When to go to Japan? Month by month, weather and advice

Japan is one of the few countries where the question of "when to go" radically changes the experience. Not just the weather. The landscapes, the crowds, the festivals, the behavior of entire cities. A traveler who arrives in Kyoto in the middle of cherry blossoms does not experience the same stay as one who arrives in November under the red maples. Both are right to come back.

◆Spring: Cherry Blossom Season (March-April)

This is the most requested period, and for good reason. The sakura transform parks and temple alleys into paintings that are impossible to reproduce. Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima: the flowering rises from south to north over several weeks, from the end of March to mid-April depending on the year.

What you need to know: the exact date of flowering is only known 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Quality accommodation in Kyoto for this period can be booked 8 to 12 months in advance. Prices are at the maximum. And the most photographed sites (Maruyama Park, Philosopher's Path) are invaded from 8am.

An organized tour allows you to juggle the weather forecast at the time of booking, and to access accommodations that are blocked well in advance. This is also the period when the added value of a local guide is most obvious.

May is a great alternative: the cherry trees are gone, the rhododendrons and azaleas are taking over, the temperatures are ideal (15-22°C), and the crowds have halved.

◆Autumn: the momiji season (October-November)

Japanese autumn is, for many regular travellers, the most beautiful season. The momiji (red and orange maples) cover the temples and mountain forests in October and November. Nikko, Kyoto, Hakone, the valleys of Tohoku: the whole country changes its palette.

Mild temperatures (10-20°C), often clear skies, Mount Fuji visible on cloudless days. It is also the season of autumn matsuri in temples, night markets, and the first cool nights ideal for outdoor onsen.

Attendance is high but less than in spring. Prices remain high in November, but accessible in October. For a first trip to Japan, October is probably the best combination: weather, crowds, prices, landscapes.

! [Red maple trees in autumn in the gardens of a Japanese temple] (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1526481280693-3bfa7568e0f3?w=1200&h=600&fit=crop&auto=format)

◆Winter: calm, snow and onsen (December-February)

This is the least known season for European travelers, and one of the best for those looking to avoid the crowds. Kyoto's temples are almost empty. Prices are dropping. Snow on the roofs of Kyoto's pagodas or on the houses of Shirakawa-go creates images of rare beauty.

December is still mild and sees the end-of-year illuminations (very spectacular in Osaka and Tokyo). January-February are the coldest months (0-8°C in Tokyo, up to -5°C in Kyoto on some nights), but also the most suitable for stays in the ryokan of the Japanese Alps with an open-air bath under the snow.

Hokkaido offers some of the best ski resorts in Asia. The Sapporo Snow Festival in February attracts visitors from all over the world.

◆Summer: to be anticipated carefully (June-August)

Summer in Japan is hot and humid. Very hot. June is the rainy season (tsuyu): daily rains, air saturated with humidity. July and August see temperatures exceed 35°C in Tokyo and Osaka, with humidity exceeding 80%.

Golden Week in late April-early May and Obon in mid-August are the two biggest domestic travel periods in Japan. Trains, hotels, and tourist sites are saturated with Japanese travelers.

If you have no choice but to leave in the summer, Hokkaido (15-20°C in July) is still a great option. Summer festivals (Awa Odori in Tokushima, Nebuta in Aomori) are a valid reason to brave the heat.

! [Fushimi Inari Shrine in the morning mist in Kyoto] (https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1478436127897-769e1b3f0f36?w=1200&h=600&fit=crop&auto=format)

◆The calendar month by month

January: Cold and dry, low crowds, low prices. Great for onsen and non-crowded cities.

February: Cold, dry, light crowds. Snow Festival in Sapporo mid-February.

March: Beginning of flowering in the south (Fukuoka, Hiroshima). Mild but still cool temperatures. Crowds on the rise.

April: Cherry trees in Tokyo (early April) and Kyoto (mid-April). Peak in attendance and prices. Book 8 to 12 months in advance.

May: Ideal temperatures (15-22°C), reduced crowds, azaleas in bloom. One of the best times.

June: Rainy season (tsuyu). Beautiful hydrangeas, but high humidity. Low crowds.

July-August: Very hot and humid (35°C+). Lively summer festivals. Hokkaido recommended.

September: Transition. Typhoons possible in early September, then back to good weather. Low crowds, low prices.

October: Start of the momiji, ideal temperatures, reasonable crowds. One of the best months.

November: Red maples at their peak. Crowds and prices similar in spring.

December: Illuminations, first cold weather, small crowds outside the end of year celebrations. Good period.

The best weather-crowd-price ratio is found in May, September and early October. It is the seasonal shoulders that seasoned travelers favor.

◆How long should I stay?

7 days: Tokyo + Kyoto + Nara. The essentials, but the pace is fast.

10 to 12 days: The classic circuit. Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima. The right balance for a first trip.

14 days and more: Kanazawa, Takayama, Tohoku, Hokkaido. Deep Japan, far from the marked trails.

For the cherry blossom or momiji season, add 2 days to your usual plans: you will spend time strolling in unexpected places.

Are you still hesitating about the itinerary? [Discover the organized tours in Japan] (/destinations/Japan) or [answer a few questions](/start) to find the trip that fits your profile.