Cheap Vacations in Japan

Best time to take a vacation to Japan

Best Time to Go

Spring and fall, are usually fairly mild and dry, and are great months for Japan vacations. The cherry blossoms are out in spring, while fall colors are wonderful. For skiing, there is heavy snowfall during winter in Hokkaido. Late August and early September may be considered low season for Japan travel, because it is typhoon season. Also late February and early March are still cold, so crowds are often smaller. During the 2nd week of February, Sapporo City holds its Snow Festival, and a collection of snow statues and ice sculptures are displayed in local parks.

Popular Japan experiences

Bunraku

Visit a traditional bunraku, noh, or kabuki performance. The puppet theatres are located in Tokyo and Osaka.

Dogo

At the hot springs resort of Dogo, the main wooden 3-tiered building with a sansoro style roof, is a Japanese treasure.

Kinkakuji

The gilded Kinkakuji, located in Kyoto, is probably the best of seventeen nearby World Heritage sites.

Mt. Sukurajima

Take a 15-minute cruise to view the Mt. Sukurajima active volcano up close. Check on volcanic activity before visiting.

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is an informative reminder of the horrors of war.

Okinawa

Okinawa, a sub-tropical island, provides excellent diving and water sports, along with white sandy beaches.

Powder Skiing

Amazing powder skiing can be enjoyed at the Niseko skiing resort towns in Hokkaido. Backcountry and telemark skiing are especially good here.

Shikoku

Surprisingly, on the small island of Shikoku, you can go whale watching, and you might see humpback and sperm whales.

Shirakawa-go Mountain Village

Visiting the Shirakawa-go Mountain Village, gives a glimpse of the past, with traditional Gassho-zukuri farmhouses.

Tokyo Great Cycling Tour

Exploring Tokyo is even better on the Tokyo Great Cycling Tour.

Insider tips for Japan travel

Izakaya Himawari

Izakaya Himawari, located in Sapporo, prepares homemade, Izakaya-style dishes using Hokkaido's fresh local ingredients.

Shisui

Shisui, located in the Shibuya-ku area of Tokyo, is a nomiya bar, a small pre-war style intimate counter bar.

Sofu-Iwa Dive Trip

For an amazing scuba diving experience, try going on a Sofu-Iwa dive trip. Diving on a 3,600 foot rock column in the Pacific Ocean.

Uganzaku North Beach

Uganzaki North Beach, on the island of Okinawa, is usually deserted even in height of summer, so is a great spot for some private sun.

Zao

Excellent skiing and snowboarding can be found at Zao in the Yamagata prefecture, which is in the north of Honshu Island.

^Savings based on all package bookings with Flight + Hotel made on CheapTickets.com from as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.