Things you can do in Japan in summer, autumn, winter and spring

People venture out in the evening to experience the lantern-lit cherry blossom in Kawagoe.

As far as Japanese seasons go, the sakura (cherry blossom) makes spring the star of the show. Each year, cherry blossom fever spreads across the Land of the Rising Sun, carrying pastel pink blooms with it wherever it goes. But as lovely as spring is, each season in Japan has a charm of its own. Here’s a look at some of the highlights in Japan during each season.

Summer

The sun sets on a warm summer’s evening in Tokyo.

While temperatures do rise in summer, so does excitement. From street parades, to fireworks displays and outdoor concerts, the summer calendar is packed with matsuri (festivals). For a music festival with a difference, you can even swap Glastonbury for the Fuji Rock Festival, which has the striking mountain range of Niigata Prefecture as a backdrop!

Those staying in Tokyo can combine festival fun with one of the most special Japanese experiences: climbing Mount Fuji. Summer is the only time of year that you can climb this famous snow-capped mountain, and is also a great way to escape some of the humidity.

Temperatures are also cooler in Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. You can take a fly-drive holiday to explore the volcanic national parks and flower fields of this lesser explored region of the country. Or sun seekers can head down south to the subtropical islands of Okinawa; perfect for a mixture of sand sprawling and scuba diving.

Autumn

A typical fall setting in Kyoto.

While just as striking as spring’s cherry blossom, the koyo (changing leaves) in autumn are often overlooked. Unlike the traditional sakura that only last for weeks in each place, the autumn leaves take their time to travel through the country over a couple of months, transforming the green landscape into warm shades of red and gold.

The carefully manicured gardens and temples in Japan’s cultural capital, Kyoto, are even more beautiful when surrounded by the vibrant red of the Japanese maple. This is the ideal time to enjoy the city in its golden hour, enjoying famous sights such as Kiyomizu-dera temple and the Togetsukyo Bridge with an added extra.

Winter

Japanese macaques bathe in a Japanese onsen (hot spring).

Renowned for having some of the world’s best and most reliable powder snow, Japan draws keen skiers from far and wide. As well as incredible conditions, Japan’s unique culture makes skiing here unlike anywhere else – after all, there’s nothing more special that sinking into a hot spring bath while snowflakes melt around you.

Niseko, up on Hokkaido, is perhaps the most famous resort; it has a friendly village feel, challenging slopes and English speaking instructors, and its proximity to the Sea of Japan means it receives the lion’s share of snow.

A snowboarder taking time out on the slopes in Niseko.

But Hokkaido has plenty to offer even if you aren’t a budding skier. Opportunities to see dancing cranes and rare birds make it perfect for wildlife lovers, and the city of Sapporo has one of Japan’s most remarkable festivals. The whole city comes alive with building-sized works of art crafted from snow, with previous highlights including replicas of global attractions such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Taj Mahal.

Back on Japan’s main island of Honshu, winter is also a quieter time to explore. It’s not unheard of to have temples and shrines to yourself, and with crisp days and clear blue skies, it is the best time to take photographs of Mount Fuji.

Spring

Mount Fuji peers through leaves of the annual cherry blossom, or sakura.

After all that, if you are still yearning to see the cherry blossom, then why not book for 2021 (it’s been rumoured that the Japanese government will subsidise travel post-Coronavirus)? It’s popular for a reason, not only do sakura paint Japan’s already lovely landscape with fluffy pink flowers, but parks are full of cheerful hanami parties with locals having picnics to admire it.

The cherry blossom blooms as early as February down in Okinawa, before climbing north to peak in Tokyo and Kyoto in early April, finally reaching Hokkaido by late May.