We have traveled to Japan many times in the summer, in various months. The weather is basically like DC's. We're used to DC weather so we do OK. On any particular day, of course, the weather could be better or worse than DC's. Japan is so amazing you won't be thinking about the weather too much.

It's hard to give advice on hotels. Rooms are generally smaller, but comfortable. Beds may be smaller too. I find the hotel reviews and ratings on Trip Advisor are generally reliable.

Anonymous wrote:
The humidity is one thing. The other thing to consider is the way they have the AC set - very high (i.e. like 78 or 80). That includes on the shink (bullet train); super not comfortable. In a western style hotel like an Okura branch or Intercontinental you can control your AC.

The reason for this is after the Fukushima disaster, they were running short on power. The government mandated all buildings set thermostats to 78, and encouraged companies to relax dress codes so wearing short-sleeve button-downs to work and no jacket was ok for the salarymen. At buildings that draw an international crowd (like a convention center), theyw ill often have a sign near the door explaining why they set the thermostats high.

I would actually focus on Kyoto and Nara, i’m of the earlier capitals of Japan, rather than Tokyo. I have some more cool interesting an old temples. Look up kinkakuji, kyomizudera, and the daibatsu Buddha and deer eating out of your hand.

Also, Osaka is only 60-90 min or so from Kyoto, so it’s cool if you can see the Dontonburi bridge there at night.

Agree that unless you’re going to climb Mount Fuji, Just seeing it from the train is your best bet. Plus it’s not even open in cold months like March.

Also, with only one week, you will always be jetlagged. Not much you can do about it. You won’t be over it in a day or two.
two.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here again who lived in Japan for 2 Years. I lived in a town 1 hour from Osaka and Kyoto, so on the main island of Honshu. So not Kyushu or Okinawa or something more tropical.

It was humid in the summer but just like DC to me. (The first phrase I learned in Japanese was, Mooshi atsui desu ne?. Which means, “it’s very hot and humid, isn’t it?”)

Still would prefer to travel in June than December for lighter packing and easier walking. Also, agree that June is better than July or August for humidity.

Anyone going to Japan should look up the dates for Golden Week (April/May) and Obon (August) as those are like Memorial Day and Labor Day here, and many Japanese people are on vacation as well around those times.

OP here - thank you for this! We decided summer sounds too hot, so just booked DC-Tokyo for a March vacation. We will have seven full days in Japan, but haven't figured out exact itinerary yet. We definitely plan to spend time in Tokyo and take the train to Kyoto. Any day trips from Tokyo you would recommend? The kids want to be in cities but I'd love to spend a little time in the countryside, even if it's just for a day trip from Tokyo or en route to Kyoto. What is the Mt. Fuji - Five Lakes region like? We have guide books of course, but it always helps to hear from someone who's actually been there.

Thank you!

1 week is too rush for all the hassle traveling to japan. 2-3 weeks or more is better.

If you must go, focus on Tokyo and places you can take bullet trains to reach within a couple hours.

Five Lakes is a rather rundown area, not much to offer other than if you are lucky, you would see Fuji sometimes. Reaching and getting out of there takes a long journey. Not worth it when you have only 7 days.

Thank you - very helpful!

I wish we could take two weeks or more, but then we'd have to travel in the summer, which sounds unbearably hot.

Anonymous wrote:Also, one other thing to keep in mind is that Tokyo is both familiar and exotic at the same time and just walking around the city is an adventure in and of itself. The sights, the smells, the sounds. Riding the trains, taking taxis, eating at food courts in department stores or at the train stations. Even 7-11 is something to check out, so leave some time unstructured to just wander about.

Thanks so much for your suggestions - really appreciate it! We're really excited for the trip; just wish it could be longer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP here again who lived in Japan for 2 Years. I lived in a town 1 hour from Osaka and Kyoto, so on the main island of Honshu. So not Kyushu or Okinawa or something more tropical.

It was humid in the summer but just like DC to me. (The first phrase I learned in Japanese was, Mooshi atsui desu ne?. Which means, “it’s very hot and humid, isn’t it?”)

Still would prefer to travel in June than December for lighter packing and easier walking. Also, agree that June is better than July or August for humidity.

Anyone going to Japan should look up the dates for Golden Week (April/May) and Obon (August) as those are like Memorial Day and Labor Day here, and many Japanese people are on vacation as well around those times.

OP here - thank you for this! We decided summer sounds too hot, so just booked DC-Tokyo for a March vacation. We will have seven full days in Japan, but haven't figured out exact itinerary yet. We definitely plan to spend time in Tokyo and take the train to Kyoto. Any day trips from Tokyo you would recommend? The kids want to be in cities but I'd love to spend a little time in the countryside, even if it's just for a day trip from Tokyo or en route to Kyoto. What is the Mt. Fuji - Five Lakes region like? We have guide books of course, but it always helps to hear from someone who's actually been there.

Thank you!

1 week is too rush for all the hassle traveling to japan. 2-3 weeks or more is better.

If you must go, focus on Tokyo and places you can take bullet trains to reach within a couple hours.

Five Lakes is a rather rundown area, not much to offer other than if you are lucky, you would see Fuji sometimes. Reaching and getting out of there takes a long journey. Not worth it when you have only 7 days.

Also, one other thing to keep in mind is that Tokyo is both familiar and exotic at the same time and just walking around the city is an adventure in and of itself. The sights, the smells, the sounds. Riding the trains, taking taxis, eating at food courts in department stores or at the train stations. Even 7-11 is something to check out, so leave some time unstructured to just wander about.

Glad to hear that you won't be going on June. It's far more miserable than DC.

When making your plans, keep in mind that you will need a day or two to overcome your jet lag. Recommend a light schedule in Tokyo on day 1. Maybe just visit Tokyo Tower or somewhere else for a view of the city. Explore the area by your hotel.

Day 2 I wouldn't plan much either beyond exploring shopping or temples.

Check this link to find when and where the various festivals will be in Tokyo. I definitely recommend going to one if you can. https://www.gotokyo.org/eventlist/en/list

You can day trip to Hakone and/or Yokohama, but if you are going to Kyoto, that's going to give you a good experience outside of Tokyo.

The Shinkansen to Kyoto takes you past Mt. Fuji, so no need to stop unless you want to try an Onsen.

Anonymous wrote:PP here again who lived in Japan for 2 Years. I lived in a town 1 hour from Osaka and Kyoto, so on the main island of Honshu. So not Kyushu or Okinawa or something more tropical.

It was humid in the summer but just like DC to me. (The first phrase I learned in Japanese was, Mooshi atsui desu ne?. Which means, “it’s very hot and humid, isn’t it?”)

Still would prefer to travel in June than December for lighter packing and easier walking. Also, agree that June is better than July or August for humidity.

Anyone going to Japan should look up the dates for Golden Week (April/May) and Obon (August) as those are like Memorial Day and Labor Day here, and many Japanese people are on vacation as well around those times.

OP here - thank you for this! We decided summer sounds too hot, so just booked DC-Tokyo for a March vacation. We will have seven full days in Japan, but haven't figured out exact itinerary yet. We definitely plan to spend time in Tokyo and take the train to Kyoto. Any day trips from Tokyo you would recommend? The kids want to be in cities but I'd love to spend a little time in the countryside, even if it's just for a day trip from Tokyo or en route to Kyoto. What is the Mt. Fuji - Five Lakes region like? We have guide books of course, but it always helps to hear from someone who's actually been there.

Thank you!

PP here again who lived in Japan for 2 Years. I lived in a town 1 hour from Osaka and Kyoto, so on the main island of Honshu. So not Kyushu or Okinawa or something more tropical.

It was humid in the summer but just like DC to me. (The first phrase I learned in Japanese was, Mooshi atsui desu ne?. Which means, “it’s very hot and humid, isn’t it?”)

Still would prefer to travel in June than December for lighter packing and easier walking. Also, agree that June is better than July or August for humidity.

Anyone going to Japan should look up the dates for Golden Week (April/May) and Obon (August) as those are like Memorial Day and Labor Day here, and many Japanese people are on vacation as well around those times.

I live in Japan now. I agree with PPs that the weather in the major cities of Japan is just like D.C. The issue is that air conditioning isn't used here very often in the summer. So the shops and metro will be warm. If everyone is in good health and is used to D.C. Weather I would go in June. August is very, very hot, with the norm of 40 degrees Celsius.

Anonymous wrote:Not OP, but this thread caught my attention b/c we are considering a Spring Break trip in late March. We would only have 6 full days, would it be worth it? Also, what would you expect to pay in airfare? TIA

I am the PP with plans to go to Kyoto over Spring Break. If you think you want to do this, I recommend booking now, as accommodations fill up very quickly for cherry blossom season. We are renting a house for the week and booked it last summer. We booked our tickets on miles, but I think airfare is around $1200.

We are doing Japan over Spring Break for this very reason. But we are only going to Kyoto with maybe a day trip to Nara. The upside is potential cherry blossoms; the downside is crowds during cherry blossom season. We'll save Tokyo for another trip when the kids are older.

Anonymous wrote: I’m the second poster who said that Japan weather is like DCs. I lived in Japan for two years, it really is just like DC’s weather.

Personally, I would rather travel in June than December. Easier to walk around, and less stuff to pack. Also like in many countries, some Japanese houses aren’t very well insulated, so it gets very cold there, more so than in my American house. (One year, my cooking oil froze in my kitchen. Inside the house. )

This is why many of them still have kotatsu heated coffee tables with blankets to keep warm.

My vote is for June. And yes you can see Tokyo, Kyoto and probably Nara, Osaka or Kobe with 10 days.

What part of Japan were you living in?

Japan is 1000x more humid than DC. DC is an arid desert compared to Japan's humidity.

Not OP, but this thread caught my attention b/c we are considering a Spring Break trip in late March. We would only have 6 full days, would it be worth it? Also, what would you expect to pay in airfare? TIA