When to Go– category –
Month by month: weather, crowds, prices, cherry blossom and autumn leaves, and the holiday weeks to avoid.
Booking something? The tools we use, one per job.
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Japan Festival Calendar: Fixed Dates and Ones Still Unknown
Most big festivals keep the same dates every year, so 2027 is bookable now. Kanda Matsuri, Sumida fireworks and Kishiwada have no 2027 dates yet. Gion's J… -
Surviving Japan’s Summer Heat: Alerts, Early Starts and Help
Go outdoors before about 10 a.m. and after about 5 p.m.; stay indoors in between. At 5 p.m. the night before, check tomorrow's Heat Stroke Alert. Kyoto an… -
Japan in Winter: What to Expect from Snow to New Year
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka: cold, dry, sunny. Real snow: Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan side. Short days: sunset is about 16:30 in Tokyo and 16:50 in Kyoto in lat… -
Should You Travel to Japan During Golden Week? A Yes/No Test
2027 holidays: Thu 29 Apr, then Mon 3 to Wed 5 May, giving Sat 1 to Wed 5 May off. Flexible first trip? Move it to the week after, from about 6 May. Fixed… -
Rainy Season and Typhoons in Japan: Dates, Odds and Refunds
The rainy season runs roughly early June to late July on Honshu; Okinawa's ends in late June. Hokkaido is not on JMA's rainy-season list and gets far less… -
New Year in Japan: What Closes and When It All Reopens
Bank counters close Dec 31 to Jan 3; the last counter day is Wed Dec 30, 2026. Post office and 7-Eleven ATMs keep working for foreign cards over New Year… -
Autumn Leaves in Japan 2026: Timing, Places and the Forecast Trap
The forecast date is when most leaves have turned, not the day to book. Kyoto's big temples usually peak mid to late November. Last week of November: Kyot… -
Cherry Blossom Forecast: How to Read It and Where to See Them
No 2027 forecast exists yet; Weathernews plans next-season info for February 2027. Forecasts come from three private firms. JMA only records the actual da… -
The Best Time to Visit Japan: Seasons, Crowds and Costs
Best for low crowds: Mid-May, just before the rainy season starts. Best for scenery: Late November, after the peak autumn heat dies down. Best for budget:…
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