Best season to travel to Japan

burkhartdesu · (#1 (**permalink**))

So next year I'll be going to Japan with my girlfriend for close to 20 days or so. I'll be visiting mainly the traditional tourist spots (JR Pass, Honshu, Kyushu) and a visit to my old host families house in Fukui

I've pretty much decided the I want to go in fall, but I'm not sure when the prime month is. October? Basically I'm asking when the foliage is most orange.

What's your favorite Japanese season?

I first went in the dead of summer, and it's something I don't want to re-live.

trunker · (#2 (**permalink**))

i first visited last november and things were pretty orange and red.

october should be nicer, not as chilly perhaps?

not sure havent gone through it yet :P.

Piddy · (#3 (**permalink**))

Sadly I haven't been to Japan even once yet.. but I'd really like to go in the spring and see all the cherry blossom trees bloom. I'll do it in the future for sure!

samokan · (#4 (**permalink**))

spring and autumn ...yipeeee..

minminRW · (#5 (**permalink**))

＞I'm asking when the foliage is most orange.
It depends on your destination, Koyo-zensen moves from north to south and from higher altitude to lower.

Momijigari
http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Vol.7/momijigari-e.html
Koyo-Zensen
2008

godwine · (#6 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piddy

Sadly I haven't been to Japan even once yet.. but I'd really like to go in the spring and see all the cherry blossom trees bloom. I'll do it in the future for sure!

Sakura blossom around the golden week time, when most stores are closed and people are traveling around to visit families and friends. So unless you want to deal with the hassle and headache of closed store and PACKED public transport, otherwise I say to stay away from that time frame. In which case, it will make spring quite dull for travel. Weather is nice though

I usually choose around October/Novemberish.....

minminRW · (#7 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by godwine

Sakura blossom around the golden week time, when most stores are closed and people are traveling around to visit families and friends. So unless you want to deal with the hassle and headache of closed store and PACKED public transport, otherwise I say to stay away from that time frame. In which case, it will make spring quite dull for travel. Weather is nice though

I usually choose around October/Novemberish.....

Around the golden week time (of Japan)? It is too late except Hokkaido.
Sakura blossoms moves according to Sakura-zensen that moves south to north as opposed to Koyo-zensen.
In Tokyo, it is around the end of March or early April.

godwine · (#8 (**permalink**))

Quote:

Originally Posted by minminRW

Around the golden week time (of Japan)? It is too late except Hokkaido.
Sakura blossoms moves according to Sakura-zensen that moves south to north as opposed to Koyo-zensen.
In Tokyo, it is around the end of March or early April.

You are right, I keep thinking golden week is end of march beginning of april (in which case it is the sakura season), but its in fact one month later, end of april beginning of may.. my mistake...

kyo_9 · (#9 (**permalink**))

definitely autumn=
you should not miss 'kouyou' where the leaves turn to yellow-chocolate color~
soooo beautiful~

Columbine · (#10 (**permalink**))

When i was kyoto, i recall the red leaves didn't really get going until mid-november, but it WAS an odd year 2007. it changed very quickly and then it was something like the most snow in Osaka in thirty years.