You can try them in many ryokan and in resort towns such as Kusatsu and Beppu, where budget options are available in public bathhouses. To literally dip your toes in, there are free outdoor public foot baths in onsen towns. Local tip: You have to bathe thoroughly at separate facilities before getting into a hot bath. Expect to get utterly naked (modesty towels are allowed at some modern baths) and refreshed head to toe. 9. See the wilds of Japan in winter Tomonoura inspired anime maestro Hayao Miyazaki to create Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea. No wonder the views from a hillside temple are impressive – green hills sheltering old Japanese houses and a timeless port of bobbing white boats. August brings hot, humid weather that can head north of 38°C (100°F), and festivals continue apace. During the Japanese school holidays, crowds descend on beaches and flood cooler mountain areas, especially Mt Fuji. Expect peak crowds and prices during O-Bon, the Festival of the Dead.

Key events: Bonenkai parties (nationwide), Luminarie (Kobe), Toshikoshi Soba (nationwide), Joya-no-kane (nationwide) Japan comes to life again in the second week of January, after the lull of the New Year holidays. Snow blankets the mountains of Hokkaidō and the country’s northern reaches, ushering in the ski season.Air services in Japan are extensive, reliable and safe. Flying is often faster and sometimes cheaper than shinkansen (bullet trains), though more harmful to the environment and offers less chance to see the wonderful Japanese scenery up-close. The cherry blossoms arrive and depart over a two-week period, dictated by weather patterns and local geography, and the exact timing can be hard to predict in advance. Along Japan's so-called “Golden Route” – a popular tourist trail running along the east coast in the center of the country – the flowers typically emerge between late March and early April, so April is a fairly reliable month to book a trip. Navigation systems have made driving in Japan much easier than it used to be. In remote mountain areas, however, these are not foolproof; be sure to give yourself plenty of time to find your destination. Japan offers up a real feast for travelers, with mountainside onsen (hot spring) villages, sleepy beach-lined islands, and buzzing megacities all on the menu.

Key events: Matsue Suitōro (Matsue), Asama Onsen Taimatsu Matsuri (Asama hot springs area), Oktoberfest (Yokohama), Kurama-no-hi Matsuri (Kurama, Kyoto), performing arts festivals (nationwide), Halloween (major cities) November brings fall color to the major cities Local tip: Matsue has one of Japan’s best sunsets. The giant red orb melts into the water with a silhouette of a torii gate on a distant shimmering island. 17. Surf and chill Major resorts such as Hokkaidō’s Niseko and Hakuba in Nagano host Olympic-quality slopes and are well set up for non-Japanese-speaking tourists. Be sure to finish off the day with a rejuvenating dip in one of Japan’s many onsens (hot spring bathhouses).Whether you’re looking to dive into the crowded streets of downtown Tokyo or find Zen-like peace amongst tree-cloaked mountains, there’s a season that’s right for you. Here’s our guide to choosing the perfect time to visit Japan. April to May is the time for cherry blossoms December brings blue skies and cold temperatures across most of Japan. Bonenkai (year-end parties) fill city bars and restaurants, commercial strips are decorated with seasonal illuminations, and small Christmas markets sell mulled wine and festive trinkets. The predominant operator is Japan Railways, commonly known as "JR," which is actually a number of distinct rail systems providing one linked service throughout the country. JR runs the famous shinkansen (bullet train) routes, which reach speeds of nearly 320km/h (200mph) as they whizz between Japan’s major cities. In addition to JR services, there is a huge network of private railways, with each large city usually having at least one private train line that services it and the surrounding area. There are a couple of sleeper train services still in operation.

In central and southern parts of Japan, ume (plum trees) start to blossom. Seek them out in gardens such as the legendary Kairaku-en in Mito. You can probably get a room at a basic business hotel without a reservation in a pinch, but why risk it? Top accommodations can book up weeks or even months in advance, so plan ahead. Particularly busy travel periods include the first week of January, cherry blossom season (late March through April, depending on the destination), “Golden Week” (April 29 to May 5) and August. Coastal towns such as Kamakura and Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula provide the perfect combo of sunny afternoons, beachfront Airbnbs and temperate waters, making this a great time to hit the beach.Key events: Cherry-blossom viewing; Takayama Spring Matsuri (Takayama) May rewards outdoorsy travelers with abundant activities Warmer weather and blooming cherry trees make April a fantastic month to be in Japan, though cities such as Tokyo and Kyoto can get very crowded. Hotel prices also go through the roof, especially for rooms overlooking sakura groves in public parks and gardens. Many Japanese return to their hometowns or go on domestic vacations, so transport is hectic, and hotel prices soar. For a slightly calmer experience, head to the Okinawa islands in the far southwest, where it's peak scuba diving season. Planning tip: Though Japanese temples and shrines do not have established dress codes, visitors are expected to stay relatively quiet in these sacred spaces. 8. Okinawa and the Southwest Islands

Key events: Shōgatsu (New Year, nationwide), Coming-of-Age Day (nationwide) February is for winter warmers and snow sculptures Key events: Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3 Festival, nationwide) December is a mishmash of eastern and western celebrations For travel to rural areas, a car is the best way to get around, especially for two or more people. Areas that are great for exploration by car include Hokkaidō; Tōhoku; Hida, Shirakawa-gō, the Japan Alps and the Noto Peninsula ( Central Honshū); the San-in Coast (Western Honshū); Shikoku; Kyūshū; and Okinawa.Shinto shrines are where the Japanese pray or ask for good fortune. The kami (deities) range from Princess Konohanasakuya, the Shinto deity of Mount Fuji, to founders of powerful clans, or local shrines to neighborhood deities. A wall of wooden tablets ( ema) hangs at many shrines, where you can write down your wish or offering on an ema for the deities to read. For a visitor, it’s a chance to reflect and appreciate the tranquil surroundings. Tokyo is the cool kid of Japan’s club scene. That means a reliable night of house music at Womb and subterranean cool at Circus Tokyo. Leading the way for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, the raucous crowds spilling onto the street around the gay clubs of Shinjuku-Nichome show how progressive Tokyo can be. 15. Eat sashimi at a fish market Tokyo is a city forever reaching into the future, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures.