The best things to visit and places to visit

May shows travelers a national, all-round blooming in Japan, not just cherry blossoms. With comfortable temperatures and the most active nature, now is a great time to explore popular destinations and prefer path locations. Earlier this month, the Golden Week celebrations brought festivals and events nationwide, while late May provided a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer visitors and some of the best weather conditions of the year.

Travel Overview

• Weather: May is relatively comfortable in Japan, making it perfect for outdoor activities. The northern region remains cool, while the southern region such as Kyushu and Okinawa experiences the warmth of early summer.
• Golden Week: This cluster of this national holiday (April 29-May 5) makes early May one of Japan’s busiest travel periods, with crowded attractions and higher accommodation and transportation prices.
• When spring peaks, traveling in the middle can mean crowds around the country, beautiful weather and lush greenery.
• May represents the best location between spring and summer, providing clear skies before the rainy season (usually starting in early June in most areas).

Popular activities and things to do in May

Participate in possible festivals and cultural events

There are festivals throughout Japan in May. Apart from the peak of the wisteria season, the country is full of cultural festivals. One of the most famous Japanese holidays in May is the Koinobori Music Festival or Children’s Day on May 5. See the colorful carp exhibited throughout the city, especially in Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree towns, symbolizing the health and growth of children.

In Kyoto, AOI Matsuri on May 15 has a parade of people wearing Heian-Period costumes from the Imperial Palace to Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. Kanda Matsuri, one of Tokyo’s three main festivals, holds an odd year season in mid-May and is paved with exquisite buoys and portable shrines on the streets.

For colorful wonders, head to the Sawara Grand Festival in late May to Chiba County, where beautifully decorated Floats compete with musical performances. In Fukuoka, the Hakata dontaku Port Festival, held during Golden Week, is one of Japan’s largest festivals, featuring colorful parades and traditional performances.

Shiraito lands in Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Outdoor Adventure: Hiking and Nature Experience

The mild temperatures in May are perfect for hiking beautiful trails in Japan. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park offers stunning views of Mount Fuji for a clear sky, while at the Fuji Shibazakura Festival (usually until late May), you can see pink moss Fix carpeted on the ground on the mountain base.

In Gunma County, Oze National Park opened trails in mid-May showing vast swamps and alpine flowers. The Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route in Wakayama County is particularly beautiful in the forests and pleasant hiking conditions in May.

For a more accessible natural experience, Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki County created a stunning Azure landscape in early May with blue Nemophila flowers covering the hills.

Vine flowers are blooming

Watching flowers beyond cherry blossoms

While the cherry blossom season ends in most parts of Japan in early May, other flower displays are central to the stage. Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture hosts the famous Wisteria Festival until mid-May and comes with a spectacular purple Wisteria tunnel.

The Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden in Kitakyushu similarly showed off the stunning wisteria tunnel in early May. For azalea lovers, Nezu Shrine in Tokyo held the Bunkyo Azalea Festival, showing off about 3,000 azalea bushes in various colors.

In late May, in Hokkaido, the tulip season was brought in Kamiyubetsu Tulip Park, and more than one million tulips created a Dutch-style landscape on the northernmost islands of Japan.

Beachfront resort: early beach season

Although it may be too early to swim in most parts of Japan, the water temperature in Okinawa is around 25 degrees Celsius. The Ishigaki and Miyako Islands offer pristine white sand beaches and clear water, perfect for snorkeling between coral reefs.

On the main islands, the IZU Peninsula (easily accessible from Tokyo) offers beautiful coastal scenery, and beaches like Shirahama offer relaxing seaside walks. As locals start to enjoy beach activities and beachfront restaurants, the Shaunan coast near Kamakura has become active.

For a unique coastal experience, the tidal controlled road to Enoshima Island creates a magical atmosphere when tides, allowing visitors to walk to this sacred island filled with shrines and botanical gardens.

Top destinations to visit in May

Northern Japan: Hokkaido and Tohoku

In May, in Hokkaido, visitors can experience Japan’s northernmost island after winter. Colorful tulips and lilac burst out in the park in Sapporo, while Shikisai-No-Oka flower fields in Biei showcase rainbow-colored flower stripes on the rolling hills.

For the cherry blossom chasers, mid-May Bloom in the north and north offers a last chance to experience the Hanname season. The Horizontal Cherry Blossom Festival displays over 10,000 250 varieties of cherry trees, surrounded by historic matte castles.

In Tohoku, the Kakunodate Samurai district of Akita Prefecture combines late-open crying cherry trees with well-preserved samurai residences, allowing visitors to slide back in time. The Aizu area of ​​Fukushima Prefecture provides comfortable temperatures to explore its samurai history and scenic Inawashiro Lake without summer crowds.

Central Japan: Tokyo, Kanto and Chubu

May is a great month to explore some of Tokyo’s most iconic outdoor attractions, such as Shinjuku Gyoen and Ueno Park, which are now showing flowers from the late spring. For one-day tour of the capital, Kawamura offers a combination of historical temples and hiking trails.

The alpine route through the Japanese Alps will be fully opened in May, with the spectacular black dam and snow corridors of Tateyama creating dramatic scenery. Nikko National Park has famous shrines and natural beauty, and it is especially amazing when people are smaller in May than when the peak season are crowded.

In Yamanashi Prefecture, Fuji Lake District enjoys the perfect view of Mount Fuji among lakes such as Kawaguchiko and displays pink moss on the mountain by late May and pink moss on the mountain.

Miyajima, Hiroshima

Western Japan: Kansai and Chugoku

Kyoto is much less crowded while maintaining its beauty in May than the cherry blossom season. The vibrant fresh maple greens in temples like Tofukuji create a tranquil atmosphere to explore the city’s cultural treasures, including the AOI Matsuri Festival on May 15.

The sacred island of Miyajima near Hiroshima is perfect for access before the start of summer humidity. The island’s famous “floating” Torii Torii Gate and Wild Deer create magical photo opportunities without the crowds of high seasons.

For nature lovers, Yoshino in Nira Prefecture transitions from cherry blossoms to emerald forests and hikes through the sacred mountains. As ferry services increase, Shimane Prefecture’s remote Oki Islands can be accessed, thus giving a glimpse of untouched coastal scenery and traditional villages in Japan.

Gaoqihuo Canyon

Southern Japan: Kyushu and Okinawa

Kyushu offers comfortable temperatures in May to explore its dramatic landscape. The Takachiho Canyon in Miyazaki Prefecture, whose mysterious atmosphere and boating boats can sail between towering cliffs, is especially pleasant before the summer heat arrives.

Kurokawa Onsen, a hot spring town in Kumanto County, offers a perfect door-to-door chore, with the outdoor bathroom surrounded by lush springs creating a tranquil environment for relaxation.

In Okinawa, May brings ideal conditions before the rainy season and the hot summer. The Kerama Islands offer world-class snorkeling and diving on the summit. The remote Yaeyama archipelago, including Iriomote, as well as its mangroves and Taketomi, as well as its traditional Ryukyu village, showcases the other side of Japan.

Naoshima Pumpkin Yayoi Kusama Setouchi Triennale 2025

Travel Tips and Suggestions

Shipping in Japan in May

Golden Week believes that all transportation needs are extremely high, with bullet trains, flights and rental cars often booking several months in advance. If traveling during this period, keep everything as early as possible and expect to pay a high price.

For Golden Week trips outside, the Japanese Railway Pass is still very valuable for foreign tourists who plan to cover multiple regions. Consider regional passes, such as Hokkaido Railway Pass or JR Kyushu Pass, if focusing on specific areas to save transportation costs.

IC cards purchased in major cities, in trains, buses and even convenience stores or IC cards like Pasmo Streamline Transit. These can be especially useful during busy periods by allowing you to skip ticketing machines.

Stays in Japan in May

If traveling during the Golden Week, book your accommodation several months in advance as availability becomes extremely limited and the price can be doubled or tripled. Consider finding better availability in smaller cities nearby rather than major tourist hubs.

On a trip late in May, Ryokan (traditional Japanese hotel) offers an atmospheric cultural experience, many of which feature seasonal high-end cuisine, highlighting the spring ingredients.

Budget travelers visiting outside the Golden Week will find good options in Minshuku (family run hotel) in the city center or rural areas.

Packaging Tips

Multifunctional clothing that may require temperature changes throughout the week or even a day. Packaging layers that can be easily added or removed include lightweight cardigans or jackets for cool nights, especially in northern regions or mountainous areas.

Comfortable walking shoes are essential as the pleasant weather in plum encourages walking exploration. Includes a light rain jacket or a compact umbrella as sporadic showers may occur, especially in the rainy season in late May approaching the southern region.

Sunscreens are becoming increasingly important, including sunscreens, sunglasses and hats for outdoor activities, especially in southern regions such as Kyushu and Okinawa where ultraviolet rays are higher.

Budget plan

After the Golden Week, prices dropped significantly and were used for accommodation and transportation, while the weather was still in good condition. Many attractions offer discounted combination tickets that can save 20-30% compared to individual purchases.

For dining, look for Teishoku (Meal) In local restaurants, it usually offers great value while displaying seasonal ingredients. Department Store Basement Food Hall (DEK) also offers ready-to-eat delicacies at reasonable prices.

Many museums and cultural facilities offer free or discounted tickets on specific days of each month – study these opportunities in advance to optimize your budget while experiencing Japanese cultural products.

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