The short answer
Late March to early April for cherry blossom and November for autumn colour are the most beautiful, and the busiest and most expensive. May and October are the best balance of good weather, fewer crowds and better prices. December to February is ideal for snow in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps.
Month by month
January: Snow country
Cold and clear. Hokkaido powder snow, snow-covered Shirakawa-go and quieter Kyoto temples.
Plan a trip for January
February: Winter festivals
Sapporo Snow Festival in early February. Good hotel availability outside Hokkaido.
Plan a trip for February
March: Blossom begins
Cherry blossom usually opens in late March in Tokyo and Kyoto. Book four to six months ahead.
Peak season. Hotels fill early.
Plan a trip for March
April: Peak cherry blossom
Early April is peak bloom on the main route. The busiest and most expensive weeks of spring.
Peak season. Hotels fill early.
Plan a trip for April
May: Fresh green
Pleasant and green. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), when Japan travels domestically.
Plan a trip for May
June: Rainy season
Tsuyu brings frequent rain to most of Japan except Hokkaido, which is at its best.
Plan a trip for June
July: Summer festivals
Hot and humid on the main route. Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, lavender in Hokkaido.
Plan a trip for July
August: Fireworks and islands
Hot, with fireworks festivals and Obon holidays. Okinawa and Hokkaido work well.
Plan a trip for August
September: Late summer
Still warm, with a chance of typhoons. Fewer crowds and good value.
Plan a trip for September
October: Clear autumn days
Comfortable weather everywhere. Foliage starts in Hokkaido and the mountains.
Plan a trip for October
November: Autumn foliage
Peak koyo in Kyoto and Tokyo, usually mid to late November. Book four to six months ahead.
Peak season. Hotels fill early.
Plan a trip for November
December: Lights and early snow
Winter illuminations in the cities, ski season begins. Busy around New Year.
Plan a trip for DecemberBloom and foliage dates shift each year and differ by region. We confirm timing for your dates when we plan.
| Month | What it’s like |
|---|---|
| January | Snow country. Cold and clear. Hokkaido powder snow, snow-covered Shirakawa-go and quieter Kyoto temples. |
| February | Winter festivals. Sapporo Snow Festival in early February. Good hotel availability outside Hokkaido. |
| March Peak season | Blossom begins. Cherry blossom usually opens in late March in Tokyo and Kyoto. Book four to six months ahead. |
| April Peak season | Peak cherry blossom. Early April is peak bloom on the main route. The busiest and most expensive weeks of spring. |
| May | Fresh green. Pleasant and green. Avoid Golden Week (late April to early May), when Japan travels domestically. |
| June | Rainy season. Tsuyu brings frequent rain to most of Japan except Hokkaido, which is at its best. |
| July | Summer festivals. Hot and humid on the main route. Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, lavender in Hokkaido. |
| August | Fireworks and islands. Hot, with fireworks festivals and Obon holidays. Okinawa and Hokkaido work well. |
| September | Late summer. Still warm, with a chance of typhoons. Fewer crowds and good value. |
| October | Clear autumn days. Comfortable weather everywhere. Foliage starts in Hokkaido and the mountains. |
| November Peak season | Autumn foliage. Peak koyo in Kyoto and Tokyo, usually mid to late November. Book four to six months ahead. |
| December | Lights and early snow. Winter illuminations in the cities, ski season begins. Busy around New Year. |
Best time for your family
- First-time visitors: late March to early April, or November, if you can book early. Otherwise May or October.
- Families with grandparents: April–May and October–November, when walking around is comfortable and it is neither hot nor icy.
- Families with young children: May, October, or the Indian summer holidays if you head north to Hokkaido.
- Honeymooners: autumn in Kyoto and Hakone for ryokan stays, or winter for onsen and snow.
- Snow lovers: January and February in Hokkaido, Shirakawa-go and the Japan Alps.
Indian holidays and Japan
- Summer vacation (May–June): May is excellent. June is the rainy season across most of Japan, except Hokkaido, which is at its best.
- Diwali (October or November): one of the best times to go, with comfortable weather and autumn colour beginning. Book early, as it overlaps with Japan’s own autumn peak.
- Christmas and New Year: winter illuminations in the cities and ski season in the north. Japan is busy over New Year, and some businesses close for a few days.
Coming up: Indian holidays and Japan
Updated automatically. The next four holiday windows, what Japan is like then, and when to book.
Dussehra, Tue 20 Oct 2026
Dussehra long weekend
Clear, comfortable autumn days, with early colour in Hokkaido and the mountains.
Best for: Hokkaido, Takayama and Shirakawa-go, Tokyo
Book by 17 Aug 2026
Plan this tripDiwali Sun 8 Nov, New Year Tue 10 Nov 2026Peak season
Diwali and Gujarati New Year
Autumn colour arriving in Kyoto, Tokyo and Kanazawa. One of the best times of year, and busy.
Best for: Kyoto, Kanazawa, Fuji and Hakone
Book by 5 Jul 2026
Plan this trip25 Dec 2026 to 1 Jan 2027Peak season
Christmas and New Year
Winter illuminations in the cities and ski season in the north. Some sights close for New Year.
Best for: Hokkaido, Tokyo, Osaka
Book by 22 Aug 2026
Plan this tripMakar Sankranti 14 Jan, Republic Day Tue 26 Jan 2027
Uttarayan and Republic Day
Snow country at its best: Shirakawa-go under snow and Hokkaido powder. Sapporo Snow Festival follows in early February.
Best for: Takayama and Shirakawa-go, Hokkaido
Book by 14 Oct 2026
Plan this tripHoli Mon 22 Mar, Good Friday 26 Mar 2027Peak season
Holi and Easter weekend
Cherry blossom season usually opens in Tokyo and Kyoto in late March. The most popular weeks of the year.
Book by 20 Sept 2026
Plan this tripMay to mid-June 2027
Summer school holidays
Fresh green in May (after Japan’s Golden Week). June is the rainy season except in Hokkaido, which is at its best.
Best for: Fuji and Hakone, Kyoto, Hokkaido
Book by 6 Jan 2027
Plan this tripIndependence Day, Sun 15 Aug 2027
Independence Day weekend
Hot on the main route. Cooler Hokkaido and Okinawa’s beaches work well.
Book by 13 May 2027
Plan this tripDussehra, Sat 9 Oct 2027
Dussehra long weekend
Comfortable autumn weather everywhere, with colour starting in Hokkaido.
Best for: Hokkaido, Tokyo, Fuji and Hakone
Book by 7 Aug 2027
Plan this tripDiwali Fri 29 Oct 2027Peak season
Diwali and Gujarati New Year
An earlier Diwali: clear autumn days, colour in the mountains, before Kyoto’s peak foliage.
Best for: Takayama and Shirakawa-go, Fuji and Hakone, Kyoto
Book by 27 Jun 2027
Plan this trip25 Dec 2027 to 1 Jan 2028Peak season
Christmas and New Year
Illuminations, ski season and festive cities. Book early for New Year.
Book by 22 Aug 2027
Plan this tripHoli, Sat 11 Mar 2028
Holi
An early Holi, before cherry blossom: mild early spring and plum blossom.
Book by 9 Dec 2027
Plan this tripDiwali Tue 17 Oct 2028Peak season
Diwali and Gujarati New Year
Clear mid-autumn days with colour in Hokkaido and the mountains.
Best for: Hokkaido, Takayama and Shirakawa-go, Tokyo
Book by 14 Jun 2028
Plan this trip
Weeks to plan around
- Golden Week (late April to early May): Japan’s biggest domestic holiday. Trains and hotels are full and prices rise.
- Obon (mid August): another busy domestic travel week.
- New Year (around 29 December to 3 January): very busy travel, and some sights and restaurants close.
Bloom and foliage dates shift each year and differ by region. We check the current forecasts when we plan your dates.
Questions people ask
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Japan?
In Tokyo and Kyoto, usually from late March to early April. Further north, such as Hokkaido, it is late April to May. Exact dates shift every year, so we confirm the forecast for your dates.
When is the autumn colour at its best?
In Kyoto and Tokyo, usually mid to late November. It starts earlier, in October, in Hokkaido and the mountains.
Is Japan too hot in summer?
July and August are hot and humid on the main Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka route. Hokkaido is cooler and pleasant then, and Okinawa suits beach holidays.
How far ahead should we book?
Four to six months for cherry blossom and autumn colour. Two to three months is usually enough for other seasons.