Japan

Christ, do NOT go to Japan in the summer. It's fucking hot. Go in the fall to see the maple leaves or the spring to see the cherry blossoms. Trust me-- it's miserable in the summer.

I think David Sedaris goes in January each year for the shopping.

late fall to early Winter. . . more hook ups, festivals, sales in preparation for the coming year (and spend a little time just after for post year sales). also, just more tolerable (weather, people, food) in the smaller communities. But the resorts do get packed, so if that's your thing, you'd need to do it quite a bit more in advance.

^do it - make reservations.

Winter. To see the hot spring bathing red faced macaques!

and imagine any and every gent open to warming himself next to you under the discretion of a table cloth... or the college lads rushing the public baths and hot springs because the heat in their dorm sucks.

I agree with R1...for the love of God, do NOT ever ever EVER visit Japan in the summer. It is unbearably hot and HUMID. Visiting Hokkaido in the summer isn't so bad, but ever other part of the island is miserably hot and humid.

Best time to go is in the Spring to see the flowers (April/May) and Fall (November) to see the leaves change color.

Summers in Japan are hot and humid. The warm winds blow from the south and combines with the humidty wrought by the Pacific.

I’d go at the time that those monkeys who like to do the hot springs soaking during the snowstorms, that’s something I would like to see.

R8 Maybe op doesn't mind hotness.

Yeah, Japan summers can be like Washington DC summers. Fall or spring are better.

We visited in early October and it was still really warm and humid. Go in the Spring. As an aside I’ve only visited Japan once but I’d go back in a second if there weren’t other places I wanted to visit.

You can take a bath with those monkeys. If you are lucky, they won't tear off your face.

R14 Do the monkeys give massages and do pedicures?

As far as visiting in the spring, isn't there kind of a narrow 2-3 week window when you can see the cherry blossoms in bloom? What if you get there a bit early or a bit late?

R16 It's hard to time your visit to the Cherry Blossoms. Year to year they bloom at different times...sometimes earlier, sometimes later. I notice that mid April to early May is generally when they bloom. But that's a big timeframe if you only have 2 weeks to visit.

But, even if you miss the Cherry Blossoms, there are so many more spring flowers to view, like the blue Nemophila at Hitachi Park, or the Wisteria at Ashikaga Park.

Summers in Japan are HOT AND HUMID. Spring or Fall are the best. I even had a good time in December in Tokyo--mild weather.

...blue Nemophila at Hitachi Park.

Wait…is it hot and humid in Japan in the summer? I’m not really getting any clarification.

Wait…is it hot and humid in the summer I’m Japan? I’m not getting any clarification.

r21 = Dora Dumfucke

If you plan to be in Japan during the cherry blossom period, expect higher prices for hotels and difficulty booking trains, tours, restaurants, etc. Example: The hotel I normally stay at in Tokyo more than doubles their average room rates during this period and is always sold outa year in advance. Summer can be warm and very humid (like July-August in Washington DC). Fall and winter (it seldom snows in Tokyo) are great times to travel the country.

I believe it’s hot R21, but we haven’t decided yet on humid, R20.

Yeah, it's hard to time when the cherry blossom trees will be in bloom.

Also, avoid going to Japan during "Golden Week." This is a week when Japan residents travel within Japan. Everything is crowded and expensive. In 2023, Golden Week falls in late April / early May.

When I lived in Japan, I had a guest (from the US) stay with me during Golden Week (not on purpose).

r24 heat is more variable through the regions than humidity is... worst of it is usually mid spring and late summer for most places.

OP I visit Japan every year in the northern winter (Tokyo + Hokkaido for skiing) but I like the cold and I love the snow, obvs.

location is everything.. but if intent is limited to blossom watching and other largely outdoor activites, then that's going to take you to smaller more open towns to reduce hassles but leave you more open to exposure with fewer escapes.

plus navigation difficulties without a guide. . . but there are several tour groups virtually everywhere, so...

it's a little cooler, less humid towards the northeast and more so the futher southwest you get.

I like the vibe in the southwest more, like sasebo but the weather can be quite unbearable. . . city-wise, social, homo minded, I prefer osaksa but usually end up staying in or around kyoto or kobe, which is like a hour commute unless you take the bullet train.. but you'll get molested more on the standard, especially at night.

I think it's hot and humid in the summer.

Make sure to purchase genital pixellation insurance.

It’s apparently quite hot in summer. Not sure about the humidity, though - maybe someone else could chime in.

Do the bars in Japan block foreigners from entering like they do in South Korea?

Some of them do, yes, R32.

Hey R22 - R22 here. You are the total Dora Dumfucke Thickskull because I was OBVIOUSLY being sarcastic. How do you manage to get by in life? I hope you are being cared for in a facility.

Seems like we are overdramatizing the heat and humidity. Plenty of people visit Florida - or DC for that matter - in the summer. Why would you choose to go in the freezing cold rather than the warmth when days are long and you can be outside? The idea of only being able to go in a 3 week window in Spring seems….unrealistic.

[quote]Seems like we are overdramatizing the heat and humidity.

Sure, Jan.

When are the subway cars less crowded, because seeing those scenes where people force the final few people on always look terrifying and I would want to avoid that?

It’s actually quite amazing, R37 - the subway is at its most crowded at peak hour on week days when people are travelling to and from work.

So let me get this straight… you guys are saying that Japan is HOT and HUMID in June and July, even into August and some of September?

R39 Yes. You'll survive of course but it's just not the best time for a visit. Bearing in mind that as a tourist you'll be doing a lot of walking around.

Cherry bloom time isn't the same throughout Japan. It moves from south to north. Frankly, too many people in the major places to make it pleasant.

R40 but is it really hot and humid ?

I went there once in November, and the weather was lovely - not too hot, not too cold (but still humid). I visited Tokyo and took a side trip to Nikko, where the fall colors were spectacular.

r41 tiresome, dearie. look up a weather almanac for an idea.

surprising no one has brought up the insects and the wildlife that stir with the humidity...

you get out into some parts, especially hiking, you'd be surprised how many leeches you find.. they slip into all manners of nooks and crannies.

then the variety of roaches, stinkbugs, all manner of creepy crawlies.. they're not particularly Australian levels of horrifying except you find more weird bug fetishists.... as to be expected, it's a thing there.

What time of year is best to visit the Suicide Forest?

r44 early spring. . less taboos yet all the impending doom remains.

Personally I’m finding the sarcastic “so is it hot and humid?” Jokes very funny. One of the few times I’ve belly laughed at a DL comment. Well done R21