Japan’s climate ranges from subarctic in Hokkaido to subtropical in Okinawa, with four distinct seasons across most of the country. Tokyo averages 5°C in January and 26°C in July, with a rainy season (tsuyu) from early June to mid-July bringing weeks of grey skies and humidity. Hokkaido (Sapporo) has cold winters with heavy snowfall from December to March — perfect for skiing in Niseko and Furano — and mild summers at 20°C. Kyoto and Osaka are hot and humid in summer (28-33°C) with afternoon thunderstorms, while winter is crisp and relatively dry at 3-8°C. Cherry blossom season (sakura) moves north from late March to early May, with Tokyo and Kyoto peaking around the last week of March. Autumn foliage (koyo) in Kyoto and Nikko peaks in mid-to-late November, with stunning colours at temples and gardens. Typhoon season runs July to October, primarily affecting Okinawa, Kyushu, and the Pacific coast.
