Crowds in Peak Season

  Time: mid-March to Early May & October to November
  Pros: pleasing weather, cherry blossoms or fall foliage to see
  Cons: expensive, crowded, shortage of hotel rooms

The weather is pretty pleasant with mild temperature, and the sky is clear mostly. Tourists also flow in to see blooming sakura – oriental cherry blossoms or autumn leaves in beautiful colors. Moreover, local people enjoy their Golden Week, the national holiday from late April to early May in Japan, which extends the peak season in spring. In peak travel season, it is crowded in attractions, together with heavy traffic and high travel cost.
  

  See Also: Japan Cherry Blossom Date Forecast 2025

  Time: mid-May to June, September & December to February
  Pros: less visitors, lower cost
  Cons: unfavorable weather, landscapes not that good

In slack season, the weather is not so comfortable for travelling around, because of either high or frigid low temperature. After Golden Week till June, the rainy season starts in Japan and the frequent rain may influence the sightseeing a lot. In September, summer heat has not faded, but typhoons may hit the shores. The winter time from December to February is too cold for sightseeing. But it is the peak season in Hokkaido for skiing and other winter activities. There are fewer tourists in slack season, so people can have a leisure time to the full, at a relatively lower travel cost as well.

Winter - A Slack Season in Japan

  Time: July to August
  Pros: medians in visitors & prices
  Cons: burning hot weather, a short peak time due to Obon Festival in mid-August

Although July to August is the hottest period in the year in Japan, it becomes a shoulder season because of the summer vacation. Schools are out, so local parents accompany their kids to travel around to broaden their horizon or have beach funs.

Mid-late March to early April is the best time to enjoy cherry blossoms in most regions of Japan. For early cherry blossoms in Okinawa & Izu Peninsula, the second half of February is just the time. The further north, the later cherry blossoms flower. To Hokkaido, cherry blossoms would in full bloom until the end of April, which lasts to early May.

Seeing Cherry Blossoms

In most of Japan, November is the best time of fall foliage viewing. The red leaves season starts in late October probably, especially on a mountain. Hokkaido has its red leaves season earlier, which is from October to early November. To Kyushu in the south, you could see thriving red leaves since mid-November to early or middle December.

Red Leaves in Japan

Generally, it’s relatively cheaper in December to February, mid-May to June, and September. Winter months are the slack season at cheap prices, excluding Christmas & New Year holiday. Mid May to June is a period after expensive Golden Week and into the rainy season. September is just typhoon month after summer vacation and before the red leaves season.

Avoiding Crowds to a Shrine

It’s not a good time to travel to Japan during the Golden Week, from late April to early May. As the name tells, it is a golden week indeed as Japanese enjoy a one-week or ten-day holiday, making attractions crowded. Also, it’s an expensive period in Japan, requiring more travel expenses.

It’s also suggested to avoid other crowded time in Japan, like New Year holiday (late Dec. to early Jan.) and Obon Festival with a great migration of Japanese people (the middle of August). Rainy season and typhoon days are bad time too, for the horrible weather.