When is the Best Time to Visit Japan?

Our Experts Say...

"The best times to visit Japan are from early-March to late May and from early October to early December. The Cherry Blossom season typically falls between the last week of March and the first week of April. The autumn leaves typically come into full colour towards the end of October and last through to the end of November. Cherry Blossom and autumn can both be very busy and particularly expensive times to travel. To avoid the crowds, consider travelling in early March or between mid-April and late May. Early December is also a great time to travel. Summer can be very hot and humid in Japan, especially in August and September when there's a greater risk of typhoons. If you have to travel during the summer months, Japan is very equipped for extreme weather and most trips go without a hitch! Christmas and New Year as well as Golden Week in mid-May and Obon in mid-August are the only periods to really avoid a Japan trip due to bigger crowds and some facilities closing for the holidays."

Rikki Poynton, Asia Specialist

Japan is made up of four main islands and more than 3,000 smaller islands, with the Pacific Ocean on its east coast and the Sea of Japan on its west coast, both of which influence its climate. As a result, the north of the country has cold winters and warm summers, while the south has more of a tropical climate, with warm weather most of the year, including hot, humid summers. That said, across the country, Japan has four distinctive seasons, marked by an obvious change in the landscape and weather patterns.

Spring, the best time to visit Japan for cherry blossoms, runs from March to May and brings with it average temperatures between about 19°C and 28°C depending on where you are in the country. The mountainous areas of Northern Honshu are the coldest, but also driest. You might see a bit of rainfall, particularly in April around Hakone and Mount Fuji but mostly it will be crisp blue skies.

Summers, from June to August, in Japan are hot and humid. You’ll have average temperatures that range from 30°C to 37°C. This is also the rainy season for Japan, although it varies across the country. The general rule of thumb is the further west you go the more rain there is. The wettest regions are Hakone and Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Kyushu and Tokyo in July.

Along with spring, autumn is the best time to visit Japan. The weather stays in the 30s and high 20s throughout September and October, some parts see a little bit of rain but it’s mostly sunshine. Temperatures drop gradually as winter arrives in December, with most of Japan being around 15°C at the coldest time of year in January and February. Again, the Honshu Mountains see the coolest days, which can be between 8°C and 11°C depending on altitude.

The Best Time to Go to Japan by Season

The best time of year to go to Japan depends on the kinds of experiences you’re looking for.

During the summer months, Japan’s northern national parks and mountainous regions are ideal for hiking, biking and exploring, while the south becomes hot and humid. If you’d like to visit Japan’s largest cities, Tokyo and Osaka, spring or autumn are the best times to visit, as the weather stays comfortable and the country showcases its stunning colours.

No matter when you’d like to travel, our experts will gladly plan a tailor-made itinerary that combines the best experiences for each of Japan’s seasons, so you can just sit back, relax, and focus on making the most of your luxury Japan holiday.

Best time to visit Japan for…

Cherry Blossoms

Heralding the start of spring, Japan’s cherry blossoms (known as sakura) are of huge cultural significance. Symbolising the transient nature of life and the beauty that can be found in it, this treasured flower is also a reminder of Japan’s changing seasons. Cherry blossom season in Japan doesn’t last long; it’s only a couple of weeks from when they’re in full bloom to when they drop to the floor. However, not everywhere flowers at once, the phenomenon sweeps from south to north, meaning you can see the pink beauties in different parts of the country for a few months.

The best time to visit Japan for cherry blossoms is March and April. The first sighting usually takes place in January or February in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, and from here the blooms gradually move north, arriving around Tokyo and Kyoto between late March and early April.

People take picnics, drink sake, and celebrate the blossoms with friends and family, so parks and gardens can become very busy. You will need to book flights and accommodation at least a year in advance too if you’d like to visit Japan in spring.

Some of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Japan include:

• Osaka Castle, Osaka
• Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto
• Maruyama-koen Park, Kyoto
• Imperial Palace Park, Kyoto
• Kamo-gawa River, Kyoto
• Hakone National Park, Hakone
• Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Tokyo
• Chidorigafuchi Moat of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo
• Yoyogi Park and Rikugien Garden, Tokyo
• Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa

Foodie Experiences

Japan’s food is one of the top reasons to travel to the country. From hidden, Michelin-star restaurants to vibrant street food scenes, you need to go hungry. There is no one best time to travel to Japan for its food experiences. Throughout the year, there are celebrations either to honour a particular food, such as the oyster festival in Miyajima during the first weekend of February, or dishes are used to mark an occasion. In the autumn, traditional dumplings, known as tsukimi dango, are eaten to celebrate the moon-viewing festival of Tsukimi. And, to celebrate Lunar New Year, people eat the sweet dessert mochi to hope for good luck in the year ahead.

At home and in restaurants, Japanese people eat very seasonally, for example, in spring, the famous cherry blossoms are used as ingredients and admired for their beauty. In the summer, look out for omen, thin wheat noodles served chilled with dipping sauce, or cool off with kakigori, a fluffy, shaved ice dessert flavoured with syrup, often topped with sweetened condensed milk or fruit. In autumn, mushrooms are the focus of many menus, while, if you visit Japan in the winter, it’s all about steaming bowls of ramen or the multi-coursed kaiseki meals, which are made up of seasonal ingredients, served when staying at ryokans and a major highlight of a holiday in Japan for foodies.

Throughout the year, there are many food festivals and events in Japan. Here are some to look out for:

• Gourmet & Food Festival, Osaka, October
• Fukuoka Hakata Dontaku Port Festival, Kyushu, May
• Nishiki Market Ameichi, Kyoto, January
• Nada no Kenka Matsuri (Nada Fighting Festival), Himeji, October
• Kyoto Ramen Koji Festival, Kyoto, October/November
• Takayama Spring Festival, Takayama, April

For smaller crowds

For those of you who don’t want to travel with the masses and avoid the crowds or queues, the best time to go to Japan is between February and March, after the New Year rush and before the cherry blossom season begins; late spring (May), after the cherry blossom season, but before the start of the Golden Week holidays, which is from the end of April to early May; June, before the rain sets in and in September/October.

There are some parts of Japan, which are off-the-beaten-track and attract fewer crowds, such as Aomori in Northern Honshu, which is full of stunning landscapes and cultural experiences with fewer tourists compared to popular destinations like Tokyo or Kyoto. Shikoku Island, which is known for its pilgrimage trails, scenic coastline, and tranquil atmosphere, is quieter than the likes of the other major islands of Honshu and Kyushu. Places like Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki within Kyushu allow you to experience rich history, hot springs, and delicious cuisine in relative peace compared to the more popular Fukuoka and Nagasaki.

There is, of course, a reason that the popular sites are popular and if you don’t want to miss out on seeing key attractions but still want to travel at the best time to see Japan, you can visit them very early in the morning or late at night. Mid-week will be quieter than weekends and public holidays, and for the best restaurants, consider eating later or earlier than the usual rush. Our travel experts will plan your itinerary to best suit your taste, so if you’d like to avoid the crowds, they’ll help you do exactly that.