The Best Time of Year to Visit Japan

Discover the best ways to enjoy Japan throughout the seasons…

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 to enjoy. At Scott Dunn, our travel experts know the best times to visit Japan for a range of experiences and can help you plan the perfect trip based on what you want to see and do.

Typically, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the best times of year to go to Japan, since this is when the country’s naturally breathtaking scenery comes alive. Spring marks the anticipated cherry blossom season, with beautiful pink and red blooms appearing everywhere you go. If you are planning 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?

If you’re wondering when is the best time to go to Japan, it all 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 fall are the best times to travel, as these areas 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 customized itinerary that combines the best experiences for each of Japan’s seasons - so just sit back, relax and focus on making the most of your luxury Japan vacation.

Our Experts Say...

While there are so many different climates in Japan, I think November is the best time of year to visit the “main” island of Honshu. Japan celebrates every season to its fullest, and autumn is no exception! The heat and humidity of summer are fully behind you, and there are not quite as many tourists as there would be in spring. To top it off, Japanese maple trees put on a breathtaking show of colors this time of year. Meanwhile, you can still enjoy some beach time down in Okinawa or skiing up north in Hokkaido.

Corey Weiss, Asia Specialist

Climate guide for Japan

, Japan

Average temperatures (Fahrenheit) and rainfall (mm)

Jan
52°F 2mm
Feb
56°F 4mm
Mar
67°F 9mm
Apr
74°F 14mm
May
84°F 8mm
Jun
88°F 14mm
Jul
93°F 16mm
Aug
97°F 18mm
Sep
85°F 18mm
Oct
78°F 13mm
Nov
67°F 7mm
Dec
57°F 4mm
Jan
60°F 5mm
Feb
65°F 7mm
Mar
70°F 16mm
Apr
75°F 26mm
May
83°F 9mm
Jun
87°F 19mm
Jul
90°F 22mm
Aug
95°F 18mm
Sep
90°F 23mm
Oct
84°F 19mm
Nov
71°F 10mm
Dec
65°F 6mm
Jan
59°F 7mm
Feb
62°F 8mm
Mar
69°F 10mm
Apr
74°F 14mm
May
81°F 10mm
Jun
87°F 19mm
Jul
90°F 19mm
Aug
96°F 12mm
Sep
89°F 21mm
Oct
84°F 9mm
Nov
72°F 7mm
Dec
63°F 9mm
Jan
59°F 9mm
Feb
60°F 7mm
Mar
71°F 10mm
Apr
76°F 13mm
May
86°F 8mm
Jun
88°F 9mm
Jul
96°F 12mm
Aug
99°F 12mm
Sep
93°F 14mm
Oct
84°F 12mm
Nov
73°F 12mm
Dec
65°F 14mm
Jan
59°F 10mm
Feb
61°F 8mm
Mar
67°F 12mm
Apr
73°F 14mm
May
81°F 11mm
Jun
87°F 18mm
Jul
91°F 20mm
Aug
95°F 18mm
Sep
89°F 24mm
Oct
83°F 18mm
Nov
72°F 10mm
Dec
64°F 13mm
Jan
57°F 10mm
Feb
62°F 9mm
Mar
69°F 15mm
Apr
77°F 16mm
May
85°F 11mm
Jun
90°F 18mm
Jul
94°F 24mm
Aug
99°F 19mm
Sep
92°F 21mm
Oct
85°F 14mm
Nov
72°F 9mm
Dec
63°F 10mm
Jan
61°F 6mm
Feb
65°F 56mm
Mar
70°F 23mm
Apr
74°F 29mm
May
83°F 17mm
Jun
85°F 32mm
Jul
89°F 38mm
Aug
94°F 30mm
Sep
88°F 34mm
Oct
80°F 17mm
Nov
70°F 9mm
Dec
63°F 8mm
Jan
46°F 4mm
Feb
48°F 4mm
Mar
58°F 7mm
Apr
69°F 10mm
May
81°F 8mm
Jun
82°F 8mm
Jul
87°F 10mm
Aug
90°F 13mm
Sep
84°F 11mm
Oct
74°F 11mm
Nov
64°F 10mm
Dec
54°F 7mm
Jan
58°F 11mm
Feb
61°F 9mm
Mar
68°F 13mm
Apr
76°F 15mm
May
84°F 11mm
Jun
89°F 19mm
Jul
93°F 21mm
Aug
97°F 21mm
Sep
91°F 22mm
Oct
84°F 15mm
Nov
72°F 11mm
Dec
64°F 13mm
Jan
62°F 6mm
Feb
65°F 8mm
Mar
70°F 17mm
Apr
77°F 20mm
May
81°F 13mm
Jun
84°F 20mm
Jul
89°F 24mm
Aug
93°F 22mm
Sep
89°F 25mm
Oct
83°F 16mm
Nov
75°F 9mm
Dec
67°F 8mm
Jan
57°F 8mm
Feb
60°F 7mm
Mar
69°F 10mm
Apr
74°F 14mm
May
82°F 9mm
Jun
88°F 14mm
Jul
91°F 13mm
Aug
97°F 13mm
Sep
91°F 18mm
Oct
82°F 15mm
Nov
70°F 7mm
Dec
62°F 7mm
Jan
61°F 6mm
Feb
65°F 6mm
Mar
71°F 12mm
Apr
76°F 16mm
May
84°F 11mm
Jun
88°F 20mm
Jul
92°F 18mm
Aug
97°F 19mm
Sep
91°F 24mm
Oct
84°F 22mm
Nov
71°F 12mm
Dec
65°F 6mm
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