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Side-by-side comparison
Japan vs South Korea: Best Time to Visit
Trying to choose between Japan and South Korea? The right answer almost always comes down to when you can travel. Here's the month-by-month breakdown.
best
good
shoulder
off-season
Month-by-month: which is better?
| Month | Japan | South Korea | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | good | tie |
| February | good | good | tie |
| March | best | best | tie |
| April | best | best | tie |
| May | good | best | South Korea 🇰🇷 |
| June | shoulder | shoulder | tie |
| July | shoulder | shoulder | tie |
| August | good | shoulder | Japan 🇯🇵 |
| September | best | good | Japan 🇯🇵 |
| October | best | best | tie |
| November | good | best | South Korea 🇰🇷 |
| December | good | good | tie |
Pick Japan 🇯🇵 if you're going in…
August, September
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.
Pick South Korea 🇰🇷 if you're going in…
May, November
Avoid the Korean monsoon (jangma) in late June–July.
Months where both are equally good: January, February, March, April, June, July, October, December.