When to Go
Cherry blossom, autumn colour, Golden Week, Obon, typhoon season. What each window costs in money and crowds, and which weeks to move.
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan: When to Go and What It Costs
Japan's bloom window is roughly a week long and moves north across the country. Here's the regional timetable, what the season does to prices, and why no one can promise you a date.
Golden Week in Japan: What Closes and What It Costs
Golden Week is built from four public holidays at the turn of April into May. What actually shuts, what is merely crowded, and what to do if your dates cannot move.
Autumn Foliage in Japan: Timing Your Trip
Autumn colour moves from Hokkaido in October to Kyoto in late November. The regional timetable, why it is easier to plan than spring, and where to see it without the worst crowds.
Obon in Japan: What Changes in Mid-August
Obon is not a public holiday, yet it is one of Japan's heaviest travel weeks. What the observance is, what closes, and how to travel through it without being caught out.
Japan's Rainy Season and Typhoons: What They Mean
The rainy season moves north across Japan from May to July, and typhoon season peaks in late summer. What each actually does to a trip, and when they are worth planning around.
Winter in Japan: Snow, Onsen and the Quiet Season
Outside the New Year week, winter is Japan's quietest and cheapest season. Where the snow actually is, why Kyoto probably will not have any, and what the cities are like empty.
Best Time to Visit Japan (and When to Avoid)
Spring cherry blossoms and fall foliage are Japan's peak seasons. Here's what each season offers and the crowded periods to skip.