Where is this? Kyoto
The best time to visit Japan is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). This is when Japan is at its most vibrant, with delicate cherry blossom or bright red leaves adding contrast to the scenery. Remember, it can also be very crowded at this time. You can beat some of the crowds by taking to the sea, staying on board a luxury cruise ship and calling in at ports from Tokyo to Nagasaki on a cruise of Japan in March.
The summer months (June to August) offer ideal conditions for hikers and lovers of the outdoors, but only in the mountains of the Japanese Alps and Hokkaido’s wild national parks. Elsewhere, the weather is hot and humid. Rainy season occurs from the end of May until the middle of June or July.
For a very different experience, head to the north of Japan in winter (December to February). It’s snowy, but the people brighten the dark days with a variety of festivals and events.
It’s a good idea to take Japan’s national holidays into account, too. Shogatsu (Japanese New Year), Obon (in mid-August or mid-July, depending on the area), and the Golden Week (between April 29 and May 5) are peak domestic travel periods.
My favourite time of year to travel to Japan is in May after the cherry blossom season and Golden Week crowds die down. The weather warms up and the heat is dry and the countryside of Japan becomes lush with beautiful green foliage. Not only that, but this is the only time of year to view the wisteria flowers in full bloom in Japan. One of the largest festivals and parades in Tokyo, Sanja Matsuri, happens around this time of the year as well.
Alice, Japan & Canada Specialist
The domestic crowds associated with August have usually dissipated by September and skies are often clear and blue, although the weather can still be hot and humid. In late September the leaves start to change colour in Hokkaido, a process which makes its way south over the next few weeks.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroshima | 9°C56mm | 10°C68mm | 13°C109mm | 18°C158mm | 23°C150mm | 26°C252mm | 30°C237mm | 32°C116mm | 28°C192mm | 23°C105mm | 17°C72mm | 12°C48mm |
| Kanazawa | 6°C292mm | 7°C193mm | 11°C159mm | 17°C148mm | 22°C149mm | 25°C204mm | 29°C246mm | 31°C173mm | 27°C249mm | 21°C192mm | 15°C235mm | 10°C305mm |
| Kyoto | 8°C76mm | 9°C81mm | 12°C118mm | 19°C146mm | 24°C159mm | 27°C240mm | 31°C242mm | 32°C179mm | 28°C208mm | 22°C123mm | 16°C86mm | 11°C67mm |
| Miyajima Island | 7°C66mm | 8°C82mm | 12°C122mm | 17°C170mm | 21°C169mm | 25°C278mm | 29°C259mm | 30°C133mm | 26°C211mm | 21°C109mm | 16°C75mm | 10°C53mm |
| Okinawa | 19°C109mm | 19°C115mm | 21°C142mm | 24°C168mm | 26°C245mm | 29°C286mm | 31°C192mm | 31°C264mm | 30°C170mm | 27°C142mm | 24°C132mm | 21°C115mm |
| Osaka | 9°C68mm | 9°C73mm | 13°C105mm | 19°C132mm | 23°C131mm | 27°C197mm | 31°C168mm | 32°C110mm | 28°C185mm | 22°C127mm | 17°C87mm | 12°C66mm |
| Tokyo | 10°C47mm | 10°C62mm | 13°C101mm | 19°C122mm | 23°C138mm | 25°C184mm | 29°C132mm | 31°C147mm | 27°C185mm | 21°C174mm | 16°C90mm | 12°C50mm |
| Tsumago | 4°C63mm | 6°C74mm | 10°C127mm | 16°C163mm | 21°C166mm | 24°C268mm | 27°C251mm | 29°C214mm | 24°C244mm | 18°C149mm | 13°C86mm | 7°C63mm |
Practical tips for travelling to Japan, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest FCDO travel advice.
View practical information
Covering all seven continents, The World Your Way shows you how you can see the world with us. It features trip ideas from our specialists alongside hand-picked stays and experiences, and introduces our approach to creating meaningful travel experiences.
Request a brochure
