This is the Best Time to Visit Japan (advice from a local)

I’ve been visiting and living in Tokyo since 2017. It’s my second home, aaaaand I love it here. But some seasons are just better than others. So if you’re struggling to decide when to plan your trip to Japan, then you’re in the right place.

Let’s make sure you get the most out of your visit. This is my full guide on the absolute best times to visit Japan.

Overall, spring and fall are the best. You get the cherry blossoms in spring and leaf peeping in the fall. Plus, the weather is perfect.

But these “perfect” seasons also have their drawbacks. And choosing the best time really depends more on your goals, preferences and situation.

So let’s wrap up this small talk — let’s freaking do this!

Table of Contents Show

The Best Times to go to Japan (spring / autumn)

Hands down, the best time to visit Japan is the spring and the fall. The flowers are flowering and the weather is weathering (insert a chef’s kiss of approval). But take note, this also means these are the busiest times to go.

The Best Time to Visit Japan for Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms, small park in Saitama (Toda Koen area)

Cherry blossoms (sakura) bloom throughout the spring season and the timing depends on where you are. But for Tokyo, cherry blossom season starts from the end of March and can last into May.

Once bloomed, the peak sakura only lasts for maybe a week. So it’s important to check the dates online since each year is slightly different. Here are some tips for cherry blossom viewing in Japan:

• Show up early morning to get a good spot (for picnicking)

• Check out smaller parks outside the city for less crowds

• See them at night too for pretty lights

• Stay chill and respectful of others

My favorite spot to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo is Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. It’s about 20 minutes from Shibuya station (on the Inokashira line) and there’s a big pond, swan boats and nearby vintage shopping. It’s one of my favorite places to see the sakura.

Some other popular sakura spots are Shinjuku Gyoen, Ueno Park, Lake Kawaguchiko and the Meguro River.

But with or without the cherry blossoms, spring is the perfect time to visit Japan.

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The Best Time to Visit Japan in the Fall

The top of Mt. Takao, fall 2023

Fall in Japan is amazing for leaf peeping (kōyō season). Reds, oranges, yellows — so much vibe!

Kōyō season starts around September in Hokkaido and moves south slowly. The peak season for Kanto and Tokyo is usually between mid-November and early December.

This is the perfect time to go on hikes — like that picture of me hiking up Mt. Takao in November of last year.

So if you’re into the fall, hygge-style travel, then fall is the perfect time to visit Japan.

Here are some fun things to do if you visit Japan in the fall:

• Hiking

• Koyo leaf peeping

• Shopping

• Cafes and food culture

• Indoor amusement parks and venues (like teamLab)

• Onsen hot springs

Explore more:
➤ Tokyo in the Fall (what to do)

Visiting During Japan’s Low / Shoulder Seasons

Japan’s shoulder seasons are in the summer and winter:

• From late May to August

• From late November through December

• The winter low season is from January to early March.

Visiting Japan in the Summer

Asakusa, Nakamise street (Sumidagawa fireworks 2023)

Japanese summers are hot. Like, tropical-humidity hot. It even gets a bit dangerous, especially for the elderly or people with health conditions. Heat stroke is a common malady in Japan during the summer.

Still, there’s plenty to do and it can be better than trying to deal with Japan’s Golden Week crowds — just don’t worry about packing any jackets or heavy clothing.

Here are some fun things to do in the summer in Japan:

• Fireworks festivals

• Climb Mt. Fuji

• Enjoy the beaches

• Wander and explore cities on foot

• BBQing

• Outdoor summer festivals

Visiting Japan in the Winter

Snowboarding in Nagano :)

Personally, I love Japan in the winter. But I also love snowboarding and the whole chilly weather vibe thing. So if you’re into winter sports (or don’t mind the cold), Japan is worth a trip.

There are some seriously amazing ski resorts easily accessible by train or bus (from Tokyo) and Hokkaido is an international destination for riders worldwide.

But even if you stay in the city, you can still enjoy izakayas, shopping and the occasional city snowstorm — which is low-key amazing. The whole city gets quiet (especially on the outskirts) and it’s an awesome time to get some amazing pictures for a creative project or check out the cafe scene.

Here’s a list of my favorite things to do in the winter in Japan:

• Snowboarding or skiing

• Cafes — so many cafes!

• Enjoy the onsens (hot springs)

• Visit a temple or shrine on New Year’s (hatsumode)

• Go to a winter festival (like Sapporo Snow Festival)

So, When Should I Visit Japan? (5 tips)

1. Consider Your Japan Goals

Travel goals make your trip more intentional and engaging. And they help me decide when I should visit a place. For example:

• What are your travel plans for Japan?

• What cities do you want to see

• What do you want to do?

• What type of traveler are you?

Sometimes, a winter trip is fine to do everything you want to do. So you can save money and crowd headaches if you know exactly why you’re going.

I’m all for spontaneity, but a little clarity can help narrow things down.

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2. Plan Ahead

“Planning ahead is most important if you’re traveling during the peak seasons so you can get decently-priced tickets, accommodations and ticket reservations for popular attractions.”

Planning is helpful. There’s that whole practical side of it — you know, taking off work, budgeting, creating an itinerary, yada yada yada.

So if you’re looking for the best time to visit Japan, give yourself the flexibility to choose any season by simply planning ahead (6-9 months out).

But if you’re more spontaneous (like me), then just manage your expectations. Alternatively, if you’re keen to travel more in life, you can look into finding remote work for travelers, which gives you complete flexibility for adventuring!

3. Know Your Travel Style

Your travel style is how you like to explore and adventure. And deciding the best time to go to Japan can depend on the type of traveling you want to do.

For example, here are some different types of travel:

• Adventure travel

• Food travel

• Luxury travel

• Sporty travel

• Creative travel

So if you prefer adventuring, then nicer weather is probably better for outdoorsy stuff. But if you love snowboarding, then obviously winter is the perfect time to plan a trip to Japan.

This ties back to knowing your travel goals, but adds your travel preferences and lifestyle into the mix. For me, I love doing creative travel projects like filmmaking, travel songwriting and blogging.

Explore more:
➤ What Type of Traveler Are You?

4. Avoid Major Holidays

If you can, avoid traveling during the major holidays in Japan (namely, Golden Week). This is a major national holiday that runs from the end of April to early May — aka, there are tons of people all traveling at the same time and prices are inflated.

If you do travel during this time, just be sure you plan ahead and reserve hotels far enough in advance.

The other major holiday to know is Obon, which is in the summer (around August) and then there’s New Year’s. Although, the New Year’s holiday also has a lot of fun things to do like Hatsumode, end-of-the-year foods and shopping sales.

5. Be Aware of Stormy Seasons

The Japanese rainy season runs from early June to mid-July and the typhoon season is from May to October (but mostly July to September).

Again, this makes spring or fall the best time to visit Japan.

Personally, I love a rainy day or two. But I also spend multiple months in Japan at a time, so I luckily have more flexibility with scheduling and doing fun stuff.

So I’d say try to find a pocket where you can avoid most of the touristy crowds while also missing the bad weather (early or late spring and fall).

Later ✌️

I love visiting Japan any time of the year. But the spring and fall are probably the best times to visit. The weather is perfect and there’s lots of popular things to do (like cherry blossom viewing).

This also means you can expect large crowds and inflated prices. So choosing the right time for you comes down to your specific travel goals and preferences.

But as long as you avoid stormy seasons and plan ahead, Japan never disappoints.

FAQs

• What are the cheapest months to travel to Japan?

  To save some loot, travel to Japan during the shoulder seasons and low seasons. These will be the cheapest months to visit and includes the summertime (from late May to August) and winter (from January to late March). 

• When is the best time to travel to Japan weather wise?

  The spring or the fall are the best times to visit Japan for great weather. This is part of the reason these seasons are also the most popular for tourism.

• What’s the least touristy month in Japan?

  In my experience, the winter months are the least touristy (between January and March). It’s colder and there’s less to do for it. But it’s still fun! Again, this is perfect if you’re a snowboarder or skier (or you just don’t mind the chilly air).

• What is the most beautiful time of year in Japan?

  Again, the spring and the fall get a strong W here. Spring in Japan has epic cherry blossoms and the fall colors are unmatched.

• Is December a good time to visit Japan?

  Definitely! December is an awesome time to visit Japan. You have lots of illumination light displays, Christmas (Japan style), traditions like Hatsumode and new year’s shopping sales (typically during the first week of January). Plus, since the weather is getting colder, you can enjoy warm soup bowls and nabe pots like crazy. It’s good.

• When are cherry blossoms and fall foliage in Japan?

  This depends on where you are in Japan, but for the Tokyo area, Cherry blossoms usually start around the end of March and can last into May. Fall foliage (kōyō) is generally between mid-November and early December. Just remember to double check when cherry blossoms and kōyō season starts before your trip, since each year varies slightly.

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