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Side-by-side comparison

Ireland vs Japan: Best Time to Visit

Trying to choose between Ireland and Japan? The right answer almost always comes down to when you can travel. Here's the month-by-month breakdown.

🇮🇪
Ireland

Europe

Forty shades of green, always a chance of rain.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Peak: May, June, July, August

🇯🇵
Japan

Asia

Cherry blossoms in spring, fiery maples in autumn.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Peak: March, April, September, October

best
good
shoulder
off-season

Month-by-month: which is better?

MonthIrelandJapanWinner
JanuaryshouldergoodJapan 🇯🇵
FebruaryshouldergoodJapan 🇯🇵
MarchgoodbestJapan 🇯🇵
AprilgoodbestJapan 🇯🇵
MaybestgoodIreland 🇮🇪
JunebestshoulderIreland 🇮🇪
JulybestshoulderIreland 🇮🇪
AugustbestgoodIreland 🇮🇪
SeptembergoodbestJapan 🇯🇵
OctobershoulderbestJapan 🇯🇵
NovembershouldergoodJapan 🇯🇵
DecembershouldergoodJapan 🇯🇵

Pick Ireland 🇮🇪 if you're going in…

May, June, July, August

Pack a real rain jacket — Irish rain is sideways.

Pick Japan 🇯🇵 if you're going in…

January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December

Book sakura-week accommodation in Kyoto 6+ months ahead — and budget for ~2x normal rates. If you miss the cherry blossom window, head to Hokkaido in early May where the sakura peaks 4–5 weeks later.