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The best times to visit Japan are during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). These seasons show Japan at its most beautiful, with soft pink cherry blossoms in the spring and fiery red and orange leaves in the fall. The weather is generally mild and comfortable, making it perfect for sightseeing. That said, these are also the busiest times of year, so popular spots can get quite crowded.

Summer (June to August) brings a mix of conditions. While the cities and lowlands can be hot and humid, the higher regions like the Japanese Alps and Hokkaido offer cooler weather and stunning natural landscapes-ideal for hikers and nature lovers. Keep in mind that the rainy season usually begins in late May and lasts until mid-June or early July, especially in central and southern Japan.

Winter (December to February) offers a completely different side of Japan. The north transforms into a snowy wonderland, perfect for skiing or soaking in an onsen (hot spring) surrounded by snow. Despite the cold, winter festivals light up towns and cities with glowing lanterns, snow sculptures, and cheerful celebrations.

It’s also important to be aware of Japan’s major national holidays. Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August or mid-July, depending on the region), and Shogatsu (Japanese New Year in early January) are times when many Japanese people travel, so transport and accommodation tend to book up quickly.

Whether you’re looking for seasonal beauty, outdoor adventures, or cultural experiences, Japan offers something special year-round-you just need to choose the time that suits your travel style best.

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May is a wonderful time to visit Japan, especially after the cherry blossom season and Golden Week. The weather becomes warmer, with dry heat, and the countryside turns lush with green foliage. This is also the perfect time to see the wisteria flowers in full bloom, creating a stunning display. Additionally, Tokyo hosts the Sanja Matsuri festival during this month, featuring parades of shrines, geisha, and people in traditional costumes. May offers a great combination of pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, and vibrant cultural events in Japan.

The Ultimate Month-by-Month Japan Travel Planning Guide

During the peak of cherry blossom season in Japan, which typically occurs in late March to early April, the trees begin to bloom further north. This period offers a stunning display of cherry blossoms and creates a magical experience for visitors. However, it’s important to note that traveling during this time means that popular tourist spots can be crowded, and hotel rates tend to increase as well.

The cherry blossom season is highly anticipated in Japan, and both locals and tourists flock to popular viewing spots to witness the breathtaking beauty of the blossoms. Parks, gardens, and streets lined with cherry trees become filled with people enjoying hanami (flower viewing) parties, picnics, and festivities under the blooming trees.

While the crowds and increased hotel rates can be expected during this time, the opportunity to witness the cherry blossoms in full bloom is truly remarkable. It’s advisable to plan and book accommodations well in advance and be prepared for larger crowds when visiting popular cherry blossom spots.

If you’re seeking a more peaceful and less crowded experience, considering visiting areas further north where cherry blossoms bloom later in the season. This can provide a chance to enjoy the beauty of the blossoms without the overwhelming crowds.

Overall, traveling during the peak cherry blossom season offers a mesmerizing experience, but it’s important to factor in the crowds and higher hotel rates when planning your trip.

Best places to visit in April

Trip ideas and travel guides for exploring Japan

What our clients say about us

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Alice B

22 March 2024 ★★★★★

Vietnam is just epic in every sense! Stephen at My Way Travel built us a bespoke tour to our requested place's from HoChiMin to Phan Thiet, DaLat, NaTrang, HoiAn, Halong Bay ending in Hanoi & it was amazing! All hotels, 3 tour guides over 5 day tours , drivers & transport worked very well & Stephen responded very quickly to any queries. We can’t thank or recommend him highly enough for helping us create an amazing adventure for a 70+ couple where everything was booked & organised but we had plenty of free time to explore on our own & find places for dinner most nights of our 18day trip. I’ll admit I was a little worried about using an unknown to me online agent but I really didn’t need to worry. The only thing I/we got wrong was not realising how tiring a busy tour can be especially in the heat so I’d recommend having a few days on a beach or round a pool relaxing before retuning back to Europe of further afield! Thanks Stephen for creating a well priced pretty last min wonderful tour for us!

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Kyle M

17 January 2024 ★★★★★

Wow, what a trip and experience. My Way Travel did an excellent job in creating a customized private tour itinerary for our 5 week trip to Indochina. Stephen was very responsive and easy to work with in creating a perfect itinerary, customized to our interests, budget, and timeframe. The logistics were well managed and all the tour guides and drivers in all 4 countries were fantastic. Stephen kept in touch throughout our trip to ensure everything was going well. The drivers were all excellent, prompt, and very safe drivers. Special call out to our guides; Tony, Kay, and Loc in Vietnam, Sony and Sambath in Cambodia, and Anne in Thailand for a fantastic cultural and historical experience in your respective countries. These guides were the best and really made our trip special. The sights that we saw were incredible, including Ha Long Bay and of course, Ankgor Wat. We really enjoyed the elephant sanctuary in Laos and the Laos city of Luang Prabang is a hidden gem. The bike tours that we did in Hoi An (Kay) and the Mekong Delta (Loc) to really get into the countryside and engage with local families was an incredible experience that we really enjoyed and will always cherish. We even got to stop at a local school and interact with some of the school children trying to practice their English which was pretty cool. We had a great bike tour in Siem Reap (Sambath) and all the incredible temples around Ankgor Wat. The tours that we had to understand and experience these countries from a historical and cultural perspective, brought to life by our tour guides, really made this trip a unique experience. We were well taken care of throughout our travels and the service and people were so friendly. We would highly recommend My Way Travel for your next trip to SE Asia and will not hesitate to use them in the future. Hopefully you get lucky enough to have some of the tour guides that we had.

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Garethbradburn

12 April 2024 ★★★★★

This was the fourth trip we have done with My Way Travel and arranged by Stephen. As always it was impeccably organised from arriving in Bangkok, flights to Chiang Rai, tour to the elephant sanctuary, to Krabi for a few days at the beach then transfer to Phnom Pen for the higlight of our trip, a cruise up the Mekong on a seriously luxurious boat, then transfer to Seam Riep. The hotels were excellent, the transfers seemless with good english speaking guides. We cannot recommend Stephen more highly.

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Leslie

16 May 2024 ★★★★★

An amazing trip out together by Stephen at My Way Travel! This was our second trip ( went to Vietnam and Cambodia 2019). Stephen is great to work with- very flexible and listens to what we wanted to do. This trip was originally scheduled for April 2020. A honest company that asked if I wanted my deposit back and I said no - that I would use it in a future trip! How many companies around the world did this???? We had great guides In Bangkok and Chiang Rai and Chiang Rai. Fon was full of energy and fun in Bangkok. Ann was one of the best guides I have ever had- she took us to a couple of places not noted on the tour. We went for a hike at a waterfall and visited the cave where the Thai boys were rescued in the cave. Both Ann and Fon gave us wonderful suggestions for restaurants. I would absolutely recommend Stephen and My Way Travel! We plan to use him again in planning Bali!


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    • Emily
    • Asia Specialist
    • John
    • Thailand and Asia Specialist
    • Juan
    • Indochina Specialist

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