Japan in August: What's at Its Best and What's Closed

24 places are at their best in August; 6 are closed all month and 8 partly closed.

Plan your August trip Map: what's a day trip from where you stay

At its best in August

Nara 2

• Fujiwara Palace SiteNaraCosmos in early to late October; rapeseed in late Mar-early Apr; lotus in mid-Jul-early Aug
• Shoju-in TempleKyotoWind Chime Festival with over 2,000 chimes, July-September

Kyushu 3

• Usuki Stone BuddhasOitaThe Dainichi Buddha of the Furuzono group
• Takahama Beach (Goto)NagasakiSwimming season in July and August; Sakishima-fuyo hibiscus blooms after summer
• Yamaga OnsenKumamotoYamaga Toro Matsuri with the Thousand-Lantern Dance (Aug 15–16); Hyakka Hyakusai lantern-lit streets on Feb weekends

Hokkaido 1

• Sounkyo OnsenHokkaidoIce Fall Festival (Hyobaku Matsuri) in winter; Gorge Fire Festival late Jul to mid-Aug; autumn leaves come down from the peaks to the town by mid-Oct

Okinawa 1

• Aharen Beach (Tokashiki)OkinawaA representative beach of Tokashiki Island, with white sand stretching about 800 m. Known as a snorkeling spot with coral reef and fish, with plenty of marine activities.

More in Tohoku 4

• Kawarage Oyutaki (Hot-Spring Waterfall)AkitaBathing season, early July to mid-September
• Mt. Moriyoshi (Ani Gondola)AkitaSnow monsters, early Jan–early Mar; alpine flowers, Jun–Sep; autumn leaves, Oct
• Izunuma and Uchinuma LakesMiyagiLotus in summer; geese flying out at dawn in winter
• Kosode Coast (Northernmost Ama Divers)IwateAma diving demonstrations, July to September; free on the Ama Festival (first Sunday of August)

More in Kanto 2

• Mt. MitakeTokyoRengeshoma flowers bloom in August; autumn leaves in November
• Ancient Lotus Park & Rice Paddy ArtSaitamaLotus flowers mid-June to early August (best in the morning); rice paddy art from late July

More in Chubu 4

• Gujo HachimanGifuGujo Odori (mid-July to early Sept); castle autumn leaves in November
• Takada Castle ParkNiigataAbout 4,000 cherry trees; lotus fills the outer moat in summer
• Kehi no Matsubara Pine GroveFukuiA 1 km pine grove of red and black pines along white sand at the head of Tsuruga Bay, one of Japan's three great pine groves.
• Senjojiki CirqueNaganoAutumn colours, late September to early October

More in Kansai 5

• Kinosaki OnsenHyogoCherry trees along about 1 km of the river (Apr); Yume Hanabi 5-min fireworks on most nights Jul 30 – Aug 21, 2026; snow crab season from early Nov to end of Mar
• Shirarahama BeachWakayamaSwimming season, early May to mid-September (busiest in July–August)
• Mt. IbukiShigaSummit flower fields at their peak mid-July to early August; autumn leaves from mid-October
• Kotohikihama BeachKyotoA 1.8 km white-sand beach on the Tango coast whose sand squeaks underfoot, with a stretch that booms like a drum.
• Samegai-juku and the Jizo RiverShigaBaikamo bloom from mid-May to September, best early July to mid-September

More in Shikoku 2

• Ohama Beach (Hiwasa)TokushimaHiwasa Hachiman autumn festival: drum floats charge into the sea at Ohama (October)
• Shishijima Island (Giant Camphor Tree)KagawaCardiocrinum lilies by the camphor tree (July–August)

Closed all month

• Ashigakubo Icicles Saitama
• Ushijima Wisteria (Tokaen) Saitama
  Open only from about mid-April to early May; closed the rest of the year
• Kyorinbo Temple Shiga
• Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden Fukuoka
• Kunen-an Saga
• Izumi Crane Observation Center Kagoshima
  Open Nov 1 to the 2nd Sunday of March only

Partly closed or seasonal limits

• Nebuta Museum Wa Rasse Aomori
  Closed Aug 9–10 to change the floats
• Tove Jansson Akebono Children's Forest Park Saitama
• Maruoka Castle Fukui
• Ryotanji Temple Shizuoka
  Closed Aug 15 and Dec 22–27
• Rurikoin Temple Kyoto
• Tottori Hanakairo Flower Park Tottori
  Closed on Tuesdays in July-August and on some Tuesdays December-March; closed Dec 31
• Nagata Inakahama Beach (Yakushima) Kagoshima
• Sefa Utaki Okinawa
  Repair works: parts closed 1 Jul – 1 Nov 2026; from 2 Nov 2026 to 5 Jan 2027 only up to the Ujoguchi gate (entry free)

Other months: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · September · October · November · December