When to Go to Japan

Now that you've decided to visit Japan, you maybe wondering when is the best time to take your trip. I will give you some ideas. Japan has four distinct seasons. In my opinion, spring and fall, when the weather is mild is the best time for traveling. Let's take a look at each season.

Spring (March-May)

Plum blossoms start blooming at the end of February. You can visit plum festivals in parks and gardens. See Japanese Plum Festivals

Sakura or cherry blossoms bloom in March and April on the main land in Japan. Viewing the pretty sakura flowers is a main reason for many travelers to visit Japan. See Japanese Cherry Blossom Links

There is a popular Japanese vacation season called Golden week (around April 29 to around May 5.) I recommend avoiding traveling to Japan in this season if you can.

Summer (June-August)

June and the beginning of July is the Japanese rainy season called Tsuyu. If you don't like rain avoid this time. I think it can be a cool and nice time to visit Japan. But it really does rain everyday! In Hokkaido, there is no rainy season, so you don't have to worry about the rain.

July and August are usually very hot and humid on the mainland in Japan. If you are visiting Hokkaido, these months are the best, because the weather is cool and dry there.

O-bon festival time (August 13-16) is another Japanese vacation season. I recommend avoiding this time if you can. However, Tokyo tends to be less crowded since many people go back to their home towns.

Fall (September-November)

There are many regional festivals are held in the fall in Japan. There are more opportunities for you to see festivals at this time.

• Japanese Festivals: January - April
• Japanese Festivals: May - August
• Japanese Festivals: September - December

Fall foliage is the best at the end of October and the beginning of November. See Autumn in Japan.

Winter (December - February)

Winter in Japan is cold, but it's not so bad. In Tokyo, the temperature hardly drops below 33F. January and February is a good time for skiing. There are many good ski resorts in Hokkaido and the north region on Honshu island. See Japanese ski resort information and Christmas in Japan.

New Year's is a holiday for Japanese people. It's like Christmas for Western countries. Highways, airlines, and trains are extremely crowded around December 28 -29 to January 3-4. I recommend avoiding this period if you can. See December and New Year's Eve in Japan and Japan Holiday Travel Tips.