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The Best Time For Visiting Japan

A complete guide to travelling Japan in any season

Kyoto Temple Sakura
Kyoto during the sakura season. Image Copyright: @Ollie_Ronin

Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. The Cheapest & Quietest Time to Visit Japan

  3. The Most Expensive Time for Visiting Japan

  4. The Best Time to Visit for Cherry Blossoms

  5. The Best Time to Visit for Autumn Leaves

  6. The Best Time for Visiting Tokyo

  7. The Best Time for Visiting Kyoto

  8. The Rainiest, Hottest, and Snowiest Months in Japan

  9. The Best Time for Hiking in Japan

  10. Summary


Introduction

Japan is known as having some of the most expressive seasons in the world. The spring is full of the famous cherry blossoms, which have been meticulously planted for hundreds of years to bring all the shrines, streets, and beautiful temples alive each year. The summer begins with peaceful fireflies, with warm tropical rain, and a landscape full of vibrant green mountains. The autumn is famous for its maple leaves and fall foliage, decorating the many temples and hiking trails. And the winter receives some of highest amount of powder snow in the world, creating a paradise for winter sports. Although, sometimes this weather can be a little extreme, so it can be a challenge to determine the best time for your visit to Japan. In this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions for planning your next trip.



The Cheapest and Quietest Time to Visit Japan

When it comes to finding the cheapest time to visit Japan, the winter months of January and February are usually the best. This period is considered the low season, and less tourism means lower prices for accommodation, flights, and attractions. However, there are a few caveats:

  • As with most destinations, the holiday periods such as New Year’s Eve and Christmas are generally more expensive.

  • These months are also the busiest time for Ski destinations such as Hakuba and Niseko, so if you're planning on skiing then everything will be more expensive in these locations.