The Best Time of Year to Visit Japan

Discover the best ways to enjoy Japan all year round…

Best time to visit

In a country as wonderfully diverse as Japan, it doesn’t matter what time of year you choose to travel, there will always be plenty of fantastic activities and experiences to be enjoyed. At Scott Dunn, our travel experts know the best times to travel to Japan and can help you plan the perfect trip based on what you want to see and do.

Typically, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times to go to Japan, since this is when the country’s naturally breathtaking scenery comes alive. Spring marks the anticipated cherry blossom season in Japan, with beautiful pink and red blooms making for a wonderful backdrop everywhere you go. If you’re hoping to take in the blossoms, it’s worth noting that spring is the busiest time of year to visit, with tourists flocking to destinations across the country to see it.



What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Japan?

The ideal time to go to Japan depends on the kinds of experiences you’re looking for.

During the summer months, Japan’s northern national parks and mountainous regions are ideal for hiking, biking and exploring, while the south becomes hot and humid. Alternatively, if you’re a fan of skiing, winter is no doubt the best time of year to visit Japan, offering fresh white powder piled high and plenty of stunning routes both on and off-piste.

If you’d like to visit Japan’s largest cities, Tokyo and Osaka, spring or autumn are also the best times to travel, as conditions can get extremely hot and sticky during the summer months.

No matter when you’d like to travel, our experts will gladly plan you a tailor-made itinerary that combines the best experiences for each of Japan’s seasons, so you can just sit back, relax and focus on making the most of your luxury Japan holiday.

Our Experts Say...

"The best times to visit Japan are from early-March to late May and from early October to early December. The Cherry Blossom season typically falls between the last week of March and the first week of April. The autumn leaves typically come into full colour towards the end of October and last through to the end of November. Cherry Blossom and autumn can both be very busy and particularly expensive times to travel. To avoid the crowds, consider travelling in early March or between mid-April and late May. Early December is also a great time to travel. Summer can be very hot and humid in Japan, especially in August and September when there's a greater risk of typhoons. If you have to travel during the summer months, Japan is very equipped for extreme weather and most trips go without a hitch! Christmas and New Year as well as Golden Week in mid-May and Obon in mid-August are the only periods to really avoid a Japan trip due to bigger crowds and some facilities closing for the holidays."

Rikki Poynton, Asia Specialist

Climate guide for Japan

, Japan

Average temperatures (Celsius) and rainfall (mm)

Jan
11°C 2mm
Feb
13°C 4mm
Mar
19°C 9mm
Apr
24°C 14mm
May
29°C 8mm
Jun
31°C 14mm
Jul
34°C 16mm
Aug
36°C 18mm
Sep
29°C 18mm
Oct
25°C 13mm
Nov
19°C 7mm
Dec
14°C 4mm
Jan
15°C 5mm
Feb
18°C 7mm
Mar
21°C 16mm
Apr
24°C 26mm
May
28°C 9mm
Jun
30°C 19mm
Jul
32°C 22mm
Aug
35°C 18mm
Sep
32°C 23mm
Oct
29°C 19mm
Nov
22°C 10mm
Dec
18°C 6mm
Jan
15°C 7mm
Feb
17°C 8mm
Mar
20°C 10mm
Apr
23°C 14mm
May
27°C 10mm
Jun
30°C 19mm
Jul
32°C 19mm
Aug
35°C 12mm
Sep
32°C 21mm
Oct
29°C 9mm
Nov
22°C 7mm
Dec
17°C 9mm
Jan
15°C 9mm
Feb
16°C 7mm
Mar
22°C 10mm
Apr
24°C 13mm
May
30°C 8mm
Jun
31°C 9mm
Jul
35°C 12mm
Aug
37°C 12mm
Sep
34°C 14mm
Oct
29°C 12mm
Nov
23°C 12mm
Dec
18°C 14mm
Jan
15°C 10mm
Feb
16°C 8mm
Mar
20°C 12mm
Apr
23°C 14mm
May
27°C 11mm
Jun
30°C 18mm
Jul
33°C 20mm
Aug
35°C 18mm
Sep
32°C 24mm
Oct
29°C 18mm
Nov
22°C 10mm
Dec
18°C 13mm
Jan
14°C 10mm
Feb
17°C 9mm
Mar
21°C 15mm
Apr
25°C 16mm
May
29°C 11mm
Jun
32°C 18mm
Jul
34°C 24mm
Aug
37°C 19mm
Sep
33°C 21mm
Oct
30°C 14mm
Nov
22°C 9mm
Dec
17°C 10mm
Jan
16°C 6mm
Feb
18°C 56mm
Mar
21°C 23mm
Apr
24°C 29mm
May
28°C 17mm
Jun
29°C 32mm
Jul
32°C 38mm
Aug
34°C 30mm
Sep
31°C 34mm
Oct
27°C 17mm
Nov
21°C 9mm
Dec
17°C 8mm
Jan
8°C 4mm
Feb
9°C 4mm
Mar
14°C 7mm
Apr
21°C 10mm
May
27°C 8mm
Jun
28°C 8mm
Jul
31°C 10mm
Aug
32°C 13mm
Sep
29°C 11mm
Oct
23°C 11mm
Nov
18°C 10mm
Dec
12°C 7mm
Jan
15°C 11mm
Feb
16°C 9mm
Mar
20°C 13mm
Apr
24°C 15mm
May
29°C 11mm
Jun
32°C 19mm
Jul
34°C 21mm
Aug
36°C 21mm
Sep
33°C 22mm
Oct
29°C 15mm
Nov
22°C 11mm
Dec
18°C 13mm
Jan
17°C 6mm
Feb
19°C 8mm
Mar
21°C 17mm
Apr
25°C 20mm
May
27°C 13mm
Jun
29°C 20mm
Jul
31°C 24mm
Aug
34°C 22mm
Sep
32°C 25mm
Oct
29°C 16mm
Nov
24°C 9mm
Dec
19°C 8mm
Jan
14°C 8mm
Feb
16°C 7mm
Mar
21°C 10mm
Apr
23°C 14mm
May
28°C 9mm
Jun
31°C 14mm
Jul
33°C 13mm
Aug
36°C 13mm
Sep
33°C 18mm
Oct
28°C 15mm
Nov
21°C 7mm
Dec
17°C 7mm
Jan
16°C 6mm
Feb
18°C 6mm
Mar
22°C 12mm
Apr
24°C 16mm
May
29°C 11mm
Jun
31°C 20mm
Jul
33°C 18mm
Aug
36°C 19mm
Sep
33°C 24mm
Oct
29°C 22mm
Nov
22°C 12mm
Dec
19°C 6mm
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