Climate and Weather in Japan - The Ultimate Guide

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.

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Quick facts
Climate zones in Japan
Monsoons and Typhoons
Weather in Japan's main cities

Can I Travel to Japan Now?

Nagamachi Samurai Street in Kanazawa

Japan 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.

China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.

Alisa Liu is a star to work makes Asia Highlights even better

Alisa Liu was my contact person for Asia Highlights. She was remarkably punctual, she was thoughtful, and she handle an emergency on my end, with grace and patience. She recommended great hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka Japan that put us in the center of the action. The guides she choose were personable, punctual a knowledgeable about their cities.

Brent Zadorozny, Oct 2023

Excellent service

Started using Asia Highlights to plan my trip to Japan. Sharon was very helpful, giving me all the information I would need for the tour. I would definitely use Asia Highlights again, when planning another trip to Asia.

Rachel Nelson, Oct 2023

Japan tour

Our airport pick-up went very smoothly. Our guide, Vivian, on the second day was very nice, very accommodating, took into account our preferences. In Osaka, our trip to the castle was a very long walk with lots of steps to climb and quite honestly wasn’t very interesting. But Dotonburi is a must-see and we enjoyed that very much.Our trip to Hiroshima was very memorable. I highly recommend it. Our guide, Etsuko, was very knowledgeable and kind. The trip to Miyajima island, on the other hand, wasn’t too memorable. Our next city, Kyoto, is a truly wonderful place to visit. All the temples we went to were very interesting and very distinctive from each other (Kinkakuji temple, Nijo castle, Sanjusangendo temple,Kiyumizo temple, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kasuga Taisha shrine, Tojaidi temple). The sake tour was a downer and wouldn’t recommend it.Our guide, Ritsuko, was a darling. She was very knowledgeable too and kind and warm and easy to talk to. Our last tour in Tokyo was a rainy day and Sue, our guide, was able to change our tour to the next day. She was so efficient and so accommodating and so kind and very knowledgeable too.

Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris, Oct 2023

Very good tour of Japan

Very good tour around Japan for 10 days, including Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto. Excellent guides and experiences. Albee, the tour organiser, was always available to sort out changes to itinerary or extra requests.

Guy Slimmon, Oct 2023

Everything is good

All of the hotels were wonderful and our guides were super friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We had a 10 day trip that included multiple cities and lots of different sights, we squeezed in as much as we could, including a 2 day hiking trip to Mt. Fuji (our guide Sun Nan was awesome!). Our guide in Tokyo, Jennifer, was lovely and our guide for 2 days in Kyoto, Dennis, was also super great. We did a food tour in Osaka with Vivian which was nice Sallie Fujimoto-Swun

Ideale Tran, Oct 2023

Thank you for the wonderful experience…

Thank you for the wonderful experience we all truely enjoyed. From the beginning (making first contact with Sharon from Asia Highlights) to the end (Saying good bye to our amazing guide Lilly) the experience was top notch. Great communication while preparing the trip and excellent local knowledge of our tour guide. I can highly recommend Asia Highlights and would not hesitate to use them again for our next trip.

Dany Gruosso, Oct 2023

Vacations in Japan

The guides Jessie and Vivian were very kind and professionals and the drivers as well. In a future vacation we will get in touch with Asia Highlights without a doubt.

Hilda Andrade, Oct 2023

Experience with Asia Highlights

This was my first time working with a travel agent to plan an international trip and because of the seamless experience I had, I have decided to always work with an agent when booking international trips. Asia Highlights did an amazing job in ensuring we found a trip that worked well for our budget and provided us with special experiences in Japan that exceeded our expectations. From travel logistics in Japan to lodging and activities, we felt taken care of. If I had known that travel agents were this helpful, I would have worked with them in my prior travels. I definitely plan to book my next trip to Asia with this agent.

Adie Ballantyne, Oct 2023

Jason and Cathy from Asia Highlights…

Jason and Kathy from Asia Highlights did a great job for us. They were very responsive and professional. Hotel choices and attractions made for a wonderful first time trip to Japan.

Norman and Mary Van Zante, Sep 2023

This was one of the best experiences in…

This was one of the best experiences in Travel that I have ever had... and I have traveled extensively. The reliability of the the driver and guide, the kindness each displayed (different people in different cities same result) and the flexibility to work with my family's requests was outstanding. I now wish for this experience where ever I may travel next!

Donna Huck, Sep 2023

Prompt response!

First and foremost, this review is based strictly on prompt response from Asia Highlights.I was browsing Asia Highlights website on the night of September 17th 2023 and really impressed of the positive reviews. So I decided to send an e-mail for an estimate of a private tour guide in Tokyo Japan for 6 days/7 nights including hotel accommodation for my 90-year-old father and I. I provided as much information as I can what areas of interest we would like to visit. I was really expecting a 72-hour delay response from Asia Highlights given time difference in California and Japan. The following day, I received an e-mail from Kate Long. Impressive! Kate provided a very detailed suggested itinerary with great consideration for my 90-year-old father. I truly appreciated her thoughtfulness! I will definitely reach out to Asia Highlights on our next trip! Thank you Kate!

F K, Sep 2023

Perfectly planned and organized

Albee at Asia Highlights created a diverse, fun-filled itinerary for our trip. She listened carefully to our interests and made sure that we made the best use of our time in Japan. Our local guides, drivers and vehicles were excellent. Albee was always available to answer all my questions with a lightening fast response time. A very memorable experience and I would definitely book with Asia Highlights again.

Carol Ann Paget Brown, Sep 2023

Sharon provided great service while…

Sharon provided great service while planning and booking our Japan trip! Unfortunately, we had to cancel due to family medical reasons. Sharon was very understanding of this and helped process the cancellation and refund in a very timely manner. When we are ready to book our trip again, I will certainly be reaching out to Sharon and Asia Highlights!

Ali Tahir, Sep 2023

I just wanted to tell you how pleased…

I just wanted to tell you how pleased we were planning and coordinating our recent Japan trip with Alisa Liu. Alisa was responsive, answered questions in a timely manner despite our 15 hour time difference, and coordinated a trip for a 6 person multi-generational tour to everyone's satisfaction. (ages7-70!)We were particularly thankful for her help as 2 typhoons bore down on Japan during our stay. She helped us rearrange train and hotel reservations, and was able to get us a refund from a hotel that would not typically offer that. I have referred other friends to her with confidence.

Berdine Bender, Sep 2023

Leah Stine

Not only Albee was great! Each of our guides and drivers were also a joy. Daniel was our first knowledgeable guide who spoke excellent English and was so much fun throughout the day. Jeremy was our guide for the next few days and he also was fun, flexible, and had so many interesting tidbits to share with us throughout the day. Kiko was our guide on the next leg of our journey. She had such a joyful sense of adventure and curiosity that was such a hoot. Vivian was also professional and very aware to what our needs were in the moment. Tian was incredibly flexible and when our plans literally changed when he picked us up, he showed great flexibility and took us to some really fun places at the last minute that were some of our best experiences. And finally Charlie was our last guide and he was so thoughtful and consistently anticipated our needs. By the time we realized we might need something, he would already have it taken care of. All of our guides were so thoughtful and conscious of either making sure we got time to ourselves or of being available right when we needed them. They were each fun and had their own personal flavor that they brought to the experience. We are so grateful for the consideration and flexibility that Asia Highlights showed us consistently and would highly recommend them for anyone interested in visiting Asia. Thank you so much! It was an amazing trip!

Leah Stine, Aug 2023

Alisa is awesome!

We have been looking to go to Japan for a long time. The food, the culture, and the rich history have always intrigued us. We tried many times to set up pieces of the trip on our own, but couldn’t put together a sensible vacation. Then we found Asia Highlights and Alisa! She helped us tailor a remarkable adventure to Japan! She answered our many questions and shifted our itinerary to maximize our time in each city. I highly recommend Alisa to help you put together the trip of a lifetime. We are looking forward to our journey!

Mark Linn, Aug 2023

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

May, Jul 2023

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

Saul Velez, Jul 2023

Albee was very helpful and responsive…

Albee was very helpful and responsive in helping me make plans for their 10 day Japanese tour.

Bhavini Patel, Jul 2023

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

Matha Goram, Jul 2023

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.

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.

12-Day Classic Japan Tour Tokyo - Takayama - Shirakawa - Kanazawa - Kyoto - Osaka

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.

5-Day Tokyo Highlights Tour A Quick Sketch of Tokyo

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.

Private Family Tour in Japan