Trip planning Updated 18 August 2026
Golden Week, Obon and New Year: The Weeks to Avoid
Three periods when the whole country travels at once, trains sell out months ahead and prices rise. Here is roughly when they fall and what to do about them.
#when to go
Every guide tagged when to go, for a trip to Japan.
Trip planning Updated 18 August 2026
Japan Month by Month: Weather, Crowds and What Is On
A country long enough to hold subarctic and subtropical at the same time, which is why a single national answer to when to go is useless.
Trip planning Updated 17 August 2026
The Japan Cherry Blossom Forecast: How to Read It and When to Book
How the sakura forecast works, what kaika and mankai actually mean, roughly when each region blooms, and why the booking decision has to be made long before the first forecast appears.
Regions & cities Updated 16 August 2026
Hokkaido and Sapporo: Deep Snow, Lavender Fields and Room to Breathe
Japan's northern island, where the snow is the lightest on earth, the summer is cool and dry, and Sapporo eats better than cities twice its size.
Trip planning Updated 11 June 2026
Best Time to Visit Japan: Sakura, Autumn Leaves and the Seasons
When to go to Japan, season by season: cherry-blossom timing, fiery autumn leaves, the crowded peaks to plan around, and the quiet shoulder months that may be the sweet spot.
Trip planning Updated 14 January 2026
First Time in Japan: The Complete First-Timer Guide
Planning your first trip to Japan? Here is when to go, how the trains and IC cards work, whether the JR Pass is worth it, how much cash to carry, and the etiquette that keeps you out of trouble.