Summer, winter, autumn or spring are all a good idea when it comes to visiting Japan.
Japan is the kind of country you can enjoy all year round. Which month you decide on comes down to where you’re going and what you want to do.
Here’s a breakdown to ensure your decision perfectly matches your interests.
Best time to visit Japan
March to May and September to October.
Why?
For cool, dry weather, the best times to wander the streets and gaze upon Japan’s plethora of temples without the heavy crowds are during spring and autumn.
Avoid April, however, as this is peak season due to the country’s famous cherry blossoms.
Overview
Japan’s has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Over winter the temperatures can dip to 0℃, making it ideal for winter sports though not so much for sightseeing.
Summers are plagued with a four-week-long period of rain between June and August so are best avoided unless you’re in town for a summer festival or to comb the resort town of Okinawa, which reaches temperatures of 28–31℃ during this time. The north generally experiences cooler temperatures than the south.
Peak periods in Japan include April due to cherry blossom season, June and August due to the summer holiday period, and December to March due to snow season.
If you’re seeking to avoid the crowds, it’s best to avoid these months and activities.
Weather and prices
Best time to visit Japan, weatherwise: September to April. These are Japan’s autumn, winter and spring periods and are when the country experiences comfortable, dry temperatures.
Cheapest time to visit Japan: Flights and hotels are cheapest in late summer between July and August but are still reasonable in the less rainy months of September and October.
Best time to visit Japan for...
- Cherry blossoms: While cherry blossoms can bloom as early as January, the best time to catch them is early April. This is also one of Japan’s peak months.
- Hiking and climbing Mount Fuji: Due to the nature of the climb, Mount Fuji is only open to hikers from 1 July to early September yearly. Conditions are most stable between late July and early August.
- Scuba diving in Okinawa: The resort town of Okinawa hides some of the world’s best diving spots with high visibility and all manner of marine life, such as hammerheads and manta rays. Peak season in Okinawa is summer from June to August, however the weather stays pleasant up until November.
- Snow sports: Snow season in Japan is from mid-December to mid-April. Shoulder season is in late-November to mid-December and mid to the end of April.
- For festivals: The summer months of June and August are when cities come to life with festivals of fireworks, floats and music. But be warned that summer brings with it high humidity and rainfall in many areas.
Hot Japan travel deals
Klook
Rugby sale: Extra $5 off Japan activities and experiences with code
Valid for use on select dates until December 2019. Destinations include Tokyo, Yokohama, Sapporo, Oita, Shuzuoka, Toyota and more. Discount applies with a minimum spend of $100. T&Cs apply.
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Voyagin
Up to 63% off tours, activities and things to do
Valid on select things to do, park tickets and more. Destinations include Japan, Bali, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Seoul. T&Cs apply.
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Columbus Direct
Get 5% off your next travel insurance policy
Use our exclusive code to get 5% off any Columbus Direct travel insurance policy, domestic or worldwide. Destinations would include Thailand, Bali, Fiji, USA, UK, Italy, France, Japan and more.
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Nexus Holidays
$800 off 9-day Japan hotels + flights
Valid for travel on select dates from August 2019 - November 2020. Destinations include Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo. Includes return flights from Sydney or Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Japan flights from $302 each way
Valid for travel from June - September 2019. Destinations include Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Okinawa and more. Sample fare is Cairns-Osaka with Jetstar.
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Wendy Wu Tours
Up to $500 off Asia tours
Valid for travel from 8 July - 21 November 2019. Destinations include China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Japan and more. T&Cs apply.
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G Adventures
Up to 15% off Japan tours
Valid for travel from 10 August - 3 October 2019. T&Cs apply.
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Klook
Up to 10% off summer activities
Valid for use on select dates. Destinations include Japan, Italy, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan and more. T&Cs apply.
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Flight Centre - Cruises
Free flights, upgrades and 2-for-1 deposits on Viking Cruises
Book a Viking ocean or river cruise in destinations like Italy, France, Norway, the UK, Germany, the USA, Japan and more between August 2019 and March 2021.
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EasyRentCars.com
Up to 40% off Japan car hires
Valid for bookings until 31 October 2019 with Okinawa car rentals across Naha, Japan. T&Cs apply.
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Skyscanner
Japan flights from $830 return
Valid for travel from 15 May - 30 November 2019 with Thai Airways. Sample fare departs from Perth.
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Voyagin
Extra 3% off Japan bookings
Valid until 31 October 2019 for Visa cardholders.
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Wendy Wu Tours
$100 off tours for senior card holders
Valid on 2018 dates depending on the destinations. Destinations include China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Japan and more. T&Cs apply.
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Design Hotels
Up to 30% off if you book in advance
Valid for bookings made at least 30 days in advance at hotels around the world. Destinations include France, USA, Bali, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, UK, Singapore, Japan and more.
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Popular Travel coupon codes
| Last checked | Code description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 2019 | Extra 15% off with code | FIN**** |
| 13 Jun 2019 | Up to 50% off hotels + extra 10% off with code | FIN**** |
| 13 Jun 2019 | Up to 75% off + Extra 5% off hotels worldwide | FIN**** |
| 30 May 2019 | Get $20 credit | FIN**** |
| 20 May 2019 | Up to 15% off airport parking across Australia | AWA**** |
