Thinking of visiting Japan, but not sure which month is most suitable for your travel plans? From traditional matsuris in the summer to snowboarding in winter, check out our nifty month-by-month guide on the best time to visit Japan below!

Typically, the best time to visit Japan is between March and May during spring, and between September and November during autumn as these months offer warm and dry weather. While visiting during spring means you can enjoy Japan’s iconic cherry blossoms, autumn also offers vibrant hues of red and orange fall foliage.

But the best part about travelling to Japan is that every month comes with its own set of unique experiences! It’s a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, adventure, and culture. So if you’re looking for the best city to visit in Japan during a time that matches your travel plans, this list is for you.

Read on for your comprehensive guide to the best time to visit Japan! 👇

💜 Stay Up To Date:
– 12 Fun Things To Do In KL, Malaysia 2024
– 2024 Best Tokyo Hotel For Every Budget
– Travel Wednesdays: Save BIG With The Best Flight And Hotel Deals Every Wednesday!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024:

January and February

Best for: Shredding the glorious snowscapes

Image credits: Unsplash x Hamish Duncan

You may have noticed many stories and posts on your social media feed featuring friends all dressed up and spending most – if not all – their time on the powder (a.k.a. snow). After all, it’s not called Japanuary for nothing! During these two months, the northern parts of Japan become a ski and snowboard paradise, attracting adventurers of all skill levels. The snow is dry, fluffy, deep, and powder-soft — the perfect recipe for a shreddin’ good time.

While there are over 500 ski resorts for you to choose from, we’d recommend visiting Niseko in Hokkaido, and Aomori for resorts that offer a good mix of gentle slopes, mixed terrains, and even off-piste runs — highlighting their versatility.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Here’s everything you need to know about skiing in Hokkaido

Image credits: Unsplash x Sugarman Joe

Of course, no Japanese winter trip is complete without a soak or two in an onsen. Thankfully, many of the ski resorts offer that option, while dedicated trips to hot spring destinations like Yunokawa or Noboribetsu come highly recommended too.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out this guide for the best Japanese onsens and ryokans to stay at in Japan

Image credits: BBC

Once you’re done with the quintessential Japanese winter activities, you might want to also find time to visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, where you get to feast your eyes on stunning ice sculptures!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Find the best ski resorts in Hokkaido for all budgets here

March and April

Best for: Cherry blossoms, obviously!

After an epic, adventure-filled first quarter, and the surroundings begin to warm up, we can start to see the blooming of our favourite cherry blossoms! FYI, cherry blossoms are now expected to bloom earlier from mid-March!

Image credits: Unsplash x Jonathan Kim

Once April comes by, you can expect an explosion of pink blooms. Choose to admire them from afar to avoid the crowd, or fully immerse yourself by joining in on the flower viewing, or hanami parties where families and friends gather. Sit and enjoy informal picnics across parks like Yoyogi Park, Ueno Park, and Inokashira Park in Tokyo. If you’re in Kyoto, then Maruyama Park, Kamo River, and Kyoto Gyoen National Garden should be on your radar.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out this Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast 2024 for an updated forecast & the best viewing spots

May

Best for: Basking in the hecticness of Golden Week (and also great for off-peak travels)

Yes, you can have two vastly different experiences within the same month. For the unacquainted, Golden Week is a celebration of four national holidays that occur in the first week of May. It’s typically during this period that domestic travel is at its peak as people stretch their paid time off.

Image credits: Unsplash x Julie Fader

During this week of celebration, you can expect free entry into many of the museums, parks, and attractions across the country — so expect it to be busy.

There will likely be a small post-Golden Week comedown, especially in the bigger cities like Tokyo — in case you’re looking for a trip with fewer tourists. However, in the third week of May, the legendary Sanja Matsuri (the celebration of the three founders of the Sensoji Temple) will be held in Tokyo’s Asakusa district. Expect colourful floats, musicians, and dancers in traditional Edo period costumes parading the space. Fair warning: This is considered one of the rowdier festivals in Tokyo, so be prepared!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Get up to 10% tax-free + 5% additional discount at Don Quijote Japan with YouTrip Perks

Image credits: TimeOut

If you’re late to the cherry blossom game in Tokyo, head to the more northern parts like Hokkaido to catch them in full bloom. And if you don’t discriminate between florals, then May is a great time for you to start checking out the different flower parks in the region.

To start, head to the Tochigi Prefecture, located just to the north of Tokyo, to check out the Ashikaga Flower Park to feast your eyes on the beautiful and almost otherworldly Wisteria flowers in full bloom.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out our guide on flower festivals to visit in Japan

June and July

Best for: Basking in the summer sun

Image credits: Japan Guide

The art of Hanami doesn’t just end with the cherry blossom season. As the weather continues to warm up, Japan becomes a lovely place to watch the flowers and trees in full bloom. Pay a visit to some of the more iconic Japanese gardens across the country. We’ve mentioned the Ashikaga Flower Park earlier, but of course, there are plenty more spread out across the country, such as the Mukojima Hyakkaen Garden, Kenroku-en, and Koraku-en.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Here are 10 ways to save money while visiting Japan

Image credits: Visit Okinawa Japan

But aside from mainland Japan, summer is the best time to visit the sunny and relaxing Okinawa Prefecture. Often known as the Hawaii of Japan, you can expect to find balmy weather, pristine white beaches, and beautiful, beautiful islands. Plan a visit to the beautiful Kerama Islands, and spend some time diving, snorkelling, or simply just lazing under the sun.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out our 5-day Okinawa itinerary

Image credits: Tokyo Cheapo

Honorary mention: if you’re a music fan, then definitely try to snag tickets for the legendary Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata! Last year, acts like Lizzo, Foo Fighters, and The Strokes made their appearance — so you know that big acts will likely be present this year.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Find out more about the Fuji Rock Festival here

August

Best for: Having fun with the summer festivals

Image credits: tsunagu Japan

Also known as Natsu Matsuri, the summer festivals can be found all over the region, and are a hallmark of Japanese culture. This also coincides with the local school holidays in Japan, so you can expect it to be a busy domestic period. However, that also means you get to truly immerse yourself in the authentic Japanese experience!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Find out how to top up your virtual Suica card with YouTrip here

Image credits: Japan Travel

Some must-visit festivals during this period include the Kanto Festival in the Akita Prefecture, where huge, towering bamboo poles holding lanterns are carried through the city to pray for a good harvest. You can also check out the Fukagawa Festival, which is known as one of the three greatest Edo festivals, where portable shrines are carried throughout along with wild water splashes to celebrate.

And if you’re visiting sometime in mid-August, you might be able to witness locals commemorating Obon, a Buddhist event that honours the return of the ancestors’ spirits — similar to our 7th month here in Singapore.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Find out more about the Kanto Festival here

September

Best for: Hiking, biking and all things physical

As we leave summer behind, we start to experience cooler weather across Japan. This makes for the perfect time to head out and explore the great outdoors without worrying too much about the humidity, or the crowds.

Image credits: Cycling Ehime

If you’re up for a unique challenge, cycle the iconic Shimanami Kaido, a cross-country cycling route that spans about 60 kilometres long. It begins on the mainland island in Onomichi City, and cuts across six islands, before ending in Imabari City. Here, you can expect a scenic and breezy cycle, with views of the beautiful Seto Inland Sea, as well as the island’s small towns.

Image credits: The KANSAI Guide

We also recommend trying the Kumaro Kodo Hiking Trail, also known as the Pilgrimage Route in Japan. After all, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is where pilgrims would trek to visit the Ise Grand Shrine, and the entire journey will take at least 5 to 7 days as you go across the beautiful Wakayama countryside. A bucket-list adventure for sure!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out 9 theme parks to visit in Japan

October

Best for: Indulging in the freshest autumnal harvest

Sure, any season in Japan offers some of the freshest and most delicious food. But there’s something special about the sheer variety and flavour of the produce you get in autumn — and this is no coincidence. Traditionally, this period is known to be the season to harvest rice, persimmons, Japanese pears and more, so you can expect a wide variety of produce available.

Image credits: Asahi

To best experience authentic Japanese cuisine, make plans to join one of the many food tours across the island. Or if you’re feeling slightly more independent and adventurous, visit the Sapporo Autumn Festival for delicious ramen, sake, and seasonal seafood.

Another must-visit is the Takayama Autumn Festival (an approximately two-hour drive from Nagoya), where you get to witness plenty of cultural dances and exciting parades. When you’re there, don’t forget to try some local delicacies such as Mitarashi dango and Hoba Miso.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out which brands are cheaper in Japan

Image credits: Tokyo Cheapo

While you’re at it, you can even go super specific with a visit to the Meguro Pacific Saury Festival for a test of some of the freshest fish prepared in multiple ways. Did we mention it’s free?

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out our guide to iconic anime destinations to visit

November

Best for: Admiring the fiery autumn foliage

While Autumn begins to kick in in late September, the average peak period for lively red, orange, and gold backdrops to take centre stage takes place in November. The hunt for autumn leaves, or momijigari, is usually in full swing here and can be found all across the country.

Image credits: HIS USA

Some iconic places include the Osaka Castle, the Rikugien Garden, and even the Sagano Romantic Train that cuts across the Arashiyama district. Not to be missed includes the Hitachi Seaside Park as well, where the Kochia, a bushy plant, turns fiery red, making the rolling hills look almost otherworldly. Of course, we do have a nifty little guide on the best places to chase the Autumn leaves, so do check it out here!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out our guide on the best autumn destinations to visit in Japan

December

Best for: Experience a non-traditional festive season

Image credits: CNN

While Christmas may not be as popular here as compared to our Western counterparts, you can still expect the festive spirit in the more major cities. And while you may not be able to enjoy the usual Christmas fare like turkey and ham, KFC is synonymous with the festive season here in Japan!

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out some Christmas markets in Tokyo to visit

Image credits: Tokyo Cheapo

As the country buzzes with the excitement of the holiday season, you can also use this time to eat, drink, and be merry in the bigger cities. Think Golden Gai in Shinjuku and Hoppy Street in Asakusa for charming little izakayas in the heart of Tokyo.

However, if you’re craving for a little winter wonderland, you can begin to head up to the northern parts of Japan to indulge in the snowy landscapes and natural hot springs — just before the Japanuary crowd comes in.

Best Time To Visit Japan 2024: Your Month-By-Month Guide — Check out some free things to do in Tokyo here

Japan is beckoning — can you hear it?

Whether you’re looking for the thrill of shredding through powder-soft snowscapes, the ephemeral beauty of the cherry blossoms, or the delicious seasonal eats, Japan offers a year-round adventure for every and any soul.  We hope that this list has been useful in helping you shortlist your preferred itineraries and travel periods!

No matter when you plan to go, just remember to use your YouTrip card to score some of the best deals on hotels, airfares and experiences. Not only that but you can also enjoy amazing wholesale exchange rates with your overseas purchases, helping you save more to spend more!

As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.  

And while you’re at it, why not join the conversation with thousands of #YouTroopers in our very own Community Telegram Group @YouTripSquad? Get tips and tricks to everything YouTrip including exclusive invites to exciting events and experiences, & be part of the #YouTripSquad! 💜

Happy Travels!

Related Articles

Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast 2024: When And Where To Spot Sakura
How To Capitalise On The Japanese Yen Right Now
The Ultimate 14-Day Japan Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka