Guide CXVII — Asia — Month by month
Asia in March: Where to Go, What It Costs, What to Avoid
Thailand's heat begins to build, Bali's rains ease and Japan opens its blossom season in the final week. A month of transitions.
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The short answer
March is the changeover. Bali's rain thins and the dry season edges in from the middle of the month; Thailand starts its long climb towards April's heat; Japan spends three weeks in cool clear spring and then opens blossom in the last week.
For a single trip, the smart shape is Japan late in March — first blossom, pre-peak rates — with Bali as the warm-water leg if the trip needs a beach at the end.
The Asia cluster:
March across the region
| Destination | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Warming; blossom opens in the last week | Very good, book late-March early |
| Thailand | Dry, heat building inland | Good on the coast |
| Bali | Rain easing from mid-month | Improving, good value |
| Maldives | Dry and calm | Excellent |
| Philippines | Dry, hot, superb sea | Excellent |
Where to be, and what to book
Japan
Cool, clear and quiet, with the first cherry blossom in Tokyo in the final week.
Bali
Rains easing, greenery at its best and rates still at wet-season levels.
Thailand
Still dry but warming fast; the islands beat the cities this month.
- Japanese blossom forecasts publish from late January — track them if timing matters.
- Late March prices like April in Kyoto and Tokyo.
- Bali's second half is markedly drier than the first.
- Thai inland cities begin the hot season; favour the coast.
Houses and rentals for this month:
Frequently asked questions
- Where should I go in Asia in March?
- Japan for the first cherry blossom and cool clear weather, Bali as the wet season ends, and the Philippines or Maldives for reliable sea conditions.
- Is Bali dry in March?
- It dries through the month. The first half is still wet-season, the second half is usually reliably sunny with occasional showers.
- Is March too hot for Thailand?
- The coast is still comfortable; inland cities heat up quickly and April is the country's hottest month.
Editorial note & limitations
Seasonal patterns are drawn from national tourism board data and long-run climate normals, reviewed September 2026. Rates are indicative planning figures from connected partner inventory, not quotations. Collection inventory in Asia is concentrated in Japan, Bali, Bangkok, the Maldives and Palawan.