Best travel time
According to naturegnosis.com, Japan can be visited at any time of the year. Due to the large north-south expansion of the country, the weather varies greatly between the regions.
The country covers 20 degrees of latitude, and therefore the climate varies greatly, ranging from temperate on the island of Hokkaido in the north to sub-tropical climates on Okinawa in the far south. In essence, Japan also has four seasons, but with a much colder and snowier winter and a much hotter summer than ours.
Spring and fall are the best times to tour the country. With delicate pink cherry blossoms and sprouting leaves, the land is wrapped in a beautiful shade. The cherry blossom begins its “journey” in mid-March in the south in Kyushu, reaches Kyoto and Tokyo in early April and Sapporo in the north in early May. The foliage of the leaves goes the opposite way in autumn and turns autumnal color from mid-October in Hokkaido to the south in mid-November.
The period from the end of August to September is typhoon season , even if the majority of the storms mostly stay outside in the open sea and can only be felt as thunderstorms on land.
For hikers and nature lovers, there are ideal conditions in the mountains of the Japanese Alps and the wild Hokkaidos National Park in the summer months. If you want to experience something completely different, you can visit Japan in winter. Then many colorful festivals and events take place, especially in the snowy north.
The best travel time for Japan cannot be named in general. You should avoid the school holidays from the end of July to the end of August. Spring is ideal. Then you have the chance to experience the cherry blossom, which is a real spectacle. In addition, it is sometimes sunnier in Japan in spring than in summer.
The southern island of Okinawa can be visited all year round, with the best weather and the least risk of typhoons between May and October. Summer is the high season for domestic tourism, and the risk of rain and strong winds increases.
Climate in Tokyo
The maximum temperature in Japan is 30 ° C in August. In January and February the thermometer rises to a maximum of 9 ° C. The summer (June to September) with average 28 ° C very warm . In the winter months it is approximately 11 ° C cold . During the day, the average annual temperature in Japan is 19.0 ° C.
At night it gets coldest at −1 ° C in January and February. The thermometer rarely falls below 23 ° C in August. While the nights in summer are averages of pleasantly warm 21 ° C, the thermometer drops to a cold 2 ° C at night between November and March. The temperature averages 10.2 ° C at night over the entire year.
The water temperature is up to 24 ° C in August and September. In the summer months from June to September the water is pleasantly warm with an average of 23 ° C. Between November and March the values are a cool 15 ° C. Over the year, the sea has an average temperature of 18.4 ° C.
With 13 rainy days, September is the rainiest month of the year. The December is the driest month of the year . From June to September Japan is relatively humid with an average of around 12 rainy days each, the winter (November to March) is quite dry with 7 rainy days. Every month there is an annual average of 9.8 days of rain.
Getting there
The journey to Japan usually takes place by plane. Japan is well developed and has a large number of airports. Arrival is also possible by ship / ferry. However, this route is significantly more expensive and takes more time than by plane. The biggest airports are in Tokyo, Osaka and Chūbu.
Culture and sights
Japan is a rather small country in terms of area, but it has a lot to offer. In addition to numerous temples, you can also ski wonderfully in the land of the rising sun. The ski areas in Hokkaido in the north are ideally suited. The former capital of Nara is home to the monumental bronze Buddha Todai-ji and important collections of religious art. The victims of the atomic bombing can be commemorated at the Peace Memorial Park and Museum in Hiroshima City. The Koya-san is one of Japan’s most sacred mountains and home to over a hundred monasteries.
One of the most spectacular events is the annual cherry blossom. It stretches from the south to the north in spring and is beautiful. On the island of Yakushima, one can marvel at thousand-year-old cedar trees in the Kirishima-Yaku National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What would Japan be without the Fuji volcano? The snow-capped peak is the subject of numerous postcards and photos. You can climb the sleeping volcano. Anyone interested in traditional sports should definitely visit a sumo wrestling match. Nikko is located in the middle of beautiful mountains north of Tokyo. This pilgrimage city is home to the fabulous Tosho-gu Shrine , one of the most magnificent buildings in Japan. For those looking for relaxation and recreation, there are hot springs (onsen) where you can bathe while the snow is falling outside.
Animals and plants
Japan has a wide variety of animals, but only a few endemic species are really known. The most famous animals are the Japanese macaques or snow monkeys, as they use hot springs to bathe and relax. There are also raccoon dogs and red foxes in Japan. Another interesting animal is the Japanese giant salamander; when fully grown, it becomes exceptionally large at 1.50 m. The most famous animal in Japan is probably the koi. The fish are bred and can fetch prices from small cars.
The country also has a special relationship with plants. The bonsai and beautifully landscaped Japanese gardens are very typical. They consist of ponds, trees, bushes and a whole world in a very small space.
Food and drink
The whole world knows Japan as the land of sushi. But Japan has more to offer than the small fish and vegetable bites with rice. Food and drinks are unique in Japan. They range from short grain rice and shiitake mushrooms to tako-yaki (dough balls with octopus), grilled squid and sukiyaki (stew with beef, tofu and vegetables). The drinks are just as unique with green tea, calpis (milk-based soft drink) and whimsically flavored lemonades.
