When is the best season to visit Japan?

Japan is a wonderful country, but what is the best season to visit it? What is the best time to visit Japan? Discover it in this blog post, together with my personal recommendation.

About Japan’s climate

Japan is a country located in East Asia, in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, and giving the name to the Sea of Japan, the one between Japan, the two Koreas and Russia.

Broadly speaking we can divide Japan into 3 main regions, the island of Hokkaido, in the north, with a subarctic climate, the main island of Japan, and the Okinawa and Amami islands on the south, with a subtropical climate.

Thus, despite being one single country, the weather conditions can vary not only depending on the season but also on the region of Japan you are visiting.

However, due to how well-connected the country is, no matter when you are visiting it is likely that you will find some climate fluctuations during your trip.

Visit Japan during Winter

Winter in Japan lasts from December to February and it is the coldest time of the year. Snowfall is common in the Northern island of Hokkaido, with temperatures reaching values of -20 Celsius degrees (-4 Fahrenheit). However, if you want to see snow in Japan, you can also find it in the Japanese alps area or the part of the country closer to the Sea of Japan.

The Pacific side, instead, although with low temperatures is sunny and with good visibility. In the south of the country, the weather is pleasant, with just mild winters in Okinawa and Amami, due to their subtropical climate.

Despite being the coldest season, there are many unique things to do in Japan in winter. Oh, and with almost no tourists anywhere!

Snowboarding

Do you like snowboarding? This is your best season to visit Japan. Hokkaido and the Japanese alps have some amazing slopes, and many locals and tourists gather to enjoy the powder snow. Japan has also some nice ski resorts, giving the perfect winter experience,

Snow Monkeys

Japan is home to the northernmost-living primate, the Japanese Macaque, and winter is the perfect time to visit them. The most popular location to visit Snow Monkeys is the Jigokudani Monkey Park. Located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, it is common to find it covered by snow from December to February. The park’s most distinctive feature is a small onsen (hot spring) where monkeys swim and gather around during the day. Thus, it is during winter, when temperatures are lower, that monkeys are more active. Snow monkeys surrounded by snow, perfect combination!

Snow festivals

The main element of most of the points of this list is snow, but this is maybe the most impressive one. During winter, in some cities of Northern Japan, it is possible to visit the Snow Festivals. Giant ice and snow sculptures, lights, and below zero temperatures. Is winter in Japan for you?

See Mount Fuji

There is no doubt that Winter and early Spring are the seasons to get the best views of Mount Fuji in Japan. With just a few cloudy or rainy days, it is possible to see the whole mountain for around 80% of the days during Winter. Thus, if one of the goals of your trip is to see Mount Fuji, consider travelling in Winter.

Visit Japan during Spring

Spring in Japan lasts from March until May, and it is a changing season. Temperature increases and decreases during the first month, and then it rises gradually. For the second part of spring, there are plenty of sunny days.

Bye the end of the spring, though, Okinawa and the southern islands start to experience the rainy season, with the first heavy rainfalls.

It is the most desired season to visit Japan as it is during these months when trees blossom, creating perfect-looking parks and colourful pictures. A perfect season for photographers.

Cherry blossom

It is no secret that during spring Japan changes. All parks and green areas are covered in petals, and photographers can’t stop shooting the beautiful cherry blossoms. Japan at its finest. However, everyone knows it, and tourism is pretty crazy, especially during the full bloom of the cherry blossom season.

Festivals

Japan has plenty of festivals, and although the season of festivals is summer, during spring, it is possible to attend some festivals. Unlike during summer, the temperature is not too high, although the hordes of locals and tourists will be there whenever you attend.

Visit Japan during Summer

Spring in Japan lasts from March until August, and it is the rainy season. Temperature increases and so does the humidity. Some areas of western Japan can reach temperatures of 35 Celsius degrees (95 Fahrenheit).

Rain is common, so be ready for sudden changes in climatical conditions. The southern islands enjoy their subtropical climate, with the sun, warm temperatures, and dreamy beaches.

Despite the extreme temperatures, it is when most tourists visit Japan, as it is the holidays season all around the northern hemisphere. therefore, prices will be higher, there will be less availability of rooms, and all touristic spots will be more crowded.

Top festivals and fireworks

If Spring was the season of flowers, Summer is the season of Festivals, matsuri in Japanese. There are plenty of them, so it is very likely that if you visit Japan during the summer, you will find yourself in the middle of a festival. Moreover, festivals usually come with beautiful firework displays.

Climb Mount Fuji

Although winter is the best season to get views of the Mount Fuji, it is during summer that it is possible to climb it. Being the tallest mountain in Japan, it is, without any doubt a once in a lifetime experience. There are plenty of organized tours and detailed guides about what routes to take, where to sleep, so don’t hesitate and reach the top of Japan!

Relax in Okinawa

Maybe all you want to do is have a relaxing week at a summer resort by a paradisiac beach. Well, you can do it during the summer in Japan! Go south and explore the relaxing life on the Japanese islands. It is a pretty frequented spot by locals, however, not all tourists make it there.