Japan’s famous sights are well worth the hype. But peak-season crowds can take the cities from bustling to overwhelming. Get some breathing room by travelling off peak. Here are our top reasons why...
For flower-filled parks and temples without the sakura-season crowds, visit while the plum blossoms are at their peak in late February. In Kyōto you can admire over 130 trees in the grounds of Nijō Castle, while at Kitano Tenmangū shrine’s baikasai event you can enjoy green tea served beneath the blossoms by maiko (apprentice geisha).
Golden Week (late April/early May) is the busiest period for domestic tourism in Japan. Visit just afterwards to enjoy the country’s most famous sights without the crowds. It’s the perfect window for seeing big hitters like Kyōto’s historic temples, Nara’s Great Buddha, the impressive castles in Himeji and Matsumoto, and everything from Skytree to the Imperial Palace grounds in Tōkyō.
Though you can only climb Mount Fuji from July to September, you can still admire it at other times. On Audley’s Classic Japan Tour, you will get the best chance of crisp air and clear views of the snowy peak from Hakone. The mountain town is famous for its hot springs, perfect for warming up after a day exploring.
With clear skies and warm weather, autumn is one of the best times to visit Japan. What’s more, in November you can catch one of Japan’s most spectacular natural events: kōyō, or the turning of the leaves. Join in the favourite seasonal pastime of momijigari (leaf hunting) with a leisurely stroll through a city park or castle grounds, or by heading out into the mountains.
One of the most scenic kōyō spots is Miyajima, home to the famous ‘floating’ shrine gate which you can visit as a day trip from Hiroshima City. Audley’s Classic Japan tour allows you to admire the island’s maples in their autumn finery, their leaves an even more vibrant red than the iconic torii. Pick up a momiji manjū – sweet steamed buns shaped like maple leaves – to enjoy while you take in the quintessentially Japanese scenery. For more leaf-viewing on the same trip, stop by Eikandō temple in Kyōto, where the trees are gently illuminated in the evenings.
Japan’s bullet trains are deservedly famous, but to really immerse yourself in the scenery you need to slow down a little. Hire a bike or e-bike and head out onto the Noto Peninsula for rocky coasts and terraced rice paddies, or to rural Tōno for landscapes immortalised in some of Japan’s most enduring folk tales.
For a longer bike trip, you can make use of the three National Cycling Routes. The Shimanami Kaidō is the best known, its sleek white bridges connecting Honshū to Shikoku via several small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Autumn is the perfect time to tackle the 70-kilometre route, with lower temperatures and fewer tourists, giving you the time and space to stop and marvel at lighthouses and whirlpools, or indulge in a lazy lunch overlooking the water. The Seto Inland Sea is a wonderful add-on to an exploration of Shikoku island, as featured in Audley’s Japan’s Hidden Island tour.
The rainy season in June and July fades into hazy days where the air hangs thick with humidity and the background drone of cicadas. Most visitors avoid the summer heat, but by doing so they also miss out on some of Japan’s most exciting events: the summer festivals.
Ranging from parades between shrines in the shimmering heat of the afternoons to raucous dances as night falls, these matsuri are an unmissable experience. Head to the Tōhoku region in early August and you can see several in the span of a few days, watching athletic feats, admiring colourful decorations and of course trying food from the many stalls lining parade routes and filling shrine precincts.
Alternatively, head to Japan’s cooler northern island on Audley’s Wildlife and Hot Springs of Hokkaidō Tour. June sees both Hokkaidō-jingū’s festival, with its bright historical costumes and rhythmic taiko drumming, and a firework display over Lake Shikotsu. Asahikawa’s summer festival comes in July or August, around the same time as nearby Daisetsuzan National Park’s Sōunkyō Onsen Fire Festival, which features spectacular torchlit processions and indigenous Ainu dance and music.
Visit Japan in September or October for a chance to try some of the best seasonal foods. You’ll see all kinds of sweet dishes made with chestnuts, deep orange persimmons served fresh or dried, and Pacific saury simply grilled with salt. Audley’s City and Beach Tour takes in Tōkyō, Kyōto and Okinawa, showcasing Japan’s diverse regional cuisines.
If you’re a fan of Japan’s national drink, sake, be sure to try akiagari and hiyaoroshi varieties. Brewed in winter and ready to drink the following autumn, they’re only available at this time of year, so seeing them on shelves is a sure sign that summer is ending. Another sign you can’t miss is the simmering pots of oden (a warming stew) and richly scented grilled sweet potatoes which appear by the cashiers in convenience stores – quick, popular snacks to warm you as the days grow colder.
The Japan specialists at Audley have all travelled extensively around the country, returning each year to build on their knowledge and find new and different ways for you to experience your destination. It means they can arrange immersive tours and off-the-beaten-path activities to help you get at the authentic soul of a place. Audley also works with the best local guides, some of whom have become long-time friends of the company, and can suggest the most interesting hotels, homestays and lodges.
Speak to Audley’s experts now to start planning your dream visit to Japan.
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