Climate and Weather of Japan
The climate in Japan varies widely from one region to another region. The largest part of Japan has a temperate maritime climate and most of the country has four distinct seasons. The most attractive seasons are spring and autumn, because of the cherry blossoms (Sakura) and the beautiful colors of autumn leaves.Spring is from March til May and autumn is from September til November. From late May to late June, or sometimes early July, Japan has a rainy season (Tsuyu). The air becomes moist and wet and the humidity can become so high that you can not dry clothes outside. Another period of regular rainfall is early autumn.
Winter lasts from December to March and the more north you get the greater the differences in seasons. The far north and south of Japan have very different climates. In March you can for example sunbath in the south, but ski in the north.
In the south of Japan, where the weather is more Mediterranean and subtropical, you only have two seasons. Winters are mild with a fair amount of precipitation, summers are warm to fairly hot with large amounts of rain.
What is the best time to visit Japan?
It is hard to designate one period as the best time to visit Japan. If we really have to choose, spring is the most suitable travel period for Japan. To be more specific, we would consider April, May and the beginning of June to be the best time to travel. Have a look at the video below for more information about the best time to visit Japan:
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Japan?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.