When is the best time to visit Japan?

[stephenmunday]

I live in Japan, so I have my own opinions about which times of year are best for visiting. But since I have never come here as a tourist, I was wondering what those JRef members who have done that might think.

My preferences would be:

April - Cherry blossoms
Late May - Lovely weather, but not into the rainy season yet
August - Very hot, but I am a big hanabi (firework) fan.
October / November (depending where you are) - Fall leaves - amazing)
December / January - Rotenburo (outdoor bath) in the snow.

What do you think, and why?

Did you visit Japan at a particularly good / bad time of year, and why was that?

 

[Dekamaster]

I'm planning to visit Japan this July. Although if I had a choice, It'll probably be in the Nov-Apr stretch. It was November when my company sent me to Narita. It was just the right temperature. So why July ? My friend will be having a business meeting this month so I'm just tagging along for the ride and accomodation. I just hope the rains wouldn't go my way.

 

[stephenmunday]

Getting the heaviest rain of the rainy season right now here in Aichi....

 

[Maciamo]

March to May are the more comfortable temperature-wise. November is dry and sunny. Late November to early or mid December is my favourite time of the year in Tokyo, as it's the autumn leave season (note that it is much later than in Northern Europe). However I dislike late December and early January (around the New Year) as everything is closed, and hotels and flights are more expensive.

 

[ArmandV]

I've been in Japan in November and it was nice and cool. Some of the Fall colors were already showing. I've also gone in August. Nice, but hot and humid. I would like to go in Spring to see the cherry blossoms sometime. I will probably go in late September or early October.

 

[f4senkyo69]

How's the springtime weather compared with the fall weather?
I'm planning to go just as spring begins, but it's a bit hard to predict when this is going to occur as I'm not going to stay there for weeks, so there's just a tiny window period.

 

[MeAndroo]

Weather and its effect on your activities depends greatly upon where you are in Japan. Cherry bloossoms bloom much earlier in Okinawa than in Hokkaido . If I'm anywhere in the south (except said Okinawa), I'd avoid being there in the summer. I'm just not a humidity guy.

 

[Pachipro]

October is wonderful. Little humidity, bright sunny days, very little rain, and not too much wind. A light jacket is all that is needed.

April is also great. Days are getting warmer, bright sunny days, normal rainfall and great Cherry and Plum blossoms. A light jacket is all that is needed.

 

[stephenmunday]

April is a good time. The thing is that if you come here then, the main reason is going to be for the cherry blossoms.

As MeAndroo has mentioned, there is a big difference between different locations in Japan as to when they are open. The other thing is that if there is colder than average weather (like this year) they can come out much later than usual, and if they are out and there is a lot of wind / rain (like happened one year I remember in the late 90s) they can all be knocked off the trees in one day.

I guess what I am saying is that if you are coming on a short trip, then it can be difficult to time it right to to see the cherry blossoms, and there is a good chance that for one reason or another you will be thwarted.

 

[Dekamaster]

Based from the current tally (as of 7/5/05), the Jun-Sept stretch is the worst time to plan a vacation. Is it that rainy and humid on these months ?

 

[stephenmunday]

Mid-June to early / mid- July is the rainy season (窶捫窶ｰJ). Then mid-July until the end of August will see temperatures well over 30 degrees centigrade and high humidity. Another problem can be typhoons, which usually hit from late July until October, although I remember last year we had the first one come through Aichi in May, so there is no telling with the weather as it is these days.

(My dad, who is coming here in August, is actually hoping to see a typhoon. But he is from England, where the weather is often talked about, but is not actually that exciting most of the time .)

 

[Elizabeth]

March to May are the more comfortable temperature-wise. November is dry and sunny. Late November to early or mid December is my favourite time of the year in Tokyo, as it's the autumn leave season (note that it is much later than in Northern Europe). However I dislike late December and early January (around the New Year) as everything is closed, and hotels and flights are more expensive.

I hadn't realized autumn was that prolonged in Tokyo since, at least according to an Osakan friend, entering december it is already winter and the leaves would be seen as late coloring by that time. Although she hasn't lived there for over 10 years, so perhaps there has been a three or four week
shift over the last decade. :?

 

[Silverpoint]

Don't forget Hokkaido . None of the above applies to Japan's northern island.

We have no rainy season. A long and bitter winter (this year the ski resorts were open past Golden Week), and a pleasant warm summer with much less humidity.

As for when to visit? Every season has it's plus points, but you can't beat the wonderland this place becomes in winter.

 

[Maciamo]

Don't forget Hokkaido. None of the above applies to Japan's northern island.

That's true, Hokkaido and Okinawa both have different climates from the rest of Japan. As autumn is my favourite season, I'd recommend October for Hokkaido instead of November for the rest of Japan. Hokkaido is actually a tricky one, as the temperature in the South-West (e.g. Hakodate, Sapporo) are completely different (much warmer) than the North or East (e.g. Kushiro, Daisetsuzan, Wakkanai...).

 

[Maciamo]

I hadn't realized autumn was that prolonged in Tokyo since, at least according to an Osakan friend, entering december it is already winter and the leaves would be seen as late coloring by that time. Although she hasn't lived there for over 10 years, so perhaps there has been a three or four week
shift over the last decade. :?

That's possible. Last year in particular, we had 20'C in early December and there were still koyo at Christmas ! But Tokyo is the warmest part of Japan with Southern Kyushu in winter (probably because of all the heating for the homes and offices of 35 million people).

 

[Davey]

why is the poll closed? i think the best time is october/november, not that hot anymore!! and you can see the beautiful Authum.

i agreet that Spring is a beautiful time to, but to busy with tourist *if you are going to a tourist place* and so i choose authum

 

[ArmandV]

^If Spring is too crowded, I would opt for October-November. I am heading to Tokyo tomorrow. It appears it will be somewhat rainy this next week, but that won't bother me.

 

[Silverpoint]

Hokkaido is actually a tricky one, as the temperature in the South-West (e.g. Hakodate, Sapporo) are completely different (much warmer) than the North or East (e.g. Kushiro, Daisetsuzan, Wakkanai...).

The snowfall also varies considerably. Sapporo averages about 5 meters during winter, whereas somewhere coastal like Muroran gets considerably less. Proximity to mountain ranges obviously makes a big difference.

 

[WHEATTHlNS]

^If Spring is too crowded, I would opt for October-November. I am heading to Tokyo tomorrow. It appears it will be somewhat rainy this next week, but that won't bother me.

I had rain forcast for my entire trip - but the only time it rained that was a nuisance was on a Monday - and that was only for the morning.

As always - the humidity did me in. Sweating like I stole something.