jerseysusan

We’re considering a trip to Japan in December. Has anyone traveled there then? I’m concerned about the weather.

mjs

Where in Japan? Also aifares will be high if you go during the Christmas holidays.

mrwunrfl

The worst times to travel are around New Year's, from the end of December to January 4; Golden Week, from April 29 to May 5; and during the Obon Festival, about a week in mid-August.

The above was from frommers.

You can still see fall colors in early December. Map on this page shows peak dates for this year:
Autumn Leaves Forecast 2024 | Travel Japan（Japan National Tourism Organization）

IIRC, hawaiiantraveler mention good color in early December around Tokyo (maybe it was in Showa Kinen Park, but I think that is too late for the ginko).

jerseysusan

mis I believe we would go in the beginning of December. I’m not sure of the itinerary as my son is doing the planning. Thanks for your help

jerseysusan

mrwunrfl. thanks so much for your very helpful response

kja

When to go, per the ultimate in travel guides to Japan, japan-guide.com
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2273.html

jerseysusan

kja thanks so much. This is so helpful!

lcuy

Some of my favorite trips to Japan have been in late November and December, even right up to Christmas Eve. Most kids are in school, and domestic tourism is slow as families and businesses gear up for Christmas.
You are likely to get sunny, but chilly (not frosty) weather most lower elevation cities from Tokyo south/west. If you are planning a ryokan stay, you could be lucky and get snow up in the mountains. In my opinion, ryokan and onsen are always the best in the snow!
If you go to Kyushu in the south, you'll have the luxury of less tourists, lower prices and warmer weather. Kurosawa is an onsen towing central Kyushu. You can fly to Fukuoka from either Tokyo or Osaka in one direction, then either fly or take the shinkansen in the other direction.
Here's a link to one of my late fall trips (actually mid December) a few years ago:
Lcuy's 2015 Jaunt to Japan; Kyushu w/ Fukuoka, Kumamoto & Kurokawa Onsen

jerseysusan

lcuy thanks for your response. I really appreciate your input.

mrwunrfl

loved the tr, lucy. i missed it the first time
>> with the US Dollar at 120 Yen made this trip much more affordable
things have changed in 9 years