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[Travel] Japan
- Thread starter Super Sub
- Start date
Not in January, but we are going in October . Spring seems to be the busy time to see the blossoms and September/October the post Summer heat season for the tourist.Good afternoon knowledgeable NSC friends.
I’m weighing up a trip to Japan next year and looking to go in January for 2 weeks. Does anyone have any experience (good or bad) of going at this time of the year?
Thank you in advance
brighton_tom
Well-known member
- Jul 23, 2008
- 6,086
I went in early November last year. When researching most things I read said to avoid the summer months as the heat is unbearable, especially when walking around busy cities like Toyko and Osaka. For good weather (hot, dry, but not too hot) the best times to visit seemed to be spring time in April/May, but thats cherry blossom season, which is a big tourist attraction so certain places could get veeeery busy, or alternatively October/early November when the weather is equally nice, & places are less busy. We had 2 weeks in early November, which was sunny most days, a couple of overcast days, and I think it rained maybe twice. Temperature dropped quite a bit in the evening. I'd say October would generally be a good option to visit for nice weather, and not too busy.
& just to say Japan is brilliant, you'll love it! We went to Toyko, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, and up Mount Fuji if you need any tips.
& just to say Japan is brilliant, you'll love it! We went to Toyko, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Hiroshima, and up Mount Fuji if you need any tips.
albionalex
Well-known member
It will be cold but nothing unbearable. If you get hit by some unexpected very cold weather or snow, it will be easy and affordable to buy some clothing/footwear.
Daylight will be less too, so days will feel shorter.
It should be less touristy than other times of the year.
I believe the first few days after new years, most places will be shut.
Daylight will be less too, so days will feel shorter.
It should be less touristy than other times of the year.
I believe the first few days after new years, most places will be shut.
Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
In Tokyo January will be cold-ish but not too bad. There are plenty of colder places in the world. Most days will be sunny with clear blue skies - although obviously you'll get the odd overcast day. You'll be unlucky if you get much rain. You might get away with none if you're only here for a couple of weeks. It is winter though so you might also get pretty crappy weather....but in general it's ok.
In terms of the best time of year for the weather I recommend spring or autumn. Cherry blossom season is generally somewhere between mid march to mid April. It is quite pretty but it is also very crowded. A bit later in Spring will give you warmer weather but without any humidity.
For Autumn the best time is October or November. September can still be very hot and humid. Not as bad as summer but you'll still get days of 30+degrees and high humidity. October will be warm but not killer heat and the humidity will be lower. By November the humidity will be more or less gone. Also, from late october into November you'll get the leaves changing which is also very pretty.
I would avoid Japan(or at least Tokyo, I can't speak with confidence on other parts) in the summer. July and August can be horrible and september while better can be pretty tough too. Temperature doesn't drop much in summer either so there's no respite unless you're o.k with aircon being on all night. June is not too bad, it'll be somewhere in the 20's most days with the odd 30+ day. Humidity on the rise but not unbearable.
In terms of the best time of year for the weather I recommend spring or autumn. Cherry blossom season is generally somewhere between mid march to mid April. It is quite pretty but it is also very crowded. A bit later in Spring will give you warmer weather but without any humidity.
For Autumn the best time is October or November. September can still be very hot and humid. Not as bad as summer but you'll still get days of 30+degrees and high humidity. October will be warm but not killer heat and the humidity will be lower. By November the humidity will be more or less gone. Also, from late october into November you'll get the leaves changing which is also very pretty.
I would avoid Japan(or at least Tokyo, I can't speak with confidence on other parts) in the summer. July and August can be horrible and september while better can be pretty tough too. Temperature doesn't drop much in summer either so there's no respite unless you're o.k with aircon being on all night. June is not too bad, it'll be somewhere in the 20's most days with the odd 30+ day. Humidity on the rise but not unbearable.
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gothenburg_gull
Member
We went just before Christmas and came back in January. Tokyo was cold (although warmer than Sweden) and very sunny, around 9-11 degrees. It was absolutely fine for walking around and exploring the city. We also flew to Ishikagi for a few days - one of the islands to the south, about 4 hours away. There it was around 20 degrees and sunny (although some rain too) so we could swim in the sea.
We've also been in the spring (my brother-in-law lives there), and there you obviously get the cherry blossoms and such, but January will be lovely.
Make sure you visit a Donki store: intense but fun. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don...ote Co., Ltd.,a Japanese discount store chain.
We've also been in the spring (my brother-in-law lives there), and there you obviously get the cherry blossoms and such, but January will be lovely.
Make sure you visit a Donki store: intense but fun. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don...ote Co., Ltd.,a Japanese discount store chain.
Super Sub
Well-known member
- Aug 13, 2016
- 389
- Thread starter
- #10
Thank you for your input guys. I’m looking to do the typical tourist towns of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka with day trips from each base.
I’d love to go in January but I think it may be beneficial for me to be a little patient and wait for either Spring or Autumn. I’d much rather explore in shorts and t-shirt than cold weather gear.
I’d love to go in January but I think it may be beneficial for me to be a little patient and wait for either Spring or Autumn. I’d much rather explore in shorts and t-shirt than cold weather gear.
This is an excellent little newsletter if you’re thinking of visiting Japan.
Past issues are well worth reading:
Past issues are well worth reading:
Man of Harveys
Well-known member
Japan is in first place on my bucket list to visit and this thread is very helpful. Thanks guys.
I've been twice, both times in August and it was very warm. Been to Tokyo, Kyoto and a beach an hour or so outside Tokyo with an amaziing monorail down to it. So much to do, incredibly beautful at times, incredibly modern and crazy at times with fantastic architecture (both old and modern) and great food thrown in for good measure.
I would echo #Gary Nelson's Left Foot comments. But having lived in both places, here's a fun fact.
Shortest day in Eastbourne 7hrs 48 mins.
Shortest Day in Tokyo 9hs 40 mins.
So in the crappiest depths of late December, you get almost 2 hours more daylight in Tokyo than Sussex. That's lovely and something I really miss. And it will normally be sunny with clear skies.
I'd go anytime, fyi, but December or January better than July or August.
Have fun!
(Edited to correct error)
Shortest day in Eastbourne 7hrs 48 mins.
Shortest Day in Tokyo 9hs 40 mins.
So in the crappiest depths of late December, you get almost 2 hours more daylight in Tokyo than Sussex. That's lovely and something I really miss. And it will normally be sunny with clear skies.
I'd go anytime, fyi, but December or January better than July or August.
Have fun!
(Edited to correct error)
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Was not Was
Loitering with intent
- Jul 31, 2003
- 1,614
I went for a fortnight, two years ago in January. It's low season and we found you could book accommodation on the hoof via booking.com etc cheaply. Someone had tipped us off to this so we didn't book everything before we left, which I think is a good call in Japan. You may find (we did) that Tokyo is so insanely big that 2-3 days is enough there; we felt that we would barely have scratched the surface spending a fortnight in the city.Good afternoon knowledgeable NSC friends.
I’m weighing up a trip to Japan next year and looking to go in January for 2 weeks. Does anyone have any experience (good or bad) of going at this time of the year?
Thank you in advance
It can get really cold - to the extent that one of their famously reliable trains was delayed by, err, 25 minutes by the snow. So, basically, dress as you would for England. If you're *really* lucky (we were) you'll see snow on the trees in Kyoto, which was as beautiful as the cherry blossom people visit for.
The food is amazing, cheap, easily available pretty much everywhere.
Osaka is a great city in its own right, and also a really good base for day trips using the excellent rail network.