Tokyo’s cherry trees bloom, on average, on 24 March. In 2027, Maundy Thursday falls on 25 March. Read those two dates again, because for anyone flying out of Manila they add up to the best trip of the year: Holy Week lands almost exactly on top of sakura season, and three days of leave can turn it into nine days in Japan.
That kind of timing is what this guide is about. Below is the best time to visit Japan, month by month, built on the Japan Meteorological Agency’s own 30-year averages for blossoms, autumn leaves, rain and temperature, plus the holiday calendars of both Japan and the Philippines and what fares from Manila actually did over the past year. It works for any traveller, wherever you fly from. The Filipino details (visa timing, long weekends, prices in pesos) are woven in where they change the plan.
Quick note: some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it helps keep this site running.
Quick answer: the best time to visit Japan
If you can only go once, go in late March to early April for cherry blossoms or late November to early December for autumn leaves. Both have mild weather (Tokyo averages a high of 14.2°C in March and 16.7°C in November) and both are busy for exactly that reason.
- Best for blossoms: last week of March to first week of April in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Later in Tohoku and Hokkaido.
- Best for autumn colour: late November to early December in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Late October in Sapporo.
- Best for snow: January and February in Hokkaido and the Japan Alps.
- Hardest months: June to mid-July (rainy season), August (heat, Obon crowds, typhoons) and Golden Week (29 April to 5 May).
- For Philippine passport holders: the tourist visa is free, but plan around processing. You can apply at the Japan Visa Application Centre no earlier than 90 days before travel, and the minimum processing time is 6 business days, or 10 in Cebu and Davao.
- Flights: Manila to Tokyo takes about 4 hours 16 minutes on average, and Trip.com’s average round trip ranged from about PHP 15,700 to PHP 20,300 a month over the past year (as of 11 November 2026).
Exchange rates used in this guide: JPY 1 = PHP 0.398 and USD 1 = PHP 62.90 (European Central Bank reference rates, 10 November 2026).
Japan month by month at a glance
Temperatures are the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991-2020 averages for Tokyo. Fares are the average round trip from Manila to Tokyo by month as shown on Trip.com’s route page on 11 November 2026: averages of past prices, not quotes, so use them to compare months rather than to budget to the peso.
| Month | Tokyo high / low | What’s happening | Avg round trip MNL-TYO |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9.8°C / 1.2°C | New Year closures to about 4 Jan, snow up north | PHP 20,161 |
| February | 10.9°C / 2.1°C | Sapporo Snow Festival, deep snow in the Alps | PHP 16,346 |
| March | 14.2°C / 5.0°C | Blossoms open late in the month | PHP 18,115 |
| April | 19.4°C / 9.8°C | Full bloom early April, Golden Week starts 29 Apr | PHP 15,674 |
| May | 23.6°C / 14.6°C | Golden Week to 5 May, then calm and green | PHP 18,577 |
| June | 26.1°C / 18.5°C | Rainy season, hydrangeas | PHP 17,789 |
| July | 29.9°C / 22.4°C | Rain ends mid-July, Gion Matsuri, Fuji opens | PHP 20,311 |
| August | 31.3°C / 23.5°C | Hottest month, Obon, typhoons | PHP 19,274 |
| September | 27.5°C / 20.3°C | Still warm, typhoon risk | PHP 18,570 |
| October | 22.0°C / 14.8°C | Comfortable, leaves turn in Hokkaido | PHP 18,058 |
| November | 16.7°C / 8.8°C | Ginkgo and maples in Tokyo and Kyoto | PHP 17,024 |
| December | 12.0°C / 3.8°C | Last maples in Kyoto, illuminations, closures from 29 Dec | PHP 16,763 |
One thing that table makes obvious: the gap between the cheapest and dearest month averages is only about PHP 4,600. Which week you fly matters more than which month. A Holy Week or Christmas departure costs far more than the April average suggests, and a random Tuesday in late January can undercut it.
January
Cold, clear and quiet once New Year is over. Many attractions, shops and restaurants close on one or more days between 29 December and 4 January, according to japan-guide.com, so start sightseeing from the 5th. Sapporo averages a high of just -0.4°C, which is ski weather (our guide to ski resorts in Japan for first-timers has lift prices in yen and pesos). If you want warmth and blossoms in January, Okinawa’s early hikanzakura cherries open around 16 January on average in Naha, where the January high is 19.8°C.
February
The Sapporo Snow Festival runs 4 to 11 February 2027 at Odori Park, Tsudome and Susukino. Hotels there fill early, so book first and plan the rest second. February is also when the gassho farmhouses of Shirakawa-go look the way they do on postcards. Tokyo stays dry, with only 56.5 mm of rain on average, the lowest of the year.
March
Blossom month starts in the south and west. The Japan Meteorological Agency’s average first-bloom dates are 22 March in Fukuoka, 24 March in Tokyo, 25 March in Hiroshima, 26 March in Kyoto and 27 March in Osaka. In 2027, Japan’s Vernal Equinox Day falls on Sunday 21 March, with Monday 22 March a substitute holiday, so expect a busy domestic long weekend. Holy Week follows straight after (more on that below).
April
Full bloom usually arrives about a week after first bloom: 31 March in Tokyo, 4 April in Kyoto and Osaka on JMA averages. By mid-April the front moves north, to Sendai (full bloom 13 April on average), then Hokkaido, where Sapporo’s trees open around 1 May. Our list of cherry blossom spots in Japan covers where to stand. Golden Week begins on 29 April.
May
Golden Week ends on 5 May. In 2027 the holidays fall on Thursday 29 April and Monday 3 to Wednesday 5 May, which means Japan itself is on the move and hotel prices jump. Read our Japan Golden Week guide before booking anything in that window. The second half of May is underrated: green, 23.6°C, and back to normal crowds. Okinawa’s rainy season usually starts around 10 May.
June
Rainy season. On JMA averages it runs from about 7 June to 19 July in Kanto (Tokyo) and from about 6 June to 19 July in Kinki (Kyoto and Osaka). Tokyo averages 167.8 mm of rain in June. It is mostly grey drizzle rather than typhoon rain, and the hydrangea temples around Kamakura are at their best. Hokkaido is not on JMA’s rainy season list, which is why June is a smart month for Sapporo and Furano.
July
The rain stops around mid-July and the heat arrives: Tokyo averages 29.9°C. Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri fills the whole month, with the big float processions on 17 and 24 July. Mt Fuji’s Yoshida Trail opened from 1 July to 10 September in 2026, with a fee of ¥4,000 (about PHP 1,590) and a cap of 4,000 climbers a day; check the 2027 rules before you plan a climb. July was also the dearest month on Trip.com’s averages.
August
The hardest month for most visitors. Tokyo averages a 31.3°C high and Osaka 33.7°C, with humidity that will feel familiar to anyone from Manila. Obon, typically 13 to 16 August, is described by Japan’s tourism board as one of the busiest and most expensive times to travel, with planes and trains selling out. August and September are also the peak months for typhoon landfalls in Japan, with September slightly ahead on the JMA’s 1991-2020 averages (1.0 landfalls a year against 0.9 for August).
September
Still warm (27.5°C) and still typhoon season, with Tokyo’s rainfall jumping to 224.9 mm. In 2027, Japan has holidays on Monday 20 and Thursday 23 September. If you go, keep a flexible day in your plan and buy travel insurance before a storm has a name.
October
Comfortable again at 22.0°C, though October is Tokyo’s wettest month on average (234.8 mm). Autumn colour starts in Hokkaido: Sapporo’s maples turn around 28 October on average. Fewer tour groups than April and November make this a good compromise month.
November
Our favourite month for a first trip. Tokyo averages 16.7°C by day, the ginkgo trees turn yellow around 23 November and the maples around 28 November on JMA averages. Kyoto’s reference maple turns later, around 5 December, so late November into the first week of December is the Kyoto window. For costs, our Tokyo travel cost from Manila breakdown prices a full autumn week. If you want Fuji in the mix, this Mt Fuji day tour from Tokyo on Klook handles the transport so you only handle the photos.
December
The last maples hang on in Kyoto (around 5 December on average) and Osaka (around 1 December), and Tokyo drops to 12.0°C. Christmas is not a public holiday in Japan, so 24 to 28 December is normal sightseeing time, with winter illuminations in the big cities. From 29 December, the New Year rush starts and closures begin.
Cherry blossoms and autumn leaves: dates by city
These are the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991-2020 averages, alongside what actually happened in 2026. Treat these as your planning base, then check the 2027 forecasts once they are published early next year.
| City | First bloom (avg) | Full bloom (avg) | Full bloom 2026 | Maples turn (avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka | 22 Mar | 31 Mar | 3 Apr | 1 Dec |
| Tokyo | 24 Mar | 31 Mar | 28 Mar | 28 Nov |
| Kyoto | 26 Mar | 4 Apr | 30 Mar | 5 Dec |
| Osaka | 27 Mar | 4 Apr | 3 Apr | 1 Dec |
| Sendai | 8 Apr | 13 Apr | 4 Apr | 21 Nov |
| Sapporo | 1 May | 6 May | 24 Apr | 28 Oct |
Sources: JMA first-bloom dates, full-bloom dates and maple colouring dates. The maple date is the day most leaves on the agency’s reference tree turn red, so viewing stays good for roughly a week or two after it.
Notice how early 2026 was: five of the six cities reached full bloom ahead of average, Tokyo by three days and Sapporo by twelve. One early year is not a rule, but if your dates are fixed, the earlier half of the window is the safer bet.
When to avoid Japan (or at least plan harder)
Four periods catch first-timers out every year.
- Golden Week, 29 April to 5 May 2027. Japan’s longest holiday cluster. Domestic travel spikes, and so do hotel rates.
- Obon, around 13 to 16 August. Trains and flights sell out, and it sits in the hottest stretch of the year.
- New Year, about 29 December to 4 January. Big travel rush out of the cities from 29 to 31 December, the return rush from 2 to 4 January, and closures in between.
- Rainy season and typhoons. Early June to mid-July for rain on Honshu, then August and September for typhoon risk. Neither cancels a trip, but both reward a flexible itinerary.
Planning from the Philippines: visa, holidays and fares
This is where most Japan guides stop being useful for us, so here is the part that matters if you hold a Philippine passport.
Start the visa on the right day
The Japan tourist visa is free for Philippine nationals, and you pay only the PHP 520 service fee at the Japan Visa Application Centre (JVAC), according to the VFS Global page for Japan in the Philippines. The same page says you can apply no earlier than 90 days before travel, and processing takes a minimum of 6 business days, or 10 in Cebu and Davao. The Embassy of Japan adds that some applications take several weeks to several months.
Work backwards from the season you want. For a 20 March 2027 departure, day 90 is 20 December 2026, right as the Christmas rush begins, so have your PSA documents and bank certificate ready in early December. For mid-November leaves, the window opens in mid-August. Our full Japan visa guide for Filipinos has the document checklist.
Match Japan’s seasons to Philippine holidays
- Holy Week, 25 to 28 March 2027. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are regular holidays and Black Saturday is an additional special non-working day under Proclamation No. 1427, the 2027 holiday list signed on 8 September 2026. File leave for 22 to 24 March and you get nine days off, 20 to 28 March, which lines up with Tokyo’s average first bloom (24 March) and Kyoto’s (26 March). Expect Holy Week fares to sit well above the monthly averages, so book this one first.
- Araw ng Kagitingan, Friday 9 April 2027. A three-day weekend that fits the northern blossoms, with Sendai’s average full bloom on 13 April.
- National Heroes Day, Monday 30 August 2027. A long weekend, but it falls in typhoon season, so buy insurance early.
- Christmas break. Fly before 25 December and you catch Kyoto’s last leaves and Japan’s illuminations. Stay past 28 December and plan around the New Year closures.
Flights and fees
Nonstop flights from Manila to Tokyo are run by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Japan Airlines, Jetstar Japan and ANA, according to Trip.com’s route page, which counted 84 flights a week and an average flight time of about 4 hours 16 minutes as of 11 November 2026. Budget for two extra charges: the Philippine travel tax of PHP 1,620 in economy, and Japan’s international tourist tax, which rose to ¥3,000 (about PHP 1,190) for tickets issued from 1 July 2026, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. It is usually built into the fare.
Compare Manila to Tokyo fares by month on Trip.com
Where to stay in each season
Tokyo and Osaka work in any month, and the right base changes less with the season than people think. For a first trip, Shinjuku is hard to beat: late-night food, a huge choice of rooms, and buses and trains toward Fuji and Hakone leave from here. For blossoms, stay close to the train line you will use most rather than next to one park, because the best spot shifts day by day. You can compare hotels in Shinjuku for your dates, and in peak weeks book the moment your visa is approved.
In Osaka, Namba and Dotonbori keep you on the Nankai line from Kansai Airport, with Kyoto and Nara as easy day trips. It is also the better base in the rainy season, since the covered shopping streets keep you dry.
The map below shows live prices around Shinjuku, so you can see what your chosen month actually costs.
Practical tips for any season
- Pack for the real temperature. Tokyo’s January low is 1.2°C. If you have never felt that, layer a thermal top under a jacket; it is cheaper than buying a coat in Tokyo.
- Get data before you land. A Japan eSIM from Airalo installs at home and switches on at Narita or Kansai, so maps and blossom forecasts work from the gate.
- Insure typhoon-season trips. For June to September, see what SafetyWing costs for your Japan dates before you pay for anything non-refundable.
- Carry some yen. Many small shops, food stalls and shrines still prefer cash. A Wise card lets you hold yen and pay or withdraw at the mid-market rate, with fees shown upfront, which usually beats changing pesos at the airport.
- Pasalubong timing. Seasonal sweets (sakura in spring, chestnut and sweet potato in autumn) are a reason in themselves to pick a season. Leave room in your baggage.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit Japan?
For most first-timers, early April or late November. Both have mild weather and Japan’s famous colours. If crowds bother you more than cold, late January and February are quieter.
When is cherry blossom season in Japan in 2027?
Watch for the 2027 forecasts early next year. On JMA averages, Tokyo blooms around 24 March and reaches full bloom around 31 March, with Kyoto and Osaka a few days later and Sapporo in early May.
What is the cheapest time to fly to Japan from Manila?
On Trip.com’s averages as of 11 November 2026, April (PHP 15,674), February (PHP 16,346) and December (PHP 16,763) were the cheapest months for round trips to Tokyo, and July the dearest (PHP 20,311). Holiday weeks inside any month cost more.
How early should Filipinos apply for a Japan visa?
The JVAC accepts applications up to 90 days before travel. Processing takes at least 6 business days, or 10 in Cebu and Davao, so apply as early as the window allows.
Is it a bad idea to visit Japan in the rainy season?
Not if you plan for it. The rain from early June to mid-July is mostly steady drizzle, crowds are lower, and Hokkaido is outside the rainy season list altogether.
When does it snow in Japan?
Hokkaido is the surest bet. Sapporo’s average daily high is 2.0°C in December, -0.4°C in January and 0.4°C in February, which keeps the snow around.
So, when should you go?
Pick the season first, then the city, then the week. If you want the classic picture, 2027 hands Filipino travellers a gift: Holy Week falls right on top of Tokyo’s average bloom dates, and three days of leave make it a nine-day trip. If you can be flexible, late November gives you the same mild weather with autumn colour and slightly lower fares. Either way, count back 90 days, start your visa on the first day the window opens, and book your flights before your officemates get the same idea.
Featured photo: Loggieloggie / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Save this guide for later: pin one of these to your Pinterest board.
About the Author
Bianca Rei is a Filipino traveler, entrepreneur, and problem-solver who has called Serbia home for many years. She has been following Two Monkeys Travel Group since 2014, back when she was simply a reader dreaming, traveling, and collecting stories of her own, so being able to contribute to the blog now feels a little like coming full circle.
Bianca runs Rodi Solutions, where she helps people and businesses navigate life and business in Serbia, alongside website design, development, and management. When she is not working, she is usually traveling, boxing, chasing another adventure, or spending time with her family.
Find her work at rodi.consulting, or get to know her beyond work at biancarei.net.
