五月

May in Japan

The best-kept secret of the calendar, once Golden Week's crowds go home on May 6. New leaves, long days, no humidity yet.

Weather

Near perfect: Tokyo 15-23°C, dry and clear. The Alps open their high trails.

What's on

Golden Week, April 29 to May 5, is Japan on the move: trains full, prices up. Skip it if you can. Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri parades on May 15.

Where to go

Kamikochi's valley reopens. Shikoku's Iya Valley, Shirakawa-go without snow, tea fields in Shizuoka at first harvest.

On the table

First-catch bonito, new tea, kashiwa mochi from Children's Day.