The best time to visit Japan: your month-to-month guide to planning the perfect Japanese vacation
Figuring out the best time to visit Japan can be challenging. This collection of islands in the northern Pacific Ocean is almost the size of California, and is such a geographically and culturally diverse destination. Yes, trips to Japan in spring are all about the charm and whimsy of the cherry blossoms—but a Japan tour in the winter can bring some of the best skiing of your life. Japan is a major bucket list destination for travelers precisely because it offers an impressive variety of can’t-miss experiences, making anytime the perfect time to visit.
Our Japan tours are jam-packed with activities that highlight the best of the destination, from history, art, and culture to food and shopping. Read on for our month-to-month guide to help you plan your perfect trip to Japan.
What is the weather like in Japan in each season?
Japan’s weather varies by season and region, but in general, Japan enjoys all four seasons. Depending on where in Japan you are, the weather could be dramatically different. For instance, Tokyo in the winter can have an average daytime temperature of 45 F, and snow very rarely falls there. If you decide to add the Hokkaido extension on our South Korea & Japan: Seoul to Tokyo tour, however, you’ll find a very different wintertime experience in northern Japan, where the average daytime temperature might hover around 20 F. Plus, you can expect a lot of snow there.
Conversely, that same part of the country enjoys a very pleasant summer season, while Japan’s big cities (Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) are very warm and humid. This wide range of seasonal variety is what makes trips to Japan so much fun to plan—you can experience different climates based on when and where you visit.
Winter
The best time to visit Japan if you want fewer crowds and more skiing opportunities
If you’ve never considered taking a winter trip to Japan, this is your sign to plan one. Japan in the winter is its own kind of magic. The three big cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are exciting to explore no matter when you visit, but the upside to planning a Japan tour in the winter is that they won’t be as busy. If you want to explore these cities’ castles, temples, museums, and other attractions at a slower pace, December, January, and February might just be the best months to visit Japan.
Plus, if you love idyllic, snowcapped landscapes, then you’ll love Japan in the winter—especially as you head to regions like Nagano, or farther north to Hokkaido, where you can find some truly exceptional skiing. Most people may never think of Japan as a winter sports destination, but don’t forget that Nagano once hosted the Winter Olympics, and Hokkaido is famous for having some of the softest powder in the world.
Months to experience winter in Japan:
December, January, and February
In December, Japan has fewer tourists but is full of lights.
A comprehensive itinerary—like the one we offer on our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour—will give you a wonderful taste of the country’s classic destinations. Taking this tour in December, especially in the first half of the month when tourism is quite calm, can add an unexpected twist to cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, where you’ll find many of the busier neighborhoods and central squares lit up in festive lights. In Tokyo, you’ll find a lot of illumination installations all over, including in the Otemachi district, where there will be about a mile of trees wrapped in lights. To visit during this month means getting to enjoy many of Japan’s top attractions with fewer tourists around, making December one the best times of year to visit Japan.
Visit Japan in January if you want to ski, experience onsen culture, and see snow monkeys.
From food and art to culture and history, there are so many exciting reasons to plan a trip to Japan—and enjoying winter sports is one of them. There are mountains all over the country, especially up north in Hokkaido. But, you don’t even need to go that far: Nagano, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998, is just a few hours drive west of Tokyo.
Looking to hit the slopes in Japan? Use your free day in Sapporo on our South Korea & Japan: Seoul to Tokyo tour extension to Hokkaido to do just that. Pro tip: Afterward, find an onsen, a Japanese hot spring, so you can soak your ski-weary muscles. Onsen culture has very specific rules (you’re not allowed to show your tattoos or put your hair in the water, for instance), so do be mindful.
Another special excursion you can take while visiting Japan in January is to see the snow monkeys. It’s easy to take a day trip from Tokyo to Jigokudani Monkey Park, where these adorable primates are living their best lives bathing in a local onsen. If that sounds like an attraction you’d like to see, our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour has a free day in Tokyo. Ask your Tour Director about how to best reach the Jigokudani Monkey Park.
February is the best month to visit Japan for unique festivals.
Yes, it’s still winter out there, but those cold-weather chills can be quickly forgotten when you’re attending a fun party. In Nagasaki, there’s a lantern festival, where beautifully designed lanterns are displayed all over the city and are celebrated with performances and parades. Sapporo stages a winter festival featuring eye-popping ice sculptures. And in Tokyo, the emperor’s birthday is celebrated in February with a public ceremony hosted on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Book our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour for February, and perhaps you’ll get the chance to participate. Overall, if you love the cultural enlightenment that comes with experiencing a local festival, then February is the best time to visit Japan.
Weather in Japan in December, January, and February:
Average temperatures are between 20 F and 50 F.
Spring
The best time to visit Japan for cherry blossoms and sumo wrestling
As Japan begins to thaw from winter, tourism all over the country begins to pick up. Favorable weather makes the amazing activities that the country is famous for all the easier to take on. Spring is the best time to visit Japan if you want to see the cherry blossoms, which are an incredibly popular draw for travelers. So, you should expect to see more crowds, especially in the big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. If you are interested in winter sports, many parts of Hokkaido, especially snowy Niseko, can still offer some fantastic spring skiing.
Overall, a Japan tour in spring can be an exciting travel experience because there’s a lot going on. Some of the most important events in the country are staged between March and May (including a two-week sumo event in Osaka). Add the lovely weather and it’s easy to see why most travelers think that spring is the best time to visit Japan.
Months to experience spring in Japan:
March, April, and May
Go to Japan in March for sumo wrestling.
With spring in the air, there are so many unforgettable experiences to be had on a Japan tour if you go in March. On our Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto tour, for instance, you can enjoy Iyashi no Sato, an open-air museum and craft village on the western shores of Lake Saiko near Mount Fuji. But if there’s one reason to plan your trip to Japan for March, it’s to see sumo wrestling in Osaka. Sumo wrestling is a 2,000-year-old tradition in Japan, and the city of Osaka hosts the two-week-long March Grand Sumo Tournament, where you can see the country’s most renowned wrestlers duking it out for supremacy. When is the best time to travel to Japan? If you want to see some sumo wrestling at a top level, the answer is March.
April is the best month to visit Japan for cherry blossoms.
Seeing cherry blossoms in Japan is one of the most special travel experiences in the world. Countless visitors schedule their travel plans around seeing these blossoms in April, when most of the country is covered with flowers. So, if you plan on taking our dedicated Cherry Blossoms in Japan: Tokyo to Kyoto tour or our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour in April, expect to get your fill of cherry blossoms. That’s on top of other bucket list experiences like seeing the Golden Pavilion, touring the Meiji Shrine, and perusing the wares of Kuromon Ichiba Market.
In May, discover Japan’s lesser-known gems.
If April is the best time to visit Japan for its big-city energy, then we think May is better suited for trips that focus on more under-the-radar destinations. On our South Korea & Japan: Seoul to Tokyo tour, you can extend your stay in Japan with a few days in Hokkaido. There, you can combine a culinary deep dive (Sapporo is famous for its ramen) with more nature-based excursions, like an optional tour of the region’s volcanic landscapes. If you choose our Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto tour, you and your new travel friends may want to go to the city of Kobe for more sightseeing and to tuck into the city’s world-famous marbled beef. If you’re into off-the-beaten-path adventures, then you might find that May is the best time of the year to visit Japan.
Weather in Japan in March, April & May:
Average temperatures are between 50 F and 75 F.
Summer
The best time to visit Japan for outdoor adventures and fabulous festivals
Let’s face it: Japan, and especially its crowded cities, get hot in the summer, when average daytime temperatures can top 100 F. Thankfully, this mountainous island country is full of stunning regions where you can cool off. So in between big-city adventures, consider visiting destinations in the mountains or along the coast, where you can enjoy milder climates. Good news: Our immersive Japan tours will give you both.
Months to experience summer in Japan:
June, July, and August
In June, visit Japan’s historic temples, shrines, and castles.
June marks the beginning of the rainy season for most of Japan. In fact, it’s locally known as “the month of water.” But, don’t let that discourage you from enjoying a Japan tour. We actually think traveling to Japan in June can be a fabulous experience, as there’s still plenty to do, especially if you love museums, castles, and temples. Whether you’re on our Highlights of Japan: Tokyo to Kyoto tour or our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour, June in Japan can offer an impressive variety of activities. In Hiroshima, you’ll tour Peace Memorial Park to see the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome—the only structure to survive the World War II bombings. In the city of Osaka, you’ll visit Osaka Castle, which houses a museum dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the legendary leader who built it.
Japan in July offers a celebratory mood.
Like in February, Japan in July is full of lively festivals and events. If you’re lucky enough to be on a Kyoto tour this month, you’ll want to keep an eye out for the Kyoto Matsuri, one of the country’s most important festivals. Also known as the Gion festival, it dates back to the ninth century, when it started as a religious ceremony. Today, you’ll find numerous parades all over Kyoto throughout the month of July, when enormous floats are presented in a festive atmosphere. Expect to see many locals wearing traditional attire, and to enjoy lots of street food. If you visit Tokyo in July, don’t miss out on the Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, an annual party attended by millions. Thousands of fireworks will light up the night sky! If you want to join the locals for various summer parties, then July is the best time to visit Japan.
August is the best time to experience nature in Japan.
August can be very hot in Japan, so seeking out the cooling refuge of nature can make a fabulous trip to Japan even better. For that, we love our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour; its thrilling itinerary brings you to classic bucket list cities as well as more tucked-away, nature-first locales. In addition to exploring Osaka’s colorful Dōtonbori district, meditating in a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, and soaking up the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, you can tour Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and hike around Taisho Pond in the Japanese Alps. Enjoy a little beach time by adding the Okinawa extension, and August can easily be the best time to travel to Japan.
Weather in Japan in June, July, and August:
Average temperatures are between 75 F and 105 F.
Fall
The best time to visit Japan for changing leaves, nature hikes, and fewer crowds
Fall typically has some of the most pleasant weather in Japan, but some of the early weeks of the season can be unpredictable. August and September are typically considered the peak typhoon season in the country, but the rest of fall will allow you to experience other types of activities to add to tried-and-true Japan itineraries. Our Japan tours will guide you through the best of Japan as fall foliage shows off the changing colors of the season. For many, that alone is reason enough to visit, but there’s also sports, hiking—and food. After all, autumn is a busy time for the harvest, which means this is the best time to visit Japan if you want to sample farm-fresh Japanese food.
Months to experience fall in Japan:
September, October, and November
If you want to experience baseball in Japan, visit in September.
If you thought that sumo wrestling is the most popular sport in Japan, you may be surprised to learn that it’s actually baseball. The Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) is the local equivalent of Major League Baseball, and it’s a big deal. Baseball season runs from March to October. If you’re a baseball fan who wants to set off on any of our Japan tours, you should definitely spend one of your free nights in a baseball stadium. It’s sure to be a special experience.
If you love hiking and seeing fall foliage, October is a good time to visit Japan.
Fans of fall foliage will definitely be convinced that October is the best time of year to visit Japan. The weather won’t be too cold, so you can really take advantage of being outside to see leaves change colors. Whether you’re on our Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto tour or our Japan: Kyoto, the Japanese Alps & Tokyo tour, you’ll have countless opportunities to see fall foliage. Actually, you don’t even need to leave Tokyo; tree-lined Icho Namiki Avenue, just east of Shibuya, is perfect for leaf peeping.
November in Japan is perfect for food lovers.
Japan is a food lover’s paradise. Whether you’re traveling with loved ones or going solo, traveling to Japan for a bowl of ramen, a platter of sushi, or a cup of matcha is always a good idea. November is a great time to schedule a trip to Japan because, as one Japanese saying goes, autumn is the season for eating. So, whether you’re on our Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto tour or Highlights of Japan: Tokyo to Kyoto tour, we hope you come hungry—especially because, in addition to classic Japanese eats, November is also when seasonal treats become available. Think: Japanese sweet potato, pumpkin, and different mushroom species showing up in soups, noodle dishes, and more. One can’t-miss dish: fried and candied Japanese sweet potatoes. You’ll probably never find them anywhere else.
Weather in Japan in September, October, and November:
Average temperatures are between 55 F and 85 F.
Have you figured out when the best time to visit Japan is? We told you: It’s any time! Shop our Japan tours now and start planning an adventure of a lifetime.
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