The climate of Japan varies greatly from north to south.  The geographical features of Japan divide the country into six climatic zones: Hokkaido – The northernmost zone, Hokkaido has long, cold winters and cool summers Sea of Japan – On Honshu’s west coast, winter has heavy snowfall while summer is cooler than the Pacific area Central Highland – A typical inland climate, large temperature differences between summer and winter and day and night Seto Inland Sea – Characterized by mild weather throughout the year due to the mountainous areas acting as a shelter against seasonal winds Pacific Ocean – The east coast experiences cold winters and hot, humid summers Southwest Islands – A subtropical climate with warm winters and hot summers.  Typhoons are common in this region.

Japan’s rainy season usually begins in May in Okinawa and gradually works its way north to reach Hokkaido in late July.  The rainy season generally lasts about six weeks.  In late summer and early autumn, typhoons are common and often bring heavy rain.   The best times to visit Japan are Spring or Autumn.  Spring (March to May) yields clear skies and cherry blossoms, however Golden Week (April 29th to May 7th) is held in Spring so many Japanese people tend to travel during this holiday period resulting in many tourist destinations being over-crowded.  Autumn (September to November) yields pleasant temperatures and stunning autumn foliage.  Winter (December to January) can be very cold while summer (June to August) can be really humid.