Few journeys in Japan are as dramatic as the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. It crosses the Northern Japan Alps using a series of cable cars, buses, a trolleybus and a ropeway, and its most famous sight is a corridor of snow that towers over the road in spring. What is the Snow Corridor? After a winter of heavy snowfall, the road through the Tateyama area is cleared to create the Snow Corridor, known in Japanese as Yuki no Otani. In the weeks after the route opens, visitors can

Cherry blossom season is the most sought-after time to visit Japan, and 2027 will be no exception. Sakura does not bloom everywhere on the same day, so understanding the usual pattern helps you plan a trip that is timed for flowers, not just for dates on a calendar. When does sakura usually bloom? In a typical year, cherry blossom reaches Tokyo and Kyoto in late March and continues into April, with the full-bloom period lasting about a week in each place. Blossom then moves n

Japan is a wonderful destination in every season, but the best time for your trip depends on what you want to see, how you like to travel, and how busy you want the famous sights to be. Here is a simple season-by-season guide to help you choose. Spring: cherry blossom season Spring is Japan at its most famous. Cherry blossom, or sakura, usually appears from late March into April in Tokyo and Kyoto, with blossom moving north as the season progresses. Parks, riversides and temp