Best time to visit Japan

The climate in Japan through the year

When to go

No month reaches an average score of 65 across the 29 destinations Eddigo covers in Japan. May comes closest with 59 out of 100. Daytime highs in May range from 18°C in Jōdogahama to 27°C in Okinawa. The lowest average is in February (26), with daytime highs from 0°C to 21°C.

Where in the country

In May, the highest scores are in Hiroshima (69), Fukuoka (67) and Kitakyushu (67), while Jōdogahama scores 43. The destinations do not all peak at the same time:

• April: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Saitama and 5 more
• May: Hakuba, Yokohama, Kobe, Sendai, Chiba and 4 more
• October: Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Kumamoto and Kagoshima
• September: Sapporo and Jōdogahama
• November: Hamamatsu and Shizuoka

Warmest, coolest, wettest and driest

Over the year, Okinawa is the warmest destination (daytime highs averaging 26°C) and Sapporo the coolest (13°C). Kagoshima gets the most precipitation, about 2,540 mm a year, and Sendai the least, about 1,260 mm. The highest-lying is Pilatus Tateshina Snow Resort at about 1,800 m. The warmest sea is at Okinawa: 29°C in August.

By type of trip

The best months change with what you want to do. With Eddigo’s trip types, Japan averages 65 or more in these months:

• Skiing: January and February. Deepest snow in February: Daisetsuzan Kurodake Ski Resort (about 110 cm), Okutadami Maruyama Ski Resort (about 100 cm) and Kiroro Snow World (about 90 cm)