Best Time of year to visit Japan
 

A friend and I are a planning a trip to Japan sometime later this year. We are looking at going in the September - December time frame with the highest preferences being probably October or November. We will probably spend 7 or 8 days in Japan with probably 3 days in Kyoto and the rest in Tokyo.

I enjoy traveling in the off season, when crowds are smaller and prices lower. However I am not sure when that is in Japan. We could potentially go in January as well, but really need the status miles in UA this year. :D

Just looking for input as to when might be the best time to go in the time frame we have.

Thanks in advance!

- Andrew

Hmm...well, September is typhoon season, but that doesn't mean anything - it could be rainy one day and perfectly fine the next five. It's still hot and humid in September, but not as crowded (school vacation is over). However,

Are you able to travel in November? That's probably the best time to go in the second half of the year - the weather is clear, it's relatively warm, you can look at the leaves, and airfare is probably cheaper.

I rather like October for Tokyo visits.

If you're into the high tech angle of Japan, CEATEC is an extraordinary platform for the latest advances in technology and Japanese firms use it as this even to launch and showcase their newest releases and developments.
More details at www.ceatec.com. It's always around the first weekend in October and entry is free, but you'd need to pre-register.
Downside to early October are the odd straggling typhoons - which are an experience in themselves and you're guaranteed of the most glorious weather the day after one of these hits the area.

Otherwise, I'm leaning into Patchmonkey's advice as, weatherwise, I slightly prefer the end of October (but if you're after spectacular fall colours, then November is your best bet, although you should still catch the odd crimson maple in late October).

I've been in Spring a coupe of time, always just after sakura (cherry blossom) season - which seems to arrive earlier and earlier every year now - but the weather is always too damp for my liking around this time.

I rather like October for Tokyo visits.

If you're into the high tech angle of Japan, CEATEC is an extraordinary platform for the latest advances in technology and Japanese firms use it to launch and showcase their newest releases and developments.
More details at www.ceatec.com. It's always around the first weekend in October and entry is free, but you'd need to pre-register.
Downside to early October are the odd straggling typhoons - which are an experience in themselves and you're guaranteed the most glorious weather the day after one of these hits the area.

Otherwise, I'm leaning into patchmonkey's advice as, weatherwise, I slightly prefer the end of October (but if you're after spectacular fall colours, then November is your best bet, although you should still catch the odd crimson maple in late October).

I've been in Spring a couple of times, always just after sakura (cherry blossom) season - which seems to arrive earlier and earlier every year now - but the weather is always too damp for my liking around this time.

In my view, the best times are early April (cherry blossoms) and early November (fall colors.)

If you are traveling UA, I suggest trying to do an open jaw trip - arriving at KIX (via SFO) and departing via NRT. That really saves train travel time and money by not backtracking. I also strongly recommend more time in Kyoto and vicinity and a little less in Tokyo. Perhaps 4 and 4. An extra day in Kyoto allows time for a side trip to Nara or Osaka.

The shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo takes between 2 3/4 to 3 1/2 hours. The direct train from KIX to Kyoto is 70 minutes via the JR Haruka Deluxe and the direct train from Tokyo to NRT is slightly over an hour via the Narita Express from Tokyo Station or the Keisei Skyliner from Ueno Station.

JR

If I can catch the technology show, perhaps my boss will let me take some time on the company, bringing the total trip up to 10 days in Japan perhaps.... :D Have to discuss it with my buddy though.

It is pretty spectacular, although the website doesn't even begin to do it justice. To see a series of video 'snapshots' and get some idea of what goes on at this event, go to www.youtube.com enter 'ceatec' in the search facility and take a look at what people have recorded from their visits there.
The Makuhari Messe is HUGE and Ceatec takes up a great deal of the space. But most of the showcase displays and performances (you'll see tons of models, dancers, singers and actresses as well as some pretty nifty hardware) are crammed together in one sizeable area. A member of the imperial family usually turns up for opening day, and I thought this was a good time to go as everyone was trying particularly hard to put on a good show. During the weekend the public are allowed to visit, and I guess it will be more crowded then.

If a typhoon hits Tokyo whilst you're visiting Ceatec (like it did me - and it was a biggie) you won't even notice it. Next day I went to Hakone - the weather was beautiful.

I second what the others say about Typhoon season. IT can be either a biggie or a small thing. I remember standing atop Tokyo Tower's top observatory in those winds last year when that Typhoon hit Tokyo (the 2nd one). That was fun watching the rain go almost horizontal outside and feeling the tower sway a bit!

Sanosuke!

Best weather -- when?
 

Not too hot, not too cold, not too rainy. Will vist at least Kyoto and Tokyo, likely elsewhere. Might add -- not in high season.

Was thinking late mid-April but suspect that may be expensive. Am ok for May. Understand that June has a lot of rain as does September. October would work. I suspect that November will be too cool since we love walking outdoors (and my wife in shopping centers!!!).

Personally, my own tolerance is mid/late Nov to mid/late Jan. IMO, Not too cold (in Tokyo, anyways) while it's also their dry season.

I can easily walk outdoors with a jacket.

As I posted in this thread a year ago, I think early to mid-November is just about perfect. I do most of my visits on foot, tramping through back streets and garden areas. Early October can still be pretty warm. My first visit to Tokyo, years ago, I went the last week of October into early November and wished I had packed more short-sleeved shirts and less longs.

For April, consider around the 1st week rather than the later part of the month, to catch the cherry blossom displays. If considering around late April-early May, check calendars for "Golden Week" and avoid it. May can be nice but June is the start of the monsoon season. To miss the "high" season, you could consider early March and hit the plum blossom season but most of the gardens and temple areas will still be pretty brown and bare.

JR

For Tokyo, the best time to go is ... October 10.

No, really! October 10 was selected as the opening day of the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, because it's historically the fairest day of the year - and the climate afterwards is ideal for outdoor sports.

Today, the second Monday in October is still celebrated as "Health and Sports Day" -- a national holiday.

But bear in mind that Japan is not just Kyoto and Tokyo... If you wanted to be somewhere warm in midwinter or cool in midsummer, there are places to go. (But if you're planning a Tokyo/Kyoto trip then you're stuck with those climates)

Early October for some is still "shorts" and t-shirt" weather. The best time of year is May and late September through November.

Thanks all. My first choice is mid-October based upon all I have read. We will plan on at least 11 days and maybe as many as 17. We plan on seeing far more than just Tokyo and Kyoto.

The last time i was in Kyoto was in the first week of November. The leaves had barely turned red in the city/around the temples, but Shugakuin was completely transformed & quite spectacular. The weather is a little crisp but perfect for walking around outside if you layer well. Enjoy!