Where to Go in Japan by Month: 8 Places Chosen from 10 Years of Weather

Where should you go in Japan, and when? I have plenty of places on my list, but walking around is less appealing when it’s very hot or raining for days.

That question led me to look at weather records for 56 places in Japan from 2016 through 2025. This started as a technical project: a way to learn how to collect and analyze weather data. For each possible departure date, I looked at the next four days and checked the temperature and rainfall against conditions I thought would suit a trip spent walking around town. Then I compared the share of trips that met those conditions.

Eight places took the top spot across the 12 months: islands in Okinawa (沖縄) in winter, Chichibu (秩父) and Sapporo (札幌) in spring, Kushiro (釧路) in summer, and Kurashiki (倉敷) in fall, among others. I also looked into what you could do in each place. The numbers gave me a few ideas I hadn’t considered before. Maybe they’ll do the same for you.

Start with the month you want to travel

The “weather score” is the percentage of four-day trips with enough usable data that met all of these conditions:

• Each day’s high was at least 10°C (50°F) and below 35°C (95°F).
• No more than one day reached 30°C (86°F).
• No more than one day had at least 1 mm of rain, and no day had 30 mm or more.

A score of 89.2% means roughly nine out of ten past itineraries met those conditions. It doesn’t rate how interesting a destination is. It isn’t a percentage of sunny days, either: cloudy days count if they meet the temperature and rain limits.

If you already know your travel month, compare the top five ranks in the chart below. The line chart shows how the eight featured places change through the year.

1. Miyakojima in January: a trip for ocean views

January’s weather score: 54.9%. Miyakojima (宮古島), in Okinawa Prefecture (沖縄県), is one option for a winter trip along the coast.

I’d plan a winter visit around looking at the sea. Cape Higashi-Hennazaki (東平安名崎), at the island’s southeastern tip, and neighboring Irabu Island (伊良部島), reached by bridge, offer coastal views and white sand beaches. The sights are spread out, so decide how you’ll get around as you choose your stops. JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Miyakojima (宮古島) guide

Between coastal stops, you can learn about Miyako-jofu (宮古上布), the island’s woven cloth. At the Miyakojima City Traditional Crafts Center (宮古島市伝統工芸品センター), tools and a roughly 15-minute film explain how ramie plants become thread, how the thread is dyed with indigo, and how it is woven. You can also watch weaving in the training room on weekdays. That room closes on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.

The center itself closes on Sundays and over the New Year holiday, and its closing time from October through March is 4:30 p.m. If you’re driving, use the current address or map on the official site. Searching a car navigation system by phone number may send you to its old location. Traditional Crafts Center (宮古島市伝統工芸品センター) visitor information, in Japanese

The center doesn’t offer hands-on weaving. For that, check the weaving and dyeing workshop at the separate Miyakojima Experience Craft Village (宮古島市体験工芸村), including what you can make and how to book. Craft Village (宮古島市体験工芸村) workshop information

The Underground Dam Museum (地下ダム資料館) is another indoor stop, this time about the island’s water supply. Miyakojima’s (宮古島) porous Ryukyu (琉球) limestone lets rain seep into the ground. Underground dams hold back that groundwater so it can be used. Videos and cross-section models explain the system. I find that an interesting detour from the coast: a look at the infrastructure that makes life on the island possible. Miyakojima City’s (宮古島市) water resources and museum guide

January came out on top under this project’s temperature and rainfall rules, which weren’t designed to find swimming weather. Only about half of the January trips qualified. Keep the coastal stops flexible and have an indoor option, such as the weaving exhibits or dam museum, for a change in the weather.

2. Ishigaki in February: Kabira Bay and island food

February’s score: 61.0%. Another island in Okinawa (沖縄), Ishigaki (石垣島), led the February rankings.

You can spend part of a day looking out over the white sand and water at Kabira Bay (川平湾), then return to town for Yaeyama soba (八重山そば) or a meal made with island ingredients. There is plenty of reason to visit without getting in the water. JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Ishigaki (石垣島) guide and the local tourism guide

For a glimpse of Yaeyama’s (八重山) homes and music, consider Ishigaki Yaima Village (石垣やいま村). Among its traditional red-tiled houses, the Makishi House (牧志邸) hosts ya-ashibi (家あしび), a folk music performance based on singing and dancing at home, with live sanshin accompaniment. Check the day’s performance times so you can fit a show around walking through the houses. Yaima Village (石垣やいま村) activities

At Azamiya’s (あざみ屋) Minsah craft center (みんさー工芸館), you can try the weaving stage of Yaeyama minsah (八重山みんさー織) textile making. A coaster takes about 30 minutes, but you can’t take it home immediately: finished work is collected later or mailed. Visitors living outside Japan must be able to collect it later, so confirm the pickup date when booking. Azamiya’s (あざみ屋) weaving experience and collection conditions

For a glass-bottom boat ride at Kabira Bay (川平湾), check the sightseeing boat operator’s status separately from the inter-island ferries. Blue Coral (ブルーコーラル), for example, posts a dated operating status and guidance for that day. Rain alone won’t tell you whether boats are running; tides and waves matter, too. Blue Coral’s (ブルーコーラル) Kabira Bay (川平湾) boat service

Check the ferry company, route, and return sailing

Ishigaki (石垣島) is also a base for visiting Taketomi (竹富島), Iriomote (西表島), and other islands. The score here uses observations from Ishigaki (石垣島), though, and doesn’t include the wind and waves that affect ferries. Look up the timetable while planning, then check the day’s service status before traveling.

1. Check which company issued your ticket. Anei Kanko’s (安栄観光) service status and Yaeyama Kanko Ferry’s (八重山観光フェリー) status are separate. Their interchangeable tickets have been discontinued, so you can’t simply use one company’s ticket on the other’s boat. Anei Kanko’s (安栄観光) FAQ
2. Check the displayed date, update time, route, and sailing. Anei’s (安栄観光) page uses symbols for normal service, partial cancellations, and full cancellations. Look at both your departure from Ishigaki (石垣島) and your return from the island. Contact the operator if the status isn’t clear.
3. On Iriomote (西表島), distinguish Uehara Port (上原港) from Ohara Port (大原港). When the Uehara (上原) route is canceled, travel via Ohara (大原) may be possible. However, an advance Anei (安栄観光) ticket for Uehara (上原) doesn’t automatically transfer to an Ohara (大原) sailing. Ask about replacement tickets, connecting bus conditions, and available seats before changing your plans. Guidance for Uehara (上原) cancellations

Keep checking during your stay, and leave some room to move an island visit to another day. I checked these visitor conditions and ways to confirm ferry service against the official Japanese information in October 2026. Use each facility’s or operator’s latest notice for the dates of your trip.

3. Kurashiki in March, October, and November: canals and art

March: 59.7%. October: 73.9%. November: 89.2%. If your dates are flexible, November in Kurashiki (倉敷) stands out in this comparison.

In Okayama Prefecture (岡山県), Kurashiki’s (倉敷) Bikan Historical Quarter (倉敷美観地区) has white-walled storehouses and willows along its canal. You can cross the small bridges, visit the Ohara Museum of Art (大原美術館), and stop at shops in old townhouses. It’s easy to mix walking with time indoors. Kurashiki’s (倉敷) official Bikan (美観地区) guide

After the canal, turn onto Honmachi Street (本町通り). This part of town developed before the canal-side area and was home to craftspeople such as chest makers and barrel makers. Look for wooden lattices, the cedar ball hanging outside a sake brewery, and shops inside old houses. Continue into Higashimachi (東町), where old signs above the eaves and traces of wells offer small clues to everyday life here. Honmachi (本町) guide and Higashimachi (東町) guide

One architectural detail to look for is Kurashiki-goshi (倉敷格子), the local style of wooden lattice. Between the full-height bars, there are generally three thinner bars that stop short at the top. Once you start looking at the windows, there is more to notice than white walls and tiled roofs. For a view from above, climb to Achi Shrine (阿智神社) on Tsurugatayama Hill (鶴形山), overlooking the historical quarter. Kurashiki City’s (倉敷市) lattice explanation and Achi Shrine (阿智神社) visitor information

At Kurashiki Ivy Square (倉敷アイビースクエア), the red-brick buildings preserve part of a former spinning mill. The original walls use English bond: rows showing the long sides of bricks alternate with rows showing the short ends. Renovated walls use stretcher bond, with only the long sides visible. Comparing the brickwork and looking up at the sawtooth roofs gives you a sense of Kurashiki (倉敷) as an industrial town, too. Ivy Square’s (倉敷アイビースクエア) history and architecture

I’d leave time for a museum and a cafe, and enough room to return down a street that caught your attention. You don’t need to spend all four days in the same quarter. The month comparison can also help when Kurashiki (倉敷) is one stop on a longer trip, although the score describes four days in Kurashiki (倉敷) and says nothing about the weather at your next stop.

In November, 264 of the 296 usable itineraries met the conditions. Kurashiki (倉敷) also led in March, but its fall results, especially November, were stronger under these rules.

4. Chichibu in April: old streets and spring flowers

April’s score: 73.3%. Chichibu (秩父), in Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県), is worth considering if you’re based in Tokyo (東京) and want to spend time in a smaller city.

You can reach Chichibu (秩父) by train from Tokyo (東京). In April, a walk around Chichibu Shrine (秩父神社) can be paired with Hitsujiyama Park (羊山公園), known for its shibazakura, or moss phlox. It offers a change of streets and some spring flowers during a Tokyo (東京) trip. JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Chichibu (秩父) guide

Start with Bamba Street (番場通り), the approach to Chichibu Shrine (秩父神社), and branch off onto Kuromon and Kaitsugisho streets (黒門通り・買継商通り). Trading offices once gathered there to buy and sell locally woven silk. The alley connecting the two, Kaze no Koji (風の小路), is another small detour. Chichibu City’s (秩父市) Meisen walking route (秩父銘仙コース) includes these streets and Chichibu Furusatokan (秩父ふるさと館), once the main house of a silk wholesaler. The city’s textile-history walk and a cycling map with the Bamba Street (番場通り) area

You could visit Chichibu Meisenkan (ちちぶ銘仙館) before walking through town to get some background on that textile trade. It occupies the former industrial testing station, built in 1930, with a sawtooth-roofed workshop and equipment used to prepare, dye, and weave thread. Look for the explanation of hogushi nassen (ほぐし捺染), a process that dyes patterns onto threads before they are woven into cloth. It helps explain how Chichibu meisen (秩父銘仙) gets its large, colorful patterns. The museum is about a five-minute walk from Seibu-Chichibu Station (西武秩父駅); dyeing and weaving workshops require a reservation. Meisenkan (ちちぶ銘仙館) exhibits and visitor and workshop information

A monthly weather score can’t tell you when flowers will peak. If the moss phlox is your main reason for going, use that year’s bloom reports to choose your dates. The observations also come from Chichibu (秩父) itself, so they don’t describe temperatures in the surrounding mountains. The score is most useful here for planning time in town.

Give the mountains or river a separate day

For a day outside town, consider the Mitsumine Shrine (三峯神社) area in Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park (秩父多摩甲斐国立公園). The shrine buildings, approaches, and sacred trees offer a way to see how mountain worship and the forest are connected. Nearby, Mitsumine Visitor Center (三峰ビジターセンター) has exhibits on the park’s wildlife and natural history. You can plan a day around the shrine and exhibits without setting out for a summit. The Ministry of the Environment’s (環境省) park guide and Mitsumine Visitor Center (三峰ビジターセンター)

Buses run to Mitsumine Shrine (三峯神社) from Seibu-Chichibu Station (西武秩父駅). At roughly 1,100 meters above sea level, the shrine calls for different clothing and travel planning from a walk in town. Choose a return bus as well as an outbound one, and check the Mitsumine route (三峯神社線) timetable and service disruptions. Visiting the shrine area and hiking the trails beyond it are different plans. April’s 73.3% score doesn’t describe mountain weather or trail conditions.

For river scenery, Nagatoro’s (長瀞) Iwadatami (岩畳) offers a walk beside exposed crystalline schist along the Arakawa River (荒川). This area belongs to the prefectural Nagatoro-Tamayodo Natural Park (長瀞玉淀自然公園), separate from Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park (秩父多摩甲斐国立公園). I’d give it its own day rather than fit it around the mountain shrine visit. Saitama Prefecture’s (埼玉県) natural park guide

5. Sapporo in May: parks and meals around town

May’s score: 70.6%. For a first visit to Hokkaido (北海道), Sapporo (札幌) offers a place to start without a lot of long-distance travel.

Odori Park (大通公園) runs east to west through the center of the city, so a walk can easily include lunch or some shopping. Hokkaido (北海道) is large, but you don’t have to cover much of it to enjoy a few days here. Downtown’s underground shopping areas and passages also give you somewhere to walk when it rains. Sapporo’s (札幌) Odori Park (大通公園) guide and JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Sapporo (札幌) guide

In early May, consider the plum grove at Hiraoka Park (平岡公園). Spring arrives later here than on Honshu (本州), and plum blossoms usually begin opening around early May. The white blossoms are particularly fragrant, so take a moment to smell them as well as take photos. The bloom lasts roughly two weeks from the first flowers; check the current year’s updates before adding it to your day.

Later in May, look for lilacs in Odori Park (大通公園). During the Sapporo Lilac Festival (さっぽろライラックまつり), you can combine a walk among the flowers with music or a visit to the wine garden. The dates change by year, but it can be an easy stop during a day downtown.

On a clear day, you could rent bikes at Moerenuma Park (モエレ沼公園) and ride through its large grounds. The rental stand is in the P1 parking lot, rather than at the glass pyramid. From central Sapporo (札幌), you’ll need a subway and bus connection, so check the return trip as well as the rental season and last rental time for your travel year.

The score uses daytime highs, so it doesn’t tell you how cold mornings and evenings will be. Check the forecast when packing. Hokkaido’s (北海道) lodging demand in May was about 0.90 times its annual average, but that doesn’t tell you the price or availability of a hotel in Sapporo (札幌).

6. Aomori in June: Nebuta floats and a waterfront walk

June’s score: 62.7%. Aomori City (青森市), the prefectural capital at the northern end of Honshu (本州), led this month’s comparison.

At Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse (ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ), near Aomori Station (青森駅), you can see large festival floats and learn about the festival’s history. That gives you a chance to see the floats up close even if your dates don’t line up with the summer festival. Spend some time in the museum, then walk along the waterfront if the weather cooperates. Wa Rasse’s (ねぶたの家 ワ・ラッセ) official English guide and JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) introduction

Aomori’s (青森) first-place result doesn’t mean heading north will let you avoid rain. These observations are from the city. For trips to the prefecture’s mountains or lakes, check weather and transportation for those places separately.

7. Kushiro from July through September: wetlands and seafood

July: 63.7%. August: 40.3%. September: 61.6%. Kushiro (釧路), in eastern Hokkaido (北海道), led for three months from summer into early fall.

If I went to Kushiro (釧路), I’d want time for both the wetlands and the seafood. Once you choose your wetland days, look into Washo Market (和商市場) and the city’s robata grills to work meals around them. JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Kushiro (釧路) wetlands guide

August’s score deserves a closer look. Even in first place, Kushiro (釧路) qualified on fewer than half of the usable itineraries. Being the best result in this comparison still leaves plenty of room for weather that doesn’t suit the plan. If you can move your dates, compare July and September, too.

The weather station is in Kushiro (釧路) and doesn’t measure conditions across the whole wetland. Fog and wind aren’t part of this score, either. Check local conditions before heading out for a view or an outdoor activity.

Seafood to look for in July, August, and September

The catch changes through the summer. These ideas come from local fishing cooperatives, fisheries information, and tourism guides. Fishing seasons don’t guarantee what a restaurant will have, so ask what’s local and good that day.

Sources for seasons and serving ideas: Shiranuka fishing cooperative (白糠漁業協同組合), Kushiro City’s (釧路市) sardine guide (PDF), the regional fisheries guide to sardines (北海道釧路総合振興局), and Kushiro’s (釧路) official seafood guide.

At Washo Market (和商市場), kattedon lets you build your own seafood rice bowl. Buy a bowl of rice from a prepared-food stall, then choose toppings at the fish and roe shops. Leave some room after the first shop so you can see what else is available. For grilled fish, Ichibatei (市場亭) inside the market also serves set meals. The market generally closes on Sundays, with some special opening days; check the calendar on its home page. How to buy kattedon (勝手丼) and market visitor information

For dinner, Ganpeki Robata (岸壁炉ばた) at MOO (釧路フィッシャーマンズワーフMOO), near Nusamai Bridge (幣舞橋), is another option. Get a seat first, then use tickets to buy seafood from the stalls and cook it on the grill at your table. Its usual season runs from the third Friday in May through the end of October, from 5 to 9 p.m., which fits a July–September visit. Confirm the opening days, then see what looks good when you arrive. The fish in the table above won’t necessarily be available every day. Ganpeki Robata’s (岸壁炉ばた) opening and dining information

Choose the west side for boardwalks or the east side for a wide view

Kushiro’s (釧路) wetlands don’t have a single entrance. For a first visit, decide whether you’d like to see plants up close at Onnenai (温根内) or look across the bends of the Kushiro River (釧路川) from Hosooka (細岡).

Sources: Onnenai Visitor Center (温根内ビジターセンター), Kushiro City Marsh Observatory (釧路市湿原展望台), and Hosooka (細岡) access information.

For Onnenai (温根内) by bus, open the full Tsurui Line (鶴居線) timetable from Akan Bus’s (阿寒バス) route page and check the return departure from Onnenai (温根内) before leaving. For Hosooka (細岡), use JR Hokkaido’s (JR北海道) timetable and service information to find trains stopping at Kushiro-Shitsugen (釧路湿原駅) on your travel date, including the return. Don’t plan on walking across the wetland from west to east. Keeping each day to one side makes the trip easier to manage.

Onnenai Visitor Center (温根内ビジターセンター) closes on Tuesdays. When I checked in October 2026, part of the boardwalk was also closed for repairs. Check the Ministry of the Environment’s (環境省) closure notice and the facility’s latest updates before deciding on a route or walking time.

A four-day trip with three nights in Kushiro

This example assumes a car for the wetland days. The morning and afternoon divisions are loose; move things around to fit arrival times, opening days, and weather.

Without a car, you could take Akan Bus (阿寒バス) to Onnenai (温根内) on day two and JR to Hosooka (細岡) on day three. Build each day around one main stop and its return service. Leave time for meals around the transport schedule and restaurant opening days instead of trying to fit in every food stop.

8. Kochi in December: a castle and a market lunch

December’s score: 62.5%. Kochi City (高知市), on Shikoku (四国), is a candidate for a late-year trip when colder weather on Honshu (本州) and Hokkaido (北海道) may limit how much time you want to spend outside.

Visit Kochi Castle (高知城) in the center of town, then head to Hirome Market (ひろめ市場) when you’re hungry. Having food nearby makes it easier to take your time looking around the castle buildings. JNTO’s (日本政府観光局) Kochi Castle (高知城) guide and ideas for food and sightseeing in Kochi (高知)

Look for carved waves and stone drainage channels at Kochi Castle

Alongside the keep, spend some time in Kaitokukan (懐徳館), the surviving Honmaru palace (本丸御殿). Kochi City’s (高知市) cultural property guide describes it as a building for formal audiences, rather than the lord’s everyday home. Look up at the carved transom panels near the ceiling. The wave carvings, known as uchiwake-nami (打ち分け波), depict Tosa’s (土佐) rough seas and are attributed to the craftsman Takechi Jinshichi (武市甚七). The storage building, Nandogura (納戸蔵), also displays transoms from the lost Sannomaru (三ノ丸) and Ninomaru (二ノ丸) palaces, giving you a chance to compare the carving. Kochi Castle’s (高知城) official highlights

Between Honmaru (本丸) and Ninomaru (二ノ丸), Tsumemon (詰門) has different jobs on its two levels. It is a gate dividing the dry moat, while its upper floor forms a connecting passage. The entrance and exit doors are offset, making a straight passage through impossible. From outside, you can look at how those defensive choices shaped the building. Map entry 11, Tsumemon (詰門), and the explanation of the gate and bridge passage

The stone walls have another detail to look for: ways to get rainwater out. Map entry 8, Ishidoi (石樋), shows a channel that collects rain from Sannomaru (三ノ丸) and carries it away through a stone gutter. This is thought to have kept muddy water from entering, clogging, and loosening the walls. The channel’s stone covers can be removed for cleaning. In a rainy region, drainage was part of keeping a castle standing, and it’s something you can look for even on a dry day.

For a December trip, remember that the keep and Kaitokukan (懐徳館) close from December 26 through January 1. Normal hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. There are stairs between Otemon Gate (追手門) and Honmaru (本丸), and looking at these details takes time. Check the official opening information and construction or other notices before visiting.

Kochi Prefecture’s (高知県) December lodging demand was about 0.83 times its annual average. That’s a monthly figure for the whole prefecture, so it doesn’t tell you about New Year bookings or a particular hotel’s availability. The score also leaves out overnight lows. Pack for a winter trip and leave room for meals and indoor stops between walks.

What else to consider when choosing dates

These eight places came from temperature and rainfall rules chosen for walking around town. Skiing, swimming, or hiking would call for different rules and could produce different destinations and months. The score also leaves out transportation, travel costs, and accessibility.

The lodging-demand figures use Japan Tourism Agency (観光庁) statistics from 2023 through 2025. For each prefecture and year, I divided a month’s average daily overnight stays by the annual daily average, then averaged the three yearly ratios. A value of 1.20 means the month was 20% above that prefecture’s annual average. It helps describe seasonality within a prefecture; it doesn’t compare crowd sizes between prefectures or tell you whether a particular attraction will be quiet.

If you have a place in mind, compare its months. If your vacation dates are fixed, look for places that fit them. Then check transportation and hotels for the actual dates you plan to travel.

Where the data came from

I collected daily records for 56 locations from the Japan Meteorological Agency (気象庁) and used Python and DuckDB to group them into four-day itineraries. Each month’s score covers trips starting in that month. I excluded itineraries that couldn’t be evaluated because of missing data or quality requirements, and used the remaining itineraries as the denominator. Departures on December 29–31, 2025, were excluded because the dataset ends before all four days are available.

Itineraries starting on neighboring dates overlap, so these aren’t independent records of separate trips. The percentage from the past ten years also isn’t a forecast probability for your next visit. Use it to compare months, then adjust your plans with the forecast as your departure gets closer.

The collection, analysis, and validation steps are in the technical series:

• Part 1: Downloading weather CSVs and converting them to Parquet
• Part 2: Evaluating four-day trips with SQL
• Part 3: Adding lodging statistics and checking the results

This began as a technical project on a whim. AI helped me turn it into something more useful, but I’d still use the results as a starting point for research rather than base a whole trip on them. I hope a few of these places have given you ideas for your next visit to Japan.