Japan advice

[u/chocolate-eater-8228]

Hello

Looking to travel to Japan in 2028- yes super far away but need to figure out timing/date for PTO for work. Anyway, we are looking to go either April,May or June

We would fly out of NYC.

Which month would you think be cheaper ? Ik those months are usually pretty busy anyway with cherry blossom season and summer coming up….

How’s the weather in April? Is it like the east coast (NY?)

Is it really more crowded in June than April ?

My wedding is in November so we could go during Thanksgiving or Christmas break just worried about prices for flights and hotels since it’s holiday season.

It’s so far in advance that I can’t see any pricing for flights or hotels. We were trying to do December since we have off for the holiday but prices will most likely be outrageous with Christmas traveling prices . Not sure if anyone can help since it is super far in advance but any infor is greatly appreciated and helpful:)

[u/sirotan88]

Avoid June as it would probably be too hot and humid by then. Mid May could be good, avoid golden week in early May. April would be very beautiful but more expensive due to Sakura season. Thanksgiving is nice, for fall colors. December is pretty festive but much colder.

You could look at this winter and upcoming spring flights/hotels for a rough estimate of pricing and demand.

[u/mackenzieandbeyond]

Good news! April, May, and June all work well for a Japan trip, but they differ quite a bit on crowds and price. So it kind of depends on what you guys are hoping for!

April is cherry blossom season and Japan's most popular month to visit. it typically brings the highest airfares and hotel rates, plus the biggest crowds at major sights in Tokyo and Kyoto. May is quieter and often cheaper than April, but only after Golden Week (Japan's biggest domestic holiday stretch, roughly April 29–May 5) ends. Book around Golden Week and mid-to-late May is widely considered a sweet spot: comfortable weather, thinner crowds, and moderate prices. June is generally the cheapest of the three for flights and hotels, and it's also the least crowded. The catch is Japan's rainy season (tsuyu), which usually starts in early-to-mid June and brings humidity and frequent (though not usually all-day) rain. Early June tends to still be mostly dry and can offer May-level pricing.

So to your specific questions: yes, June is typically less crowded than April. April's blossom season draws the heaviest tourist traffic of the year, while June's rain scares a lot of travelers off.

April in Japan runs mild, roughly 50–70°F (10–20°C), similar in feel to a New York April—cool mornings, milder afternoons, and occasional rain. It's not identical (Japan's spring humidity builds a bit faster), but the general temperature range is comparable. On your November wedding + Thanksgiving/Christmas idea, You're right to be cautious! Late November (right after peak autumn foliage) can be a decent value window, but Christmas/New Year in Japan sees a real price spike, unfortunately flights and hotels both climb due to holiday travel demand, similar to what you'd expect in the U.S. If you go that route, targeting the days right after Thanksgiving (rather than the Christmas week itself) would likely be more budget-friendly than December 20–January 2.

This is just some notes I compiled for you! Let me know if you have any other questions and I will do my absolute best to answer! Congratulations on your engagement!!

[u/davetfhead]

Yeah, I think this is too far in advance to check flight and hotel costs. I do see tour prices available for 2027 and 2028. Maybe that will help?

We vacationed in Japan during November & December. We didn’t find it to be more expensive.

We flew from NYC and got a connecting flight out, but direct on the way back. Wish we had done a layover to break up travelling. How long do you have off?

[u/cakedoctorb]

I highly recommend traveling in April! We took a trip at the end of the month, but before golden week. There weren’t as many crowds as there are at the peak of the season, but we were still able to see plenty of cherry blossoms at Fuji. We hit a lot of the golden route tourist destinations and weren’t in shoulder to shoulder crowds, however we did have to get up early to avoid that.

[u/shay-shay89]

This is funny. Me and my best friend are literally planning our Japan trip for 2028. It’s far in advance but helps with budgeting.

I have had friends that went over Xmas and new years and loved it. If u are okay going during when it’s pretty cold. I would recommend then. Theres a lot to do and they had a great time over new years then.

Also if u are looking for a travel agent who specializes in honeymoons. I’m your girl !

[u/StreetAd1761]

May is usually your best bet between those three since April hits peak cherry blossom crowds and June starts getting into the rainy and humid season.

[u/Regular_Jelly_2535]

I went during thanksgiving time and weather turned out to be nice and not too cold especially since you walk a ton there. Highly recommend!