When to go & weather

Weather

Depending on when you come, Northern Honshū will either be very comfortable or bone-chillingly cold. Summers are mild and considerably more comfortable than in the south, producing magnificent displays of greenery. In winter, Siberian cold grips the region and temperatures plummet. Snow is at least half of the fun here – making for great skiing, atmospheric yukimiburos (snow viewing from an onsen’s warmth) and adding winter’s white serenity to the mountain ranges.

The Sea of Japan coast – bounded by Aomori, Akita, Yamagata and Niigata prefectures – endures particularly heavy snowfall. This clearly demarcated climate influences the texture of the local culture, most notably in the diversity of Tōhoku’s festival programme, and ensures varied culinary harvests, like oysters in winter and mushrooms in autumn (fine seafood is a year-round feature).