Japan is truly a year-round destination, and the culture is remarkable in its appreciation of the changing of the seasons. Temperatures in spring are warm and the famous cherry blossom is out during this time. Summer begins in June with rainy season, it is hot and humid and temperatures are often in the high 30's.
Japan's weather in autumn is characterized by light breezes and cooler temperatures around 8-10°C, whereas winter is quite dry and sunny, days are cool and crisp, with heavy snowfalls in Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps.
Can I Travel to Japan Now?
Nagamachi Samurai Street in KanazawaJapan has restored the visa-waiver system from October 11th, 2022. If your country is in the list of Exemption of Japan Visa like Australia, Canada, USA, UK and almost all European nations, you can visit Japan without applying for a visa in advance.
Feel free to contact us to plan your dream travel.
Quick facts
- Spring is celebrated with the arrival of the cherry blossom, starting between March and May, depending on your location.
- Northern areas such as Hokkaido or the mountains of Chubu are the most comfortable places to escape the heat of summer.
- Be aware that August and September is typhoon season, which strongly affects southern regions such as Okinawa, Kyushu and Shikoku, and ends in October.
- Winter is skiing season, and the northern areas are covered with Japan's peerless powder snow.
- Ski down the slopes, hit the beach, hike on the mountains, and dive into the ocean… all are possible activities within the islands of Japan.
98.8% Positive Customer reviews among 10,000+
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Sharon has been very helpful since the…
Sharon has been very helpful since the beginning coordinating our itinerary in order to accommodate everything we want to see, it been great working with her More
May,
Jul 2023
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When I first book I was scared of what…
When I first book I was scared of what to expect, but oh my God! What an amazing experience this has been, from Sharon to all the guides Shawn and Mr. Ho, such amazing people! Their work is excellent More
Saul Velez,
Jul 2023
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Albee was very helpful and responsive…
Albee was very helpful and responsive in helping me make plans for their 10 day Japanese tour. More
Bhavini Patel,
Jul 2023
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Alisa was a perfect tour consultant
Alisa responded to my numerous questions with efficiency and accuracy. She was constantly suggesting options to make the trip more enjoyable More
Matha Goram,
Jul 2023
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I highly Recommend Asia Highlights
For our first guide Jun, he was amazing. Very accommodating. Kept in good communication & kept us on time for our activities. Reached out to me the night before to confirm meet times and locations. Our driver for this time was also so kind & driver was always on time. For our second Guide , Ho. He went above and beyond. He stayed in great communication. Stayed later with us on one of the days because we were worried about riding the train back alone but wanted to visit at the shopping center a littler longer, so he stayed with us and made sure we got off on the right stop! During our time with him he took pictures of us and sent them to us! He was very knowledgeable about every place we visited. He was kind and patient with our large group. He made our trip easy & memorable. The driver we had for this timeframe was also kind & always on time! We felt a bond with both guides given to us! If you want an easy going, stress free trip book with “Asia Highlights”!!! More
Jessalynn Flores,
Jul 2023
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Working to put together a custom trip…
Working to put together a custom trip with Alissa has been a great experience More
Marc,
Jul 2023
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Wonderful Service from Sharon!
Sharon at Asia Highlights has been a HUGE help in planning our trip to Japan later this year. From her initial contact to finalization of the plan, she has been very responsive, professional, patient, and knowledgeable. She was able to quickly propose an amazing itinerary and helped us customize it for our interests. She also made many great recommendations and gave us tips for the trip. I wasn’t familiar with Asia Highlights before I reached out, but after Sharon’s wonderful service, I have full confidence in them. I can’t wait for the trip and I hope it’s as awesome as Sharon’s service!!! More
Ali Tahir,
Jul 2023
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Wonderful trip
We had a wonderful time in Japan with guides Moni and Kazuko and with Jan in Singapore. Will always remember this trip! More
Happy Customer,
Jun 2023
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Just got to say
Just got to say, Monica was great in every way! So sweet and helpful with planning, itineraries, answering questions… would love to meet her in person! Thank you Monica! More
Teri,
Jun 2023
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Monica is fantastic
Monica is fantastic. She understood our needs, was very responsive and planned a perfect vacation for us. Highly recommend. More
Philip Sheldon,
Jun 2023
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Me and my son are traveling to Japan
Me and my son are traveling to Japan. Albee is magnificent. Extremely efficient, helpful, trustworthy. I am very happy she is helping us with my son's dreaming trip. More
Ana Letícia Urbanin,
Jun 2023
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A great way to plan a dream vacation
Due to circumstances, we had to delay our trip to Japan so this review is only about the process of designing the trip. Albee was always available, responsive to our goals, and competent. Based on how involved he was with our family trip, we know we will be back next year and resuming the plan he built. Really impressed with the quality and extent of resources we found through Albee and KimKim. More
KC,
May 2023
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Yeliz - Asia Highlights
Yeliz was extremely helpful and patient during our Japan trip planning and answered all my various questions. Really looking forward to our upcoming trip to Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka! More
Cyndie,
May 2023
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Sharon’s was very patient and helpful…
Sharon’s was very patient and helpful when navigating me through the trip planning process. She helped me plan a very exciting and extravagant trip. More
Jonny Abad,
May 2023
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Wonderful 10 day trip in Japan!!!
Well planned trip by Alisa . Everything was well scheduled, guides and drivers were excellent!! The cars were extremely comfortable and the hotel she chose for us was beautiful!! Enjoyed planning with her she was very professional and always offered other choices. More
Lianne Stone,
May 2023
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11 days trip to Japan
I am planning my trip to Japan in November with Sharon's help and she has provided amazing customer service.She is very responsive and put together very quickly an incredible plan for 11 days in Japan. She provided recommendations and made changes based on our interests and budget. She also provided information about visa restrictions and the best way to get tickets for transportation services. Thanks so much Sharon, looking forward to this trip! More
LE,
May 2023
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Japan trip
Hi Cathy! I just want to thank you for making our Japan trip so much fun & memorable! We loved everything that you had scheduled for us! All the guides and drivers were great & punctual! We love Japan so much that we’re planning to go back next year to different part of Japan! We’ll definitely contact Asia Highlights for our trip again! Serene More
Serene Storslett,
May 2023
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Quick, easy and detailed service
Alisa was our advisor from Asia highlights and she prepared for us a wonderful 28 day trip to Japan, taking into consideration our needs and desire not to be traveling everyday and to have a mixture of slow and busy days. We've not yet taken our trip, but very much looking forward to it Thank you Alisa for the quick response and wonderful itinerary More
Lynette Whittle,
Apr 2023
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Japan Tour
Sharon Huang did an excellent job in planningour 15 day Cherry Blossom Japan tour. Shewas available during our trip to answer our questions and readily agreed to the itinerary changes.Everything was arranged - accommodation,breakfast, guide, car, entrance fees and train tickets. The guides were knowledgeable, and managed the tour very efficiently. The drivers were punctual and very patient. We visited must see places in and near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. We also got to experience Japanese Tea ceremony, Sushi making, Sake tasting, shopping etc.We highly recommend Asia Highlights for your travel needs. More
Madhu,
Apr 2023
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I organized a trip to Japan for my
I organized a trip to Japan for my parents who don’t speak English and Alisa was so amazing helping make an itinerary for them. They needed a Spanish guide and she coordinated everything so they wouldn’t have any trouble when they got there. She was so patient changing and adjusting the itinerary to their needs and wants, it’s been a total pleasure working with her and she always responds promptly to any question I have. I definitely recommend this company and if you can ask to work with Alisa. More
Luisa,
Apr 2023
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Climate zones in Japan
Japan is divided into various climate zones, from subarctic Hokkaidō to subtropical Okinawa. Most regions of Japan, such as Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, belong to the temperate zone with humid subtropical climate. In summer the Pacific side of the country is rainier, due in part to typhoons, while the Japan Sea side has mostly sunny days.
Hokkaido
Japan's coldest region, Hokkaido has relatively cool summers and icy or snowy winters. The sunniest month is June, with an average of 7 sunshine hours per day. August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 22°C. Hokkaido is normally not affected by the rainy season and the heat in the summer. The wettest month is September, with an average of 171mm of rain.
The coldest month is January, with a minimum temperature of -4°C, with an average of 3 sunshine hours per day and precipitation around 63mm. In winter, numerous mountains in Hokkaido are popular for snow sports. Hokkaido celebrates its winter weather at the Sapporo Snow Festival.
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Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times of the year to visit Honshu. Enjoy the beautiful cherry blossom in April and the autumn colors from early October to late November. Summer temperatures in August are up to 35°C and the coldest winter temperature in January is -6°C.
The average sunshine time in Honshu is 2-3 hours a day in winter and 5-6 hours a day in summer. Annual precipitation exceeds 2000mm on Honshu central-western part with a wetter summer and a drier winter.
Located just off the southern tip of Honshu, the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu are an enjoyable place to visit during spring and summer, when temperatures are pleasant and days are generally sunny. The driest time is December, whereas the rainiest time is June and July. The average temperature is around 5°C in January to just over 30°C in August.
The average sunshine hours per day in Shikoku and Kyushu in January are around 3 hours and in August 7 hours. The highest precipitation is in June and July, up to 280mm, and the lowest is in December, with an average of 60mm.
Okinawa
Okinawa island enjoys a subtropical climate with very mild winters, and long, moist and rainy summers. It is the earliest place to catch the famous cherry blossom, as spring comes in March. Summer has high temperatures and maximum sunshine, making it a popular time to visit the region's beaches.
The average temperature is up to 32°C in July, with average sunshine of 8 hours per day. Otherwise, summer is also the season with tropical rainfalls, with precipitation of 260mm in September. During winter, Okinawa experiences the country's mildest temperatures, up to 15°C, with average sunshine of 3 hours per day and precipitation of 105mm in January.
Monsoons and Typhoons
Japan is strongly affected by the pacific typhoon season from May to October each year, especially in August and September. June is rainy season in every area of Japan except Hokkaido. August offers interesting events despite the chance of typhoons. Meanwhile, September is prone to typhoons and is the rainiest month of the year in Tokyo.
Typhoons tend to weaken in the North but strike southern areas of Japan such as Okinawa, Shikoku and Kyushu. There is a potential for heavy winds and rains, so trains and flights might be delayed or canceled during a typhoon. Typhoons usually end in October.
Weather in Japan's main cities
Winter in Japan's main cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Matsumoto, Sapporo and Fukuoka is quite dry and sunny, the temperatures rarely drop below 0°C. The famous cherry blossom is out during spring, late March to early April. Summer begins in June with torrential rains.
Tokyo
Spring is beautiful in April to enjoy the famous cherry blossom, while temperatures are between 10-17°C and the highest precipitation is 181mm. The hottest weather is in August, between 23-29°C; it's the best month to swim in the lakes and in the sea.
Autumn is a good time to visit Tokyo, for the weather being pleasant and the fall foliage being beautiful, with temperatures between 9-26°C. Winter in December has the highest number of hours of sunlight in a year, with 6 hours per day. January is the coldest, between 2-8°C; it's also the driest month of the year, with just 43 mm of rainfall.
Osaka
Summers in Osaka are particularly hot and humid, with maximum temperatures around 35°C in August, and the maximum sunshine hours are 7 hours per day. The rains are quite abundant; the highest precipitation in June with 185mm.
The best times to visit are April and May, for the well-known cherry blossom and pleasant climate, or October and November for autumn leaves.
In winter there are fairly mild periods, the temperature decreases to 3°C in January and it is also the driest month, with average precipitation of 45mm. The average sunlight hours during all months in winter is around 5 hours per day.
The mountain areas
There are a variety of activities to do depending on the season in specific places including the Japanese Alps area. Matsumoto is a mountain city on Honshu, with temperatures as low as -6°C during winter. Kamikochi is the prime attraction of the Central Mountains National Park, it opens late April and closes Mid-November.
The Kiso valley in Tsumago borders the southern Japanese Alps and enjoys an excellent reputation among walkers; the temperature here is as low as -5°C during winter. Takayama is a part of the heavy snow area of Japan; temperatures can drop to -15°C. It's also the gateway to the hiking paradise of the Japan Alps and Shirakawa-go.
Matsumoto
Matsumoto's climate is classified as warm and temperate. Summer has very comfortable warm weather and it is perfect to go sightseeing around the city. The highest average temperature is in August, 25.2°C, while June has the highest precipitation, around 156mm, and the average sunshine hours are 6-7 hours per day.
Winters are mild, with precipitation from mid-latitude cyclones. December has the least amount of rainfall, with an average of 38mm. The lowest average temperature is in January, around -0.5°C. During winter the average sunshine hours are 5 hours per day. The city is a good base for trips into the Japanese Alps.
Sapporo
Sapporo is located on Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. It is cooler than the rest of the country, with temperatures reaching a low of -7°C in winter and peaking at 26°C in summer. The average precipitation is 110mm, and the average amount of sunshine in winter is 3 hours per day and 6 hours per day in May.
Cold winds and significant snowfalls in winter make perfect conditions for winter sports. When spring arrives, it's the right time for hiking and exploring the island's National Parks. The famous cherry blossom finally makes an appearance in May.
Fukuoka
The climate in Fukuoka is temperate humid, with quite mild winters and hot, humid, and rainy summers. Spring is warm and sunny, with cherry blossom appearing in late March or early April. The rainiest month is July, with average precipitation of 280mm. August is the hottest and sunniest month, with maximum temperatures around 37°C and 6-7 sunshine hours per day.
Autumn is considered as Fukuoka's best season, with most likely to experience good weather and pleasant temperatures. Winter is the driest and coldest season, with a minimum temperature of 4°C and precipitation of only 60mm. Sunshine hours in January are only 3 per day.
Visit Japan with Asia Highlights
Japan is a year round destination. If your travel dates are flexible, perhaps you'd like to try and pick your ideal time to visit. Feel free to contact Asia Highlights' staff, we will gladly help you make a holiday plan based on your requirements for weather, places of interest, and duration.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.
