overindulge and savour it in small bites: let yourself be enchanted by the little universe of Midnight Diner on the colder autumn days.

You can watch Midnight Diner on:

With 12 episodes of only 20-ish minutes, Samurai Gourmet is a funny, wholesome, and effortless watch.

Kasumi Takeshi (Takenaka Naoto) has just retired after years and years as a “salaryman”, a term used in Japan for a person who works long hours and is strongly devoted to their job. Retirement has introduced him to the freedom of having a beer and a slow, hearty meal in the middle of the day, a luxury he never had as a worker. Kasumi embarks on a journey of culinary discovery as he visits different restaurants wherever he goes.

Based on an essay and manga by Kusumi Masayuki (and illustrated by Tsuchiyama Shigeru), Samurai Gourmet is a comical, imaginative slice-of-life series that reminds us to appreciate the small pleasures in life. More than that, it emphasises that eating goes beyond our human need for nourishment. The common — often overlooked — act of eating can be a satisfying and even cathartic experience, one that may soothe, empower, and bring a stirring sense of longing.

The twist that makes Samurai Gourmet unique is the fact that Kasumi often imagines how a wandering samurai (played by Tamayama Tetsuji) would react in his same situations. Possessing the bravery that he lacks, the samurai not only inspires Kasumi but also gives the show an extra dash of whimsy.

In his own way, Kasumi is also on a journey of self-discovery as his life takes a completely different turn after retirement. He’s a charismatic main character in a calm, if mostly uneventful, story. Samurai Gourmet is the perfect companion for the end of a stressful day, in which you only want to relax and disconnect from the weight of reality.

You can watch Samurai Gourmet on:

Disclaimer: First Love: Hatsukoi, with all its snow, is a very wintery show. However, it’s also profoundly nostalgic, so I thought it deserved a place on this list.

Someone once said that life is like a jigsaw puzzle. From our best memories to the horrible experiences we want to curse fate for, [they] are all irreplaceable pieces of our lives.

That’s how First Love: Hatsukoi starts. From the get-go, it gets us thinking about our own “lost tickets, a dress worn in December, (…) an intimate moment on a winter beach, (…) a pop star your own age, dreams that never came true, failed romances.” Could it get any more wistful, more provocative than that?

This is the story of Yae (Mitsushima Hikari) and Harumichi (Satoh Takeru), who met and fell in love during high school but ended up separated after graduation. Twenty years pass by without them ever meeting, but when fate brings them together once again, they have to decide whether their first love is still alive.

Even though First Love: Hatsukoi isn’t exactly free of clichés (it’s based on Hikaru Utada’s most romantic songs, after all), this story evokes all the magic, the warmth, and the awkwardness of first love. Relying on a poignant, solid narrative, the show not only explores how we, as human beings, grow and change through the ups and downs of life but also how our love evolves through time and how our memories can define us.

First Love: Hatsukoi is bound to reality by real social and political events, which make the story feel closer to us, the audience. But this realism is counterbalanced by dreamlike cinematography that illustrates the endless sense of nostalgia and longing that pervades this script. By deftly using camera work to blend past and present together, embracing colour as an integral part of the story, and using emotionally-driven framing, the talented Kanchiku Yuri draws you into the organic universe of First Love: Hatsukoi.

Such a visually and narratively rich story deserves a mesmerising cast to bring it to life, of course. First Love: Hatsukoi counts on extraordinary performances all across the board — but a special shout-out has to go to Mitsushima Hikari and Yagi Rikako, as well as Satoh Takeru and Kido Taisei, who play Yae and Harumichi, respectively, at different stages of their lives. Every single character is built with depth and attention to detail, and they are portrayed with remarkable strength and finesse.

Last but not least, it goes without saying that a show based on a song has to nail its musical aspect. And that’s what you get here: Hikaru Utada’s songs are fully taken advantage of with Iwasaki Taisei’s score perfectly complementing them.

In First Love: Hatsukoi, love is an enduring, selfless, and guiding force. The jigsaw of our lives, full of regret, hope, and yearning, is a beautiful masterpiece just the way it is. The tenderness and intensity of these characters’ emotional journeys, and their resilience as they overcome their struggles and constantly rediscover themselves, make First Love: Hatsukoi a powerful watch.

You can watch First Love: Hatsukoi on:

Silent resonated with such clarity with audiences in Japan (and internationally) that Fuji TV brought the same creative team together this year for Where Does The Sea Begin (still without international release and whose last episode airs next Monday, the 23rd of September).

In Silent, Tsumugi (Kawaguchi Haruna) and Sou (Meguro Ren) are two high school sweethearts who go through a shocking breakup. Eight years later, they reunite with a twist: Tsumugi finds out that Sou has lost most of his hearing. Together once again, Tsumugi needs to learn how to navigate the silence to reconnect with Sou, who now seems to live in a completely different universe from hers.

With a sincere and poetic script that tackles love, loss, and, most importantly, communication, Silent nurtures a sense of empathy and reminds us that love transcends verbal communication. Through Tsumugi and Sou’s love story, it sensitively portrays how hearing loss can affect one’s personal identity and relationships, exploring the reality of the deaf community in a realistic, thought-provoking way.

Even though the narrative has its flaws, especially when it comes to character development and subplots, Silent is a moving, rich, and compelling story that fleshes out the challenges of honestly conveying one’s feelings, whether romantic or platonic. It highlights the emotional and physical distances between us and the opportunities that pass us by.

Meguro Ren offers one of his very best performances, with both his portrayal and the character of Ren carrying much of the show on his shoulders. Kawaguchi Haruna does respond with the same strength, their acting chops shining the brightest in moments of complete silence between the two of them. Silence doesn’t have anything to do with depth or range of emotion, after all. Their dynamic feels authentic, impactful, and heartening. And, of course, the chemistry between them is palpable, enveloping us even more in the Silent universe.

The cinematography and the colour palette complement the script, filling the bittersweet conflicts and imperfections that punctuate our lives with beauty. A touching watch that will bring a unique perspective to your autumn TV schedule.

You can watch Silent on:

Confession time: I’m completely biased here. I watched The Makanai as soon as it was released, and it quickly became one of my favourites. So expect nothing but praise from here on out!

Adapted from the manga of the same name by Koyama Aiko, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House tells the story of Kiyo (Mori Nana) and Sumire (Deguchi Natsuki), two childhood friends who leave the snowy Aomori for Kyoto. They dream of becoming a maiko, an apprentice geiko, which is why they join an all-female maiko house. While Sumire seems to be born for it, Kiyo realises that her true talents lie somewhere else. A kindhearted and gifted cook, Kiyo finds her own path by cooking and supporting Sumire and her fellow maiko.

Told in 9 delightful episodes, The Makanai is a story about friendship and self-discovery. Through Kiyo, Sumire, and all the girls and women in the maiko house, we’re invited to think about our own journeys, passions, and choices. Who are we and what kind of path do we really want to follow? As the girls learn more about themselves, we start thinking about the sides of our own personalities that we might have overlooked ourselves.

Besides a well-structured and engaging narrative, every character is developed and portrayed with heart and charm. Kiyo’s passion for cooking leads to several uplifting scenes where food is a source of solace, community, and love. In The Makanai, dishes are made with care, relationships are cherished and nurtured, and the environment is supportive and welcoming. Kiyo and Sumire’s story unfolds at a calm and soothing pace, and all of these elements together make for a show that feels like a warm hug on a cold day.

The Makanai is a stunning glimpse into not only Japanese cuisine but also the life of maiko in Kyoto. Their rich traditions, their discipline, and the beauty of their art are depicted with grace, igniting our curiosity to learn more about Japanese culture.

Visually, The Makanai is a tale painted in warm colours, strengthening the spirit of cosiness that permeates the show. The cinematography makes excellent use of a deep depth of field, which highlights the many lively scenes in the maiko house. As laughter and conversation fill the air in the house, you get to see all these people chatting, coming and going within the entire frame. Both visually and narratively, The Makanai allows us to stop and pay attention to the little details that make our days brighter and more cheerful. To top it all off, the soundtrack (by the incredible Yoko Kanno) is beautiful.

Delightfully crafted, The Makanai will surely warm your heart while its incredible dishes are bound to make your mouth water. What else do you need this autumn?

You can watch The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House on:

In a more autumnal setting and with cinematography that exudes cosiness, Hold My Hand at Twilight introduces us to Asagi (Hirose Suzu) and Umino’s (Nagase Ren) fateful encounter in Tokyo. Originally from Kyushu, Asagi initially heads to Tokyo to meet her fiancé. She soon finds out that he’s now in love with someone else and their engagement is broken. What seemed to be a disaster proves to be the encouragement Asagi needed to find her own dreams. When she moves into the same boarding house that Umino, an aspiring composer, lives in, they find themselves supporting each other as they fight to achieve their goals.

Hirose and Nagase have excellent chemistry, and their love story, light on skinship but incredibly charged with yearning, exudes that sweetness that comes with early romance. They give Asagi and Umino allure and personality, and it’s lovely to see how their characters grow thanks to the dynamic and the bond they create. Beyond love, this show is about the power of friendship and the importance of having a supportive community when chasing your dreams.

A group of amusing supporting characters makes this journey even more entertaining and heartfelt. Even though the pacing could’ve been a bit better and the ending could’ve avoided a few clichés, the overall narrative makes for an inspiring, comforting show. And if you like Japanese music, you’ll definitely enjoy the references!

Warm and intimate cinematography, super snug set design, a lovely colour palette, and a subtle score create a show that enchants and motivates. Hold My Hand at Twilight is a cute love story that will surely bring a spark to your autumn days.

You can watch Hold My Hand at Twilight on:

So what Japanese dramas will you be watching this autumn? Remember that The Queen of Villains is also coming out on Netflix tomorrow! Do you have any recommendations for me? Share in the comments your ultimate Japanese dramas to watch (extra cookie points if they have an autumnal feel to them!)!