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Best Time for Japan Golden Route
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Sweet spot: February, March, April. Computed from NASA POWER climate normals across the route's overnight towns, balancing temperature, rainfall and daylight.
💡 Good to know
- Cherry-blossom season: magical and mobbed — book trains, stays and popular temples weeks ahead.
- Tsuyu (rainy season) through June; July turns hot and humid — plan indoor culture for midday.
- Obon week (mid-August): heavy domestic travel — reserve Shinkansen seats early.
- Typhoon season tail: rail is resilient but check forecasts; autumn colours from late October.
| Month | Low | High | Rain | Daylight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | −0.1°C | 7.0°C | 82 mm | 9.9 h | ❄ |
| February | 0.4°C | 8.3°C | 83 mm | 10.7 h | ❄ |
| March | 2.8°C | 12.0°C | 120 mm | 11.7 h | |
| April | 7.5°C | 17.2°C | 132 mm | 12.9 h | |
| May | 12.6°C | 21.8°C | 150 mm | 13.8 h | |
| June | 17.2°C | 24.9°C | 194 mm | 14.3 h | |
| July | 21.6°C | 28.4°C | 200 mm | 14.1 h | |
| August | 22.4°C | 29.5°C | 156 mm | 13.3 h | |
| September | 19.0°C | 26.1°C | 211 mm | 12.2 h | |
| October | 13.0°C | 20.7°C | 198 mm | 11.1 h | |
| November | 7.3°C | 15.3°C | 102 mm | 10.1 h | |
| December | 2.1°C | 9.7°C | 90 mm | 9.7 h | ❄ |