Best season

Hi Forum,

now I'm planning my 3rd trip to Japan. At this time I would like to see Yakushima/Kagoshima in the south, the Japanese Alps near Nagano and Hokkaido (Ainu Awe) in the north. Which season is the most suitable:

- for using touristical bus transfer in Kirishima-NP (South) Due to the fact that commuter-buses are out of service during 'non-tourist-season'

as well

-for hiking in the Japanese Alps, without snow in the lowland

as well

-for hiking in Akan-NP on Hokkaido, without to experience degrees of frost?

Are the month April / May /June suitable to cover all of my undertakings on differnet locations? What could you recommend by your own experiences?

Furthermore I would like to know if it's possible to book a day-trip by ferry to the russian Kurile Islands?

Thanks so much folks!!

Hi! Visitor.

about Kirishima-NP(exc,Yakushima) :
Please refer to follow for City-Kirishima sightseeing Information.(only Japanese web site)

http://www.kirishimacho.com/jp/kankou_kyokai/sisetu.html
http://www.city-kirishima.jp/modules/page059/index.php?id=63

According to the above information,The Kirishima-renzan tour bus that runs daily in May.
Other months and has only operated on weekends.

about Japanese Alps :Only in July,August and September, but some places the snow remains in the lowland.
about Akan-NP: Only in July and August, other months the minimum temperature will be minus all.
about Kurile : Impossible

I hope you could help.

Thanks a lot for your informations, naniwanojoe. Today I have read some lines of the Lonely Planet guide 'Hiking in Japan' in the local bookstore. How you have already said: best season would be May, June/ July.

What's referring to the russian Kurile islands, I'm not sure in. I think to remember that I have seen a TV-documentation, where Japanese tourists have undertaken a day-trip to the Island for one day / some hours...

Nevertheless, thanks again!

Akan is the limiting factor. Hiking to the peaks of Akan is usually possible from mid June through October.

thanks Uji

Hi! Luebzer.

How you have already said: best season would be May, June/ July.
dare I say, it depends on the purpose and location.So it's a hard question for me.
but I guess the result of your request,
about Kirishima-NP(exc,Yakushima) : May
about Japanese Alps:August
about Akan-NP:July

What's referring to the russian Kurile islands
The tour of aimed at pre-war residents only was previously possible a short period.
it is impossible in recently Japan.
I have heard that the U.S. company is planning the tour.

I hope you could help.