What’s summer season in Japan like? Is it time to go to? What concerning the different seasons? These are questions that you simply could be asking now that Japan has lastly reopened its borders (yay!).
Japan (日本, Nippon or Nihon) is a year-round vacation spot. Each season exhibits a novel and delightful facet of Japan. The excellent news is that Japan journey restrictions have not too long ago modified. After two lengthy years, borders are lastly open, and worldwide routes have resumed at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, Hokkaido’s New Chitose Airport and Okinawa’s Naha Airport.
Japan journey necessities are based mostly on teams of nations/areas. Travellers from nations together with Malaysia which are deemed to be low danger for Covid-19 are topic to much less stringent entry necessities. Beginning June 10, 2022, Malaysians and different guests from low-risk nations are allowed to enter Japan through scheduled tour teams. Particular person travellers usually are not allowed. Malaysians visiting Japan are not required to do an on-arrival PCR check or quarantine. Nevertheless, you should current a destructive Covid-19 check end result taken as much as 72 hours earlier than departure.
Meet Koyuki, the pinnacle monk at Nyannyanji – translating to Meow Meow Temple – in Kyoto. | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Journey in Japan: Completely different Seasons
Now let’s focus on summer season in Japan and the opposite three seasons. As talked about above, all seasons supply a marvellous and unforgettable expertise in Japan. Let’s undergo the highlights of every season, together with peak vacationer months and a number of other invaluable journey ideas.
Spring in Japan (March to Might)
Because the buds burst open in parks and streets, the Japanese take pleasure in picnics and
hanami (flower viewing) events to understand the transient fantastic thing about the flowers. | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Haru 春 is the Japanese phrase for Spring. The magical and romantic cherry blossom season is commonly the perfect time to go to Japan. Nevertheless, crowds are sizeable, and lodging tends to be costly. The cherry blossom season begins and ends earlier within the south and begins later and lasts longer within the north. Do not forget that Mom Nature marches to her personal beat in order that Sakura timber could bloom earlier or later yearly.
April is often the height viewing time for cherry blossoms. The climate is calmer and hotter this month, however you possibly can count on well-known cherry blossom spots filled with picnickers of all ages. The Japanese respect Sakura so universally that these short-lived flowers (sakura timber bloom for about ten days) are considered as a nationwide image. Cherry blossoms are deeply embedded within the nation’s tradition, and numerous poems, music and artwork items have a good time the Sakura.
Here’s a well-known Japanese haiku by Matsuo Basho (essentially the most famend poet of the Edo interval):
This Spring Night time
Ending with daybreak
And cherry blossoms
The primary week of Might is named the Golden Week (which begins on the very finish of April). It’s a assortment of 4 nationwide holidays inside seven days, making it one among Japan’s busiest vacation seasons in addition to New Yr’s and Obon week. Trains, airports and peak vacationer locations are sometimes extraordinarily crowded throughout the Golden Week.
Lodging in vacationer spots is costlier and often totally booked manner prematurely. Should you plan to be in Japan within the first week of Might, e-book early. The second half of Might is healthier for travelling, and also you get to see Japan earlier than the wet season in June. Let’s proceed with what summer season in Japan is like.
Summer time in Japan (June to August)
Japan’s summers are sizzling, however actions and meals can hold you cool. | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Summer time in Japan is an thrilling time of yr with many vibrant festivals. This season tends to be sizzling and humid, with rainfall in most components of Japan. Though that is the wet season, it doesn’t rain day by day. The rain in Japan is not like rain in different Asian nations. It may be persistent however not torrential.
Be aware that summer season in Tokyo tends to be sizzling and humid. Throughout this season, locals flip to kakigori (Japanese shaved ice dessert flavoured with distinctive elements, syrup and a sweetener) and somen (chilly noodles). Rain is available in brief, sharp bursts and breaks the humidity for some time.
Summer time in Hokkaido is a distinct story. This prefecture is comparatively unaffected by the wet season. Lots of Hokkaido’s Nationwide Parks are at their greatest in June, and most high-altitude trails begin to open for the climbing season.
A few of Japan’s greatest festivals happen throughout summer season. Examples are Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri, Osaka’s Tenjin Matsuri, Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri, and the Awa Odori competition in Tokushima, on the island of Shikoku. There’s additionally quite a few full of life neighbourhood matsuri (festivals) all through the nation. Moreover an genuine cultural expertise, you’ll find a exceptional number of Japanese road meals at a matsuri.
Held in mid-August, the Akagawa Fireworks of Yamagata Prefecture embody tens of hundreds of fireworks going off alongside the Mogami River accompanied by vibrant music. | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Summer time in Japan can be famend for its extraordinary firework shows. On the final Saturday of July, probably the most beloved summer season occasions is Tokyo’s Sumida River Fireworks Competition. Throughout this competition, the sky over the Sumida River shines with tens of hundreds of good fireworks. With the rain and warmth, summer season can be time for guests to discover indoor choices reminiscent of museums, artwork galleries, Kabuki (a classical type of Japanese dance-drama), cafes, and superb eating.
Autumn in Japan (September to November)
Autumn is a season of magic and extraordinary colors in Japan | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Autumn is taken into account essentially the most nice time to go to Japan, with temperatures ranging between 10 and 21 °C. This season is thought for spectacular autumn colors and vibrant altering foliage. We discover that soaking in an outside onsen whereas gazing on the autumn foliage is an unforgettable expertise.
The downside of visiting Japan throughout autumn is that crowds in November rival the massive numbers seen throughout springtime’s cherry blossom season. Nevertheless, September tends to see fewer vacationers than October and November.
Autumn affords the proper climate for out of doors walks with the timber turning vivid hues of purple, yellow and orange. Search for conventional Japanese gardens reminiscent of Rukugien Gardens in Tokyo for placing autumn views. You can too take an in a single day journey to Lake Kawaguchiko on the base of Mt. Fuji to take pleasure in views of Japan’s tallest peak mirrored in serene lake waters, with crimson timber dotting the banks and surrounding mountainsides.
A number of fall festivals, such because the Nagasaki Kunchi Competition, function Japan’s distinctive reference to the West. In Kyoto, residents have a good time the Jidai Matsuri in late October. You will discover an extended procession of transportable shrines, samurais and conventional music performances. For these planning to be in Tokyo throughout this season, look out for the Autumn Ginza occasion.
Winter in Japan (December to February)
Akakura Onsen, Myoko in Niigata Prefecture, Morino Lodge offers a dreamy keep for a winter escape. | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Winter in Japan affords a very totally different expertise with winter onsen, snow sports activities, festivals and occasions. If you wish to keep away from crowds, contemplate visiting in early December, when you should still catch a few of the autumn foliage. Winters are chilly, and temperatures vary between -1 to 7 °C.
Mid-to-late December will get fairly crowded as folks put together to journey throughout the New Yr celebrations. Throughout this era, lodging all through the nation are usually packed, and costs are larger than normal. Nevertheless, mid-January and February are nice months to go to after the vacations in the event you don’t thoughts the chilly climate.
Be aware that many locations within the cities are often closed on the finish of December for a couple of days. An choice is to get off the overwhelmed path and head away from the cities. It may be a peaceable and magical time to go to temples and shrines as they keep open throughout the New Yr’s vacation.
Japan has turn into an unbelievable ski and snowboarding vacation spot throughout winter. Probably the most well-known locations to take pleasure in Japan’s legendary powder are Hokkaido and the Japanese Alps. In case you are right here throughout this season, don’t miss the onsen. Few issues come near sitting in a mountain sizzling spring, surrounded by a white panorama with snow falling as you soak.
A abstract of Japan’s peak journey seasons
Every season in Japan is gorgeous and celebrated by native customs and actions. Any time is an efficient time to go to Japan | Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group
Needless to say seasons and climate in Japan range from place to position. Hokkaido (up north) experiences longer and colder winters than Okinawa (down south), which enjoys longer summers and relative heat all year long.
To determine when to go to Japan, ask your self: would you reasonably have higher climate or smaller crowds? Additionally, contemplate essentially the most crowded occasions of yr in Japan the place along with plenty of folks, the value of lodging at resorts and ryokans are likely to skyrocket.
Don’t forget that travellers should go to Japan on a guided tour organised by a Japan-based journey company or operator reminiscent of Vacation Excursions. To organize in your journey, examine Japan’s journey restrictions right here.
Japan’s peak journey season
- New Yr’s: From across the final week of December into the primary week of January.
- Cherry Blossom Season: From across the second half of March into the primary half of April.
- Golden Week: An prolonged vacation week that often happens within the first week of Might.
- Obon: An prolonged vacation interval often happens in the midst of August.
The Nachi Hearth Competition is held on July 14 yearly on the Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine in Wakayama| Credit score: Japan Nationwide Tourism Group