When to visit Japan with kids depends entirely on your schedule. Generally speaking, there really isn’t a bad time to visit Japan. However, there are better times to visit than others, based on your activities or the type of weather you enjoy.
Sometimes our schedules only allow for travel during peak tourist times of year, and that’s okay! We can’t change our children’s school schedules. Just make sure you plan ahead and book your accommodations, activities and trains as far in advance as possible.
Follow this guide to determine when to visit Japan with kids.
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When not to visit Japan with kids
Let’s start with the worst times to travel to Japan with kids.
If your schedule is flexible (like you’re traveling with toddlers and don’t have to worry about school schedules yet), you may want to avoid Japan travel during these times:
Golden Week
Many Asian countries have a Golden Week. In Japan, Golden Week is a string of holidays that run from April 29th through May 5th annually.
- April 29th – Showa Day
- May 3rd – Constitution Memorial Day
- May 4th – Greenery Day
- May 5th – Children’s Day
Golden Week is one of the busiest times for Japanese people to travel. School is out, offices are closed, and tourist attractions have extended open hours for visitors.
Silver Week
Silver Week in Japan occurs when the following holidays fall in a row:
- Respect for the Aged Day – 3rd Monday of September
- Autumnal Equinox – falling between September 21-24th every year
- Citizens Holiday – declared when a non-holiday weekday is between two holidays, extending the holiday break
This doesn’t happen every year. If the first two holidays aren’t close enough, there won’t be much extra crowding.
However, if the Autumnal Equinox is on a Wednesday, that means many people will have Saturday through Wednesday off. Just check if this will affect your Japan vacation and plan accordingly.
Christmas
The winter break in Japan begins around Christmas and lasts for 2 weeks. Tourist attractions will be very crowded as families participate in activities.
Typhoon Season
Typhoon season officially runs from May through October, with peak typhoon activity occurring in August and September.
This is also the hottest and most humid period in Japan, so is a great time to avoid anyways.
A note on typhoons: Japan has been getting typhoons since time immemorial. As long as you are not staying in a shantee, your hotel should be safe during typhoons. If you have any concerns, check in with the front desk of your hotel.
If you’re staying in a bigger city like Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, I recommend stocking up on groceries and indoor activities if a typhoon strikes while you’re in Japan with kids.
Be very cautious about rural travel near the ocean during this season, as landslides and high tides can be devastating.
Closures in Japan
Many tourist attractions in Japan are closed on Mondays. However, if there is no school or a public holiday falls on a Monday, these facilities will typically open and are then incredibly busy.
They will then close the next business day. Sometimes this means Tuesday, unless that’s also a holiday.
Check for Japan National Holidays to confirm the plans for your trip. For example, I would avoid Tokyo Disneyland on Culture Day in November. However, this might be a good time to travel to another destination in Japan as school and offices are only closed for 1 day, so people are not going to crowd the trains as much as tourist attractions.
How far in advance should you book tickets in Japan?
The most popular attractions in Japan should be booked as soon as you can! If there’s a destination that is a priority for you, book your tickets as soon as they go on sale and then plan the rest of your trip around it.
This is especially true for cherry blossom season, Golden Week, Silver Week and the 2 weeks after Christmas. You should also check for other Japanese National Holidays that fall during your visit. These are very busy times for Japan travel, so many attractions will sell out early!
How far in advance you can book tickets in Japan
- Shinkansen tickets – 1 month in advance
- Hotels – 6 months in advance
- Disney hotels – 3-4 months in advance
- Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea tickets – 2 months in advance
- Universal Studios Japan tickets – 3 months in advance
- teamLabs tickets – 2 months in advance
Visiting Japan with kids by season
Spring
Spring is a beautiful time to visit, as the weather isn’t too hot yet.
Late March and April are some of the busiest times to visit Japan, as the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Don’t let the crowds deter you, as this is a beautiful time to visit! You’ll just need to plan ahead so you can still participate in the activities you want to experience.
May and early June are also lovely times to visit, without the cherry blossom crowds.
Golden Week, April 29th through May 5th, is a very busy time to visit as school is out, offices are closed, and tourist attractions have extended visiting hours.
🎟️ Check out this family-friendly activity: Tokyo Cherry Blossoms blooming spots e-bike tour
Summer
Late June through July is the rainy season in Japan, so make sure you pack your umbrella!
Like much of the Northern Hemisphere, summer means school is out and kids are exploring all the same attractions you’re in Japan to explore. Summer in Japan is crowded, so plan ahead.
If you visit in August through September, you will be rewarded with lush green landscapes brought on by the previous rainy season, although it will be blisteringly hot and incredibly humid. If you travel during this time, make sure you pack lots of sunscreen and bug spray and drink plenty of water!
Also note that August and September are when Japan sees the most typhoons. While typhoons can be dangerous, you will most likely just be stuck in your hotel when it hits if you’re staying in larger cities. Be very cautious about rural travel near the ocean during this season, as landslides and high tides can be devastating.
Autumn
Autumn in Japan is very underrated – the foliage is stunning!
October and November are great months to visit as the summer crowds have vanished, and the weather is more comfortable.
Fall colors peak in Tokyo from mid-November to early-December. Like the cherry blossoms, fall foliage will peak earlier in the north, and later in the south.
If you’re traveling in Northern Japan or the mountainous regions, expect snow in autumn.
🎟️ Check out this family-friendly tour: Arashiyama Autumn Leaves & Sanzen-in Temple Tour
Winter
From Christmas through the first week of January, everything in Japan will be incredibly busy! School is out and offices are closed, so many tourist attractions will be busy. You may also notice transportation is more crowded as well.
December and January are the coldest months in Japan. Make sure you pack for cold weather!
Late January through mid-February is typically one of the least crowded times to visit the bigger cities of Japan, making this an excellent time to travel to Japan on a budget.
However, January and February are prime skiing season, so Northern Japan will be the most crowded!
Wrapping it up
When to visit Japan with kids mostly depends on your schedule. If you’re lucky enough that you’re traveling to Japan with toddlers who aren’t yet in school, you can plan your Japan vacation around the weather.
If your kids are of school-age, you may only be able to visit during the busy summer or winter-break period. You’ll just have to plan well in advance.
Klook.comProtecting your Japan vacation with kids
Japan is a gorgeous island country showcasing some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. However, from earthquakes to typhoons, Mother Nature can be very unkind to the Land of the Rising Sun.
From weather to lost luggage to illness (especially with toddlers), make sure you protect your family vacation by getting travel insurance.
I personally use Arch RoamRight for all my travel, and recommend all my clients use the same. Get your personalized quote here!
Japan Travel Resources
- Activities: Viator or Klook
- Baby Gear Rentals: BabyQuip
- Data Packages: Airalo
- Flights: Trip.com
- Hotels: Trip.com or Klook
- Insurance: Arch RoamRight
- Luggage Storage: Ecbo Cloak App or Radical Storage
- Trains: Klook
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