Best months
Late March to early April: cherry blossoms. Beautiful, crowded and expensive; book months ahead.
October to November: autumn leaves (Kyoto peaks mid to late November), cool and mostly dry.
December to February: cold (around 0–10°C in Tokyo) but often clear, the best time to see Mt Fuji. Bring a proper winter jacket.
Hot and wet season
June is the rainy season. July and August are hot and humid (often 35°C), and typhoons are most likely from August to September. Get travel insurance and keep plans flexible.
Holidays to avoid
Golden Week (around April 29 to May 5)
Obon (mid-August)
New Year (December 29 to January 3), when many shops and sights close