Japan is made-up of four major islands and many smaller ones; thus being surrounded by oceans. The major islands that Japan is comprised of are Shikoku, Honshu, Kyushu and Hokkaido. Japan’s climate varies from one region to another; however, most of the country has the four different seasons.

Winter

Japan’s winter months span from December until February. During this time dry, cold air from Siberia moves over the region. Once the cold air reaches Japan, it meets the moist, warm air that comes from the Pacific. This meeting results in precipitation, causing large snowfalls to occur in the area that faces toward the Sea of Japan. Japan’s Pacific coast receives less snowfalls each year, but temperatures still get rather cold. Winters in the big cities within Honshu, such as Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya feature days where the high temperatures remain in the single digits, low teens or even just below zero on the Celsius scale. The good thing is that days in January and February will be cold, but the cold fronts usually do not last too long. This is the perfect time to grab a pair of skis or a snowboard and hit the Japan ski fields.

Summer

Japan’s summer spans from June through August. Their summers are dominated by air currents that are warm and moist, that flow in from the Pacific. This creates humidity and high temperatures through the majority of the country; the only exception is Hokkaido.

Early summer lasts from the middle of May until June. Rainy season usually occurs right after this time; beginning first in the south and slowly working north. Even though rainy season tends to inconvenience many, it does not hinder travel too much. However, typhoon season begins in August and lasts until October. During this time, travel to Okinawa, Ogasawara-shoto and Izu-shoto may become difficult or even impossible.

Spring and Autumn

Although the winter and summer months tend to be extreme, autumn and spring are unusually mild in comparison. During these two seasons, rainfall is light and days are mainly clear. Without a doubt – this is the best time to visit Japan!

The Best Time to visit Japan

There is absolutely no better time to visit Japan, than during the more climatically stable parts of the year. Such times can be between the months of March and May for spring, or from September through November for autumn.
The spring months witness the bloom of Japan’s renowned cherry trees (sakura). Such cherry trees begin to blossom in Kyushu during March, and then begin to advance toward the north, where the bloom reaches Honshu cities during the early parts of April. While the sakura are in bloom, the glory is beautiful, but it is short-lived, as it is usually gone within a week.

Yet, an equally good time to visit Japan is during autumn. This season features many soothing colors and nice temperatures. Japan’s autumn foliage patterns reverse, beginning with the sakura during October and reach Honshu sometime near November.

Less Desirable times to Travel to Japan

Anytime you travel to Japan during the winter or summer months, the weather will prove to be unpredictable. For example, midwinter months are usually cold; this is especially true if you are on the Sea of Japan coast, around the areas of Hokkaido and Honshu. On the other hand, the summer months are often hot and humid. Keep in mind that June encompasses Japan’s rainy season, which can bring downpours daily; then it hardly rains during the rest of the year.

Just keep in mind that peak holiday seasons can make very popular travel times; thus leading to problems with crowds and reservations. Such times of the year are the mid-August O-Bon, Shogatsu and Golden Week.