When is the best time to travel Japan? Hard to answer because Japan is a country with four seasons. It is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The temperature, weather, and rainfall are completely different depending on the season. Each season has pros and cons. In this article, I will introduce the best time to visit Japan based on my experience of living in Japan for 30 years.
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Four seasons in Japan
Japan is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Generally speaking, spring is from March to May, summer is from June to August, autumn is from September to November, and winter is from December to February. Japan is a long country, and the climate differs slightly between Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south, but if you are visiting Tokyo or Kyoto, you should refer to the general seasonal divisions mentioned above.
| Season | Month |
|---|---|
| Spring | March to May |
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
Best time to visit Japan
If you don’t have any particular festival or event you are looking forward to, I would recommend spring and autumn as the most comfortable time to visit. In spring and autumn, the temperature during the day is around 20 degrees Celsius and there is not much rain, so you can spend a comfortable time. Whenever I visit Japan, I like to go back in spring and autumn if possible.
Things to Enjoy in Spring in Japan
Spring is the season when cherry blossoms bloom. It varies from place to place, but the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in March in the early southern regions and around May in the cold northern regions. In Tokyo, the best time to see cherry blossoms is from the end of March to the beginning of April. The best time to see cherry blossoms is hard to predict, and sometimes it rains and the best time to see cherry blossoms is over in a week or so, so if your goal is to see cherry blossoms, it is best to stay for about two weeks from the end of March.
Spring is also the season when the year begins in Japan, and with school entrance ceremonies in early April, you can see new students everywhere and feel the whole country in a buoyant mood.
- Cherry Blossom
Things to Enjoy in Summer in Japan
Summer in Japan begins with the rainy season in June, followed by the hot and humid season from July. Anyway, it is a hot and humid season. In the evenings, it often rains like a squall, called guerrilla rain, and the weather is often unstable. If you want to enjoy swimming or scuba diving in Japan, I recommend the period from July to August 15, but not after August 15 because of the increase in jellyfish. Also, the typhoon season begins, so depending on your timing, the chances of encountering a typhoon may be higher during August and September. Also, July 20 to August 31 is the summer vacation period for Japanese students. In addition, August 13 to 15 is the season for Japanese people to return home. During this season, the prices of hotels and airplanes go up, and everywhere is crowded.
- Beach
Things to Enjoy in Autumn in Japan
Autumn is a good season to visit because the weather is pleasant and the autumn leaves begin to change from October to November, turning the mountains of Japan red and yellow and providing a very beautiful view. Japanese people love to enjoy the autumn leaves and go to hot springs during this season. It is also a great season for hiking. Kyoto is quite crowded, especially in mid to late November, so if you are thinking of visiting Kyoto, I recommend making reservations as early as possible. There are so many people everywhere in Kyoto during this season that even the locals lament about it. That’s how much Japanese people long to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto. Autumn in Japan is also known as the harvest season, when delicious vegetables are harvested. There are many delicious foods to eat. Autumn is also a good time to visit for those who enjoy eating.
- Leaves changing color
Things to Enjoy in Winter in Japan
In Japan, snow begins to fall around November in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. The real season in Japan is winter. If you want to enjoy skiing, December to January is the best time. In Japan, Christmas is a day to spend with your loved ones, and you can see Japanese lovers dating on Christmas Eve. It is also customary to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on this day, and you can see the strange sight of many people standing in line to buy chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken. For Japanese people, the year-end and New Year holidays have the same meaning as Christmas overseas. Companies in Japan are closed from December 29th to January 3rd. Many people return to their hometowns to spend time with their families. On January 1st, people stay at home with their families and relatives to enjoy the so-called “Osechi” (New Year’s food).
- Skiing
- Light-up
Summary
If you don’t have any particular preference, I recommend visiting Japan in spring or autumn. It is better to avoid is summer because it is hot and humid and travel prices in Japan are high. Go enjoy the beautiful nature of Japan!