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  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 -10 – 0 -9 – 1 -3 – 7 2 – 14 6 – 19 10 – 22 16 – 27 17 – 28 13 – 24 7 – 17 0 – 9 -7 – 3
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 -2 – 6 -2 – 8 1 – 12 6 – 17 11 – 22 16 – 24 19 - 28 23 - 30 18 - 27 11 – 20 5 – 15 0 – 9
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 2 – 10 3 – 12 6 – 16 11 – 20 15 – 25 19 – 27 23 – 31 22 – 32 21 – 28 14 – 23 10 – 18 4 – 13
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 -4 – 10 -4 – 11 0 – 16 5 – 21 11 – 26 15 – 28 21 – 32 22 – 34 17 – 30 11 – 24 9 – 19 -2 – 12
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 2 – 10 2 – 12 5 – 16 10 – 21 15 – 26 19 – 29 24 – 33 25 – 34 22 – 30 15 – 24 9 – 19 4 – 13
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 2 – 10 3 – 11 6 – 16 11 – 21 16 – 25 20 – 28 25 – 31 26 – 33 22 – 30 15 – 24 9 – 17 4 – 12
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 3 – 10 4 – 11 7 – 15 11 – 20 16 – 24 20 – 27 24 – 31 25 – 33 22 – 29 16 – 24 11 – 19 5 – 13
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 3 – 11 4 – 12 7 – 16 11 – 21 15 – 25 20 – 27 24 – 31 25 – 33 23 – 29 16 – 24 10 – 19 5 – 13
  Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
 
 
 17 – 22 17 – 22 19 – 24 21 – 27 24 – 29 27 – 31 28 – 33 27 – 32 26 – 32 24 – 30 22 – 27 19 – 23

The temperatures displayed above are averaged to give an indication and should not be regarded as an accurate representation of what you will actually experience on tour. You may well experience temperatures below or above these temperatures. Many of our tours take place at higher altitudes, which may mean that early mornings, evenings and nights are colder. Conversely, in the summer temperatures may well exceed those shown above.

 

Weather and the seasons

Japan has four distinct seasons—although the rainy season could be classed as a fifth season—with a climate ranging from sub-arctic in the north to sub-tropical in the south. Given the country's length stretching some 3,000km (1,864 miles) north to south from almost Siberia to Taiwan together with its mountainous terrain, the arrival of the seasons and their length varies greatly according to region.

Preparing for your tour

Walk Japan provides a Pre-Tour Pack which includes a thorough packing list in advance of your tour. Please refer to this, but as a general rule pack clothing that will provide comfort over a range of temperatures and weather conditions, especially from early autumn through late spring. While the average temperatures listed below provide a reasonable idea of what to expect, please account for multiple factors that affect temperature including elevation and time of day. We also recommend checking the weather forecast for the region you will visit on tour. 

Summer and the rainy season

Japanese summers are hot and humid. Water particles in the air store heat, causing the warmth to feel much ‘closer’ than in dry climates, humidity also inhibits the evaporation of sweat, impairing the body’s natural ability to cool itself. 

We recommend using lightweight scarves or towels whilst walking to wick away sweat. It is also important to drink plenty of water even before you feel thirsty. 

The rainy season starts around mid-June and lasts until mid- to late July over much of the country. In Okinawa it starts in mid-May and finishes in late June. Hokkaido does not have a rainy season.

Typhoons mostly occur in the late summer between August and October.

Snow

Snow can fall across most of Japan, but the northern and eastern regions are usually blanketed in snow between late December and early March. Walk Japan provides snowshoes for participants when required on a tour. 

Cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and seasonal flowers

The start of the cherry blossom season depends on latitude and altitude, in Okinawa it is as early as mid-January and can be seen in Hokkaido as late as May. To help you track the blossoms, please visit this site.

Ume plum flowers prior to and often overlaps the cherry blossoms. Otherwise seasonal flowers are particularly abundant throughout the spring and autumn. 

Autumn Leaves

Given the huge difference in latitude between Japan's northern and southernmost tips, it is possible to view the autumn leaves for almost three months somewhere in Japan, starting in mid-September in Hokkaido and lasting until mid-December in Kyushu.

To help you track the autumn leaves, please visit this site.