hellyer 216 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I have been skiing in Japan for the past 3 winter seasons but my wife is not into snowsports I keep telling her it's not just the snow, and want to bring her over in the green season to sample the culture, food,history, hospitality, onsen, scenery etc. What time of year would be best? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 The answer is.... autumn. This region, perhaps second half of October. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Late October, hard to beat it when the skies ar blue and the surroundings look like this http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/332983/Niigata_autumn_colours_25th_Oc.html Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 spring or autumn.....beautiful Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Autumn seems to be peak onsen season. Or do cherry blossoms in the spring. But that is hard to time. (Of course, you could come ostensibly for the cherry blossoms, and then "discover" that a few ski areas are still open... ) Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Autumn when the leaves are in full colour change, depending on area the times will be different, or spring when the cherry blossoms are out, and you still got plenty of snow on the mountains contrasting against the blue sky, again will vary a lot depending on area. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Around these parts (Izu peninsula) spring is definitely the best season. Cherry blossoms, loads of beautiful flowers and stunning views of a snow covered Mt. Fuji. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Spring ... and still snow to shred .. wink wink Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Never! Leave her at home. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Spring often ends up disappointing me. Yes it can be very pretty with the new green and blossons, but it seems to last about 3 days before it gets really hot and often the skies are hazy. Autumn lasts longer, is prettier, is cooler, winter round the corner and often sharp clear skies. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Around here Spring seems to last forever. We usually start getting Spring-like weather mid-February which lasts until the beginning of rainy season. Then again, we don't really get winter in this area... especially by my Canadian standards. It's basically 5 months of scorching summer followed by 7 months of a mild Fall/Spring combination. People who say that "Japan has 4 seasons" haven't spent a year in Shizuoka! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I suppose spring does last a long time when you say it like that. But I don't count the tail end of "winter" when there's still tons of snow around as spring. All a bit aimai - so for me it's like mid April into May and already getting hot by then. Autumn is just so much more defined, round here anyway. I love it. And akiaji of course. Link to post Share on other sites
blinkin'ek 0 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I think autumn is hard to beat too. Best season of the year. Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Originally Posted By: Black Mountain Around here Spring seems to last forever. We usually start getting Spring-like weather mid-February which lasts until the beginning of rainy season. Then again, we don't really get winter in this area... especially by my Canadian standards. It's basically 5 months of scorching summer followed by 7 months of a mild Fall/Spring combination. People who say that "Japan has 4 seasons" haven't spent a year in Shizuoka! Abso-frikin-lutely.....5 months of nasty, 7 months of nothing special. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I'd love to visit in autumn. Just don't want to sacrifice winter, so proving difficult. Link to post Share on other sites
2pints-mate 0 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Aren't you scared of radiation and tsunamis? I agree autumn sounds great. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Yakuza are scary too! I too love autumn here. Everything fits into place with so much to look forward to as well. Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Thanks for your thoughts guys and gals & for the Pics Muika. I think I will make it Autumn though spring is tempting with snow still around in places. Probably harder to get past the 'ministeress for finance' though with me having just returned from Feb ski time. I would like to go back to areas I have been in winter like Myoko, Nozawa Onsen and Shiga Kogen to see the difference. Would there be more or less accommodation options in Autumn? Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 If you're thinking Kyoto in autumn (November), the famous spots will be absolutely heaving with Japanese tourists. It's mainly oldies, so its every day of the week. You get people shaking the trees so the leaves fall in their photographs. It might be hard to feel the Zen and dig the wabisabi when that's going on. Mountainous parts of Japan in autumn (October round here) are very quiet by comparison. If you're in this general area at that time, there's a really big festival in October in Takayama. I took my folks there once and they really enjoyed it. I wouldn't come from far overseas just to see Hakuba or any other tall mountain area in autumn, but if you combine it with Matsumoto, Tsumago, Takayama, Shirakawa, etc., there's a nice little trip in there with some olde Japan and sightseeing and scenery for a break. You seem to have ruled it out, but you get a lot of crisp sunny days in winter, so its not a bad time to go to Kyoto, Nara, Kamakura, etc. which are at their quietest. With snow, Shirakawa, Tsumago, etc. can be really magical. Zao looks memorable too even if you don't ski. As a general point, the Japanese tourist people have been trying to expand experiential tourism in recent years, so there's all sorts of things your missus could do if you left her for a few days to get some turns. Japanese cookery, calligraphy, printing, paper making, tea ceremony, .... Or shopping for nice ceramics, bambooware, etc, or just wacky stuff if that's her thing. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Get up early to go to the main spots. Still might be busy but worth it to avoid the mid-day crowds. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Early start to go to any main sightseeing spot in Japan That said, my clearest memory of busloads of obasans shaking trees and posing under them was at about 7am at Tofukuji. I went there after an all nighter at a club. I've planted our garden up for autumn colour so we don't even have to step out the door Link to post Share on other sites
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