Tokyo to Vancouver in fall, or reverse itinerary in spring?

[CruisinPashmina]

Which season and direction would be best? I’m thinking in terms of most favorable weather/seas. Thanks in advance for all opinions!

[Silver Spectre]

We have only been in one direction, Vancouver to Tokyo in September, the bonus for us was being able to get up to the volcano in Petropavlosk which is sometimes not possible in the spring due to heavy snow. We did have rather bad weather coming through the channel into the Bering Sea and for the next day, but you can get bad weather in the spring as well.

[zigtraveller]

I have done this trip in both directions and found the seas to be very similar.  The weather was better in the September Vancouver - Tokyo, but this could just have been luck.

I found adjusting to the frequent changes in the clock was easier travelling from Vancouver to Tokyo.  

However if you haven't already seen cherry blossom in Japan, the spring departure Tokyo - Vancouver allows for cherry blossom viewing on Hokaido in April.  

Swings and roundabouts - it is a great trip in either direction.

[Wellseasoned]

We did the opposite, Hong Kong to Tokyo to Alaska, in the Spring on the Shadow.  It was magnificent.  Great weather and absolutely lovely in Petropavlosk, beautiful day visiting the volcano.  So, maybe it's a coin flip.

[rpfarris]

I've done both directions.  Hokkaido/Aomori in the Spring is magnificent.  I think the weather and and the seas are insignificant.  It's easier to deal with adding an hour each night as you travel westward than losing an hour each night as you travel eastward (there's a reason why *all* world tours go westward). 

 

But still, the cherry blossoms...

 

Edited February 15, 2019 by rpfarris