The information on this page is based on historical averages and may not reflect current conditions. Please check with local authorities for the latest travel advice.
Read moreThe best time to visit Japan is from late March to early April and from September to November. During spring, the country is covered in swathes of cherry blossom trees, while autumn chooses a new palette as tranquil gardens and parks turn a shade of red, orange and gold. As well as the beautiful foliage, the weather is mild during these periods and pleasant for strolling around the sights.
In major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, your best bet for immersing yourself in the pink tint of sakura season is at the start of April. It’s not an exact science but generally, the milder the climate, the earlier the blossoms open – so bear this in mind when planning your trip. As well as exploring Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, public bathhouses (sento) and hot-spring baths (onsen) are one of the most therapeutic ways to immerse yourself in the local culture. Japan is also renowned for its flavourful cuisine, so be sure to fill your plate with sushi, udon noodles and tofu between soaking up the sights.
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Monthly weather and travel tips for Japan
Japan in January is a relatively chilly affair with temperatures dropping to around 10°C and many parts of the country experiencing snowfall. But between winter festivals, hot springs and skiing, there are plenty of ways to keep warm. Lower crowds combined with consistently impressive sights make it well worth braving the crisp weather in big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto but bear in mind that a lot of businesses close over the New Year period. If you’re adamant about leaving your coat and umbrella at home, the Okinawa Islands in the southwest enjoy semi-tropical weather all year round, with temperatures of up to 18°C.
The Shōgatsu (New Year) festival kicks off on 1 January when everyone unites to wish good health and prosperity upon one another. Head to a snow art festival to observe beautiful ice sculptures of mythological creatures which are illuminated at night. As January is the coldest month of the year, many also take to the slopes to enjoy skiing or snowboarding, with Hakuba and Niseko two of the most popular resorts.
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As the cold snap continues into February, ski season reaches its peak as blankets of thick, powdery snow are met with more sunshine and slightly warmer temperatures than January. Although the weather is usually sunny and dry, you should pack plenty of warm clothes to cope with the cooler temperatures which average out at around 10°C during the day and 2°C in the evening. There are limited crowds at this time of year, making it a great time to explore the main sights with shorter queues.
February’s highlights include Sapporo’s annual snow festival, attracting two million visitors with its ice sculpting competition, a skating rink and snow slides for kids. Towards the end of the month, plum blossoms begin to appear to signal the start of spring. Head to famous viewing points like Kairaku-en in Mito or Tokyo’s Hanegi Park along with many other gardens and shrines to appreciate the vibrant shades of these colourful trees.
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March’s main draw is undoubtedly the tradition of hanami, which literally means to look at flowers. It won’t take you long to see what all the fuss is about, with the sakura trees popping up in parks, along streets and riversides. The cherry blossom colours begin to peek through at the beginning of March as the reddish hues spread from south to north, but expect a full-on pink parade as the month draws to a close. It's worth checking the cherry blossom forecasts ahead of time if you want to see the country at its most colourful. These will be available between January and February and will be updated weekly throughout the season.
Anime is a big deal in Japan, so if you’re in Tokyo at this time, it’s worth checking out AnimeJapan – the world’s largest festival devoted to this popular animation style. Daytime temperatures average out at an agreeable 13°C, meaning it’s one of the most enjoyable times to visit the country. If you’re going to be out the whole day, you should pack a relatively warm coat or jumper to wrap up in during the evenings when it gets a bit fresher.
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A surge of warmer weather throughout the country means April is the ideal time to visit any part of Japan. Cherry blossom season hits its stride in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, and southern Okinawa’s beach resorts are open for business. While temperatures average out to 19°C during the day, you’ll still want to wear something warmer in the evening when it can get quite chilly.
Die-hard winter sports enthusiasts can still hit the slopes in some resorts, like Niseko which caters for spring skiing. If you’re keen to appreciate the beauty of cherry blossom season in full swing, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto offer some of the best hanami (blossom viewing) as flushes of pink cover streets, parks and shrines. However, there are thousands of spots across the country to observe sakura (cherry trees) in bloom. Beware that crowds will swell during Golden Week (29th April to early May) when a number of Japanese holidays take place.
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As Golden Week festivities spill over into the first week of May, cherry blossoms are at their pinkish peak in the northern region of Hokkaido and average temperatures creep up to a pleasant 23°C. Many Japanese people take the week off work so expect public transport and parks to be busy.
Once the crowds have dispersed, you can enjoy a relatively roomy exploration around main cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and enjoy the t-shirt worthy weather. With ski season officially over, hiking is the best way to keep active, with Hokkaido’s mountains and various national parks the best spots for a scenic stroll. Tokyo is filled with festivals during May, including the wild weekend-long Sanja Matsuri where around 100 portable shrines are paraded through the streets. The tail end of the month sees the hugely popular Roppongi Art Night put on its weekend of outdoor installations and live performances, turning the area into one big open-air gallery.
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By late June, the rainy season (‘tsuyu’) affects most of Japan so packing a waterproof coat and umbrella is strongly advised. The northernmost islands of Hokkaido are the one part of Japan which escape the showers, enjoying sunny weather for most of the month. Down south it will be fairly hot and humid, with rain falling in sporadic tropical downpours and temperatures around 26°C.
Despite the wet weather in central and southern Japan, there’s still plenty to see and do in the big cities. It’s an ideal time to make use of the traditional hot springs known as onsen, where you can soak in geothermally heated waters rich in minerals. There are also plenty of free festivals going on across the country, such as Hyakumangoku Matsuri in Kanazawa where you can observe traditional 16th-century costumes and folk dancing.
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By July, sunny days are frequent in the north and south, making it perfect for mountain excursions or snorkelling around the Okinawa Islands. Honshu and central Japan are a soggier affair as the rainy season continues. Although it can get very hot and humid in most parts of the country, you can find cooler weather in the northern regions like Hokkaido where temperatures average out to 21°C.
Climbing season officially begins in July, when adventurous types tackle Mount Fuji – the country’s highest peak at 3,776 metres. If you’re around on the last weekend of July, you can catch some of the biggest music acts at Fuji Rock Festival. It’s also the time for popular summer festivals like Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka and hundreds of ‘hanabi taikai’ (fireworks shows) held across the country.
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A combination of hot, humid weather, school holidays and the start of typhoon season means a visit in August can be quite hectic and overcrowded. Temperatures range between 35°C and 23°C, so be sure to pack plenty of breathable lightweight clothing. The beaches in Ishikari, just outside Sapporo, are very popular this time of year and experience lower humidity than other parts of Japan thanks to the island’s higher altitude.
Due to the sticky and unpleasant weather, it's best to avoid central cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, but they still host some spectacular fireworks festivals which are worth checking out if you’re in town. Climbing season is still in full swing, so excursions up to Mount Fuji are still very popular at this time, but expect busy trails during Obon week – one of Japan’s three main holiday seasons.
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Harsh weather conditions and limited travel options make September a month to avoid for travellers visiting Japan. Although the weather is generally less hot and humid, peak typhoon season will be occurring and usually hits the coasts of Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku with hard rain and high winds. With this in mind, always carry an umbrella and check weather forecasts before you head out.
In the north you can experience the first signs of autumn creeping through in Hokkaido’s National Parks, as the leaves turn beautiful shades of red and orange. If you’re in Osaka in the third weekend of September then you’ll witness one of its most energetic festivals – Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, while full moon gatherings known as ‘tsukimi’ take place all over the country.
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October is one of the best times to visit Japan as typhoon season and rainy weather make way for pretty autumn scenery, warm days and mild evenings. Head to Hokkaido’s National Parks to make the most of the season’s glorious shades of red, orange and gold, with O-numa Quasi National Park offering some of the most colourful foliage. Average temperatures range between 22°C and 14°C across all regions, so there’s no need to layer up while you’re exploring.
The pleasant weather brings a big haul of festivities to all corners of the country, including the Matsue Suitōro festival of water and light, Tokyo’s annual performing arts festival (Festival/Tokyo) and Yokohama Oktoberfest. Halloween is also a big deal in Japan, so expect to see thousands of creative costumes around squares and parks come 31 October. Events include flash mobs, street parties and even zombie runs.
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The sunny weather and wonderfully photogenic autumnal scenery make November one of the best months to visit Japan. Things start to get a little cooler at this time of year, so be sure to pack some extra layers to cope with cooler evenings, particularly if you’re visiting the northernmost island of Hokkaido which drops to around 8°C. The warmest weather can be found in the southern Okinawa Islands, with an average temperature of 22°C.
Mid-November sees the traditional festival of Shichi-Go-San (‘7-5-3’) take place where girls aged seven and three and boys aged five don colourful kimonos and receive blessings at Shinto shrines. You can also catch the last sumo wrestling tournament of the year at Fukuoka as the Kyushu Basho event wows crowds at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. Kyoto is also worth a visit around this time as its temples and gardens are filled with postcard-perfect scenery.
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The winter chill is well underway by this time of the year, ushering in the first snowfall, festive illuminations and the start of the ski season in Hokkaido. Average temperatures range between 12°C and 4°C and days are shorter with sunset in Tokyo taking place around 16:30. On the southwest islands, you can still enjoy mild weather reaching 20°C and beaches will be all but empty, but the water may be too cold for more than dipping your toe in.
Many shrines hold New Year’s Eve events on 31 December, and eating buckwheat noodles is a tasty tradition known as ‘toshikoshi soba’ – said to bring luck and longevity to those with the longest noodles. At midnight, temple bells around the country ring out 108 times as part of Joya-no-kane, an annual purifying ritual. Despite the fun festivities, it’s worth bearing in mind that this period is one of the three major travel seasons in Japan, so many businesses may be closed or open for limited hours. Expect transport to be more crowded as well.
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Although Japan’s climates and weather patterns vary a lot across its regions, the spring season between March and May is always a safe bet to explore this enchanting country. To give you an idea of how the season pans out weather-wise, Tokyo’s average temperature is around 13°C in March, steadily climbing up to 18.5°C in April and 23°C in May. If you’re visiting at the start of the season, it’s best to pack something a bit warmer for the cooler evenings.
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
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Tokyo | High | 9°C | 9°C | 14°C | 18°C | 24°C | 25°C | 30°C | 31°C | 27°C | 22°C | 17°C | 11°C |
Low | 2°C | 3°C | 7°C | 11°C | 17°C | 20°C | 24°C | 25°C | 22°C | 16°C | 11°C | 5°C | |
Rainfall | 21 days | 20 days | 21 days | 17 days | 17 days | 19 days | 20 days | 18 days | 19 days | 17 days | 18 days | 21 days | |
Osaka | High | 9°C | 9°C | 14°C | 19°C | 25°C | 27°C | 31°C | 33°C | 28°C | 23°C | 17°C | 11°C |
Low | 3°C | 3°C | 6°C | 11°C | 16°C | 20°C | 25°C | 26°C | 21°C | 16°C | 10°C | 5°C | |
Rainfall | 21 days | 20 days | 21 days | 17 days | 17 days | 19 days | 20 days | 18 days | 19 days | 17 days | 18 days | 21 days | |
Kyoto | High | 8°C | 8°C | 14°C | 19°C | 25°C | 27°C | 32°C | 33°C | 28°C | 23°C | 16°C | 10°C |
Low | 1°C | 2°C | 5°C | 9°C | 15°C | 20°C | 24°C | 25°C | 20°C | 15°C | 9°C | 3°C | |
Rainfall | 21 days | 20 days | 21 days | 17 days | 17 days | 19 days | 20 days | 18 days | 19 days | 17 days | 18 days | 21 days | |
Sapporo | High | -2°C | -1°C | 4°C | 11°C | 17°C | 21°C | 26°C | 26°C | 23°C | 15°C | 9°C | 2°C |
Low | -7°C | -7°C | -2°C | 3°C | 9°C | 14°C | 19°C | 20°C | 16°C | 8°C | 2°C | -3°C | |
Rainfall | 21 days | 20 days | 21 days | 17 days | 17 days | 19 days | 20 days | 18 days | 19 days | 17 days | 18 days | 21 days |
Cost of stay in Japan
Want to travel smart? Here, you can check out the average cost of accommodation per night in Japan.
The best places to visit in Japan
Check out some of the most popular cities, places to visit and things to do in Japan!
Tokyo
Popular in December
Shopping, Convenient Public Transport, Food
Osaka
Popular in December
Shopping, Local Food, Food
Kyoto
Popular in April
Temples, Culture, History
Fukuoka
Popular in December
Food, Shopping, Convenient Public Transport
Nagoya
Popular in December
Local Food, Food, Shopping
Sapporo
Popular in February
Food, City Walks, Sightseeing
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Kyoto seems very liveable- especially in comparison to Tokyo. People were very friendly and most things were cheap. We found the public transport a little confusing, but taxis (and uber) are widely available and affordable. It was also easy enough to walk around.
I love the weather and Sapporo city. It's basically surrunded by hotels and Malls. Easy for me to find Cafes like Starbucks and other eating places.
It is a great location to see Mt Fuji and also to see the other lakes. There is the Sea of Trees forest which was also a highlight. You could stay for longer as there are lots of lovely places to walk and hike.
One of the most amazing cities! Eat at Tokyo station! You won't believe the quality and variety. Lots to see and do, great public transport and wonderful to walk around
Great art museum, castle, water as an integral element of the urban feel - this is a great place to visit on its own or a base to make trips to seaside or Daisen-Oki National Park district.
Kinosaki onsen is well worth a side trip - it was an amazingly relaxing experience. Great vegetarian food at Gubigabu restaurant, outdoor onsens in icy cold weather an experience not to be missed!
The public transport is so convenient. One can go places as far as you want. The food is always the best in Japan.
The location and quiet were most welcome. Our host Marc was extremely patient and helpful, with the best advice given to rent a car as my handicapped husband would have struggled up and down the slopes of Naoshima. It was such a joy to drive around the island at our own time and target, and then to come back to a wonderfully warm and beautiful home. Indeed, just like home! Would be great for a multi-tier family - there’s so much room!
A great hotel just across the road from the train station. Close to other attractions eg the fish market. The room was a great size and big compared to other Japanese rooms we have stayed. The breakfast was wonderful - a mix of Japanese and Western food. The staff were friendly. We wished we could have stayed longer but we only stayed for a night as a stop over.
A beautiful island. Easy to either drive or go by bus. Lots of bars and restaurants in town. Very nice hotels scattered over the island
It's a beautiful place and will need time to explore. Easy to get on the site seeing bus to go around the lake. Cafes and restaurants are plenty. They even have Halal eateries.
This is another world. Worth seeing. Amazing experience with modern set us and ancient history.
Osaka is a great city. Especially the Doutonbori area is just unbelievable with so much energy and some great food. You should try the Doutonbori Gyozas without fail. We visited Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky building and a few shrines and had a lovely time in Osaka. The Tsunekaku area in shinsekai was good too.
Loved the Machiya area - samurai and ninja and geisha history, hidden alleys and other old homes
I like that we can easily reach our destinations by taking the train. However it might be a bit difficult to locate the exact exit to exit. Food is great all the time.
The station is super as is the gardens and castle. The market is excellent and opens at 9am, there are two tourist buses but it’s a pretty walkable town
Beppu is a nice town in a very interesting area. I arrived there by ferry from Osaka, which is itself a great trip.
This hotel is the perfect location if travelling on to another area in Japan. It is fantastic for a "stop over" sleep. Next visit we will stay a little longer and explore the hotel a bit better. Staff were fantastic and the free shuttle from the airport is fantastic as well.
Highly recommended if traveller likes the followings: Food, culture, shopping, nature, efficient transport, gardens, temples, hospitality, good living
So easy to get around Osaka, everyone is so friendly & helpful. No problems getting train/metro tickets at the stations as there is an English page on all the machines where you purchase your train/metro tickets & very easy to use. Favourite places that we visited: Kyoto, Osaka Castle, Shitenno-ji-Temple, Sumiyoshi, Dotonbori canal to name but a few
Beautiful city. Unfortunately it became so crowded & touristy.
I always love less touristy, peaceful, safe & clean places. Nakatsugawa is definitely in that category.
Tokyo is the one of the best cities in the world for culture, shopping and food. It is safe and clean and the service is always courteous and exceptional. Some of our favourite places are not the main tourist sights but the surrounding neighbourhoods which gives us a taste of real life in Tokyo. With a Pasmo card it is easier to get around on Tokyo's complicated train system.
A wonderful, beautiful, calm city. I want to come here again and again.
The hotel location was very convinient and nice restaurants, cafe, and park nearby Oasis 21. From Nagoya station, take the Number11 bus from the city bus terminal. You can pay as you get on the bus. Highly recommend you get a One day unlimited pass it is only 500 yen. This special sight seeing bus will take you to all the places like Toyota museum, Nagoya castle, and many other amazing places.
You should stay more than 1 night in Hiroshima, atleast 2 days, better 3 days. So you have enough time to explore everything. Compared to other cities, hiroshima is way more modern and is less traditionalthan kyoto for example. But thaths why it is so nice to see, it is different than other locations in Japan.
Great city to visit, shopping is fantastic and not as busy as Tokyo. Plenty to do. We used the train network, the train network is both beyond great and easy to use if you live there, (meaning) we were a group of six and have travelled many times in the past and in Japan the rail took lots of effort to understand the complexity on that large scale, some of the smallest of stations are the size of melbournes main station, the stations are so big, a simple mistake is a lot of wasted time.
A great place to visit. Mount fuji, the surrounding lakes, temples and shrines, great restaurants and Fuji Q Highland. Plenty to do for a 2 or 3 night stay. Probably best to rent a car.
The apartment is spacious and the location is superb.
Exciting vibrant city. Bit expensive compared to other cities we have stayed in. Bit less clean too. Bit less well mannered
visited japan many times including tokyo. what i like most is the food and shopping, good public transport, japanese people are generally very courteous and helpful. based on my experience it is very clean and safe place to visit.
Rich in history and food. Lots to see and in and around the city. Excellent alternative to Tokyo while connected with many transportation options.
Ito is a little too far out from central Hakone and Gotemba. But very scenic and breath-taking sea views! Rent a car if visiting Ito.
Love the vibes of Kyoto! We rented kimonos and walked around the old streets of Kyoto in them - lovely experience!
Very busy place compared to the rest of Japan. Lots of good ramen eateries in Tokyo, we enjoyed all.
Great for some sightseeing, shopping and Universal Studios!
Uno Port Inn is perfectly located for the train, the ferry and restaurants. The staff are just wonderful. They speak Japanese, Vietnamese and English. They make this cool little inn so special.
There is so much to see, lots of walking, and great food and cafés scattered all over the town. Avoid the hot summer months and the rainy season. Many sights are overwhelmed by tourists, but many other sights or temples that are harder to get there are fewer people. If you take a bus or metro, I highly recommend the Suica pre paid smart card.
Had an amazing experience staying here, very clean and appealing rooms with an amazing bathroom. Would heavily recommend to stay here on your Kyoto trip. 😁☺️
Osaka is great for shopping and of course a visit to Universal Studios. We also did day trips from Osaka to Nara and Kobe.
There is so much to see in beautiful Kyoto, we would have loved to stay longer.
Beautiful city with great history and culture. Excellent connectivity.
Room is huge, clean & staff are friendly. Breakfast is excellent & wide dining area. Location is safe to all traveller's cause its near the airport & frèe limousine bus service to hotel & airport. Excellent service of all the staff.
The firework show at night was magnificent. The raining did not bother me at all.
This place is amazing. The food, the culture. Easy access to everything. You would love to walk and walk because the air is not totally polluted. And the food is absolutely delicious!
very clean city , amazing culture , very cheap to eat and drink , lots and lots of shops to explore , and so many sightseeing options
A lively place - all day long. By underground one can go to every corner of Tokyo easily......
You do not need many days in Osaka, but I would stay at least 3 full days. This way we could have time to walk around the areas with more time to book the cafes and shopping.
Loved Tokyo. It is overwhelming for choice. Avoid tourist trap eateries around busy areas as often expensive and poor food but there are great places to eat in quiet suburbs. Enjoyed just wandering around and looking at sights. Adored the Asakura Museum of Sculpture!
Variety choices of good delicious food and fantastic weather. People are friendly and helpful. Transportation is convenient and weekend pass (Donichika) is much appreciated. A wonderful place for holiday.
Tokyo is vast and crazy and wonderful. I love the different characters of the various areas, the food, the incredible transport network, the beautiful shops, and the gracious people.
Amazing islands set on the edge of Okinawa. We have travelled all over Asia and the pacific and these are among the best islands we have seen
An stressed City full of beautiful surprises to anyone willing to go beyond the neon lights...
A nice walkable city full of Universal lessons and history... a non missed in Japan
Yokohama is a wonderful city with being next to the water it creates a very different vibe. Lots to do here and could have stayed another couple of days. The harbour area has so many options with things to do and see. The walking area around the bay is very good so well set out. Chinatown is great and there's plenty of traditional Japanese eating options to.
This was an incredible city. The public transport was exceptionally good. There are a lot of things to see and explore.
Nikko is a great town to spend a couple of nights exploring a calm and beautiful area in Japan. It is a quiet town, where you exolore during the day and relax in the onsen at night. The town is walkable and there are buses to go to the montain and lake. Many hikes and temples available. The Nikko pass is great for the train to and from Tokyo and all the buses in town. The food in Nikko is fantastic, you will find many different ways to eat Yuba, the tofu skin, in all the town restaurants.
A quieter version of Tokyo with its on sensibilities. Better food at a more affordable pricing. Can’t go wrong to vist
A must try before die bucket lister. Too many tourists now but still worth the visit
The location by Tokyo tower is amazing! It was close to the subway and so convenient to get to other parts of Tokyo. I would definitely recommend this location especially when travelling with little ones.
The castle grounds were beautiful and the whole city has so much just in walking distance to fill your day.
Transfer and ticketing is quite difficult for the few times.
We had send our luggage through Takkyubin from Kyoto. They were collected and nicely placed in their store. Staff informed us once they received the luggage well in time. Also, there is a 7-Eleven downstairs in the hotel premises, which is very convenient. We used the free shuttle service to and from airport.
Fukuoka is a great city for food, shopping and all. Really am happiest whenever I come to Japan.
The open air Museum is worth a visit and the view of Fuji from Mt Taikan is spectacular on a clear day.
河口湖/高尾山/御殿场/山中湖, 都很近 车站附近的都挺不错, 看google map不要太低的就行
Osaka castle and Gardens. The food is great and the underground shopping is another world. We tried some little out of the way restaurants and loved the food and atmosphere.
Highly recommend Osaka as a base for touring Japan. Day trips to Nara (feeding the deers), could do Kyoto as a day trip but definitely should stay though (3 days min). Food, location, transport, tourist activities great. Will definitely stay in Osaka again.
Loved Kyoto, the culture and history was amazing. Loved the Geisha experience at the Gion Geisha school. Got so many great pictures. Lots of walking / steep hills to get to attractions. Definitely will go here again.
I think I would have stayed a little longer (than 3 nights) to take advantage of the skiing and the onsen's (alternate between the two!), to relax for longer in the Japanese countryside. (I did not come to Japan to just check off the tourist sites...) The town has narrow streets to walk on, even without gps you cannot get lost as it is more or less parallel to the river, especially the more tourist section with all the onsens.
Good food. Disciplined people. Offers plenty of shopping. City is not so expensive. That is a myth!
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