When to visit Honshu

The New York of Asia, Tokyo endures the same sticky summers as its American cousin but slightly warmer winters. Visit during the shoulder season for the best weather. Outside the capital's microclimate it's a similar, if slightly cooler, story. As you watch the altimeter wind clockwise in the Alps, temperatures drop and ski slopes open up.

Much of southern Honshu enjoys a subtropical climate with hot, sticky summers and cool winters that almost never reach freezing. Outside of cherry blossom April – Kyoto and Nara are particularly pretty – the best times to go are the more temperate shoulder seasons. If you're looking to cool off from city microclimates, seaside Hagi and lakeside Matsue are good choices.