Don’t come to Japan during these months | Best time and Bad time to visit Japan | Travel Update 2024

Summary

In this video, Toshi, a Japanese tourist guide, highlights the best and worst times to visit Japan in 2024, based on factors like crowding, weather, and cost. He outlines six periods to avoid, such as late March and Golden Week, due to congestion and higher prices, and recommends visiting during calmer times like May and autumn. Toshi also provides tips on avoiding over-tourism, including choosing off-peak destinations, utilizing crowd monitoring services, and exploring Japan's countryside for a more relaxed travel experience.

Takeaways

• 📈 Japan has seen a significant increase in foreign tourists, with 2.78 million visitors in February 2024 alone, marking a 107.1% increase compared to February 2019.
• 💔 The Japanese yen has depreciated by about 40%, making overseas travel expensive for Japanese citizens and increasing domestic tourism.
• 🌐 Over-tourism is occurring in Japan, affecting the experience for both locals and foreign visitors.
• 📅 Six periods are identified as best to avoid for a comfortable and cost-effective visit to Japan, including late March, Golden Week, the rainy season, August, Silver Week, and the year-end holidays.
• 🏞️ Three recommended periods to visit Japan are the beginning of April, late May after Golden Week, and October to November for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
• 🌧️ Hokkaido is suggested for travel during the rainy season due to no rainy season, and Okinawa for its earlier end to the rainy season.
• 🕒 Changing visit times to tourist attractions, such as early mornings or evenings, can help avoid crowds.
• 📊 Crowd monitoring services in tourist spots like Kyoto can provide real-time information to plan visits around peak times.
• 🚴‍♂️ Alternative transportation like cycling or renting scooters can offer a more comfortable and eco-friendly way to explore crowded areas.
• 🧳 Luggage forwarding and storage services can enhance the travel experience by allowing hands-free sightseeing.
• 🌾 Exploring rural areas designated by the Japanese government can offer unique experiences and help distribute tourism more evenly.

Q & A

Why has Japan become increasingly popular among foreign travelers recently?

Japan has seen a significant increase in foreign travelers, with 2.78 million visitors in February 2024 alone, which is a 107.1% increase compared to February 2019, marking the highest figure since the pandemic began.

How has the Japanese yen's value changed recently, and what impact has it had on travel?

The Japanese yen has fallen by about 40% compared to pre-pandemic times, making overseas travel very expensive for Japanese and leading to many domestic travels instead.

What is the effect of over-tourism on Japan's infrastructure and services?

Over-tourism is causing congestion at tourist spots, scarcity and increased prices for transportation and accommodation, and challenges in managing the high influx of visitors.

What are the six periods that should be avoided when visiting Japan according to the script?

The six periods to avoid are late March, Golden Week (end of April to first week of May), the rainy season (June to early July), August (due to heat and summer vacation), Silver Week (4th week of September), and the year-end and New Year holidays (late December to early January).

Why is it recommended to avoid visiting Japan during late March?

Late March should be avoided because it is when Japan's new fiscal year begins, leading to increased movement of students and office workers, causing congestion at tourist spots and higher prices for transportation and accommodation.

What is special about Golden Week in Japan and why should it be avoided for travel?

Golden Week is a long holiday in Japan from late April to early May, during which many Japanese take vacations simultaneously, leading to crowded tourist attractions and increased prices for hotels and transportation.

How does the rainy season in Japan differ from the rainy season in Southeast Asia, and why should it be avoided?

Unlike Southeast Asia, where rain often stops quickly, Japan experiences continuous rain during its rainy season from June to early July, making it less ideal for travel.

What are the best times to visit Japan according to the script?

The best times to visit Japan are the beginning of April, the period after Golden Week (2nd week of May to end of May), and October and November.

What are some recommendations to avoid over-tourism when visiting Japan during crowded periods?

Recommendations include choosing good destinations like Hokkaido during the rainy season or Okinawa when the mainland's rainy season starts, changing visit times to less crowded hours, using crowd monitoring services, avoiding public transportation, exploring hands-free by using luggage forwarding services, and exploring the countryside.

How can tourists use crowd monitoring services to enhance their travel experience in Japan?

Crowd monitoring services, such as the one in Kyoto, provide real-time information on tourist spot congestion through websites or apps, helping visitors plan their trips to avoid crowded times and locations.

What is the Japanese government doing to encourage tourists to explore rural areas?

The Japanese government has designated 11 pilot areas to guide tourists to rural areas, improved regional tourism infrastructure, and started flights connecting various local cities to make exploring less-traveled destinations more accessible.