When considering when to visit Japan many people naturally wonder when is the best tourist season in Japan. In this article, I will take a look at the different seasons and give my advice on when it is best to visit Japan and when it is best to avoid travelling.
The best time to travel to Japan
There are two seasons to consider when it is best time to come to Japan. The first tip would be to travel between the second half of November and the first week of December. This is the so-called koyo season when the Japanese maple trees begin to turn red. The Japanese maple tree is different from the Canadian maple tree. Japanese maple leaves are very small. You can only imagine what a huge mountain looks like when it is coloured red, yellow and green. Believe me, the view is just as spectacular as when the sakura is in bloom. Below are some recommended places to visit with Japanese maple blossoms. It should also be mentioned that the weather in Japan is excellent at this time. In Tokyo or Kyoto the sun is usually shining during the day and it is pleasantly warm at 20 degrees.
It gets colder in the evening, as the “flowering season” for koyo, the maple tree, only starts when the trees get more frost at night. However if you are planning to travel in the hope of seeing maples bear in mind that Mother Nature may have her own surprises in different years. If it’s a warmer year, the maple season will start a week later, while if it’s a colder year, it will start a week earlier. The peak of the maple season can also vary quite considerably from region to region. For example, in Tochigi Prefecture, where Nikko Shrine is located high up in the mountains the maple trees will start turning red a week earlier than in Tokyo.
Mount Takao, Tokyo 高尾山
The best places to see many yellow maples in one place are around the cable car and in the vicinity of Yakuino Temple. The best time to see them is from mid-November onwards, both at the top and at the foot of the mountain.
Maple Valley, Niiga Prefecture 弥彦公園(もみじ谷)
The area around the Red Bridge, called “Kanzukibashi” is known as Momiji Valley. It can be enjoyed in conjunction with the Yahiko Chrysanthemum Festival held at Yahiko Temple.
Rikugien, Tokyo 六義園
The autumn colours of one of Tokyo’s most famous gardens brightly illuminate the elegant Daimyo Garden where you can enjoy the luxury of the changing seasons in a 300-year-old Japanese garden.
Mount Arashi, Kyoto 嵐山
Autumn leaves on the surface of the Oyam River combine with the Vatarigetsu Bridge, named after Emperor Kameyama, to create an elegant scene.
Traveling Moon Bridge, Lake Kawaguchi 河口湖畔
The Fujikawaaguchi Autumn Leaf Festival is an annual autumn event during which the trees in the mountains surrounding Lake Kawaguchi turn a beautiful red colour. The main venue is the Maple Corridor. It is home to 60 giant maple trees. The maple corridor stretches 150 m along the Nashi River. At night, visitors can enjoy a fantastic view of illuminated autumn leaves and Mount Fuji. Note: Parking is temporary only during the Fujikawaaguchik Autumn Leaf Festival. Outside this period, parking is not allowed.
Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture 宮島
As the name suggests, Momijidani Park boasts the beauty of fiery autumn leaves in autumn. The view from the Momiji Bridge is particularly magnificent. Vermillion-coloured shadows fall on the clear stream.
Nikko Temple Complex and Kegon Waterfall 日光・華厳滝
Just drive up the Iroha slope and enjoy the autumn colours. You can also enjoy the powerful waterfall view and beautiful autumn leaves at Kegono Falls, one of the three most famous waterfalls in Japan.
Eikando Temple, Kyoto 永観堂
It is also known as “Maple Eikando” and is famous for its autumn foliage.
The second best time to travel is undoubtedly the flowering season of the sakura, the Japanese cherry tree, which is very well-known and much loved in our country. In Tokyo the sakura starts flowering in the last week of March and the whole flowering season lasts about ten days. Moving northwards, i.e. to colder regions, the sakura starts to flower later. Thus, on the island of Hokkaido or in the northern Aomori Prefecture, the sakura will flower late April or early May. Many people imagine that southern Japan is warmer than the north but this is not necessarily true. For example the southern islands of Fukuoka and Kumamoto which are also frequented by tourists have a rather harsh climate. Looking at a map the seemingly ‘warm’ southern prefectures often have colder weather than Tokyo.
Below I have highlighted some of the most popular sakura blossom sites that I recommend you visit during your trip.
Ueno Park, Tokyo 上野恩賜公園／東京都, cherry trees number about 1200
Known as a cherry blossom observation site since the early Edo period it is one of Tokyo’s most famous cherry blossom observation sites. Around 50 species of cherry trees have been planted here including someiyoshino and yamazakura.
Kiyomidzu tera shelter in Kyoto清水寺／京都府, the number of cherry trees is about 1000
The normal flowering period is from early to late April. The famous Kiyomizu no Butai (Kiyomizu Stage) offers a spectacular view of the cherry blossoms. Descend from the podium and enter the inner temple for a panoramic view of the Kiyomizu podium and the cherry blossoms. At night, the cherry blossoms are illuminated and create a magical atmosphere that is different from that of the day.
Yoshino Mountain in Nara Prefecture, 吉野山／奈良県, the number of cherry trees is about 30,000
The normal flowering period is from early to mid-April.
About 30,000 white Yamazakura cherry trees in bloom here, arranged in four groups at the top, middle, bottom and back of the hill, cover the whole of the Yoshinoyama World Heritage Site. From the beginning of April, the cherry blossoms bloom from the bottom to the middle, top and end of the mountain, making it a popular place around the world where visitors can enjoy the cherry blossoms for a long time.
Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture 姫路城／兵庫県, cherry trees number about 1,000
Normal flowering time is early April.
The beauty of Himeji Castle, which is registered as a national treasure and a World Heritage Site with its combination of white and bright red cherry blossoms has been voted as one of Japan’s top 100 cherry blossom viewing sites. The rows of cherry trees in San-no-maru Square and the weeping cherry trees in the Nishi-no-Maru Garden are particularly outstanding! The view of the castle tower through the cherry blossom trees reminds us of spring in Japan.
Meguro River in Tokyo,目黒川／東京都, the number of cherry trees is about 800
The normal flowering period is late March to early April.
It is a popular cherry blossom observation site, with around 800 someiyoshino cherry trees growing in a 3.8 km long stretch along both banks of the Meguro River. With trendy cocktails and strawberry stalls available every year, it’s a great place to eat and drink while watching the cherry blossoms bloom.
Chidorigafukuchi Coast, Tokyo, 千鳥ヶ淵緑道, 260 cherry trees
Normal flowering period is late March to early April. Chidorigafuch is a 3-minute walk from Kudanshita Station and a 5-minute walk from Hanzomon Station. This 700-metre-long promenade runs from Yasukuni Street to Kitanomaru Park. The walkway is planted with around 260 cherry trees, including someiyoshino cherries. In the evenings the giant cherry trees on the shore of the Imperial Palace look particularly impressive.
Shinjyuku Gyoen Park, Tokyo新宿御苑／東京都, number of cherry trees about 260
The normal flowering period is late March to late April. There are about 65 species of cherry trees in the park, including Someiyoshino, and the cherry blossoms can be enjoyed for about two months. In this park you can enjoy the combination of cherry blossoms planted in a huge area and tall skyscrapers!
Osaka Castle, Osaka Prefecture 大阪城／大阪府, number of cherry trees around 3000
The normal flowering period is late March to mid-April. Osaka Castle, home to around 3,000 cherry blossom trees is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Osaka and has been voted one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing sites in Japan. The Nishinomaru Garden is said to offer a magnificent view of around 300 cherry trees and the tower of Osaka Castle. Although there is a separate charge it is recommended to admire the illuminated cherry blossoms in the Nishi-no-Maru Garden.
Hirosaki Castle Park, Hirosaki, 弘前公園／青森県, number of cherry trees about 2600
Normal flowering time around the end of April. Hirosaki Park is one of Japan’s leading cherry blossom observation sites, having been voted as one of Japan’s top three night cherry blossom observation sites and as one of Japan’s top three cherry blossom observation sites. It has about 2 600 cherry trees with about 50 species including someiyoshino drooping branch cherry and yae-zakura. Hirosaki Castle Tower is said to tower over the stone walls and the cherry blossoms are the most beautiful in Japan.
The third time of year when it is convenient to travel in Japan would be in my estimation, from mid-May to mid-June. The Japanese do not have holidays during this period so hotels and transport will not be overcrowded. You will also be greeted by excellent weather neither too warm nor too hot and rain should not spoil your mood.
Periods when travelling to Japan should be avoided
There are several categories of periods when I would recommend refraining from travelling to Japan.
The first category would be periods of national holidays or public holidays. I do not recommend travelling to Japan during the New Year which would be the three days before the New Year and about a week after the New Year, as well as the first week of May, when the Japanese enjoy the so-called Golden Week (four or five national holidays). During these periods the whole of Japan is literally on wheels. As all Japanese get a chance to enjoy a holiday huge flows of travellers are generated. It is not surprising to see a thirty- or thirty-kilometre traffic jam on the motorway. High-speed trains are overcrowded. Getting a seat is simply out of the question. The Japanese are rushing like mad to take advantage of the holidays not only when travelling or visiting relatives inside Japan but also when flying to distant lands. So the planes are overcrowded, too. At that time air fares reach epic prices. You will also have other problems when travelling during this period. Hotels. Hotel prices will be very high and often in the more popular tourist destinations especially at the weekend you will not get any hotel availability at all.
The second period when I recommend not travelling to Japan is related to the climate. I do not recommend travelling to Japan between mid-July and the first week of September. It is very, very, very hot during that time. Not only is it hot, but the humidity, which is not normal, simply saps your strength. One year there was a summer when the air temperature exceeded thirty degrees day or night for more than thirty consecutive days. A heatwave immediately hits the field when you go out in the afternoon. For those of us coming from the north this tropical heat is simply unbearable. Unless you like to travel as if you were in the sun. You go outside and five minutes later you’re sweating. Drink water by the bucketful. Thank you but it’s definitely not the most fun time in glamorous Japan.
Other seasons that are not so drastic in terms of travel planning but should be kept in mind I guess are the tsuyu season. Tsuyu, or the rainy season in Tokyo, is usually around the end of June to mid-July. It usually rains very often during this time. Or it may rain for five days in a row. This is not necessarily unremitting rain but bear in mind that when travelling during this season you will have a higher chance of encountering rain.
Another time of year I would avoid is the second half of January to mid-February. Travel is possible but it will be cold especially in Kyoto. Because of its location among the mountains Kyoto is much hotter in summer and much colder in winter than other cities. Living in Japan makes you less resistant to the cold, so at least my family and I, and other Japanese, avoid travelling in February.
However, if you decide to come during the less recommended season, I have no doubt that you will have a great holiday in beautiful Japan.
