One of the questions I get asked most often is ‘When is the best time to travel to Japan?’ Since any time of year can be a great option, depending on your preferences and flexibility, here is a summary of the weather and some of the holidays and festivals in Japan for each month:
January
New Years is one of the biggest holidays in Japan, with most people returning to their hometowns. Small businesses will close for a week or 2 during this period. While traveling during this time can be hard, if you plan in advance, you can have a great time in Japan over New Years!
Hatsumode, or the first shrine visit of the year, is usually done between January 1-3, with many shrines holding small festivals with food stalls, souvenirs, and of course new omamori, or lucky charms, for the new year. In the first or second week of the year, there are also many shrine fire festivals, where old lucky charms and New Years decorations are burnt.
Other fire festivals, such as the famous Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival held on January 15th, are to bring health and good fortune for the coming year.
January is also one of the best months for skiing in the Japan Alps or Hokkaido. Again, make sure to plan ski trips well in advance.
January in Tokyo and Kyoto is usually pretty mild, and rarely snowy. After the New Years holiday, and Coming of Age day on the second Monday of January, the rest of the month is a great time for sightseeing.
February
February remains a great month for skiing in the Japan Alps and Hokkaido. The northern city of Sapporo in Hokkaido celebrates its Yuki Matsuri, or Snow Festival, from February 4-11. In the nearby coastal town of Otaru, the Snow Light Path Festival is held from February 7-14.
In much of the rest of the country, weather is pretty mild, but expect a cold drizzle on some days. At the end of February in Tokyo and Kyoto, plum blossoms are out! These blooms are less popular than cherry blossoms, but they are beautiful and the smell is amazing. There are many local plum festivals, including the Setagaya Ume Matsuri in Tokyo, with various events happening each weekend throughout the month.
For cherry blossoms in February, consider a trip to the southernmost islands of Okinawa.
On Feburary 3rd, the Setsubun festival is held to welcome spring and chase away evil from the previous year. At home and at shrine festivals, people will throw beans to drive evil spirits away. In some regions, eating uncut sushi rolls, or eho-maki, is considered lucky.
Valentine’s Day on February 14th is celebrated in Japan, but with a twist: on Valentine’s Day, women give chocolates to men. This is done between friends and co-workers as well as between those in relationships. On March 14th, White Day, men are expected to return the favor in the form of marshmallows and candies.
March
Early March is a great time to visit Japan for fairly mild weather and fewer crowds. From mid-March, main sites start getting busy in preparation for cherry blossoms season. The last week of March is one of the most popular times of the year to visit Japan, and prices in Tokyo and Kyoto are correspondingly high. If your spring break necessitates traveling at this time, I would recommend heading south to the islands of Shikoku or Kyushu for fewer crowds.
April
The first week of April is still high season, even with peak blooms likely landing at the end of March. Later in April, look for cherry blossoms in the colder areas of the Japan Alps, Tohoku, and Hokkaido.
In Kyoto, the Miyado Odori performances are held throughout the month. At the Minami-za theatre, 60 actors perform on stage at a time, including geisha dancers.
In the mountain town of Takayama, the famous Takayama Spring Festival is held on April 14 and 15. This prayer for a good harvest includes a procession of elaborate yatai floats, and smaller portable shrines called mikoshi. Skilled puppeteers will act out traditional stories and legends through their karakuri, or marionettes.
May
This year, the Golden Week holiday, a string of holidays that make up this weeklong break, will take place from April 29 to May 6. Expect a lot of domestic travel during this time, with crowded trains, restaurants, and popular sightseeing spots.
After Golden Week, the rest of May is one of the best times to visit Japan. Weather is warm, but not yet too hot and rainy. Late May is also a great time to visit the Okinawan islands, for lower temperatures and less rain.
June
June is rainy season in Japan. Expect a few hours of steady rain each day and pack a nice umbrella and waterproof boots accordingly! Gardens in Japan are absolutely beautiful in June with all of the rain, and there are fewer crowds than you’ll find later in the summer.
July
July in Japan is hot - this is a great time to explore the northern regions of Tohoku and Hokkaido! Ocean Day on July 20th marks the start of the summer beach season in most of Japan.
Tanabata Festival, based on the Chinese story of 2 lovers who were transformed into stars and could meet just once each year, is celebrated on July 7th. This is a minor festival day, but there are celebrations featuring illuminations and festival food across the country.
In Kyoto, Gion Matsuri is held between July 14 and 24. This huge festival is held over multiple days and includes street food, parades, and portable shrines, or mikoshi, which are carried through the streets.
On July 15th, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival is held in Fukuoka. This festival starts at 5am, with teams of mean and boys carrying 1 ton floats through the streets while bystanders throw water onto the road and participants. This festival is said to have originated with a priest who spread holy water in the streets to stop a plague.
August
August is equally hot, and even more crowded, as Japanese schools have their summer holiday in August. The Obon holiday is from August 13-16 this year, with peak travel expected to be from August 8-16. During Obon, many people will return to their hometowns to visit family, pay respects at their family temple, and attend local festivals. Many shops and restaurants will be closed during Obon, and big cities are much quieter than usual.
There are many festivals in Japan during Obon week, and August is the most popular month for summer festivals and fireworks. Locals dress in yukata, or lightweight cotton kimonos, for fireworks festivals, and if you’re up for braving the heat and the crowds, they’re a really fun way to experience Japanese culture!
From August 1-7, Aomori Prefecture in northern Tohoku celebrates Aomori Nebuta Matsuri. This festival is a nightly parade of huge lantern floats, as well as taiko drumming and dance.
September
September brings a slight break from the heat, but a significant decrease in crowds. Keep in mind that most typhoons hit Japan from late August to early September, and these storms can completely halt public transportation.
October
The weather is starting to cool in October, and autumn leaves can be seen in the northern and mountainous regions. October is also a great month to visit the Okinawan islands, as temperatures have lowered and the chance of typhoons is low.
On October 9 and 10 is the Takayama Autumn Festival, twin of the spring festival in April. The autumn festival is about giving thanks for the harvest and preparing for winter.
At the end of October into the beginning of November is the Saga International Balloon Fiesta, where hundreds of aeronauts from around the world gather to compete in the largest event of its kind in Asia. There are opportunities for visitors to enjoy hot air balloon rides, in addition to watching the spectacle and enjoying the food stalls.
November
Late November is the best time in the Kyoto area for autumn leaves, and many temples and gardens host evening illumination events. Domestic travel is popular during this time, so planning well ahead for leaf peeping is recommended.
On November 15th is the 7-5-3 (Shichi-Go-San) holiday, where children aged 7, 5, and 3 will wear traditional clothing and visit a shrine with their families to pray for future health and happiness.
December
December in Japan brings winter illuminations, both Christmas and winter-themed. Japan doesn’t celebrate Christmas as a national holiday, but Christmas decorations are popular in major cities. Towards the end of the month, locals start heading to their hometowns for the New Year holiday.
Ski resorts in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps open from mid-December, but Tokyo and Kyoto are usually quite mild in December, and unlikely to see snowfall.