Kanto in August

Spring cherry blossom season (late March to early May) brings peak crowds and peak prices. Ueno Park turns pink with 1,000 sakura trees, but you'll share the view with 50,000 other people on weekends. Hotel rates double and restaurants require reservations weeks ahead. Fall (October-November) gives you the same mild weather without the crowds. Maple leaves turn red in Nikko's temples, and you can actually get last-minute dinner reservations. Temperatures hover around 20°C — perfect for walking all day. Summer means festivals but also brutal humidity. July temperatures hit 35°C with 80% humidity that makes you sweat just standing still. But the Sumida River fireworks show draws a million people, and every neighborhood has its own matsuri festival with street food and traditional dancing. Winter keeps the crowds away but some outdoor attractions close. Mount Fuji disappears behind clouds for weeks, and Hakone's hiking trails get icy. But hot springs feel incredible in cold weather, and you'll have temples mostly to yourself. Avoid Golden Week (late April/early May) and Obon (mid-August) when domestic tourists flood everything. Trains pack beyond capacity and popular restaurants shut down completely.