How else could we start any discussion about the best time to visit Japan other than with the ever-elusive cherry blossom!

Known locally as Sakura, it's revered as a symbol of the beauty and fragility of life. Not only does it perfectly frame and set off all your Japan holiday snaps, it’s also a time for the locals to celebrate, lining riverbanks and public gardens with picnics and barbecues. 

Your best chance of seeing cherry blossom historically is by visiting around late March to mid-April, but like any natural occurrence it can differ annually. Its arrival is triggered by the year's first warm spell, welcoming spring. This warm season usually starts earlier in the southern island of Okinawa and travels north up the country as spring spreads towards Hokkaido.

Unfortunately, Japan's cherry blossom leaves as quickly as it arrives, lasting roughly two weeks. Full bloom comes a week after the first blossoms open and lasts a further week or so before the delicate petals start to make their dance back to earth.

But a word of warning: Sakura season is very popular with the locals, let alone the millions of international visitors now attracted to Japan each year, so spring is Japan at its prettiest, but also busiest and most expensive! You can expect queues at some tourist sites, train stations and airports and possibly the odd April shower. Nevertheless, Sakura season is truly special so if you are wanting to appreciate the colours without those pesky crowds, see our Sea and Mountains of Tohoku itinerary in northern Japan for the perfect mix of history, culture and dramatic scenery with fewer tourists.

FAVOURITE MOMENT: My first sighting of cherry blossom was on a train from Osaka to Koyasan, arguably one of Japan's most scenic train journeys. Not only was it my first glimpse of the delicate pink and white petals, but also of rural Japan after starting my trip in Osaka. This journey stands out as one of my favourite parts of the trip, climbing through the mountains enroute to stay with the Shinto Buddhist monks (see our Mountaintop Temple Retreat extension). We did this on the 31st of March and the blossoming followed us perfectly north for the next two weeks towards Tokyo, ideal.

Don't worry - it's not all about cherry blossom! In fact, some people would rather avoid it due to the large crowds and availability issues that come with it, so it's not necessarily the best time to visit Japan.

More people are starting to realise just how spectacular Japan can be in the autumn; in fact, I'd argue it's a better time than spring to travel to Japan, especially if you're into the great outdoors. Starting from around mid-September and stretching towards the end of the year, it's a much wider season to enjoy than the compact cherry blossom window. Mid-October can often offer the best views and colours of the changing of the leaves.

Much like the famous fall colours of New England, Japan becomes awash with a tapestry of deep reds and oranges that perfectly complement its ancient architecture and dramatic alpine landscape. One of my favourite recommendations for this time of year is a few days spent travelling between the Kiso Valley, Takayama and Matsumoto, some of Japan’s most stunning mountainous regions. Also rich in history, these areas are easy to add to most classic Japan itineraries, located between Kyoto and Fuji Hakone. 

Heading further south towards Hiroshima there are many hidden gems to be found along the way. For art enthusiasts, the galleries on Naoshima Island are a must, whereas history buffs can explore the castles and ancient pilgrimage routes in Matsuyama. With a chance to explore two major cities and get off the beaten track, I’d suggest our Secrets of the Inland Sea itinerary for a very different Japan holiday.

TOP TIP: A day trip to Kamikochi for anyone based in Matsumoto for a couple of nights is a great addition and easy to miss, especially for those who are keen to get out and stuck into some light trekking in areas of outstanding natural beauty during a holiday to Japan.

Winter is also a great time to visit Japan, as there's some unique things to see and do. It goes without saying that temperatures will be lower overall but festive light displays twinkling and illuminating the darker days make it a very pretty time to visit Japan. Additionally, this time of year you will be more likely to see iconic Mount Fuji, with December and January being the best months to experience incredible views of the mountain and its peak unobscured by clouds.

The stars of Japan's snow show have surely got to be the Snow Monkeys of Shibu Onsen. Half a day's travel by train north of Tokyo, Shibu Onsen is a charming village that perfectly showcases the traditional rural way of life. The area's natural hot springs allow for plenty of comfortable public onsen to relax in (hot spring bathhouse), however you're not the only ones looking to warm up in the wintery mountains! Entire troops of macaques descend on the area to bathe in the warm waters. Quite used to the presence of people, they seem to relish relaxing in their natural spa. Although viewable pretty much year-round, during the winter is the time for your picture perfect encounter as the snow settles around them.

Japan's ski season is also important to get right. The snow is at its best from December to March, and in some areas as late as April. Hokkaido is Japan's most northerly island and has some of the best options in mid-winter. This is far away from the traditional tourist route, however still easily reachable. Best treated as its own chapter of your trip it's almost like another world within Japan, with a slower pace of life and an abundance of forest and off-piste routes. Hakuba, in the Alps near Nagano, also has some great ski slopes on the main island of Honshu. Close to where the Snow Monkeys are based, Nagano is easily reachable from Tokyo within three hours and easily slotted into most tours of Japan, including our Japan Encompassed tour which ticks off key cities as well as Nagano, well known for its magic under the snow.

Finally, the Sapporo Snow Festival would be a memorable addition to anyone's winter trip. Lasting for a week in early February this is a truly special celebration of awe-inspiring snow sculptures. A quick online search will show you why this is one of Japan’s biggest winter events and easy to experience as part of any self-guided tour or select departures with small group adventure touring.

Often overlooked in favour of more ‘en vogue’ spring and autumn, the warmer temperatures and regular sunny days provide a much more reliable summer than in the UK! It can be a great time for families to visit Japan and not just because of the long school holiday; summer means the Japanese countryside is at its most accessible, with lush green valleys and alpine hiking routes revealing themselves to the adventurous. Summer is also the best time of year for Japan’s amazing theme parks, with Disney having two parks in Tokyo and the new Super Nintendo Land in Universal Osaka bringing adrenalin to thrill seekers of all ages. Japanese artist Hokusai famously painted his ‘36 views of Mt Fuji’ including the great wave, but could the best view of Mt Fuji actually be mid loop-the-loop on Fuji-Q Highland’s King of Coasters?!

Although a beach may not necessarily be at the top of most people's must-see list for Japan, Okinawa and its islands offer some amazing beaches to break up the trip. Ishigaki is one of the most southerly islands, only a short flight from Tokyo so you'll be in a subtropical paradise in no time. The rich history of the Ryukyu people and the turquoise waters complement each other, along with jungles, reefs and mangroves, the Okinawa Archipelago certainly has a lot to offer to a Japan holiday. While you can snorkel and scuba dive year-round on the island chain, there is the added incentive for nature lovers between June and October when giant Manta Rays visit for their own summer holidays, allowing for truly magnificent encounters!

If you don’t like it as hot, Hokkaido in the north is a great destination to escape the heat of a Japan summer whilst exploring all the island has to offer – from discovering the volcanoes and lakes of Hakodate and Shikotsu-Toya, to sampling local food (and beer!) delicacies in Sapporo. Perfect to combine with an Okinawa beach break, our Hokkaido Explorer tour is a great addition for that mix of adventure and relaxation!

For more inspiration on the best time to visit Japan, visit our Japan Holidays pages.