Japan trip in September (with friends) vs in April (solo)?

We did Japan in September and the weather was very nice.

The internet can tell you want the normal weather it any time of the year.

I would always prefer to go with someone instead of alone.

Gotcha, so much so it would be worth missing the cherry blossom season?

I think that’s the hard part. I really wanted to have my first time in Japan be seeing the sakuras. But I also feel like it would be a lot more enjoyable with company. At the same time I’ve never traveled with this group of friends, except for a short weekend in Whistler, so not sure how compatible we would be.

Good to know the weather isn’t too bad in September!

Either season provides different kinds of beauty if you are in the countryside. March - plum blossoms, April cherry blossoms, September the changing maple leaves and azaleas. It’s a matter of choice.

Unlike geovagriffiths, I prefer solo travel. ESPECIALLY if I am not confident travel companions are compatible. Incompatible travel companions, even if they are your best friends in regular life, can be a real trip killer.

You should be aware that the country (and now the world, it seems) is mad for the sakura in Japan. You can and should expect serious crowding anywhere there are flowering trees. In late March, you would be a bit early for the cherry blossoms (depends on what part of the country, head south for a better chance), so that might take the edge off both the crowding and the blossoms you'll see. Don't underestimate how busy it will be.

For weather, of course it's impossible to predict with certainty, but I'd expect more pleasant weather in early March than early September. Summers in much of Japan are hot, humid, muggy, and (for me) pretty uncomfortable (the exception being up north on Hokkaido, which is perfect in summer). I was in Tokyo (briefly) once in July and I did not enjoy time outside. While the worst of the heat/humidity will break by September, in the first few days of September it can still be hot, humid, muggy, sticky. Once the weather cools in later September, it's delightful.

Have some sympathy for your friends if they go in summer - not a good option for me.

Going solo versus with others - each has its advantages/disadvantages.

Travelling solo in a country where few people speak your language can be isolating. I had a three week trip in Japan years ago, 2 weeks with a friend + 1 week alone: that week felt lonely at times. Whereas travelling solo in countries where I speak the local language has never been a problem - quite the opposite!

However, there is a french proverb: "better alone than with bad company" and it truly applies here... If you're unsure about travelling compatibility with the friend in question, better go alone!

How about this: take two trips. Late March, to Washington DC to see cherry blossoms. September, Japan with your friends.

The first two are from the website most often recommended here. The third is from an online travel magazine. Perhaps they will help.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_when.html

https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0001033/

In late March, you would be a bit early for the cherry blossoms (depends on what part of the country, head south for a better chance), so that might take the edge off both the crowding and the blossoms you'll see. Don't underestimate how busy it will be.

Wait what? In TripAdvisor forum I was told late March to early April is best time so I planned my dates for March 27 - April 10th. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka. Should I delay it by a week if I end up doing spring?

Travelling solo in a country where few people speak your language can be isolating. I had a three week trip in Japan years ago, 2 weeks with a friend + 1 week alone: that week felt lonely at times. Whereas travelling solo in countries where I speak the local language has never been a problem - quite the opposite!

I forgot to mention that I wouldn’t be totally alone. I’m 25 so I will be going to hostels and meeting people there. Although I did hear hostels in Japan can be less social than like Prague or Budapest for example.

So I plan on trying to make new friends on the way. I had a blast making friends in Edinburgh in hostels and same with Reykjavik.

Per your comment on the proverb that is my worry. Haha I’m not too sure how well we would mesh as travel partners.

Another option I could do is go to Japan solo in spring and then go for less days in September with my friends. Although I generally prefer to avoid going to the same country twice, especially when I recently visited it. So much of the world to see.

How different is Japan experience during cherry blossoms and how much would I be missing out? I know someone said to go to DC but I feel it’s not the same. Seeing cherry blossoms + mt Fuji seems magical. I now live in Seattle and we have cherry blossoms at UW, so it’s not like I’ve never seen them before.

It depends on where you are going. Japan is a fairly large country, and also has a lot of elevation differences. They don't all bloom at the same time, everywhere.

Not surprisingly, the cherry blossoms start blooming first in the south, and at lower elevations, as the days and weeks go by, they increasingly bloom further north, and up at higher terrain. Last places they bloom are in the north (Hokkaido) and up in the mountains. So pick your "where" based on your "when" and you will be fine.

(Same as here: in the stores we start seeing cherries from California in the early spring; then we get some from Oregon in May or early June; finally in July we get Washington state cherries from Yakima and Wenatchee...you've probably noticed.)

Look here: When do the cherry blossoms bloom?

I've been to Japan 5 times (we lived in Seoul for awhile) and the last time went to Tokyo during Sakura season. It was so busy but absolutely MAGICAL. When I go back, I would want to go that time again despite the crowds. I would suggest if going to Tokyo during that time, staying in a smaller neighborhood to have a "break" from the crowds.

Japan is very hot and humid in June/ July/ August. I haven't been in September so can't speak to that. In March, it was cool in Tokyo but pleasant. I think we got some rain but it wasn't bad.

I will travel to JP in March with my partner. I don't think I'd go in Sept, except to Hokkaido.

David, what do you recommend if I’m doing Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto? The link you sent me is data from 2022. Can I use 2022 dates to roughly predict 2023?

I see a few options because I really want to see Japan in spring. I don’t wanna miss it, I think it’s what my gut is telling me.

Option 1) Go to Seoul, SK instead and then go with friends to Japan

Option 2) Go to Japan 2x this year and do a shorter trip with friends (could maybe combine South Korea here and like be with friends for a week then do my own thing or something)

Option 3) Go to Japan 2x this year and make my solo trip shorter

Thoughts?

Absolutely no question - Go alone in the spring to see the blossoms. Please do not hang your desires on the whims of others. What if they back out? What if someone - you or them - gets sick and can't go? You can't be completely certain something won't happen to you or to them and then the September trip doesn't happen and then you never got to see the blossoms. Decide what to do in September AFTER you return from the spring trip. Go with your gut. Go now.

Japan has so much to offer. You can go twice and not repeat the itinerary. It's the safest place in the world and therefore venture to the off beaten paths.

I will go to Kyoto, Kyushu island, and then Tokyo. In Kyoto, I want to experience ancient Japan, in Kyushu I am going to to soak in onsens, and in Tokyo I will see the modern, swanky side. In all places, I will eat and shop till I drop.

I can help you with planning as I have done so much research. If you decide to go in March/April, you need to book your hotels soon.

David, what do you recommend if I’m doing Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto? The
link you sent me is data from 2022. Can I use 2022 dates to roughly
predict 2023?

@OC - Well, there IS no data for the spring of 2023, since it's still the middle of winter in Japan right now, and data from 2022 is the best available. The 2022 data can be used as a guideline, but of course it's impossible to predict the weather in Japan with 100% certainty, same as at home (no guarantees in life).

That said, you mention your trip is "March/April" -- but you don't mention how long your trip is, or give specific dates, or talk about exactly how much of your Spring trip you would want to dedicate to viewing sakura, and how much of it you would be doing other tourist things -- all of which would be part of your trip planning and your decision-making process (almost all trip planning boils down to choices and tradeoffs). Personally, I love Japan and while the sakura are beautiful and special, I know there are plenty of other things that I want to do and see when I visit there, so I would not obsess over the cherry blossoms to the exclusion of everything else. Like Europe, Japan is diverse, fascinating, a wonderful destination, and I would happily visit multiple times every year if/when I can pull that off.

Use the graphic on the linked page above as a guide, knowing that there will always be some (usually minor) seasonal variations (same as at home - Japan's climate is generally pretty similar to that of ours, if you look at the climate of the entire west coast of North America). As your trip gets close, keep checking the japan-guide website for live (and breathless) updates on sakura reports. It's a big deal.

Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto (plus cherry blossoms) is about as mainstream as you can get, it's the standard first-trip-to-Japan itinerary for 95% of foreign visitors. You will do fine and have a great time.

@ David my bad, my specific dates are 03/27 - 04/09.

And yes, doing the stereotypical Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka trip. I don’t really care about dedicating a day to seeing them, just moreso want to see the places I’m visiting having cherry blossoms as a backdrop. Or like visiting a temple and having cherry blossoms seems beautiful. But not dedicating any specific time to see them. Just want to maybe see them around tourist attractions like temples.

Thanks for advice. I decided I’m gonna go to Japan for March/April and then when my friends go to Japan again I’m going to make it a half trip (half Taiwan and half hanging with them in Tokyo) or something like that.

Yo OP OC,
Just an added tidbit. There was once a homestay program called 'PTP' (people to people) which was run through a local bank. I have no idea whether that program still exists, but it might be something that could be of interest. A pretty rare opportunity to spend time with locals.
I am done. the daijobu

I decided I would just do 2 trips in case anyone was curious!