WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO VISIT JAPAN? | A GUIDE ON JAPAN'S SEASONS

Not sure when to visit Japan? Well there here are some of the basics of the best time to visit Japan.

Periods you should be aware of

Japan has three major periods throughout the year where domestic travel rises, resulting in longer queues to going places and sightseeing, crowded trains and overall more expensive.

The first is New Years holiday. New Years holiday lasts from around the last few days of December and typically the first 3 days of January. New Years is considered Japan’s biggest holiday and it is when everyone goes home for New Years to get a fresh start into the new year. Everyone goes home…we mean it. Most shops/restaurants, sight seeing spots and events/activities will be closed making much of Tokyo look like ghost towns. However, if you are here during this time than you can certainly enjoy and partake in this festivity by visiting shrines and temples where New Years celebrations will be made.

The next is golden week. Golden week is typically near the end of April to the beginning of May (depends on the year). This week has consecutive holidays lined up where much of the week is taken off. Due to many people having this week off, it calls for a rise in domestic travel making it crowded everywhere you go.

The last is during Obon. Obon is a holiday typically the week of August 13-15. People go back home to celebrate the lives of deceased family members. Businesses and shops may be closed during this time and there might be crowding but it’s a bit more dispersed than the New Year holidays and Golden Week.

Best time to visit Japan

It’s hard to choose the best time to visit Japan - each season has something to offer. The winter (December-February) time can be quite romantic with lots of illumination throughout the city with possible snowfall. The fall (September - November) offers mild temperatures and beautiful autumn leaves. But, there could be some typhoon scares to be aware of. The summer (June-August), although is hot and sticky, is the season for festivities, activities and beach parties. Then there’s the spring (March-May) when the weather if perfect and if you’re lucky, the cherry blossoms are blooming. You can also check out our festivals/events guide page to know what annual festivals and events occur during each season.

However, overall if you’re looking for ideal conditions, there’s a few ways to approach this decision. The spring time is considered one of the best times to visit Japan. The weather is beautiful and the cherry blossoms come out where everyone celebrates by outdoor picnics and events. But, due to the popularity in cherry blossoms, it could get quite busy. The fall time is another option, especially during the months of October - November. With ideal weather conditions and nice autumn leaves it’s also a relatively quiet period for domestic and international travel. Check out the graph at the bottom of the page to understand the busy periods of Japan

Overall it really depends on you!

It really depends of when you can come to Japan and what you would like to see as well. Just remember depending on when you come to Japan, the scenery could be completely different! No mater what time of year you come, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy it or find something interesting. Figure out what’s best for you.

Photo Credit: Live Japan